Intelligent Control and Planning for Urban Network Efficiency and Safety Optimization

Dear Colleagues,

Urban networks, encompassing transportation systems, communication grids, power, water, and gas distribution networks, are the backbone of modern cities. As urbanization accelerates, these interconnected systems face mounting pressures from population growth, resource demands, and sustainability challenges. By 2050, nearly 68% of the global population will reside in urban areas, necessitating innovative solutions to optimize efficiency, resilience, and safety across these critical networks. Intelligent control systems and adaptive planning methodologies are pivotal to addressing these challenges, enabling cities to harmonize complex network interactions while enhancing livability.

This Special Issue seeks cutting-edge research, case studies, and interdisciplinary frameworks that advance intelligent control and planning strategies for urban networks. By integrating advancements into AI, machine learning, IoT, and cyber–physical systems (CPS), this Special Issue will explore how interconnected urban networks can be dynamically optimized, secured, and future-proofed. Contributions from fields such as computer science, civil engineering, urban policy, and network theory will foster cross-domain solutions for holistic urban development.

Relevance, Importance, and Need in the Present Context

Modern urban networks are interdependent: traffic flows rely on communication systems for real-time coordination, power grids depend on water networks for cooling, and emergency services integrate data across all networks. However, siloed management approaches often lead to inefficiencies and vulnerabilities. Intelligent control systems, powered by AI and real-time analytics, can transform these networks via the following:

• Optimizing Traffic–Communication Synergy: Adaptive traffic signal control using IoT sensors and 5G/V2X communication reduces congestion while prioritizing emergency vehicle routing;
• Securing Critical Resource Networks: Machine learning models for anomaly detection in power–water grids mitigate cascading failures, while blockchain-enhanced smart contracts improve resource distribution transparency;
• Enhancing Cross-Network Resilience: Digital twin simulations of urban networks enable stress-testing under extreme scenarios (e.g., cyberattacks, natural disasters), informing robust contingency planning.

Advanced planning must also address network interdependencies. For instance, data-driven urban design could integrate EV charging infrastructure with renewable energy microgrids or align 5G tower placement with traffic and emergency service needs. Meanwhile, cybersecurity frameworks must evolve to protect interconnected networks, as breaches in one system (e.g., a compromised smart grid) could destabilize others. Overall, this Special Issue will bridge the gap between theoretical research and practical implementation, fostering a multidisciplinary approach to urban challenges. By highlighting the latest advancements and future directions in this field, this Special Issue will inspire new research, innovations, and policies that can make a tangible difference in the lives of urban residents and the sustainability of cities worldwide.

List of Specific Topics

This Special Issue covers, but is not limited to, the following specific topics:

Traffic-Communication Network Synergy:

• AI-driven traffic flow optimization with IoT/5G-enabled vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) systems;
• Federated learning for privacy-preserving traffic data sharing across networks;
• Dynamic routing for autonomous vehicles in mixed-network environments.

Resource Network Intelligence:

• Multi-agent reinforcement learning for cross-network load balancing (power–water–gas);
• Edge computing for real-time anomaly detection in smart grids;
• Blockchain applications for decentralized resource trading and distribution.

Network Security and Resilience:

• Cyber–physical intrusion detection in critical infrastructure networks;
• Graph-based risk assessment for cascading failures in interdependent networks;
• Digital twins for simulating network disruptions and recovery strategies.

Cross-Network Sustainability:

• Lifecycle optimization of urban networks for carbon neutrality;
• Waste-to-energy systems integrated with smart grid demand response;
• AI-aided urban planning for renewable energy microgrid deployment.

Safety and Emergency Response:

• Multi-network data fusion for disaster response (e.g., flood monitoring via IoT sensors and satellite networks);
• UAV-assisted emergency communication networks during grid outages;
• Predictive policing systems leveraging traffic and social media data.

Expected Types of Submissions:

• Review Article;
• Original Research Article.

Prof. Dr. Chaoxu Mu
Dr. Anguo Zhang
Prof. Dr. Qichun Zhang
Prof. Dr. Malu Zhang
Dr. Xingshuo Han
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 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

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. Smart Cities is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly 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 2000 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.

• intelligent control
• artificial intelligence
• urban network optimization
• efficiency and safety optimization