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Measurement Systems, Models, Tools, and Innovative Techniques for Sustainable Urban Planning and Regeneration

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainable Urban and Rural Development".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 7 November 2025 | Viewed by 3208

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Simona Tondelli

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Guest Editor
Department of Architecture, Alma Mater Studiorum—University of Bologna, 40136 Bologna, Italy
Interests: urban and rural regeneration; urban densification; strategic environmental assessment; adapting to climate change in urban areas; sustainable urban mobility
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Mauro Francini

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Guest Editor
Department of Civil Engineering, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, Italy
Interests: methods and models for urban and territorial planning; management and control; remote sensing techniques for the monitoring and control of territorial transformations processes
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Gabriele Bitelli

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Civil, Chemical, Environmental, and Materials Engineering, Alma Mater Studiorum—University of Bologna, 40136 Bologna, Italy
Interests: geomatics; remote sensing; geospatial data processing; change detection
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Francesco Lamonaca

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Department of Computer Engineering, Modeling, Electronics and Systems Engineering (DIMES), University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, CS, Italy
2. CNR-NANOTEC, 87036 Rende, CS, Italy
Interests: measurements; distributed measurement systems; measurement and monitoring systems based on the IoT; measurement and monitoring systems based on AI; wireless sensor network; synchronization of measurement instruments and sensors; non-invasive measurements; non-destructive testing
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Elisa Conticelli

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Architecture, Alma Mater Studiorum—University of Bologna, 40136 Bologna, Italy
Interests: sustainable urban regeneration
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue is launched in the framework of the conference titled “Metrology for living environment”, described below; however, contributions not discussed at the conference, but in line with the SI topics, are very welcome.

This Special Issue aims to investigate how innovative metrology systems, methods, models, and technologies can support urban planning and regeneration to make cities and communities more sustainable and resilient. The Special Issue will examine, among other research topics, the development of innovative solutions in acquiring, processing, analyzing, and managing geospatial data, highlighting their role in planning decision-making processes. In particular, the objective is to delve into the main perspectives of applying innovative approaches, methods, and strategies in sustainable urban planning and regeneration processes. It aims to investigate how these approaches can transform urban environments by renewing existing characteristics and forms.

Starting from these premises, the Special Issue intends to collect scientific contributions and original research regarding the following topics:

  • Measurement systems, models, and innovative methods of representation and simulation to support the analysis and monitoring of land use/land cover (LULC), the protection of natural and built environments, and the monitoring of areas exposed to natural risks;
  • Application of methods and measurement tools derived from digital innovation to encourage the development of smart cities;
  • Application and integration of geomatic techniques and methods for the characterization of the natural and urban environment and the conservation of built heritage;
  • Innovative methodologies for the evaluation of socioecological systems to improve human well-being and health;
  • Models, measurement methods, and innovative measurement tools aimed at increasing urban resilience;
  • Development and testing of geospatial artificial intelligence (GeoAI) models for sustainable monitoring, planning, and regeneration.

Conference Information

Conference: Metrology for living environment. https://www.metrolivenv.org/.

Special Session for which we propose a Special Issue (the title of the SI): Measurement Systems, Models, Tools, and Innovative Techniques for Sustainable Urban Planning and Regeneration. https://www.metrolivenv.org/special-session-7.

Description: Due to urbanization processes, cities today face unprecedented challenges linked to the growing demand for spaces (and their quality), the achievement of sustainability goals, and the correct allocation as well as management of resources. In this context, innovative measurement systems, geomatic survey techniques, and methods, models, tools, and planning techniques for urban regeneration can help address these challenges effectively.

Prof. Dr. Simona Tondelli
Prof. Dr. Mauro Francini
Prof. Gabriele Bitelli
Dr. Francesco Lamonaca
Dr. Elisa Conticelli
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

  • geospatial analysis
  • measurement methods
  • decision support systems
  • resilience
  • urban regeneration

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

27 pages, 8899 KiB  
Article
Exploring the Spatiotemporal Influence of Community Regeneration on Urban Vitality: Unraveling Spatial Nonstationarity with Difference-in-Differences and Nonlinear Effect with Gradient Boosting Decision Tree Regression
by Hong Ni, Haoran Li, Pengcheng Li and Jing Yang
Sustainability 2025, 17(8), 3509; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17083509 - 14 Apr 2025
Viewed by 636
Abstract
Community regeneration plays a pivotal role in creating human-centered spaces by transforming spatial configurations, enhancing multifunctional uses, and optimizing designs that promote sustainability and vibrancy. However, the influence of such regeneration on spatial vitality—particularly its spatial heterogeneity and nonlinear effects—remains insufficiently explored. This [...] Read more.
Community regeneration plays a pivotal role in creating human-centered spaces by transforming spatial configurations, enhancing multifunctional uses, and optimizing designs that promote sustainability and vibrancy. However, the influence of such regeneration on spatial vitality—particularly its spatial heterogeneity and nonlinear effects—remains insufficiently explored. This study presents a comprehensive framework that combines the Difference-in-Differences (DID) method with multiple socio-spatial correlated factors, including place agglomeration, individual agglomeration, and social perception, offering a systematic assessment of urban vitality and evaluating the impact of regeneration interventions. By leveraging street-level imagery to capture environmental changes pre- and post-regeneration, this research applies Gradient Boosting Decision Tree Regression (GBDT) to uncover nonlinear built environment dynamics affecting urban vitality. Empirical analysis from six districts in Suzhou reveals the following: (1) A pronounced increase in urban vitality is seen in core areas, while peripheral districts exhibit more moderate improvements, highlighting spatially uneven regeneration outcomes. (2) In historically significant areas such as Wuzhong, limited vitality gains underscore the complex interplay among historical preservation, spatial configurations, and urban development trajectories. (3) Furthermore, environmental transformations, including variations in sky visibility, nonprivate vehicles, architectural elements, and the introduction of glass-wall structures, exhibit nonlinear impacts with distinct threshold effects. This study advances the discourse on sustainable urban regeneration by proposing context-sensitive, data-driven assessment tools that reconcile heritage conservation with contemporary urban regeneration goals. It underscores the need for integrated, adaptive regeneration strategies that align with local conditions, historical contexts, and urban development trajectories, informing policies that promote green, inclusive, and digitally transformed cities. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Measurement Systems, Models, Tools, and Innovative Techniques for Sustainable Urban Planning and Regeneration)
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17 pages, 5937 KiB  
Article
Advancing Sustainable Transportation Equity for Older Adults: A Geospatial Analysis of Mobility Gaps in Florida
by Soowoong Noh
Sustainability 2024, 16(22), 10013; https://doi.org/10.3390/su162210013 - 16 Nov 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1690
Abstract
As older adults face increasing mobility challenges due to diminished driving ability, they encounter heightened risks of social exclusion, impacting their mental, social, and physical well-being. This study investigates spatial gaps in the availability of sustainable transportation options—including public transit, paratransit, and specialized [...] Read more.
As older adults face increasing mobility challenges due to diminished driving ability, they encounter heightened risks of social exclusion, impacting their mental, social, and physical well-being. This study investigates spatial gaps in the availability of sustainable transportation options—including public transit, paratransit, and specialized senior services—and examines their alignment with the distribution of older adults segmented by age group (65–74, 75–84, and 85+). Using Florida as a case study, Geographic Information System (GIS) was employed to conduct a geospatial analysis, identifying statistically significant clusters of low transportation availability alongside high concentrations of older adults. The primary contribution of this research lies in its innovative methodology, which integrates precise transportation service boundaries with age-segmented demographic data, offering a nuanced assessment of transportation equity as a crucial aspect of sustainability. Findings provide a comprehensive framework for policymakers, enabling targeted resource allocation and planning that enhance mobility, accessibility, and quality of life for older adults. This study contributes to advancing sustainable development goals by addressing transportation disparities, supporting equitable, age-sensitive transportation solutions, and informing broader discussions on sustainable urban planning. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Measurement Systems, Models, Tools, and Innovative Techniques for Sustainable Urban Planning and Regeneration)
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