Soundscapes, Tranquillity and Urban Wellbeing: Towards Sustainable and Equitable Acoustic Environments
A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainable Urban and Rural Development".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 1 June 2026 | Viewed by 92
Special Issue Editor
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Cities are increasingly defined not only by their physical and social infrastructure but also by their sensory environments. Within this context, soundscapes have emerged as a vital dimension of urban sustainability, mental health and quality of life. This Special Issue invites contributions that explore the nexus between urban acoustic environments, perceived tranquillity and wellbeing, with a focus on approaches that also address questions of environmental equity and justice.
We seek interdisciplinary submissions from environmental psychology, urban geography, spatial planning, acoustic ecology and geospatial science that examine how urban soundscapes influence individual and community wellbeing. Studies engaging with under-represented or noise-exposed communities are particularly welcome, as are those examining disparities in access to quiet, restorative environments.
We are especially interested in work that integrates artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning techniques—such as automated sound classification, sound event detection or predictive spatial modelling—to capture and analyse soundscapes at scale. Contributions combining AI with GIS, remote sensing, participatory mapping or public perception datasets will be prioritised.
The Special Issue also encourages submissions on policy and planning tools that incorporate soundscape data into sustainable urban design, environmental impact assessments and health resilience frameworks. Empirical studies, methodological innovations and conceptual frameworks are all welcome.
By curating diverse case studies and analytical approaches, this Special Issue aims to inform sound-aware urban policy and promote more equitable, healthy and sustainable acoustic environments.
Dr. Efstathios Margaritis
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
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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.
Keywords
- soundscape
- urban tranquillity
- environmental noise
- wellbeing
- artificial intelligence
- environmental justice
- geospatial analysis
- restorative environments
- urban sustainability
- spatial planning
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