Smart Cities for Sustainable Development: Innovations in Spatial Planning and Environmental Management
A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainable Urban and Rural Development".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 November 2025 | Viewed by 1692
Special Issue Editor
Interests: sustainable development; spatial planning; GIS (geographic information system); AI (artificial intelligence); geostatistics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The last few decades have been characterized by the dynamic development and further consolidation of cities that have become centers of innovation, technology, and economy. At the same time, such rapid development also bears challenges related to the management of natural resources, spatial planning, environmental protection, and providing a good quality of life to all citizens. Smart cities, propped up by modern technologies, present innovative solutions to these challenges that are sustainable and can lead to better urban environment management. Leading innovations in the planning of space include the creation of smart cities. Through spatial data analysis, GIS and 3D modeling can aid in providing solutions and developing plans for spatial developments that take into consideration the complexity of a specific set social, economic, and environmental needs. This optimizes the use of space, minimizes space conflicts, and maximizes the number green areas, which are necessary for maintaining the health and well-being of the city’s residents.
In essence, the concentrated environmental management activities that may be performed within the purview of smart cities may include air quality monitoring, waste management, water resource management, and energy management. The introduction of new technologies, such as the Internet of Things (IoT), allows for data concerning the environment to be monitored analyzed without interruption, enabling fast reactions to irregularities and crises to be handled efficiently. Moreover, smart waste management systems, including segregation and recycling, can also help to reduce waste and its detrimental environmental impact.
Data-driven solutions for public transport, such as car sharing or city bikes, are smart urban solutions which can fight air pollution and traffic, raising the quality of life for residents as well as the economic efficiency of these cities.
In sum, the trends in urban science and urban planning point to a development that is anchored within new areas of development like smart cities, and the innovations in spatial planning and environmental management that are associated with them. This can be achieved through the use of new technologies and by integrating the various urban systems in order to build friendly, healthy, and efficient living spaces that can handle the rigors of the modern world and ensure the well-being of future generations.
Dr. Marek Patrycjusz Ogryzek
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- sustainable development
- smart city
- spatial planning
- environmental sustainability
- urban planning
- practical examples
- policy frameworks
- case studies
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