Feasibility Study of Smart Village Development in the Sarfiruzabad District of Kermanshah County

Smart villages create opportunities for entrepreneurship in agriculture, improve healthcare, education, and infrastructure services, promote optimal resource utilization, and support sustainable rural development, ultimately enhancing residents’ quality of life. The need to establish smart villages is particularly urgent in Iran, especially in Kermanshah Province. Accordingly, this study aims to identify key indicators and assess the feasibility of developing smart rural areas in the Sarfiruzabad district, thereby contributing to improved village conditions and advancing smart village initiatives within the province. This applied research employs a descriptive‑analytical methodology based on survey data. The statistical population consists of heads of households in the Sarfiruzabad district, totaling 2,999 households. Using the Krejcie and Morgan table, a sample size of 341 households was determined and selected through stratified random sampling. Data were collected using a researcher‑developed questionnaire, whose validity was confirmed through expert review and whose reliability was verified using Cronbach’s alpha. Data analysis, conducted in SPSS 2026, showed that social acceptance and cultural indicators exhibited the strongest performance, whereas environmental sustainability indicators were in the weakest condition among the studied villages. Overall, the findings indicate that the current status of smart rural development indicators in Sarfiruzabad is below optimal levels. Advancing smart rural development in the district therefore requires a comprehensive and integrated approach. A project‑oriented governmental strategy that prioritizes smart village development as a national initiative is essential for achieving meaningful and sustainable progress.
 
Extended Abstract
1-Introduction
Smart villages, while preserving the cultural and traditional foundations of rural life, promote development across all dimensions of community functioning. By integrating new and existing technologies in a rational and context‑appropriate manner, they support the continuation of local traditions, highlight regional identity, and enhance the overall quality of life. Smart villages can expand entrepreneurial opportunities in agriculture, improve healthcare, education, and infrastructure services, optimize resource use, and ultimately strengthen socio‑economic well‑being and long‑term rural sustainability. Given the importance of smart village development—and the limited number of such initiatives in Iran, particularly in Kermanshah Province—the need to establish smart villages as a pathway toward sustainable rural development and poverty reduction is undeniable. However, the strategy for developing smart villages must be tailored to local conditions, as the concept cannot be uniformly applied across all rural areas. Each village’s unique opportunities, constraints, and socio‑economic characteristics must guide the approach.
 
2-Materials and Methods
 This research is applied in its purpose and descriptive‑analytical in nature, employing a survey‑based approach. The study was conducted in two distinct phases. In the first phase, aimed at identifying indigenous smart rural development indicators for the study area, the modified fuzzy Delphi technique was applied in two consecutive rounds. The sample for this phase consisted of 20 specialists and experts in agricultural extension, agricultural development, geography, and rural planning, along with village heads from the Sarfiruzabad Rural District of Kermanshah County. Participants were selected using purposive criterion‑based sampling. Data were collected through a researcher‑developed questionnaire designed according to relevant literature and the methodological requirements of the modified fuzzy Delphi process. The validity and reliability of the instrument were confirmed through the implementation of triangular fuzzy Delphi rounds and calculation of the agreement coefficient. The second phase of the research focused on assessing the feasibility of smart rural development in the Sarfiruzabad Rural District. The statistical population comprised 2,999 households headed by residents of the district’s villages. Using the Krejcie and Morgan table, a sample size of 341 households was determined and selected through stratified random sampling. Data were gathered using a researcher‑made questionnaire whose items were derived from the indicators identified in the fuzzy Delphi phase. The validity and reliability of this instrument were verified through expert panel review and Cronbach’s alpha coefficient using SPSS 2026.
 
3- Results and Discussion
 Data analysis in the first phase of the study led to the identification of eight main components of smart rural development in the Sarfiruzabad Rural District: information and communication technology infrastructure, physical infrastructure, media literacy among villagers, rural economy, rural management and governance, environmental sustainability, access to public services, and culture and social acceptance. In total, 28 indicators were extracted across these components. The results of the one‑sample t‑test showed that among the smart rural development indicators, culture and social acceptance had the most favorable status, with a mean score of 3.26, while environmental sustainability had the weakest condition, with a mean score of 1.27. At the village level, Sarvono Sofla (mean 2.42), Sarvono Olia (mean 2.34), and Jiranbalagh (mean 2.35) were identified as having relatively better conditions in terms of smart rural development. In contrast, Gazaf Sofla (mean 1.49) and Sardar (mean 1.48) were recognized as the villages with the poorest conditions.
 
4- Conclusion
Overall, the findings indicate that the status of smart rural development indicators in the Sarfiruzabad Rural District is severely inadequate. With the exception of culture and social acceptance, which shows a relatively favorable condition, all other indicators fall below the average. This highlights the critical role of cultural readiness and social acceptance as key drivers for adopting new technologies and advancing rural development. The results suggest that achieving smart rural development in Sarfiruzabad requires a comprehensive and synergistic approach that integrates all identified dimensions. Strengthening ICT infrastructure is fundamental, as it underpins improvements in service quality and enhances opportunities for social participation. Likewise, coordinated attention to physical infrastructure, media literacy, the rural economy, management and governance, environmental sustainability, and access to public services—alongside cultural and social acceptance—can collectively contribute to improving villagers’ quality of life and advancing sustainable rural development.