Announcements
11 December 2025
International Mountain Day—“Glaciers Matter for Water, Food and Livelihoods in Mountains and Beyond”, 11 December 2025
International Mountain Day highlights the essential role of glaciers in the Earth system and the importance of protecting these rapidly changing environments. Glaciers help regulate climate patterns, store vast quantities of freshwater, and sustain river systems that support agriculture, ecosystems, and energy production. For many vulnerable mountain communities, seasonal meltwater is a crucial source of water throughout the year.
Glaciers are also among the most responsive indicators of climate change. Rising global temperatures are driving widespread ice loss, which is altering the timing and quantity of water flow in rivers, affecting downstream ecosystems, and reducing long-term water availability. Glacier retreat can also increase the likelihood of hazards such as glacier lake outburst floods, landslides, and destabilisation of surrounding terrain. These impacts directly influence food security, clean water supply, and the safety of communities living in high-altitude and downstream areas.
To reflect this global focus, we invite you to explore a curated collection of articles and Special Issues from MDPI journals across the Environmental and Sciences subject. This collection highlights research on glacier change, hydrology, mountain hazards, and adaptation strategies that can support communities and ecosystems facing a warming climate.
By deepening scientific understanding and fostering collaboration across disciplines, we can contribute to global efforts to protect glacier environments and the people who depend on them.
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“Glacier Extraction from Cloudy Satellite Images Using a Multi-Task Generative Adversarial Network Leveraging Transformer-Based Backbones”
by Yuran Cui, Kun Jia, Haishuo Wei, Guofeng Tao, Fengcheng Ji, Jie Li, Shijiao Qiao, Linlin Zhao, Zihang Jiang, Xinyi Gao et al.
Remote Sens. 2025, 17(21), 3570; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs17213570
“Contemporary Tendencies in Snow Cover, Winter Precipitation, and Winter Air Temperatures in the Mountain Regions of Bulgaria”
by Dimitar Nikolov and Cvetan Dimitrov
Climate 2025, 13(10), 212; https://doi.org/10.3390/cli13100212
“Ice Avalanche-Triggered Glacier Lake Outburst Flood: Hazard Assessment at Jiongpuco, Southeastern Tibet”
by Shuwu Li, Changhu Li, Zhengzheng Li, Lei Li and Wei Wang
Water 2025, 17(14), 2102; https://doi.org/10.3390/w17142102
“The Status, Applications, and Modifications of the Snowmelt Runoff Model (SRM): A Comprehensive Review”
by Ninad Bhagwat, Rohitashw Kumar, Mahrukh Qureshi, Raja M. Nagisetty and Xiaobing Zhou
Hydrology 2025, 12(6), 156; https://doi.org/10.3390/hydrology12060156
“Glacier and Snow Cover Dynamics and Their Affecting Factors on the Pamir Plateau Section of the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor”
by Yonglong Han, Yonghui Wang, Xiaofei Ma and Yanjun Shang
Land 2025, 14(4), 880; https://doi.org/10.3390/land14040880
“Neural Network Downscaling to Obtain Local Precipitation Scenarios in the Italian Alps: A Case Study”
by Cristina Iacomino and Antonello Pasini
Climate 2024, 12(9), 147; https://doi.org/10.3390/cli12090147
“Mass Balance of Maritime Glaciers in the Southeastern Tibetan Plateau during Recent Decades”
by Xiaowei Lyu, Yong Zhang, Huanhuan Wang and Xin Wang
Sustainability 2024, 16(16), 7118; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16167118
“Combining “Deep Learning” and Physically Constrained Neural Networks to Derive Complex Glaciological Change Processes from Modern High-Resolution Satellite Imagery: Application of the GEOCLASS-Image System to Create VarioCNN for Glacier Surges”
by Ute C. Herzfeld, Lawrence J. Hessburg, Thomas M. Trantow and Adam N. Hayes
Remote Sens. 2024, 16(11), 1854; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs16111854
“Late Cretaceous Tectono-Metamorphic Events in the Skyros Upper Metamorphic Unit (Olympus Mountain), Aegean Sea, Greece”
by Dimitra Boundi, Dimitrios Papanikolaou, Giulia Bosio and Chiara Montemagni
Geosciences 2024, 14(3), 69; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences14030069
“Steel Baffles as a Rockfall Protection Measure for Mountainous Urban Settings”
by Jude Shalitha Perera and Nelson Lam
Geosciences 2023, 13(3), 93; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences13030093
| “Snow and Glacier Hydrology in Changing Climate and Urbanisation” Guest Editor: Dr. Mohd Soheb Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 January 2026 |
“The Third Pole in Peril: Climate Change, Water Security, and Sustainable Futures in the Hindu Kush Himalaya” Guest Editor: Dr. Katie Conlon Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 April 2026 |
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| “Glacier Mass Balance and Variability” Guest Editor: Prof. Dr. Yuande Yang Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2026 |
“Climate Change Scenarios and Impacts for the Mountain Regions at Middle Latitudes” Guest Editors: Dr. Teodoro Georgiadis, Dr. Massimiliano Fazzini and Dr. Letizia Cremonini Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 July 2026 |
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11 December 2025
Article Layout and Template Revised for Future Volumes
5 December 2025
MDPI Open Science Insights: Academic Publishing Workshop at the Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV), 18 December 2025
MDPI is excited to collaborate with the Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV) to host an exclusive academic publishing workshop aimed at empowering researchers with the knowledge and tools needed for successful academic publishing. This workshop will cover key aspects of MDPI’s open access publishing model, including journal selection, editorial workflow, and publication ethics. Participants will receive practical tips on improving their scientific writing and addressing reviewer comments, guided by experienced editors.
Date: 18 December 2025
Time: 12:30–14:00
Venue: Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV)
Registration link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/GZMC5SZ
Schedule:
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Speaker |
Program |
Time |
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Caral Zhou |
Introduction to Open Access and the Remote Sensing Journal |
12:30–12:50 |
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Caral Zhou |
Tips on Scientific Writing |
12:50–13:10 |
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Jesús García |
Peer Review Editorial Process |
13:10–13:30 |
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Jesús García |
Research Integrity |
13:30–13:50 |
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Q&A Session |
13:50–14:00 |
Chair:
Dr. José Luís Lerma García
Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV), Professor and Coordinator of the PhD Program in Geomatics Engineering, Valencia, Spain.
Speakers:
Caral Zhou holds a master’s degree from the University of Barcelona. She began her career at MDPI in 2023, working with the International Journal of Molecular Sciences (IJMS) and the Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology (JFMK). In 2024, she advanced to the position of Section Managing Editor, and in 2025, she was appointed Journal Relations Specialist for JFMK, where she continues to contribute to the journal’s development and collaboration initiatives.
Dr. Jesús García Cano graduated from Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, has a master’s degree from the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, and obtained his PhD from the Universidad de C.-La Mancha in the field of biochemistry, molecular biology, and biomedicine. He joined MDPI in February 2020 working as an Assistant Editor for IJMS and Viruses, in which he soon reached the Quality Check position and developed the roles of Section Managing Editor and Journal Relations Specialist in a wide selection of molecular science journals (SynBio, BioChem, JPM, Receptors) and others such as EJIHPE. In addition to his editorial roles, he has also worked as a Group Leader and Conference Representative; he is currently the Office Manager at the company’s Barcelona office.
18 November 2025
Meet Us at the Conference on Geoinformation 2025, 24–28 November 2025, Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico
17 November 2025
Topics Webinar | EO&GEO Series: GIS Day – GeoAI Frontiers: Advancing Trajectory Analysis and LLMs for the Future of Autonomous Geospatial Systems, 19 November 2025
This special webinar is organized to celebrate GIS Day and raise awareness of the importance of geography and GIS technology.
In the 2025 edition, the webinar presents GeoAI Frontiers – Trajectory Analysis, LLMs, and the Future of Autonomous Geospatial Systems, designed to explore both the foundational methodologies and the latest advancements shaping the field of Geospatial Information Science (GIScience).
Our objective is to provide attendees with a comprehensive view of critical techniques for analyzing spatial change (such as Trajectory Analysis) while simultaneously offering in-depth perspectives on the most transformative emerging technology: the integration of Generative AI and Large Language Models (LLMs) into geospatial workflows. The session will cover the impact of these technologies across key areas, including geospatial education, cloud-native solutions, and the strategic vision for creating Autonomous GIS platforms. Attendees will gain actionable insights into the evolution of analysis and data generation at the frontier of AI.
Date: 19 November 2025
Time: 3:00 p.m. CET | 9:00 a.m. EST
Webinar ID: 828 0337 4217
Register now for free!
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Speaker/Presentation |
Time in CET |
Time in EST |
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Prof. Dr. Eliseo Clementini |
3:00–3:10 p.m. |
9:00–9:10 a.m. |
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Prof. Dr. Robert Gilmore Pontius Jr. |
3:10–3:30 p.m. |
9:10–9:30 a.m. |
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Prof. Dr. Hartwig H. Hochmair |
3:30–3:50 p.m. |
9:30–9:50 a.m. |
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Dr. Hao Li |
3:50–4:10 p.m. |
9:50–10:10 a.m. |
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Dr. Levente Juhász |
4:10–4:30 p.m. |
10:10–10:30 a.m. |
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Q&A Session |
4:30–4:45 p.m. |
10:30–10:45 a.m. |
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Prof. Dr. Eliseo Clementini |
4:45–4:50 p.m. |
10:45–10:50 a.m. |
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information on how to join the webinar. Registrations with academic or institutional email addresses will be prioritized.
Unable to attend? Feel free to register nonetheless; we will inform you once a recording of the webinar becomes available.
Webinar Chair and Keynote Speakers:
- Prof. Dr. Eliseo Clementini, Department of Industrial and Information Engineering and Economics, University of L’Aquila, Italy;
- Prof. Dr. Robert Gilmore Pontius Jr., School of Geography at Clark University in the United States of America;
- Prof. Hartwig H. Hochmair, Geomatics Sciences, University of Florida, USA;
- Dr. Hao Li, Department of Geography, National University of Singapore;
- Dr. Levente Juhász, GIS Center, Florida International University, USA.
Relevant Special Issues:
“Advances in AI-Driven Geospatial Analysis and Data Generation (2nd Edition)”
Guest Editors: Dr. Levente Juhász, Prof. Dr. Hartwig H. Hochmair and Dr. Hao Li
Deadline for Manuscript Submission: 31 December 2025
“Indoor Mobile Mapping and Location-Based Knowledge Services”
Guest Editors: Prof. Dr. Eliseo Clementini and Dr. Zhiyong Zhou
Deadline for Manuscript Submission: 31 December 2025
“LLM4GIS: Large Language Models for GIS”
Guest Editors: Prof. Dr. Huayi Wu and Prof. Dr. Zhipeng Gui
Deadline for Manuscript Submission: 31 August 2026
For more information about this webinar, please visit the following link: https://sciforum.net/event/Topics-45.
If you have any questions about this webinar, please contact journal.webinar@mdpi.com.
Topics Webinar Secretariat
5 November 2025
Meet Us Virtually at the 6th International Electronic Conference on Remote Sensing—Global Perspectives for the Next Generation in Earth Observation, 19–21 October 2026
4 November 2025
MDPI INSIGHTS: The CEO's Letter #28 - WSF11, Nobel Laureates, Proofig AI, Romania Summit, STM and FBF
Welcome to the MDPI Insights: The CEO's Letter.
In these monthly letters, I will showcase two key aspects of our work at MDPI: our commitment to empowering researchers and our determination to facilitating open scientific exchange.
Opening Thoughts
Highlights from the 11th World Sustainability Forum in Barcelona
I’m pleased to share some highlights from the 11th World Sustainability Forum (WSF 11), held in Barcelona on 2–3 October 2025 under the theme Sustainable and Resilient Cities.
Why WSF matters
The WSF series is a flagship initiative for MDPI and is supported by the MDPI Sustainability Foundation. It serves as a transdisciplinary platform for researchers, policymakers, and stakeholders to engage on sustainability challenges. WSF is now held annually as part of our commitment to maintain momentum in the sustainability discourse.
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This year’s Barcelona edition focused on urban resilience, landscape design, and social community impact in the sustainability space. Over 48 hours of sessions, we brought together leading minds across disciplines to translate vision into practice. With participants from 53 countries across all continents, WSF 11 was truly global in scope.
“WSF is now held annually as part of our commitment to maintain momentum in the sustainability discourse”
What made WSF 11 especially successful (from my vantage point) was the level of positive engagement with our participants. Chief editors, researchers, and attendees repeatedly told me how professionally executed the event was, highlighting the high energy, logistical smoothness and quality of MDPI’s event management. That kind of recognition from peers really builds our reputation as more than just a publisher, but as a convener of meaningful scientific dialogue.
Our conferences are a form of experiential marketing as they create memorable and immersive connections between a brand and attendees. These positive associations build promotion and brand loyalty, ultimately impacting the MDPI’s trust and reputation for the better.
WSF 11: By the numbers
Here’s a quick snapshot of WSF 11’s scale and reach:
- 181 registrations across global participants.
- 8 keynote speakers and 5 invited speakers.
- 144 abstracts accepted (over 355 submitted), resulting in 75 short talks and 69 posters.
- 53 countries were represented across all continents, making it a truly international event.
- First time that we ran parallel sessions for WSF (an ambitious program).
- A dedicated awards ceremony to honour outstanding sustainability research: World Sustainability Award (WSA) x 2 winners, and Emerging Sustainability Leader Award (ESLA) x 3 winners.
Interviews with our World Sustainability Award Winners
One of the most rewarding parts of WSF is recognizing researchers whose work advances sustainability in powerful ways. In our Blog series, Daniella Maritan-Thomson (Content Specialist, MDPI) interviewed the two winners of the World Sustainability Award, Professor Dr. Stuart Pimm and Dr. Abdelbagi M. Ismail, who offered insights to the human side of sustainability research, the people behind the data, and the stories behind the science.
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Prof. Stuart Pimm, whose decades of conservation work make him a leader in biodiversity preservation, reflected on his WSF Award experience and research in this interview: [Interview: Prof Stuart Pimm] |
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Dr. Abdelbagi M. Ismail, an expert in crop improvement and winner of the WSF Award, shares his journey and perspectives here: [Interview: Dr Abdelbagi M. Ismail] |
“Our conferences create memorable and immersive connections”
Emerging Sustainability Leader Award winners
Stefan Tochev (CEO, MDPI), Prof. Dr. Vhahangwele Masindi, Dr. Katya Rhodes, and Prof. Dr. Myriam Ertz (left to right).
We also recognized three recipients of the Emerging Sustainability Leader Award: Prof. Dr. Vhahangwele Masindi, Dr. Katya Rhodes, and Prof. Dr. Myriam Ertz, for their contributions as early-career researchers advancing sustainability through innovation, impact, and academic excellence across the field.
What this means for MDPI
- Building our global identity in events
WSF is a marquee MDPI event, not just a gathering, but a statement of how we wish to position ourselves in the global sustainability ecosystem. The positive feedback helps us build on our approach for future editions, so that we remain a reference point for quality, relevance, and engagement. - Expanding capacity across offices
The success of WSF 11 in Barcelona’s would not have happened without great teamwork from Basel, Barcelona, Romania, the UK, and the APAC Conference team. Thanks to everyone for their work to bring this ambitious event to life. - Supporting MDPI’s mission
At this event, I had the opportunity to present on MDPI's role in Open Access, sustainability publishing, and the intersection of science and policy. WSF is not only about the science; it’s also a platform for us to position MDPI as a thought leader and a collaborator in shaping the future of sustainable research.
I look forward to the WSF momentum as we work towards WSF 12 in Hong Kong, which is scheduled for August 2026.
MDPI Colleagues at the 11th World Sustainability Forum in Barcelona, Spain, 2–3 October 2025.
Impactful Research
Celebrating 2025 Nobel Laureates who have published with MDPI
October is always an inspiring month in science. It’s when the world turns its attention to the Nobel Prize announcements, recognizing discoveries that have changed how we understand the world.
Over the years, many distinguished researchers who have received the Nobel Prize have chosen to publish their work with MDPI. These are scientists whose breakthroughs have shaped entire fields of research, and who have entrusted our Open Access journals to share their findings with the world.
“The work we support can be world-class and world-changing”
Congratulations to the 2025 Laureates
Dozens of Nobel Laureates have published in our journals: as at 2024, more than 40 laureates had contributed over 115 articles across more than 35 MDPI journals. Congratulations to the three 2025 Nobel prize-winners who have published with MDPI during their careers. Below are links to their MDPI publications and announcements for further reading:
- Omar M. Yaghi (Chemistry)
- Awarded for his pioneering work on metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). MDPI published his article “Covalent Organic Frameworks: Organic Chemistry Beyond the Molecule” in Molecules (2017).
- MDPI Announcement: https://www.mdpi.com/news/13455
- Nobel Prize in Chemistry – The Science Behind the Prize
- Shimon Sakaguchi (Medicine)
- Recognized for discoveries in immune-system self-tolerance and regulatory T-cells. Published in Cancers (2021).
- MDPI Announcement: https://www.mdpi.com/news/13443
- Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine – The Science Behind the Prize
- John M. Martinis (Physics)
- Recognized for quantum tunnelling in electrical circuits. MDPI’s Journal of Nuclear Engineering (2025) includes his co-authored work.
- MDPI Announcement: https://www.mdpi.com/news/13450
- Nobel Prize in Physics – The Science Behind the Prize
These connections strengthen our mission to make research freely available and ensure that transformative ideas reach the widest possible audience.
Publishing at the leading edge of knowledge
The privilege of hosting such contributors resonates deeply with our editorial teams. It shows that top-tier scientific work has a home at MDPI, which builds our visibility in the research community. It signals that our publishing model, our editorial workflows, and our commitment to Open Access are respected at the very highest levels of science. It also gives our authors, reviewers, editors and staff the message that the work we support can be world-class and world-changing.
Publishing at the leading edge of knowledge isn’t just about individual papers – it’s about the ecosystem of support, transparency, and accessibility that makes discovery possible. Let’s continue to build a publishing platform and provide a service that attracts and enables both everyday research and the breakthroughs of tomorrow.
Inside MDPI
Strengthening Research Integrity: MDPI partners with Proofig AI
I’m pleased to share that MDPI has entered a multi-year partnership with Proofig AI, a leader in AI-driven proofing and integrity software for scientific publishing. This follows the success of our pilot program, in which Proofig AI proved highly effective in detecting duplicated, altered, and manipulated images across biomedical submissions.
Safeguarding the credibility of the research we publish
Research integrity is at the core of MDPI’s mission. The life sciences, in particular, face increasing risks of image-related issues due to advanced editing tools and generative AI. By integrating Proofig AI into our workflows, we improve our ability to detect issues early, reduce post-publication corrections, and safeguard the credibility of the research we publish.
Pilot outcomes
- Successful detection of duplicated confocal and histology images, even when altered to disguise similarities.
- Early results showed a significant drop in post-publication image manipulation flags year-on-year.
- Positive feedback from editors and staff highlighted the tool’s ease of use and reliability.
Dr. Dror Kolodkin-Gal (co-founder and CEO of Proofig AI) said:
“The MDPI team conducted a highly professional and carefully monitored pilot, achieving excellent results in detecting problematic images.
Their fast and effective integration process was impressive, and we are excited to contribute to this important collaboration.”
Sanita Meijere (IT Product and Project Manager, MDPI), shared:
“For more than a year, we’ve tested all the available image manipulation detection tools. Proofig AI’s quality and ease of use, alongside positive feedback from our internal users, made their software a clear stand-out.
We’re thrilled to be moving forward with this partnership, ensuring we do our utmost to protect MDPI’s biomedical journals. Using this advanced image proofing software reaffirms MDPI’s commitment to maintaining the highest standards in research integrity.”
Raising the bar for integrity
This partnership sets a new benchmark for quality control in biomedical publishing.
As Tim Tait-Jamieson (Head of Publication Ethics, MDPI), explains:
“The life sciences are disproportionately affected by research integrity issues, making vigilance in this field especially critical. This is driven, in part, by the increasing sophistication of image editing software and generative AI.
Whether accidental or deliberate, image manipulation can have a lasting impact on credibility. By integrating Proofig AI into our editorial workflows, we strengthen our ability to detect scientific misconduct early and reduce post-publication amendments.”
Faster and more accurate quality control
Proofig will automatically flag potentially problematic images during submission checks, giving our editors more confidence in the integrity of manuscripts and freeing up time to focus on editorial decisions. The tool will also reduce the burden of manual checks, while supporting faster and more accurate quality control. This partnership reinforces MDPI's reputation as a publisher that takes integrity seriously and continues to invest in tools to support authors, editors, and reviewers alike.
A big thank-you to all colleagues who supported the pilot and rollout. You can read more in our MDPI Blog post.
Coming Together for Science
The MDPI Romania Summit 2025
On 21–22 October, I had the pleasure of joining our colleagues in Bucharest for the MDPI Romania Summit 2025. The event was organized by our Romania Marketing team, with support from colleagues across our Romanian offices. It brought together academics, policymakers, and collaborators to discuss the country’s evolving research landscape.
Over two days, we welcomed more than 30 participants, including Editorial Board Members, Guest Editors, and policy-makers from the Romanian research and education sectors, including representatives from the Romanian Academy and the National Commission for the Accreditation of Academic Titles (CNATDCU).
The discussions and presentations reflected the strength and growth of Romania’s research community and its active engagement in Open Access publishing.
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“The discussions and presentations reflected the strength and growth of Romania’s research community”
Romania’s role in Open Access
Romania loves Open Access and has emerged as one of MDPI’s most engaged national research communities. The numbers speak for themselves:
- 67% of all publications in Romania were Open Access in 2024.
- MDPI accounts for 39% of the country’s total OA publications (14,779 in 2024).
- Over the last five years (2020–2024), Romanian institutions published over 33,000 papers with MDPI.
- There are 460 active Editorial Board Members from Romania, including 8 Chief Editors.
- 29 institutions are part of our Institutional Open Access Program (IOAP), with 8 new members joining in 2025.
These numbers reflect the trust and reliable partnership we have built with the Romanian academic community.
Highlights from the Summit
The program covered a wide range of topics from MDPI’s achievements and updates to our editorial processes, peer-review quality, AI in publishing, IOAP and Open Access funding models, and publication ethics.
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Agenda Highlights:
- MDPI Introduction, Performance & Achievements, and Collaboration with Romania – Stefan Tochev (CEO, MDPI).
- Trust the Process: Editorial Workflow and Quality in Publishing – Dr. Liliane Auwerter (Scientific Review Group).
- Publication Ethics at MDPI: Safeguarding the Integrity of the Published Scholarly Record – Diana Cristina Apodaritei (Research Integrity Specialist).
- Institutional Partnerships – Becky Castellon (Institutional Partnerships Manager, MDPI).
- AI in Publishing and MDPI's Actions – Sanita Meijere (AI Product Manager).
- Closing Remarks – Stefan Tochev (CEO, MDPI).
Participants shared feedback and ideas for future collaborations, including organizing author workshops, possible conference collaborations, and strengthening our engagement with national institutions such as the Ministry of Education and Research and the National Council of Romanian Rectors.
As Acad. Dr. Nicolae-Victor Zamfir, Vice President of the Romanian Academy, noted during the discussions:
“The organization of the event is very timely, because MDPI is a publishing house in full development and expansion. The opinion of researchers is important for increasing the quality of published works.”
A collaborative future
Events like this remind us how essential it is to engage locally and listen directly to the voices of our editors, authors, and institutional partners. They help us build relationships, improve our understanding of the local market, and align our shared goals in advancing Open Access and research quality.
Thank you to everyone involved, especially our Romania Marketing team, who organized the event, and to all colleagues who continue to build relationships with our academic communities around the world.
Thank you!
A special thank-you to the Romanian Marketing team and all colleagues behind the scenes who made this Summit such a success. Your efforts are greatly appreciated. We look forward to building on this momentum with future Summits in Europe and beyond.
Closing Thoughts
STM and FBF 2025: Connecting Through Science and Publishing
Stefan Tochev (CEO, MDPI), Constanze Schelhorn (Head of Indexing, MDPI) at STM Conference, Frankfurt, 14 October 2025.
On 13–14 October, I attended the STM Frankfurt Conference 2025, my fourth visit to the Frankfurt event, and it continues to be one of the most valuable gatherings in our industry.
The STM meeting brings together the publishing community and key opinion leaders to speak on current trends and challenges shaping our industry.
This year’s theme – “Science Diplomacy: What is it and How Does it Work?” – unpacked the growing intersection of science, policy, and publishing.
Discussion topics ranged from what is science diplomacy and how publishers can contribute to global collaboration to how science communication can help maintain trust during an era of disruption.
I was joined by Dr. Constanze Schelhorn, our Head of Indexing, who met with representatives from Scopus, Web of Science, Digital Science, ProQuest, and other partners. These meetings give us a chance to share feedback on our collaborations, learn about new updates being developed, and build our relationships with indexing bodies.
“The STM meeting brings together the publishing community and key opinion leaders”
STM also provides a space to connect with industry peers, as I did with colleagues from Elsevier, Frontiers, Clarivate, Sage, and STM itself, reinforcing MDPI’s engagement within the broader publishing community. It was also nice to bump into some former colleagues and see them continuing to grow in their publishing careers.
At the Frankfurt Book Fair
The MDPI booth at the 2025 Frankfurt Book Fair.
Following STM, I spent the next day at the Frankfurt Book Fair (15–19 October) – one of the largest and most influential events in the publishing world.
It’s always inspiring to see the scale and energy of this global gathering, which spans everything from books and education to digital innovation and academic publishing.
We set up an MDPI booth to host discussions with partners, vendors, and researchers.
The Fair ran into the weekend, with colleagues from several MDPI departments attending to represent the company and connect with the scholarly community.
Events like STM and FBF are a nice reminder of how dynamic and interconnected our industry is, and how important it is for MDPI to continue taking part in global conversations about science, communication, and the future of publishing.
Chief Executive Officer
MDPI AG
30 October 2025
Topics Webinar | EO&GEO Series: New Perspectives on 3D Point Clouds in the Heritage Field, 31 October 2025
Welcome from the Chair:
It is my great pleasure to introduce this webinar, New Perspectives on 3D Point Clouds in the Heritage Field.
In recent years, the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) with advanced 3D documentation techniques has created exciting opportunities for cultural heritage research and conservation. Semantic segmentation methods, empowered by machine and deep learning, now allow us to classify and interpret 3D point clouds, enabling automated recognition of architectural elements.
Equally important is the application of AI-driven workflows for damage detection and structural assessment, where 3D point cloud analysis supports the early identification of damage and the monitoring of heritage assets over time.
Both advances not only deepen our understanding of buildings but also contribute to the comprehensive development of Heritage Building Information Modeling (HBIM) models, fostering the adoption of this interoperable approach.
This webinar gathers cutting-edge research and innovative case studies that demonstrate how these technologies are reshaping documentation, conservation planning, and heritage interpretation. I am deeply grateful to the speakers for their contributions, which collectively provide a forward-looking vision for the digital future of heritage preservation.
I hope this webinar will inspire new methodologies, interdisciplinary collaborations, and the continued integration of 3D point cloud technologies into cultural heritage workflows.
Date: 31 October 2025 at 5:00 p.m. CET | 12:00 a.m. EDT
Webinar ID: 853 5782 4039
Webpage: https://sciforum.net/event/Topics-44
Register now for free!
Program:
| Speaker | Presentation Title | Time in CET | Time in EDT |
| Prof. Dr. Luis Javier Sánchez Aparicio | Chair Introduction | 5:00–5:20 p.m. | 12:00–12:20 a.m. |
| Prof. Dr. Roberto Pierdicca | GeoAI: On the Use of Artificial Intelligence for Segmenting 3D Point Clouds | 5:20–5:40 p.m. | 12:20–12:40 a.m. |
| Mr. Pablo Sanz Honrado | Seg4D: A CloudCompare Plugin for Damage Detection Based on 3D Point Clouds | 5:40–6:00 p.m. | 12:40–1:00 p.m. |
| Dr. Andrea di Filippo | Application of 3D Point Clouds for Generating HBIM Models | 6:00–6:20 p.m. | 1:00–1:20 p.m. |
| Q&A Session | 6:20–6:30 p.m. | 1:20–1:30 p.m. | |
| Prof. Dr. Luis Javier Sánchez Aparicio | Closing of Webinar | 6:30–6:40 p.m. | 1:30–1:40 p.m. |
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information on how to join the webinar. Registrations made with academic institutional email addresses will be prioritized.
Unable to attend? Register anyway and we will let you know when the recording is available to watch.
Webinar Chair and Keynote Speakers:
- Prof. Dr. Luis Javier Sánchez Aparicio, Department of Construction and Building Technology, Technical School of Architecture, Polytechnic School of Madrid, Spain;
- Prof. Dr. Roberto Pierdicca, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Dipartimento di Ingegneria Civile Edile e dell’ Architettura, Ancona, Italy;
- Mr. Pablo Sanz Honrado, Institute of Physical and Information Technologies Leonardo Torres Quevedo (ITEFI), Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Madrid, Spain;
- Dr. Andrea di Filippo, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Salerno, Italy.
Relevant Special Issue:
“New Perspectives on 3D Point Cloud (Fourth Edition)”
Guest Editor: Sara Gonizzi Barsanti
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 March 2026
Relevant Papers:
“Hybrid Denoising Algorithm for Architectural Point Clouds Acquired with SLAM Systems”
by Antonella Ambrosino, Alessandro Di Benedetto and Margherita Fiani
Remote Sens. 2024, 16(23), 4559; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs16234559
“Comparison of NeRF- and SfM-Based Methods for Point Cloud Reconstruction for Small-Sized Archaeological Artifacts”
by Miguel Ángel Maté-González, Roy Yali, Jesús Rodríguez-Hernández, Enrique González-González and Julián Aguirre de Mata
Remote Sens. 2025, 17(14), 2535; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs17142535
“Scan-to-HBIM-to-VR: An Integrated Approach for the Documentation of an Industrial Archaeology Building”
by Maria Alessandra Tini, Anna Forte, Valentina Alena Girelli, Alessandro Lambertini, Domenico Simone Roggio, Gabriele Bitelli and Luca Vittuari
Remote Sens. 2024, 16(15), 2859; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs16152859
“3D Reconstruction of Ancient Buildings using UAV Images and Neural Radiation Field with Depth Supervision”
by Yingwei Ge, Bingxuan Guo, Peishuai Zha, San Jiang, Ziyu Jiang and Demin Li
Remote Sens. 2024, 16(3), 473; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs16030473
30 October 2025
World Cities Day—“People-Centred Smart Cities”, 31 October 2025
World Cities Day brings Urban October to an end on 31 October each year and was first celebrated in 2014. It aims to raise international awareness of urbanization trends, challenges, and visions for sustainable urban development, promote international cooperation, and contribute to global efforts to build equitable, prosperous, sustainable, and inclusive cities that provide their communities with better living environments and quality of life.
This year's theme, People-Centred Smart Cities”, reflects the growing recognition that the transformative power of digital technologies is reshaping urban life globally, offering profound opportunities to enhance how cities and human settlements are designed, planned, managed, and governed. The aim of this year's theme is to promote people-centred smart cities and demonstrate how crucial it is for smart cities to prioritize human needs, inclusivity, and accessibility. By increasing global awareness about the role of technology and innovation in advancing improved access to adequate housing and achieving urban development, the goal is to foster and encourage international cooperation and collaboration among all societal sectors on People-Centred Smart Cities.
Echoing the mission of building equitable, prosperous, sustainable, and inclusive cities and sustainable development goals, MDPI’s established journals in the urban planning and development field serve as leading platforms for scientific communication. By sharing cutting-edge research and practical solutions, MDPI contributes to addressing urbanization challenges and promoting sustainable urban development, helping to create better living environments and quality of life for urban communities worldwide.
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Date: 31 October 2025, 8:00 a.m. (CET) |
Date: 31 October 2025, 2:00 p.m. (CET) |
“Beyond Automation: The Emergence of Agentic Urban AI”
by Alok Tiwari
Automation 2025, 6(3), 29; https://doi.org/10.3390/automation6030029
“Road Weather Forecasts in Norway with the METRo Model”
by Fabio A. A. Andrade, Torge Lorenz, Marcos Moura, Thomas Spengler, Manoel Feliciano and Stephanie Mayer
Meteorology 2025, 4(2), 16; https://doi.org/10.3390/meteorology4020016
“Enhancing Urban Intersection Efficiency: Utilizing Visible Light Communication and Learning-Driven Control for Improved Traffic Signal Performance”
by Manuela Vieira, Manuel Augusto Vieira, Gonçalo Galvão, Paula Louro, Mário Véstias and Pedro Vieira
Vehicles 2024, 6(2), 666-692; https://doi.org/10.3390/vehicles6020031
“A Telemetric Framework for Assessing Vehicle Emissions Based on Driving Behavior Using Unsupervised Learning”
by Auwal Sagir Muhammad, Cheng Wang and Longbiao Chen
Vehicles 2024, 6(4), 2170-2194; https://doi.org/10.3390/vehicles6040106
“Urban Air Mobility for Last-Mile Transportation: A Review”
by Nima Moradi, Chun Wang and Fereshteh Mafakheri
Vehicles 2024, 6(3), 1383-1414; https://doi.org/10.3390/vehicles6030066
“Advancing Urban Life: A Systematic Review of Emerging Technologies and Artificial Intelligence in Urban Design and Planning”
by Wei He and Mingze Chen
Buildings 2024, 14(3), 835; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14030835
“Integrated Node Infrastructure for Future Smart City Sensing and Response”
by Dong Chen, Xiang Zhang, Wei Zhang and Xing Yin
Remote Sens. 2023, 15(14), 3699; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs15143699
Call for papers:
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“Intelligent Automation: Bridging Artificial Intelligence and Automation” |
“3D City Modelling and Remote Sensing: Advances, Challenges, and New Technologies (Second Edition)” |
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“Optimization and Management of Urban Rail Transit Network” |
“Practice and Application of Artificial Intelligence in Built Environment” |
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“3D Computer Vision and Smart Building and City, 3rd Edition” |
“Digital Twins and Artificial Intelligence for Advancing Smart Green Building and City Resilience” |
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“Using Continuous Flight Auger Pile Execution Energy to Enhance Reliability and Reduce Costs in Foundation Construction”
by Darym Júnior Ferrari de Campos, José Camapum de Carvalho, Paulo Ivo Braga de Queiroz, Luan Carlos Sena Monteiro Ozelim, José Antonio Schiavon, Dimas Betioli Ribeiro and Vinicius Resende Domingues
Automation 2025, 6(2), 24; https://doi.org/10.3390/automation6020024
“Study on Energy Efficiency of Retrofitting Existing Residential Buildings Based on System Dynamics Modeling”
by Siqi Lang, Lihong Li, Haifang Liu and Ranran Shang
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(11), 6072; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15116072
“A Comprehensive Analysis of the Integration of Deep Learning Models in Concrete Research from a Structural Health Perspective”
by Ayesha Munira Chowdhury and Rashed Kaiser
Constr. Mater. 2024, 4(1), 72-90; https://doi.org/10.3390/constrmater4010005
Call for papers:
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“Innovations in Sustainable Construction and Road Engineering Materials” |
“Development and Engineering Application of Green and Low-Carbon Infrastructure Construction Materials” |
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“Neighborhood Connectivity and Social Sustainability: A Study of Hyderabad’s Residential Areas”
by Hina Marvi, Reena Majid Memon, Rabia Soomro, Irfan Ahmed Memon and Aneel Kumar
World 2025, 6(2), 42; https://doi.org/10.3390/world6020042
“Innovations in Non-Motorized Transportation (NMT) Knowledge Creation and Diffusion”
by Carlos J. L. Balsas
World 2025, 6(4), 136; https://doi.org/10.3390/world6040136
“Sustainable Urban Mobility: Corridor Optimization to Promote Modal Choice, Reduce Congestion, and Enhance Livability in Hyderabad, Pakistan”
by Mehnaz Soomro, Irfan Ahmed Memon, Imtiaz Ahmed Chandio, Saima Kalwar, Hina Marvi, Aneel Kumar and Afraz Ahmed Memon
World 2025, 6(1), 12; https://doi.org/10.3390/world6010012
“Generative AI for Architectural Façade Design: Measuring Perceptual Alignment Across Geographical, Objective, and Affective Descriptors”
by Stephen Law, Cleo Valentine, Yuval Kahlon, Chanuki Illushka Seresinhe, Jason Tang, Michal Gath Morad and Haruyuki Fujii
Buildings 2025, 15(17), 3212; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15173212
“Smart Cities for All? Bridging Digital Divides for Socially Sustainable and Inclusive Cities”
by Johan Colding, Caroline Nilsson and Stefan Sjöberg
Smart Cities 2024, 7(3), 1044-1059; https://doi.org/10.3390/smartcities7030044
“Smart Cities, Digital Inequalities, and the Challenge of Inclusion”
by Olga Kolotouchkina, Laura Ripoll González and Warda Belabas
Smart Cities 2024, 7(6), 3355-3370; https://doi.org/10.3390/smartcities7060130
Call for papers:
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“Enhancing Community Wellbeing: Innovations in Sustainable Urban Planning and Built Environments” |
“Smart City and Sustainability: Advanced Technologies and Future Challenges” |
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30 October 2025
Meet Us Virtually at the 1st International Online Conference on Earth Science, 2–4 September 2026
