Design and Implementation of an Integrated Framework for Smart City Land Administration and Heritage Protection

Smart cities rely on digital infrastructures and utilize data-driven frameworks to enhance quality of life, optimizing public services by promoting transparency in urban and heritage management. Based on the ArchTerr project for archeological heritage protection, this study introduces an integrated framework uniting two components: GIS-based land mapping and blockchain-enabled document management. The system supports urban planning, land administration, and governance by combining spatial intelligence with secure data handling. The GIS module enables precise land mapping using geographic coordinates, facilitating spatial analysis, land use monitoring, and infrastructure planning. The document management system employs blockchain storage functionalities to ensure the immutability, transparency, and traceability of records such as land ownership documents, permits, and regulatory filings. Developed using the Design Science Research methodology, the framework translates abstract principles of data immutability and interoperability into a functional architecture that addresses persistent issues of fragmented datasets, insecure records, and limited institutional accountability and improves scalability, efficiency, and transparency in a variety of urban situations. We explored its implications for policy and governance, illustrating how interdisciplinary technology serves as a basis for transparent, accountable, and resilient urban management. This study advances theoretical understanding of how the convergence of spatial and trust-based technologies can foster geo-trusted governance and contribute to more transparent and resilient heritage management.