Digital and Data-Driven Approaches to Sustainable Urban and Land Use Management

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue focuses on how emerging digital technologies and analytical tools are reshaping urban sustainability, spatial planning, and land-use governance. It invites contributions that apply geospatial analytics, remote sensing, artificial intelligence, big data, and simulation modelling to understand and manage the rapid transformation of urban environments under climate and socio-economic pressures. Its scope spans multi-scalar analyses, ranging from city-region systems to neighborhood-level applications and emphasizes empirical studies that integrate digital data with planning, design, and policy perspectives. Its purpose is to bridge technological innovation with sustainability outcomes by showcasing interdisciplinary research that advances equitable, resilient, and resource-efficient urban systems. In relation to the existing literature, this Special Issue will move beyond traditional urban sustainability frameworks by incorporating real-time data analytics and predictive modelling as central tools for evidence-based land-use decisions. It complements prior work on smart cities, GIS-based urban monitoring, and sustainability transitions by highlighting integrative, data-driven methods applicable to both developed and arid-region cities. Ultimately, it serves as a reference point for scholars and practitioners seeking to operationalize digital intelligence for climate-resilient, socially inclusive urban management.

Dr. Ammar Abulibdeh
Guest Editor

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