Sustainable Urban and Rural Development
A section of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050).
Section Information
Sustainable urban and rural development is about improving the quality of life in a locality, including ecological, cultural, political, institutional, social and economic components without leaving any burden—e.g., the result of a reduced natural capital and an excessive local debt—on future generations. In other words, prosperity and environmental sustainability of cities and towns are inextricably linked; therefore, human settlements can only maintain their prosperity when environmental and social objectives are fully integrated with economic goals.
Thematically, sustainable urban and rural development includes:
- Sustainable development in the urban context;
- Sustainable development in the regional and rural context;
- Planning for sustainable urban and rural futures;
- Impacts of human activities on natural systems;
- Ecological and urban and regional planning;
- Sustainable urban and rural infrastructure;
- Sustainable transportation systems;
- Sustainable communities;
- Climate change adaptation and mitigation;
- Ecosystem sustainability assessment;
- Ecological and urban indicators;
- Sustainable urban and rural technologies;
- Smart cities and communities.
Accordingly, this section is open for the following types of manuscripts covering the whole breadth of sustainable urban and rural development issues and concerns:
- research articles;
- conceptual articles;
- review articles;
- case studies;
- commentaries
In particular, contributions from early career researchers are welcome and propositions for Special Issues on a single, particular theme in the field of social ecology and sustainability.
Keywords
sustainable cities; sustainable towns; sustainable urban development; sustainable rural development; sustainable and resilient infrastructure; sustainable transport system; sustainability assessment; sustainability indicators and frameworks; climate change; water sensitive urban design; smart cities; smart communities; eco-cities; eco-villages; land use planning; environmental planning; sustainable urban design; land use and development control; green infrastructure; green roofs; green walls; urban heat island; sustainable architecture; sustainable buildings; sustainable urbanism; urban farming and agriculture; sustainable tourism; sustainable communities.
Editorial Board
Topical Advisory Panel
Special Issues
Following special issues within this section are currently open for submissions:
- Low-Energy and Low-Emission Travel and Transport (Deadline: 15 August 2025)
- Environmental Planning and Governance for Sustainable Cities (Deadline: 31 August 2025)
- Social Interaction Across Urban Spaces—Contexts, Structures and Sustainability (Deadline: 31 August 2025)
- Rethinking Urban Water Infrastructure – Sustainable Approach to Urban Drainage Systems (Deadline: 31 August 2025)
- Approaching Sustainable Development: Innovative (Policy) Governance in Fostering Local Sustainability (Deadline: 31 August 2025)
- Geographical Information Technology and Urban Sustainable Development (Deadline: 31 August 2025)
- Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Agricultural Development in Sustainable Rural Development (Deadline: 31 August 2025)
- Recent Trends in the Application of Urban Intelligence to Sustainable Smart Cities (Deadline: 1 September 2025)
- Urbanization and Environmental Sustainability—2nd Edition (Deadline: 6 September 2025)
- Quality of Life in the Context of Sustainable Development (Deadline: 25 September 2025)
- Driving Green Innovation in Smart Cities (Deadline: 30 September 2025)
- Digital Technologies Promote Innovation and Sustainable Development of Smart Cities (Deadline: 30 September 2025)
- Sustainable Urbanism: Definition, Assessment, and Agenda for Future Research: 2nd Edition (Deadline: 30 September 2025)
- Sustainability in Urban Development and Land Use (Deadline: 30 September 2025)
- Sustainable Design and Planning for Urban Space (Deadline: 11 October 2025)
- Sustainable Land Management: Urban Planning and Land Use (Deadline: 16 October 2025)
- Advances in Ecosystem Services and Urban Sustainability, 2nd Edition (Deadline: 20 October 2025)
- Digital Twins in Regional Spatial Planning and Sustainable Urban Development (Deadline: 22 October 2025)
- Economic Geography, Regional Development and Climate Policy in the AI and Innovation Era (Deadline: 28 October 2025)
- Demographic Change and Sustainable Development (Deadline: 28 October 2025)
- Sustainable Rural Resiliencies Challenges, Resistances and Pathways (Deadline: 30 October 2025)
- Monitoring and Control of Air Pollution for Sustainability (Deadline: 30 October 2025)
- Sustainable Green Cities (Deadline: 31 October 2025)
- Urban Planning and Construction Management Under Smart City Development (Deadline: 31 October 2025)
- Urban Planning and Sustainable Land Use—2nd Edition (Deadline: 31 October 2025)
- A Systems Approach to Urban Greenspace System and Climate Change (Deadline: 31 October 2025)
- Optimizing the Water-Energy Nexus for Future-Ready Cities: Pathways to Sustainability (Deadline: 1 November 2025)
- Measurement Systems, Models, Tools, and Innovative Techniques for Sustainable Urban Planning and Regeneration (Deadline: 7 November 2025)
- Enhancing Urban Resilience: The Social Consequences of Climate Change and Adaptation Policies in the Cities of the Global South and Global North Cities (Deadline: 19 November 2025)
- Sustainable Rural Development Projects: Diversity and Opportunities from Principles of Responsible Investment in Agriculture and Food Systems (Deadline: 30 November 2025)
- Sustainable Rural Development Practices and Results: Learnings and Results from Policies and Initiatives—2nd Edition (Deadline: 30 November 2025)
- Land Use Strategies for Sustainable Development (Deadline: 30 November 2025)
- Smart Cities with Innovative Solutions in Sustainable Urban Future (Deadline: 30 November 2025)
- Sustainable and Smart City: Planning for Resilience (Deadline: 30 November 2025)
- Advancing Sustainable Cities and Urban Regions Development: New Challenges and Prospects (Deadline: 30 November 2025)
- Smart Cities for Sustainable Development: Innovations in Spatial Planning and Environmental Management (Deadline: 30 November 2025)
- Urban Vulnerability and Resilience (Deadline: 23 December 2025)
- Advanced Studies in Sustainable Urban Planning and Urban Development (Deadline: 31 December 2025)
- Rural–Urban Integration and Revitalization: A Sustainability Perspective (Deadline: 31 December 2025)
- Application of Proximal and Remote Sensing in Sustainable Urban and Peri-Urban Governance (Deadline: 31 December 2025)
- Sustainable Urbanization (Deadline: 31 December 2025)
- The Driving Force behind Sustainable Green Development & Technology Innovation (Deadline: 31 December 2025)
- Sustainable Urban and Rural Land Planning and Utilization (Deadline: 31 December 2025)
- Sustaining Growth: Balancing Economic, Social, and Environmental Concerns in Rural and Agricultural Development (Deadline: 31 December 2025)
- Digital Transformation of Agriculture and Rural Areas-Second Volume (Deadline: 31 December 2025)
- Sustainability, Strategic Management, Smart Governance and Smart Cities: 2nd Edition (Deadline: 31 December 2025)
- Sustainable Urban Planning and Design in the Context of Climate Change (Deadline: 31 December 2025)
- Current Challenges in Sustainable Urban, Rural and Regional Development (Deadline: 13 January 2026)
- Rural Economy and Sustainable Community Development (Deadline: 16 January 2026)
- Smart Infrastructure Management and Sustainable Urban Development (Deadline: 20 January 2026)
- Sustainable Urban Planning: A Gender Perspective (Deadline: 22 January 2026)
- Patterns and Drivers of Urban Greenspace and Plant Diversity (Deadline: 30 January 2026)
- Shaping Future Cities: Turning Assessment into Strategies and Actions for Resilience (Deadline: 30 January 2026)
- Innovation and Sustainability in Urban Planning and Governance (Deadline: 31 January 2026)
- Sustainable Urban Development Prospective for Smart Cities (Deadline: 31 January 2026)
- Advanced Smart Materials for Sustainable Urban Development (Deadline: 31 January 2026)
- Artificial Intelligence and Mobile Technologies for Sustainable Development of Smart Regions (Deadline: 31 January 2026)
- Challenges and Future Trends of Sustainable Urban Development and Transition (Deadline: 1 February 2026)
- Sustainable Material for Green Development of Transportation Infrastructure (Deadline: 14 February 2026)
- Sustainable Transport and Land Use for a Sustainable Future (Deadline: 28 February 2026)
- Sustainable Local Development: AI and Digital Innovations in Urban Smart Cities (Deadline: 28 February 2026)
- Smart and Sustainable Cities and Rural Regions: Data-Driven Approaches for Resilient and Sustainable Infrastructure (Deadline: 28 February 2026)
- Data-Driven Approaches and Decision Support Tools for Sustainable and Resilient Infrastructure Systems (Deadline: 28 February 2026)
- Sustainable Transport and Urban Renewal (Deadline: 30 March 2026)
- Sustainability Planning and Assessment in Urban Settings with Innovative Spatial Analytic Methods (Deadline: 31 March 2026)
- Sustainable Design and Assessment of Heritage Structures and Urban Areas (Deadline: 31 March 2026)
- Urban Social Space and Sustainable Development—2nd Edition (Deadline: 31 March 2026)
- Landscape Architecture, Urban Design, and Interdisciplinary Urbanism (Deadline: 31 March 2026)
- Well-Being and Urban Green Spaces: Advantages for Sustainable Cities (Deadline: 31 March 2026)
- Sustainable Development of Regions and Cities: Improvements in Planning and the Inhabitants’ Quality of Life (Deadline: 31 March 2026)
- Shaping the Future of Cities by AI Applications in Sustainable Urban Systems—Unlocking the Potential of AI, Generative AI and Machine Learning (Deadline: 3 April 2026)
- Sustainable Planning and Design of Urban Underground Space for Smart Cities (Deadline: 17 April 2026)
- Urban Landscape Ecology and Sustainability—2nd Edition (Deadline: 30 April 2026)
- Transforming Urban Mobility: Sustainable Solutions for Modern Cities (Deadline: 1 May 2026)
- Sustainable Built Environment in Smart Cities (Deadline: 10 May 2026)
- Digital Innovation for People-Centered Design, Planning and Management of Climate-Resilient Cities (Deadline: 13 May 2026)
- Bridges of the Future: Sustainable Infrastructure and Structural Stability (Deadline: 20 May 2026)
- Soundscapes, Tranquillity and Urban Wellbeing: Towards Sustainable and Equitable Acoustic Environments (Deadline: 1 June 2026)
- Innovative Approaches and Strategies for Sustainable Urban and Regional Planning (Deadline: 10 June 2026)
- Sustainability in Spatial Planning: Climate Change Challenges and Local Development (Deadline: 15 June 2026)
- Sustainable Urban Planning Models and Effective Management Tools in Resilient Low-Carbon Cities: Issues, Methods and Innovations—2nd Edition (Deadline: 30 June 2026)
- Designing Resilient Cities: Landscape-Based Architecture and Green Space Strategies for Urban Sustainability (Deadline: 30 June 2026)
- Sustainable Mobility and Built Environment in Shaping Sustainable Cities (Deadline: 3 August 2026)
- Internet of Things (IoT) Applications for Sustainable Farming and Smart Cities (Deadline: 24 August 2026)
Topical Collections
Following topical collections within this section are currently open for submissions:
- Adaptive Cities: Urban Planning and Design Contribution for Achieving Climate Resilient Cities
- Climate Change, Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction–Planning Perspectives
- Culture and Development in Small and Medium-Sized Cities
- Indicators, Assessment Tools, and Rating Systems for Mainstreaming Sustainability in Urban Planning and Development
- Sustainability Challenges for Medium-Size Urban Systems (Closed)
- Sustainable Built Environment
- Sustainable Household Behaviors: Consumption and Mobility
- Sustainable Smart Cities and Villages
- Sustaining Rural Innovation: Reflexivity, Diversity and Co-creation (Closed)
- Towards More Walkable and Liveable Cities: Perceptions, Attitudes, Methods, Technologies and Policies
- Urban Energy Management and Sustainable Transportation (Closed)
- Urban Green Infrastructure for Climate-Proof and Healthy Cities
- Urban Planning and Built Environment (Closed)
- Urban Water Consumption and Sustainability (Closed)
