Sustainable Urban Understanding and Planning: Principle and Application of Earth Observation and Geoinformation

Dear Colleagues,

Urban understanding and planning are essential for addressing the challenges of sustainable development and environmental degradation. Earth observation and geoinformation technologies provide powerful tools for urban planners to assess and manage urban growth, improve resource allocation, and promote resilience in the face of climate change. By leveraging high-resolution, real-time data, these technologies enable the detailed analysis of land use, green space distribution, air quality, and other critical factors impacting urban sustainability. The scope of this issue encompasses the principles, methods, and applications of remote sensing, GIS, and data analytics in assessing urban environments, guiding development, and promoting sustainable practices. The use of Earth observation enables the high-resolution, real-time monitoring of urban dynamics, providing insights into land use, green space distribution, air quality, and other environmental factors essential for managing urban growth. This area of research builds on the literature from fields like urban studies, environmental science, and geospatial technology, integrating concepts such as smart cities, resilience, and environmental sustainability. Studies have shown that the data provided by Earth observation aid in identifying areas vulnerable to environmental degradation, supporting disaster resilience, and optimizing resource allocation. Compared to traditional methods, remote sensing and GIS provide more comprehensive, scalable insights that align with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially SDG 11, which aims for sustainable cities and communities. This literature seeks to advance urban planning by promoting geoinformation as a critical tool for sustainable development, bridging technological innovation with practical policy applications.

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:  

• Foundation model for Earth observation; 
• Geospatial data analysis frameworks for sustainable urban planning;
• Remote-sensing-supported land use and land cover (LULC) monitoring;
• Machine-learning-assisted urban growth modeling and simulation;
• Earth observation and GIS technologies for daily environmental monitoring;
• Data-driven approaches to urban resilience and climate adaptation;
• Remote sensing and spatial analysis for ecosystem health and biodiversity assessment;
• Socioeconomic and environmental impact assessments using geospatial data;
• AI-enhanced geoinformation systems for optimizing resource management in urban environments.  

We look forward to receiving your contributions. 

Dr. Da He
Dr. Qiqi Zhu
Dr. Yang Chen
Dr. Yu Su
Guest Editors

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