Smart Cities—Announcing the Updated Scope and Sections

1. Introduction

The development of smart cities is a dynamic, accelerating story. It has matured from a primary focus on connectivity and efficiency into a rich, interdisciplinary effort standing at the juncture of technology, sustainability, governance, and human experience. Faithful to the capture and leadership of this evolution, we are pleased to announce a significant update in the scope and sections of the journal Smart Cities.

More than just a reorganization, this update is a strategic reflection of the growing complexity and ambition of the field. New technological innovations continue to be integrated into urban environments and people’s lives. Smart Cities aims to offer a clear and comprehensive framework that can appropriately categorize the wide variety of multidisciplinary research for the benefit of readers.

2. Updated Scope

This journal encompasses all topics relating to various aspects of smart cities research. Topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Core Technologies & Methods for Smart Cities

artificial intelligence (AI) & machine learning

Internet of Things (IoT) & sensor networks

big data analytics & urban informatics

digital twins & urban modeling

blockchain technology

5G/6G & advanced communication networks

cloud/edge computing

cyber-physical systems

• Key Application Areas in Smart Cities

smart mobility & transportation (e.g., MaaS)

smart energy systems & grids

sustainable & resilient infrastructure

urban governance & citizen engagement

smart buildings & urban planning

social sustainability & quality of life

connected and autonomous vehicles (CAVs)

water and waste management

logistics and supply chains

• Cross-Cutting Themes in Smart Cities

metaverse for smart cities

human-centric design & inclusivity

cybersecurity & privacy

policy, AI ethics & governance

citizen engagement

public participation

• Sustainability, Resilience & Environment in Smart Cities

urban sustainability

urban resilience

urban environmental monitoring

urban climate change adaptation

urban circular economy

urban green infrastructure

urban disaster management

3. Updated Sections

To ensure the content aligns with the journal’s aims and scope, and to better serve the rapidly evolving landscape of urban science, we have reorganized the journal into the following sections to highlight key emerging research fronts:

• Physical Infrastructures and Networks in Smart Cities
• Smart Urban Energies and Integrated Systems
• Buildings in Smart Cities
• Smart Urban Mobility, Transport, and Logistics
• Artificial Intelligence and LLM Agents for Data-Driven Decisions in Smart Cities
• Internet of Things, Computing, and Communications Technologies in Smart Cities
• Spaces, Environmental and Cultural Preservation in Smart Cities
• Resilient Smart Cities
• Urban Digital Twins and Urban Informatics

The new scope has been refined by the EiC/Section EiC as follows. For sections without a Section EiC, minor revisions will be made once the new Section EiC is in place. The real-time version can be found here: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/smartcities/sections (accessed on 1 November 2025). Publications in topics that are not suitable for these sections will be listed under the general section.

A reorganization of the opening Special Issues, Editorial Board members, and publications will be conducted to align with the new section structure.

3.1. Physical Infrastructures and Networks in Smart Cities

• Scope:

This section will discuss aspects related to the development, management, and digitalization of the fundamental physical systems for urban operations. This includes research related to smart, connected, and resilient infrastructure concerning utilities, transportation, communications, and civil works. Topics of interest range from sensor and IoT integration in physical assets, condition monitoring, and automated maintenance. It also involves synergy among conventionally isolated networks (e.g., power, water, transportation) for improved holistic urban efficiency and service delivery.

• Keywords:

• smart infrastructure
• utility networks
• underground infrastructure
• civil engineering
• structural health monitoring
• sensor networks
• infrastructure resilience
• interdependent networks
• digital asset management
• 5G/6G networks
• connected infrastructure

3.2. Smart Urban Energies and Integrated Systems

• Scope:

This section is dedicated to the transition towards sustainable, efficient, and intelligent urban energy systems. It explores the design, operation, and optimization of smart grids, renewable energy integration, district energy systems, microgrids, storage, and other systems able to improve energy efficiency and savings. A key focus is sector coupling, which explores the energy–mobility nexus (e.g., smart EV charging, vehicle-to-grid), the energy–water nexus, and the complex synergies between electricity, heating, and cooling networks. Digital twins for advanced simulation and real-time optimization of urban systems, aiming to dramatically improve system-level energy efficiency and predictive management, represent a target of this section. A key focus is on the synergistic and intelligent management of energy with other urban flows, such as water, waste, and transportation. Via integrated energy systems and demand response strategies, cities can achieve carbon neutrality and energy security. Another key focus is research on energy harvesting technologies designed to capture ambient or waste energy within the urban environment.

• Keywords:

• smart grid
• renewable energy integration
• district energy
• microgrids
• energy management systems (EMS)
• demand-side response
• building-to-grid (B2G)
• vehicle-to-grid (V2G)
• vehicle-to-everything (V2X)
• integrated energy systems
• sustainable energy
• energy storage
• urban electrification
• energy harvesting
• energy efficiency
• AI-driven strategies

3.3. Buildings in Smart Cities

• Scope:

This section discusses the building as an active, intelligent, and responsive component of the urban ecosystem. It encompasses building automation, energy efficiency, indoor environmental quality, and the interaction of occupants with the building. Research topics include smart HVAC systems, building information modeling (BIM), nearly zero energy buildings (nZEB), and how buildings can interact with the grid and occupants to optimize performance, comfort, and sustainability.

• Keywords:

• smart buildings
• building automation
• building information modeling (BIM)
• energy-efficient buildings
• human-building interaction
• indoor environmental quality
• smart home
• building management system (BMS)
• nearly zero energy building (nZEB)
• digital construction

3.4. Smart Urban Mobility, Transport, and Logistics

• Scope:

The area of smart urban mobility, transport, and logistics refers to more efficient, sustainable, and user-centered transport systems based on the integration of digital technologies, data-driven solutions, and innovative practices. It includes intelligent transport infrastructure, connected and autonomous vehicles, active and shared mobility services, and smart logistics solutions. The aim of this field is to optimize the movement of people and goods while reducing environmental impacts, improving accessibility, and supporting economic competitiveness.

• Keywords:

• active travel—walking, cycling (e-bikes, cargo bikes), and scooters
• autonomous and connected vehicles—self-driving cars, trucks, and drones for both passenger and freight transport
• cybersecurity and data privacy—protecting connected vehicles, user data, and critical transport infrastructure
• data-driven mobility solutions—big data analytics, AI/ML for demand prediction, and optimization of transport flows
• digital twins and simulation models—for transport network optimization, logistics planning, demand forecasting, and choice behavior
• electrification and alternative fuels—e-mobility, hydrogen, biofuels, and charging/refueling infrastructure
• environmental impacts and decarbonization—measuring and mitigating emissions, congestion, and land use effects
• intelligent transport systems (ITS)—real-time congestion/traffic management, adaptive signaling, and connected vehicle infrastructure
• intermodal and multimodal transport integration—seamless connections between road, rail (HSR), air, and waterways, as well as urban transit
• mobility-as-a-service (MaaS)—integrated platforms combining public transport, ridesharing, micromobility, and payment systems
• policy, regulation, and governance—frameworks for the safe deployment of new mobility technologies, safety, sustainability, and parking management
• smart urban logistics—last-mile delivery innovations, micro-hubs, automated warehouses, and cargo bikes
• sustainable and inclusive mobility—ensuring accessibility, affordability, and equity in smart transport systems

3.5. Artificial Intelligence and LLM Agents for Data-Driven Decisions in Smart Cities

• Scope:

This section will present the transformative power of advanced AI, especially Large Language Models and other machine learning methods, within urban management. It will cover topics such as the development and application of AI models for predictive analytics, simulation, automated service delivery, and enhancing public decision making. This encompasses AI/LLMs in urban planning, public safety, social service allocation, and conversational AI agent development to interact with citizens, together with critical studies on their transparency, fairness, and governance.

• Keywords:

• artificial intelligence (AI)
• big data
• large language models (LLM)
• machine learning
• predictive analytics
• natural language processing (NLP)
• AI governance
• decision support systems
• automated governance
• urban simulation

3.6. Internet of Things, Computing, and Communications Technologies in Smart Cities

• Scope:

This section explores the foundational and emerging technologies enabling ubiquitous sensing, intelligent data acquisition, distributed processing, and secure communication across smart cities. It encompasses research on IoT architectures, low-power and high-bandwidth sensor networks (LPWAN, 5G/6G, RFID), edge/fog/cloud computing paradigms, and resilient communication infrastructures.

Contributions dealing with AI-enhanced data processing, federated learning, privacy-preserving mechanisms, and semantic interoperability will also be welcome, due to the increasing requirement of decentralized and intelligent urban systems.

Topics include the design, deployment, and interoperability of sensing and computing systems for applications such as environmental monitoring, infrastructure resilience, intelligent mobility, public safety, and participatory services. Contributions addressing the computational frameworks, data platforms, digital twins, and cybersecurity strategies required to manage the urban data deluge securely and efficiently are especially welcome.

• Keywords:

• IoT devices
• IoT architectures
• AI for IoT
• federated learning
• ICT infrastructures
• 5G/6G networks
• edge/fog/cloud computing
• wireless sensor networks
• LPWAN
• smart city data platforms
• cybersecurity
• privacy-preserving computing
• ubiquitous sensing
• network resilience
• interoperability
• real-time data processing

3.7. Spaces, Environmental and Cultural Preservation in Smart Cities

• Scope:

This section addresses the critical intersection of technology with natural environmental and cultural heritage. It focuses on the use of smart technologies for the monitoring, conservation, and preservation of natural and cultural assets. Applications include air/water/soil quality monitoring, green space management, biodiversity protection, climate adaptation, and the use of digital tools (e.g., 3D scanning, AR/VR) for the documentation, management, and promotion of historic sites and cultural landscapes.

• Keywords:

• environmental monitoring
• cultural heritage preservation
• green infrastructure
• biodiversity
• air quality
• sustainable land use
• digital heritage
• augmented reality (AR)
• historical preservation
• urban ecology
• climate adaptation

3.8. Resilient Smart Cities

• Scope:

This section focuses on strategies and technologies for enhancing a city’s capacity to withstand, adapt to, and recover from a wide range of shocks and stresses. These include climate-related disasters, cyber-physical threats, pandemics, and social disruptions. It welcomes research on risk assessment, resilient critical infrastructure, adaptive governance models, disaster response systems, and community resilience, emphasizing how technology can contribute to more robust and adaptable urban systems.

• Keywords:

• urban resilience
• disaster risk reduction
• climate adaptation
• critical infrastructure protection
• social resilience
• risk assessment
• emergency management
• cyber-physical security
• adaptive capacity
• community resilience

3.9. Urban Digital Twins and Urban Informatics

• Scope:

This section is dedicated to the development and application of urban digital twins as comprehensive, dynamic, and interactive virtual models of physical cities. It covers topics in data acquisition, multi-scale modeling and simulation, real-time data streaming, and human–computer interaction within digital twin platforms. The section also welcomes submissions on city informatics, focusing on novel methodologies for urban data analytics, visualization, and how these tools collectively support city planning, operational management, and participatory decision making.

• Keywords:

• urban digital twin
• city informatics
• urban analytics
• three-dimensional city modeling and simulation
• geospatial analysis
• data integration
• virtual reality (VR)
• predictive modeling
• smart city platforms

4. Future

This new structure allows Smart Cities to more accurately represent the integrated nature of contemporary urban research. Just like smart cities in reality, we will continue to use data and technologies to facilitate the development of the journal. By doing so, Smart Cities will continue to be a top-tier publication venue for cutting-edge research that not only solves contemporary problems but also critically examines their societal implications.

This refresh is an open invitation to the global research community. We encourage you to contribute your work to the most relevant section of the journal. Whether you are developing novel algorithms, implementing a pilot project, or critically analyzing policy frameworks, your research has a home here.