Dear Colleagues,

In the age of climate, disaster, and pandemic catastrophes, it is of the utmost importance to transform our cities into sustainable, resilient, robust, and livable ones. Simply, smart and sustainable urban development is critical to meet our growing needs for natural resources, industrial products, energy, food, transportation, shelter, and effective waste management, while conserving and protecting environmental quality and the natural resource base essential for future life and development.

This Special Issue will contribute to improving research and practice in smart and sustainable urban development by bringing an informed understanding of the subject to scholars, policymakers, and practitioners. This Special Issue seeks contributions—in the form of research articles, literature reviews, case reports, or short communications—offering insights into the smart and sustainable urban development by conducting in-depth conceptual debates, detailed case study descriptions, thorough empirical investigations, systematic literature reviews, or forecasting analyses. This Special Issue will be a repository of relevant information, material, and knowledge to support research, policymaking, practice, and transferability of experiences to address the urbanization and other planetary challenges.

The scope of the Special Issue—that compiles the cutting-edge work of researchers that investigate the state of the art and future perspectives in smart and sustainable urban development—includes the following broad areas, although other relevant topics will also be considered:

• Theoretical and conceptual underpinnings and analytical and policy frameworks of smart and sustainable urban development;
• Methodological and technical approaches for the evaluation and forecasting of smart and sustainable urban development;
• Technological progress, developments, and trials concerning the quadruple bottom-line development of smart and sustainable cities;
• Global best and good practice smart and sustainable urban development case investigations, demonstrations, and reports;
• Smart and sustainable urban development planning, design, applications, and governance models to deliver desired urban outcomes;
• Premises, pitfalls, implications, and impacts concerning the future of urbanization and smart and sustainable urban development.

Prof. Dr. Tan Yigitcanlar
Guest Editor

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 papers will be 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 1900 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.

The following is a list of relevant keywords for this Special Issue, although papers on other related subjects are also welcome:

• Smart and sustainable urban development policy, planning, design, and governance
• Smart and sustainable urban development goals, indicators, and frameworks
• Smart and sustainable cities, communities, districts, precincts, buildings, and homes
• Smart and sustainable urban infrastructures, services, amenities, and systems
• Smart and sustainable urban technologies, data, platforms, and structures
• Climate change, natural disasters, pandemics, social inequality, and urbanization challenges
• Post-Anthropocene, post-capitalist, post-pandemic, post-disaster, and future living
• Artificial intelligence, blockchain, sensors, internet-of-things, and autonomous vehicles
• Green technologies, virtual reality, augmented reality, robotics, domotics, and digital twins

1. Title: New Town Development and Sustainable Urban Transition under Urban Entrepreneurialism in China

Authors: Yun Song ¹*, Dominic Stead ² and Martin de Jong ³

Abstract: New towns are a major form of urban growth in China. In recent years, increasing numbers of large new town projects have been planned and built in and around existing cities. These new town projects have frequently been employed by city governments as central elements of pro-growth strategies, based on ideas of urban entrepreneurialism, which seek to promote economic growth, project a dynamic city image and increase urban competitiveness. This article studies how the pro-growth, urban entrepreneurial approach affects the planning, development and sustainable transition of Chinese megacities. Empirical material from four cities in the Pearl River Delta – Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Foshan and Zhuhai – is presented. The analysis indicates that new town developments in these cities have different levels of dependency on spatial growth and land revenue, and emphasize different issues of sustainable development. Cities with a lower dependency on physical and economic growth are be more likely to emphasize the quality of the built environment and address issues of sustainable urban development more closely when planning and implementing new town projects.

Keywords: new towns; urban entrepreneurialism; land-driven development; China; sustainable urban transitions

2. Title: Social Learning and Transdisciplinary Co-Production for Sustainability Transitions: a Social Practice Approach

Authors: Kim Slater and John Robinson

Abstract: To address the challenge of achieving social learning in support of transformative change to sustainability, this paper develops an analytical framework that applies a social practice theory (SPT) lens to illuminate the constituent elements and dynamics of social learning in the context of transdisciplinary co-production for sustainability transitions. Adopting a SPT approach affords a means of interpreting concrete practices at the local scale and exploring the potential for scaling them up. This framework is then applied to a real world case at the urban neighbourhood scale in order to illustrate how social learning unfolded in a grassroots transdisciplinary co-production process focussed on climate action. We find that a social practice perspective illuminates the material and nonmaterial dimensions of the relationship between social learning and transdisciplinary co-production. In decoupling these properties from individual human agency, the SPT perspective affords a means of tracing their emergence among social actors, generating a deeper understanding of how social learning arises and effects change, and sustainability can be reinforced.

3. Title: BIM-GIS Integration in Smart Cities: Progress, Challenges, and Prospects

Authors: Kaveh Deilami 1,*, Behzad Abbasnejad 2, Kamal Akbari 3

Affiliations: 1. Centre for Urban Research, School of Global, Urban and Social Studies, RMIT University, GPO Box 2476, Melbourne, Victoria 3001, Australia; [email protected]; 2. School of Property, Construction and Project Management, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia; [email protected]; Tel. +61 3 9925 3643; 3. PhD Candidate, Department of Infrastructure Engineering, University of Melbourne, Parkville VIC 3052; [email protected]

Abstract: Building Information Modelling (BIM) and Geographic Information System (GIS) have been identified as the most prevalent tools and terminologies to develop smart and sustainable cities. In recent years, this field has experienced significant advancement with advent of BIM-GIS integration. While this is yet at early stages, however, tremendous works have been conducted in both academia and industry. This paper thus explores the extant literature on various domains to develop an integrated BIM-GIS framework. The framework highlights and maps how these two terms have been applied in smart cities and what are the shared features and differences among them. To address this the following steps will be followed: (1) to synthesize the key functions and aspects of BIM and GIS in the extant literature by using open coding approach (2) to develop a taxonomy for the synergies between them; and (3) to develop a strategy for the integration of these two terms/tools. We believe the findings will deliver substantial benefits to both researchers and practitioners.

4. Title: Learning Interdisciplinary Skills to Tackle Wicked Problems in Sustainable Urban Development

Authors: Liisa Häikiö, Salla Jokela, Pekka Jokinen, Markus Laine, Antti Lönnqvist, Juho Rajaniemi and Jonathon Taylor

Abstract: Developing the economic, environmental and social sustainability of the living environment is challenging due to the complex and interconnected nature of the context and objectives. In order to cope with this challenging environment, the professionals working in the urban development arena need various skills. This paper looks at sustainable urban development from the perspective of knowledge and skills required and identifies effective pedagogic practices that could help educate future professionals. Particularly, we explore two perspectives: interdisciplinary collaboration and problem-solving skills. They are needed for understanding various aspects of a complex phenomenon, collaborating with professionals from different fields and coming up with novel and constructive ways of solving wicked problems. We first examine these through reviewing and analyzing relevant literature. Then, we explore the application of these approaches in practice by analyzing a case of a newly introduced degree programme in a Finnish university.

Keywords: education, interdisciplinarity, learning, sustainability, urban development, wicked problems

5. Title: A Framework for Stormwater Quality Modelling under the Effects of Climate Change to Enhance Reuse

Authors: Buddhi Wijesiri¹, Erick Bandala², An Liu³, Ashantha Goonetilleke^1*

Affiliation: ¹Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane Australia; ²Desert Research Institute, Nevada, USA; ³Shenzhen University, China

Abstract: Water scarcity, which is exacerbated by climate change, is a major challenge to ensure human well-being. Therefore, it is equally important to protect conventional water resources from degradation and at the same time to identify cost-effective alternatives with a low carbon footprint. In this regard, stormwater plays a key role as it carries substantial loads of pollutants to receiving waters such as rivers. Further, it is a largely underutilised resource for both, potable and non-potable use. However, lack of comprehensive stormwater quality modelling strategies, which account for the effects of climate change, constraints the formulation of effective measures to improve the quality of stormwater. Currently, there is a significant knowledge gap between stormwater quality modelling and climate modelling. This paper initially reviews current stormwater quality modelling approaches (quantity and quality) and climate modelling approaches which predicts future changes in dry and wet weather patterns. This is followed by the presentation of a robust framework to integrate the impacts of climate change into stormwater quality models.

6. Title: A Social Network analysis of the Spanish Network of Smart Cities

Authors: Ivan Serrano1*, LauraCalvet-Mir2, Ramon Ribera-Fumaz1, Isabel Díaz3& Hug March1.

Affiliation: 1. Open University ofCatalonia, IN3; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; 2. AutonomousUniversity of Barcelona; 3. *[email protected] Internet Interdisciplinary Institute (IN3) Parc Mediterrani de laTecnologia (Edifici B3) Av. Carl Friedrich Gauss, 508860 Castelldefels (Barcelona) Tel: +34 93 450 52 00

Abstract: This paper explores the relations of centrality and hierarchy between cities and firms implementing Smart City strategies in the context of the Spanish Network of Smart Cities (RECI). While The literature has usually focused on the global dimension of cities and firms networks,exploring a national case offers interesting insights about the presence of multinational firms in these contexts and the role played by medium-sized cities in their market expansion. Building on a two-mode network of cities and firms participating inSmart-city projects we first explore whether the structural advantages from participating in these networks have a levelling effect or rather reinforce existing hierarchies of cities. Second, we explore how firms are intertwined inSmart City projects and whether medium-sized local firms have a relevant presence. Our findings suggest these networks rather become a regional gateway for multinational firms to expand their presence in Smart City national markets, rather than empowering medium-sized cities and small national firms.

7. Title: Risk, Resilience, and Recessions

Authors: Bharman Gulati 1 and Stephan Weiler 2

Affiliation: 1. Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 80523 USA; [email protected]; 2. Director, Regional Economic Development Institute ([email protected]); Honorary Professor, City-REDI, Birmingham Business School, UK; Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523 USA; [email protected]

Abstract: Local labor market environment has shown to have a significant impact on the survival of a business establishment. The characteristics of the local labor market are likely to influence the survival of new businesses, the level of entrepreneurship, and the Resilience of the regional economy. We apply the portfolio theory to evaluate the employment-based and income-based measures of risk-and-return tradeoff in local labor markets in the United States. Our results show that volatility in local labor markets has a positive impact on new-business survival, especially in Metropolitan Statistical Areas. The results are robust across different timeframes, including during economic downturns, thus highlighting the contribution of new businesses in developing Resilience of the local economy and further promoting sustainable regional economic development.