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Smart Technology Applications for Sustainable Urban Futures

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 August 2026 | Viewed by 22

Special Issue Editors

School of Design and Creative Arts, Loughborough University, Loughborough LE11 3TU, Leicestershire, UK
Interests: digital architecture and computational design methods; urban resilience and inclusive public space design; smart technologies applications in the built environment; urban design and planning; sustainable urban futures and smart city development; co-design and participatory planning processes; human-centred design for smart homes and healthy buildings

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Guest Editor
Department of Architecture and Built Environment, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG9 2RD, UK
Interests: cultural heritage; architecture; urban planning; urban development; city planning; urban sustainability; built environment; sustainable architecture; green building

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue explores the emerging intersection between smart technologies, immersive technologies, and sustainable built environments, with a focus on advancing human-centred sustainability goals. Rapid technological advancements are reshaping how we design, experience, and govern cities, neighbourhoods, and homes. This Special Issue critically examines how these digital innovations can foster more resilient, inclusive, and healthy environments, ranging from smart cities and public spaces to sustainable homes and high-performance buildings.

We welcome contributions that explore intelligent systems and smart technologies, with applications in urban resilience, public engagement, participatory co-design, and data-driven urban planning, alongside their role in enhancing energy efficiency, well-being, and environmental sustainability. This Special Issue invites interdisciplinary submissions spanning architecture, urban planning, digital design, social sciences, and computer sciences.

By integrating technological innovation with human-centred sustainability, this Special Issue aims to address social equity, environmental performance, and urban liveability—offering both theoretical and applied insights into the future of sustainable urban and residential environments.

Dr. Ahmed Ehab
Prof. Dr. Tim Heath
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 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

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

  • digital twin and digital twin cities
  • sustainable urban futures
  • smart cities and smart homes
  • healthy buildings and well-being
  • inclusive design
  • participatory urban planning
  • smart technologies for sustainable built environments
  • urban resilience
  • digital transformation in architecture and urban design

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Published Papers

This special issue is now open for submission.
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