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A special issue of Land (ISSN 2073-445X). This special issue belongs to the section "Land Planning and Landscape Architecture".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 March 2026) | Viewed by 11512

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Fernando Fonseca

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Guest Editor

Centre for Territory, Environment and Construction (CTAC), University of Minho, 4800-058 Guimarães, Portugal
Interests: sustainable mobility; urban planning; sustainability; urban green spaces; geosimulation tools

Dr. Daniel Rodrigues

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Guest Editor

Centre for Territory, Environment and Construction (CTAC), University of Minho, 4800-058 Guimarães, Portugal
Interests: GIS; multicriteria evaluation; spatial analysis; urban environment assessment

Dr. Paulo Ribeiro

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Guest Editor

Centre for Territory, Environment and Construction (CTAC), University of Minho, 4800-058 Guimarães, Portugal
Interests: sustainable mobility; active mobility; mobility as a service; electrical mobility; transport modelling; smart cities; urban living labs; public transports; flexible transport systems (DRT)
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Prof. Dr. Antônio Nélson Rodrigues da Silva

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Guest Editor

Department of Transportation Engineering, São Carlos School of Engineering, University of São Paulo (EESC-USP), São Carlos 13566-590, Brazil
Interests: sustainable urban mobility; sustainable urban planning; active mobility
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Urban planning and sustainable mobility are critical to creating cities that are not only functional but also environmentally friendly and inclusive. As cities around the world face increasing challenges from population growth, climate change, and technological advancements, it is essential to find innovative solutions that promote sustainable urban development. Sustainable mobility, which includes walking, cycling, public transportation, and micro-mobility solutions, plays a vital role in such transformations. By facilitating a mobility transition towards more sustainable forms, cities can significantly reduce the negative environmental impacts associated with private car use, moving closer to climate neutrality. Additionally, sustainable mobility contributes to public health by encouraging physical activity and reducing air pollution and noise. The COVID-19 pandemic has further highlighted the importance of resilient and adaptable urban mobility systems.

This Special Issue aims to bring together researchers and practitioners from various disciplines and regions to advance our understanding of the complex relationships between urban planning and sustainable mobility. We seek to foster a multidisciplinary dialogue that explores innovative strategies, policies, and practises that can support the development of sustainable urban environments. Contributions are expected to offer insights into the design, implementation, and evaluation of sustainable mobility initiatives and their impact on urban life.

This Special Issue welcomes a broad spectrum of research on urban planning and sustainable mobility, including empirical studies, theoretical frameworks, case studies, and practical applications. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:

Holistic approaches and strategic visions to promote urban mobility;
Urban planning policies and initiatives for promoting walking, cycling, and public transportation;
Fifteen-minute cities: redesigning urban spaces for local living and sustainable mobility;
Sustainable mobility and greener streets;
The role of micromobility in sustainable urban transportation;
Impacts of electric, autonomous, and shared vehicles on sustainable urban mobility;
Community engagement and participation in sustainable urban planning;
The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on urban mobility patterns;
Mobility as a Service (MaaS) and its potential to make urban mobility more sustainable;
Resilience as a service (RaaS) in the context of urban mobility;
Case studies of successful sustainable urban planning and mobility initiatives.

We encourage authors to present interdisciplinary research that bridges gaps between urban planning, transportation, environmental science, and social sciences. By compiling diverse perspectives and findings, this Special Issue aims to provide valuable insights for researchers, urban planners, and policymakers working towards creating more sustainable, liveable, and resilient cities.

Dr. Fernando Fonseca
Dr. Daniel Rodrigues
Dr. Paulo Ribeiro
Prof. Dr. Antônio Nélson Rodrigues da Silva
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Land is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

sustainable urban planning
sustainable urban mobility
climate-neutral cities
urban transportation policies
urban resilience and adaptation
sustainable and liveable cities

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Published Papers (8 papers)

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20 pages, 14190 KB

Open AccessArticle

Rethinking Urban Intersections for Sustainable Micro-Mobility: A Kinematic Comparison of E-Scooters and Bicycles at Mini-Roundabouts

by Natalia Distefano, Salvatore Leonardi and Michele Lacagnina

Land 2026, 15(4), 686; https://doi.org/10.3390/land15040686 - 21 Apr 2026

Viewed by 153

Abstract

Urban roundabouts present significant design challenges for the integration of micro-mobility, yet comparative evidence regarding user behavior remains limited. As cities transition toward sustainable transport networks, understanding the operational needs of different micromobility modes is essential for urban planning. This study investigates the dynamic strategies of micromobility users through a controlled field experiment at a mini-roundabout in Gravina di Catania, Italy. Twenty experienced riders executed crossings using conventional bicycles and electric scooters. Utilizing drone recordings and open-source tracking, the analysis extracted speed, longitudinal acceleration, and path radius across 80 maneuvers. The findings reveal that behavior is highly dependent on vehicle type and geometric deflection. On highly deflected trajectories, e-scooters selected wider radii and achieved up to 15% higher speeds and accelerations than bicycles, whereas on gentler trajectories, they adopted more conservative, tighter lines with intense braking. Bicycles exhibited smaller, less systematic adjustments. These significant kinematic differences indicate that bicycles and e-scooters possess distinct performance envelopes. Treating them as a single legal or design class obscures stability disparities influencing conflict risk. Ultimately, this research provides empirical insights to guide urban planners in redesigning intersections, emphasizing that tailored infrastructure and targeted speed management are critical steps toward safer, truly sustainable urban mobility. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Urban Planning and Sustainable Mobility)

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40 pages, 108512 KB

Open AccessArticle

Assessing Public Space Vitality in a Central-City High-Speed Rail Station Area Using Multi-Source Data: A Case Study of Shapingba Station, Chongqing

by Tao Wang and Xu Cui

Land 2026, 15(4), 641; https://doi.org/10.3390/land15040641 - 14 Apr 2026

Viewed by 240

Abstract

This study examines how high-speed rail (HSR) hubs shape public space vitality in central-city station areas, using Shapingba Station (Chongqing, China) as a representative case of station–city integration. We delineated pedestrian catchments using Baidu Map walking isochrones (300–1200 s) and integrated multi-source data, including Public Space Public Life (PSPL) field observations (eight monitoring points, 07:00–24:00), Baidu heat maps, point-of-interest (POI) records, streetscape semantic segmentation, and a perception questionnaire. Indicators were synthesized via entropy weighting, and multivariate associations between perceived vitality and environmental variables were examined using Mantel tests. Pedestrian flow exhibits a clear double-peak pattern (09:00–11:00 and 15:00–16:00), averaging 42,248 pedestrians per day (2347 per hour) and showing strong spatial heterogeneity across monitoring points. POIs show a pronounced core–periphery structure: totals increase from 803 (300 s) to 4365 (600 s) and 7539 (1200 s), while overall density declines from 7477 to 2492 POIs/km², highlighting a 600 s core where accessibility and functional agglomeration are most strongly coupled. Overall, this study contributes a replicable multi-source evaluation framework and quantitative evidence on accessibility–function coupling and micro-scale design effects in HSR station areas, enabling theory-informed comparisons across station typologies and urban contexts. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Urban Planning and Sustainable Mobility)

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20 pages, 20871 KB

Open AccessArticle

Analyzing and Predicting Spatio-Temporal Urban Expansion Based on Cellular Automata Modelling

by József Benedek, Iulian Holobâcă, Ibolya Török, Cosmina-Daniela Ursu, Kinga Temerdek-Ivan and Mircea Alexe

Land 2026, 15(4), 577; https://doi.org/10.3390/land15040577 - 31 Mar 2026

Viewed by 359

Abstract

Urban agglomerations play a pivotal role in the economic and social progress of regions and countries. Substantial urban expansion, particularly in metropolitan areas, has been generally associated with economic and population growth. This study investigates the spatio-temporal urban expansion of Romania’s major metropolitan areas using Cellular Automata (CA). Focusing on eight metropolitan areas, the paper analyzes land cover dynamics from 2015 to 2020 and it develops a model of urban growth for the years 2025 and 2030. The novelty of the paper is represented by the combination of the CA algorithm and economic complexity for predicting the expansion of built-up areas. To our knowledge it is the first attempt to combine these two aspects in modelling urban growth. The analysis incorporates six variables such as land use, population density, distance to roads, slope, restricted areas and economic complexity to offer insights into future urbanization trends. Our study concluded that CA proved to be a valuable approach for modelling urban growth. The great added value of the paper is related to the integration of the economic complexity index into urban growth model. Doing so, our results not only summarize both economic development and demographic dynamics within major metropolitan areas, but they have provided the urban growth model with a novel and more robust basis for prediction. The results indicate variations in the growth rates and spatial patterns of urbanization, emphasizing the importance of informed urban planning for a sustainable urban development. A major conclusion of the paper is that the actual urban fabric will not suffer significant changes, as it is already compact. Only at the peripheries of the major urban centres there are free space reserves which can be densified by future constructions. Thus, the lack of free space in the city’s core areas and the expensive costs drive the expansion of the built-up areas towards the suburban localities located near the urban centres. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Urban Planning and Sustainable Mobility)

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25 pages, 10135 KB

Open AccessArticle

Explainable Machine Learning for Evaluating Coupling and Coordination of the Sustainability Trilemma: A Case Study of Hebei Province

by Qiaobi Chen, Leigang Sun, Qing Zhang, Kefa Zhou, Jinlin Wang, Jiantao Bi, Wei Wang, Yingpeng Lu, Guangjun Qu and Shulei Lu

Land 2026, 15(1), 73; https://doi.org/10.3390/land15010073 - 31 Dec 2025

Viewed by 511

Abstract

Achieving coordinated development among social equity (SE), economic development (ED), and ecosystem health (EH) is central to resolving the sustainability trilemma. This study investigated the spatiotemporal evolution and driving forces of SE–ED–EH coordinated development in Hebei Province, China, from 2005 to 2020 using a 1 km grid dataset. A comprehensive analytical framework integrating the Coupling Coordination Degree (CCD) model, fuzzy C-means clustering, and interpretable machine learning (XGBoost–SHAP) was developed to quantify changes in coupling and coordination (CC) levels and reveal nonlinear threshold effects. Results show pronounced spatial heterogeneity: urban cores exhibit “high coupling degree (C)–high coordination degree (T)–high CC level,” southeastern plains show “high C–low T–medium CC level,” and northwestern mountainous areas present “low C–medium/high T–low CC level.” Six dominant temporal evolution types were identified. XGBoost–SHAP reveals that nighttime lights (NL), population density (POP), and elevation (DEM) are the dominant drivers, with clear threshold ranges (NL 500–1500 nits; POP threshold near 40 persons km⁻² with diminishing returns beyond 100 persons km⁻²; DEM constraint at 1000–1250 m) and strong interaction effects. The results suggest that Hebei is entering a quality- and structure-oriented rebalancing stage, where threshold-based management is critical for avoiding marginal loss of coordinated development. This study demonstrates that interpretable machine learning provides a transferable paradigm for threshold calibration, spatial zoning, and policy optimization aligned with SDGs, particularly applicable for resource-constrained regions undergoing late industrial transition. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Urban Planning and Sustainable Mobility)

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22 pages, 2572 KB

Open AccessArticle

How the Internet Celebrity Economy Influences the Gentrification Trend of Historic Conservation Districts: Taking Tanhualin District in China as an Example

by Yibing Yao, Jiaming Xu, Hong Geng, Yuanzhi Zhang and Jing Qiao

Land 2025, 14(9), 1806; https://doi.org/10.3390/land14091806 - 4 Sep 2025

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2214

Abstract

Urban renewal has driven historic conservation districts to experience a series of changes characterized by gentrification. In the 21st century, internet traffic can be fully monetized. The intervention of the internet has made the gentrification process more diversified. Using color and item detection, points of interests (POIs), and word cloud analysis, this study takes a typical historic conservation district as an example to explore how it changed spatially, economically, and socially during the gentrification process. The results show that the internet celebrity economy possesses both promoting and dissolving effects. The promoting effects include the following: (1) the internet celebrity economy breaks the elites’ monopoly on spatial aesthetic discourse; (2) emotional value has promoted the integration of different groups’ consumption; and (3) gentrification occurs locally so spatial exclusion is not significant. The dissolving effects include the following: (1) the low-cost and rapid renovation of space reduces spatial quality; and (2) the fast-moving consumer model may possibly lead to unsustainable development. This study proposes that the intervention of the internet celebrity economy can alleviate the isolation drawbacks of traditional gentrification and promote social equity, and the promoting effects outweigh the negative effects. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Urban Planning and Sustainable Mobility)

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24 pages, 1776 KB

Open AccessArticle

Development Strategies for the Mediterranean Coastal Landscape: Adaptive Decision-Making Processes for Implementing the Circular Economy in the Redevelopment of the Reggio Calabria Waterfront

by Lucia Della Spina and Vanessa Assumma

Land 2025, 14(2), 301; https://doi.org/10.3390/land14020301 - 31 Jan 2025

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2355

Abstract

This document explores a circular approach to the redevelopment of the city–port system of Reggio Calabria, an area characterized by complex challenges involving economic, social, and environmental needs. By developing a multidimensional decision-making process, three development scenarios were identified to support a sustainable transition. The methodology integrates both quantitative and qualitative assessments, actively involving the local community and stakeholders. The proposed methodology operationalizes the principles of the circular economy by aligning sustainable regeneration scenarios with local needs and environmental constraints. The integrated assessment ensures the applicability of circular models for the resilient redevelopment of the waterfront. The results demonstrate how this model can be applied to other Mediterranean port cities to promote sustainable and resilient regeneration. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Urban Planning and Sustainable Mobility)

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17 pages, 2387 KB

Open AccessArticle

Temporal and Spatial Pattern of Expressway Construction in China from 1999 to 2019 and Its Correlation with Regional Economic Growth

by Jialing Liang and Huiming Zong

Land 2024, 13(12), 2041; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13122041 - 28 Nov 2024

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2165

Abstract

As one of the important factors affecting regional economic development, expressway construction has been a concern of scholars worldwide. China’s highway construction is relatively late compared with Western developed countries, but the speed is faster. The construction is in step with China’s high-speed economic growth stage. However, there is temporal and spatial heterogeneity in expressway construction and economic development across different regions of the world, which has not been fully documented in the current literature. Using panel data from 1999 to 2019 encompassing expressway construction and regional economic development indicators of 233 prefecture-level cities in China, this paper delves into the dynamics of expressway infrastructure development and its correlation with regional economic growth. Using regression analysis, the study provides the following key insights: (1) As of 2019, expressway density exhibits a spatial pattern characterized by a higher density in major urban clusters and provincial capitals and a lower density in northeastern China and border regions. Between 1999 and 2009, the eastern region witnessed the fastest increase in expressway density, while the central region surpassed the eastern region in density growth during 2009–2019. Over the past two decades, there has been a significant overall increase in expressway growth nationwide, with the distribution of prefecture-level cities experiencing relatively faster growth rates aligning with the principles of the “National Highway Network Planning”. (2) Although there has been an overall increase in per capita GDP among prefecture-level cities, there has also been a widening disparity between these cities. Meanwhile, the total GDP of the central and western regions has experienced notable growth, effectively closing the gap with the eastern region. While total GDP demonstrates balanced development, per capita GDP displays a more varied pattern of growth. (3) Expressway density has played a positive role in fostering regional economic growth across the country over the long term. However, its impact has been more pronounced in the western region from 1999 to 2009 and increasingly significant in the eastern and central regions from 2009 to 2019. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Urban Planning and Sustainable Mobility)

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31 pages, 2198 KB

Open AccessSystematic Review

Combining Resilience and Sustainability in Urban Mobility: A Scoping Review and Thematic Analysis

by Mariana Luiza da Silva Sassaron, Antônio Nélson Rodrigues da Silva, Fernando Fonseca, Daniel Rodrigues, Paulo J. G. Ribeiro and Camila Mayumi Nakata-Osaki

Land 2025, 14(10), 2063; https://doi.org/10.3390/land14102063 - 16 Oct 2025

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1947

Abstract

The need to address long-term sustainability goals while ensuring short-term resilience to unexpected disruptions is placing an increasing challenge on urban mobility systems. This study organizes an analytical framework that compares and integrates the concepts of sustainability and resilience in urban mobility. A scoping review and thematic analysis were conducted to identify and compare the definitions, dimensions, and operational features of these two paradigms. The results reveal that, although they are conceptually distinct, sustainability and resilience share subjects of analysis, including multimodality and diversity of transport modes, the impacts of climate change, and social equity issues. However, they also present tensions between the dimensions of efficiency and redundancy, speed of recovery and sustainability of implemented solutions, and new vulnerabilities introduced by sustainable technologies. These synergies and trade-offs underscore the necessity of an integrated, systemic and holistic approach to urban mobility planning. The study emphasizes that building resilient and sustainable urban mobility requires coherent policies across government levels, technical capacity, public engagement, and comprehensive indicators. Recommendations for future research include developing integrated metrics and planning tools to support evidence-based decision-making. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Urban Planning and Sustainable Mobility)

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