Intelligent and Data-Driven Technologies for Sustainable Water and Carbon Management

Dear Colleagues,

Achieving sustainability in water resources and carbon management requires tools capable of understanding and optimizing complex environmental processes. Recent breakthroughs in artificial intelligence (AI), digital twins, data-driven modeling, and smart sensing are transforming how water and carbon systems are monitored, predicted, and managed. These intelligent technologies are enabling more accurate forecasting, real-time decision-making, efficient operations, and reduced environmental impacts.

This Special Issue, titled “Intelligent and Data-Driven Technologies for Sustainable Water and Carbon Management”, will focus exclusively on research in which intelligent computational and data-driven methods provide measurable improvements in water system performance, carbon mitigation, or the water–carbon nexus. 

The goal of this Special Issue is to bring together interdisciplinary research and high-quality contributions that demonstrate how intelligent technologies can support sustainability across water and carbon systems through

• Data-driven modeling and prediction;
• AI and machine learning applications;
• Digital twins and smart sensing frameworks;
• Decision-support and optimization tools.

To ensure a clear and coherent focus, submissions must center on intelligent or computational methods that advance sustainability in water systems, carbon management systems, or their direct interactions. The ultimate goal is to build a body of work that not only advances academic knowledge but also provides practical guidance for industry, policymakers, and practitioners working on sustainable water and carbon strategies. 

Relevant submissions may address topics including, but not limited to, the following: 

AI and Machine Learning for Water and Carbon Systems.

• Forecasting water demand, water quality, hydrological variables, or carbon emissions.
• Machine learning models for process optimization in treatment, desalination, or carbon capture.

Digital Twins and Smart Monitoring.

• Digital twin frameworks for water infrastructure or emission management.
• IoT-enabled smart sensing networks for real-time water quality or carbon flux monitoring. 

Data-Driven Decision Support and Optimization.

• Multi-objective optimization for water–energy–carbon efficiency.
• Intelligent scheduling, resource allocation, leakage reduction, or net-zero planning tools. 

Remote Sensing and Geospatial Analytics.

• Satellite- and drone-based analytics enhanced by AI. 
• Data fusion for monitoring water bodies, carbon stocks, fire-induced emissions, or land-use impacts.

Carbon Accounting and Intelligent LCA.

• Data-driven carbon footprint modeling.
• Intelligent LCA platforms for infrastructure, industry, or urban systems.

Integrated Water–Carbon Modeling.

• Tools quantifying trade-offs between water use and carbon emissions.
• Co-optimization approaches for climate-resilient water and carbon systems.

Original research, reviews, case studies, and perspectives are welcome. Studies must demonstrate clear contributions in intelligent, data-driven, or computational technology with applicability to water- or carbon-related sustainability challenges.

By focusing on intelligent and data-driven solutions, this Special Issue will provide a sharply defined and innovation-driven platform aligned with the journal’s mission. It will highlight transformative tools for sustainable resource management, bridging scientific insight and real-world implementation.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Prof. Dr. Ursula Eicker
Prof. Dr. Majid Mohammadian
Dr. Mostafa Taherian
Dr. Arash Fellah Jahromi
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.

• intelligent water systems
• AI and machine learning
• digital twins
• data-driven modeling
• smart sensors and IoT
• remote sensing analytics
• carbon and LCA modeling
• water–energy–carbon nexus
• decision-support optimization
• smart monitoring systems