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Sustainability
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Sustainable Urban Mobility and Transportation Planning for Better Resilience
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Sustainable Urban Mobility and Transportation Planning for Better Resilience

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainable Transportation".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 August 2026 | Viewed by 8942

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Chun Yang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Design, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
Interests: sustainable design; consumer perception and behavior research; mobility and service research; design methods
Prof. Dr. Rong Deng

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Design, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
Interests: lifestyle design; experience design; integration of innovative design methods

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are excited to announce a call for papers for the Special Issue on "Sustainable Urban Mobility and Transportation Planning for Better Resilience". This Special Issue is dedicated to exploring the intersection of design, planning, and resilience in the context of urban mobility and transportation.

The scientific background of this Special Issue is rooted in the growing recognition that urban mobility and transportation systems are critical components of sustainable urban development.  These systems are not only essential for economic growth and social well-being but also play a pivotal role in the resilience of cities to various shocks and stresses, such as climate change, economic downturns, and public health crises. The importance of this research area is underscored by the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 11, which calls for making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.

The aim of this Special Issue is to provide a platform for scholars, practitioners, and policymakers to share innovative research findings, theories, and practices that contribute to the understanding and development of sustainable and resilient urban mobility and transportation systems.  This subject is closely aligned with the journal's scope, as it seeks to promote interdisciplinary research that can inform policy and practice, leading to more sustainable and resilient urban environments.

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

  • Integrated planning approaches: research on integrated planning methodologies that consider multiple modes of transportation, land use, and environmental sustainability.
  • Smart mobility solutions: studies on the role of smart technologies in enhancing urban mobility, including intelligent transportation systems, mobile applications, and data analytics.
  • Sustainable design principles: analyses of how sustainable design principles can be applied to urban mobility, focusing on environmental, social, and economic sustainability.
  • Design for health and well-being: research on how the design of urban mobility systems can contribute to public health and well-being, including active transportation options and green spaces.
  • Data-driven design: examinations of how data and analytics can inform the design of transportation systems, leading to more informed and effective planning decisions.
  • Eco-efficiency and green transport: analyses of transportation systems that minimize environmental impact while maintaining efficiency and accessibility.
  • Policy and governance: analyses of policies and governance structures that support sustainable and resilient urban transportation systems.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Chun Yang
Prof. Dr. Rong Deng
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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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

  • sustainable mobility
  • transportation planning
  • smart transportation systems
  • data-driven urban planning
  • inclusive urban design
  • transportation governance
  • health and well-being design

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

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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23 pages, 5093 KB  
Article
Spatial and Temporal Unevenness in the Operation of Urban Public Transport and Parking Spaces
by Dmitrii Zakharov, Evgeniy Kozin, Artyom Bazanov, Alexey Fadyushin and Anatoly Pistsov
Sustainability 2026, 18(1), 225; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18010225 - 25 Dec 2025
Viewed by 464
Abstract
This article examines the spatial and temporal unevenness of the transport complex operation in a large city with a population of about 0.9 million people and without off-street transport. The patterns of changes in the number of passengers transported in the city are [...] Read more.
This article examines the spatial and temporal unevenness of the transport complex operation in a large city with a population of about 0.9 million people and without off-street transport. The patterns of changes in the number of passengers transported in the city are described by a harmonic model, and seasonal unevenness with different numbers of peak values is noted. All routes can be divided into three groups based on the trend in passenger volume. The largest number of routes exhibited a downward trend in passenger volume. A downward trend in passenger volume is observed in the total number of passengers on all routes, despite an increase in the city’s population. Parking occupancy rates also show seasonal fluctuations. A downward trend in paid parking occupancy rates is emerging in the city’s central administrative and business district. The results of the study are relevant for choosing methods for managing the transport behavior model. Analysis of uneven passenger numbers on individual routes is necessary for improving the route network and determining the optimal number and passenger capacity of buses. Analyzing uneven occupancy rates in paid parking lots allows for the development of differentiated rates. The methods used in this article can be integrated into a city’s digital twin to improve forecasting accuracy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Urban Mobility and Transportation Planning for Better Resilience)
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22 pages, 4556 KB  
Article
Development of an Integrated BIM and Traffic Simulation-Based Highway Alignment Planning and Optimization Framework
by Muhammad Arsalan Khan, Muhammad Umer Farooq, Malik Sarmad Riaz, Muhammad Umer Zubair, Waqas Arshad Tanoli and Hisham Jahangir Qureshi
Sustainability 2025, 17(11), 4869; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17114869 - 26 May 2025
Viewed by 3180
Abstract
Highway alignment optimization is critical for developing sustainable and resilient transportation infrastructure. Traditional alignment selection methods frequently fail to comprehensively account for all of the diverse factors, including geometric compliance, traffic efficiency, land use factors, environmental impacts, and cost considerations, ultimately resulting in [...] Read more.
Highway alignment optimization is critical for developing sustainable and resilient transportation infrastructure. Traditional alignment selection methods frequently fail to comprehensively account for all of the diverse factors, including geometric compliance, traffic efficiency, land use factors, environmental impacts, and cost considerations, ultimately resulting in suboptimal project outcomes. To address these challenges, this study proposes a building information modeling (BIM)-based alignment optimization framework that integrates diverse datasets, sophisticated modeling techniques, and stakeholder collaboration. The proposed framework systematically enables the user to model terrain, design geometric features, simulate traffic, and conduct cost analysis and environmental impact assessments. A case study of the Dera Ghazi Khan Northern Bypass project in Pakistan, a critical infrastructure project designed to ease congestion and enhance regional connectivity, is presented to validate the proposed framework. Three alignment alternatives were analyzed, with the optimized solution (Alignment Option 2) demonstrating a 30% reduction in congestion, a 20% decrease in travel time, and a 6.48% reduction in construction costs compared to the other alignment alternatives. These outcomes highlight the transformative potential of BIM-driven optimization to significantly enhance sustainability, cost-efficiency, and operational performance. This framework offers a scalable and adaptable model to guide future infrastructure development initiatives toward more sustainable outcomes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Urban Mobility and Transportation Planning for Better Resilience)
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26 pages, 949 KB  
Article
How Autonomous Vehicles Shape Urban Traffic Sustainability: An Empirical Study Based on Structural Equation Modeling
by Kaiyue Li and Dongning Li
Sustainability 2025, 17(6), 2589; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17062589 - 15 Mar 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3433
Abstract
Currently, urban traffic flow is an increasing problem, and achieving sustainability in urban mobility is essential for enhancing both mobility and the quality of life. This study investigates the factors influencing urban traffic sustainability from two critical perspectives: autonomous vehicle policy governance and [...] Read more.
Currently, urban traffic flow is an increasing problem, and achieving sustainability in urban mobility is essential for enhancing both mobility and the quality of life. This study investigates the factors influencing urban traffic sustainability from two critical perspectives: autonomous vehicle policy governance and citizen perception. By utilizing Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM), this study analyzes data from 502 valid responses gathered through online surveys. The findings reveal that, from the citizen perception perspective, both accessibility and safety play a significant role in advancing urban traffic sustainability, while smart mobility modes were found to have no substantial impact. From a policy governance standpoint, land transportation planning did not significantly influence citizens’ perceptions of accessibility, safety, or smart mobility. In contrast, vehicle management measures were positively correlated with these dimensions. Furthermore, the scope of service point support was found to enhance accessibility and smart mobility but did not have a noteworthy effect on safety. Vehicle deployment allocation, however, was positively associated with improvements in accessibility, safety, and smart mobility. This study offers valuable insights for urban traffic policy formulation, emphasizing the pivotal role of regulatory frameworks, vehicle management strategies, and urban infrastructure in fostering sustainable urban mobility. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Urban Mobility and Transportation Planning for Better Resilience)
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Review

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22 pages, 3090 KB  
Review
Smart Parking Systems as Data-Oriented Architectural Spaces: A Conceptual Framework for Sustainable Urban Mobility
by Hayri Ulvi, Semra Arslan Selçuk and Gülsel Satoğlu
Sustainability 2026, 18(7), 3229; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18073229 - 25 Mar 2026
Viewed by 696
Abstract
The increasing number of vehicles in cities reduces the efficiency of parking infrastructure and increases traffic congestion, making it challenging to achieve sustainable transportation goals. This situation necessitates a re-evaluation of urban mobility systems in conjunction with spatial organization and digital technologies. This [...] Read more.
The increasing number of vehicles in cities reduces the efficiency of parking infrastructure and increases traffic congestion, making it challenging to achieve sustainable transportation goals. This situation necessitates a re-evaluation of urban mobility systems in conjunction with spatial organization and digital technologies. This article examines smart parking systems as “data-oriented spaces”, analyzing their impact on urban mobility, energy efficiency and spatial organization from a multidimensional perspective. The research adopts a qualitative, multi-level approach, structured through a comprehensive literature review, a comparative analysis of five international case studies and a conceptual synthesis of the findings. The data obtained were evaluated using criteria such as technological infrastructure, spatial structure, sustainability performance and user interaction. The findings reveal that smart parking systems not only serve as vehicle storage but can also function as digital–spatial interfaces that direct urban data flows. This study presents a conceptual framework that treats smart parking systems as data-oriented architectural spaces, offering a holistic approach to the design of sustainable urban mobility infrastructures. This perspective allows for redesigning parking structures as adaptable, data-oriented architectural systems that optimize circulation patterns, reduce search-related emissions, increase spatial efficiency and support sustainable urban mobility networks. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Urban Mobility and Transportation Planning for Better Resilience)
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