Sustainable Development for Urban Built Environment

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue is dedicated to advancing the understanding and practice of sustainable development within urban built environments, particularly optimising the planning, design, construction, and operation of urban infrastructure. With the accelerating pace of urbanisation and escalating environmental challenges, it is imperative to explore strategies that foster sustainability in urban settings. This Issue will collate interdisciplinary research and innovative solutions that promote sustainable, resilient, and inclusive urban development.

Cities, housing over half of the world's population, are major centres of economic activity and energy use, leading to high carbon footprints. By integrating energy-efficient building designs, promoting renewable energy sources, and enhancing green infrastructure, sustainable urban development can considerably reduce carbon emissions. Moreover, sustainable urban planning encourages compact, transit-oriented developments that minimise fossil fuel reliance in transportation. These efforts not only mitigate climate change but also foster healthier, more liveable communities, contributing to broader sustainability goals such as improved air quality, resource conservation, and social equity. Sustainable urban development thus plays a pivotal role in achieving global sustainability by transforming cities into hubs of innovation and resilience against environmental challenges.

The topics may include, but are not limited to, the following:

Urban Sustainability Strategies:

• Sustainable urban growth and smart city concepts
• Resilience and adaptive capacity in urban planning

Green Building and Sustainable Architecture:

• Energy-efficient building designs and green building standards
• Retrofitting and rehabilitation of existing buildings

Urban Mobility and Transportation:

• Sustainable public transportation systems and infrastructure

Role of Smart/Digital Technologies in Promoting Urban Sustainability:

• IoT, big data, and AI in sustainable urban management
• Digital tools and platforms for urban planning and monitoring
• Case studies of smart city implementations and outcomes

Policy, Governance, and Implementation:

• Urban sustainability policies and legislative frameworks
• Governance models for effective urban management
• Implementation challenges and success stories in sustainable urban projects

Dr. Xiang Xie
Dr. Manuel Herrera
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. Sustainability 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 2400 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.