Urban Planning and Design
A section of Urban Science (ISSN 2413-8851).
Section Information
Urban Planning and Design lies at the heart of shaping the physical layout of cities. It is an interdisciplinary field that encompasses architecture, landscape architecture, transportation engineering, and environmental science. The core of this discipline is to create functional, efficient, and aesthetically pleasing urban environments.
In the current context, with rapid urban expansion and population growth, the research focus has shifted towards optimizing spatial arrangements to enhance urban livability. This includes not only the design of individual buildings but also the integration of various urban elements such as transportation networks, open spaces, and public facilities.
This section encourages interdisciplinary submissions that bridge planning, architecture, landscape architecture, and human geography, offering evidence-based critiques and forward-looking solutions for the cities of tomorrow.
This section encourages submissions related to:
- Land-use planning and zoning reforms;
- Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) and urban form;
- Urban regeneration and brownfield redevelopment;
- Participatory planning and community engagement;
- Public space design and management;
- Climate-resilient and adaptive design;
- Spatial justice and the right to the city.
Editorial Board
Special Issues
Following special issues within this section are currently open for submissions:
- Social Evolution and Sustainability in the Urban Context (Deadline: 31 December 2025)
- Innovation and the City: Exploring the Role of Urban Design, Transportation and Land Use (Deadline: 31 December 2025)
- GIS in Urban Planning and Spatial Analysis (Deadline: 28 February 2026)
- Logistics of Port Cities and Urban Sustainable Development (Deadline: 28 February 2026)
- Urban Regeneration: A Rethink (Deadline: 28 February 2026)
- The Multi-Attribute Decision-Making Problem in Urban Planning and Design (Deadline: 10 April 2026)
- Sustainable and Resilient Affordable Housing in Architecture Design and Urban Plans (Deadline: 15 April 2026)
- Urban Planning for Addressing Climate Change: Technologies, Innovations, Strategies and Modelling (Deadline: 1 June 2026)
- Sustainable Urbanization, Regional Planning and Development (Deadline: 20 July 2026)
- Urban Regeneration: Organizing Creativity, Innovation, and Change (Deadline: 31 July 2026)
- Building Resilience in Urban Areas: Exploring the Impact of Material Properties and Building Design (Deadline: 31 July 2026)
- Cultural Heritage and Urban Resilience: Integrating Sustainable Conservation (Deadline: 31 July 2026)
- Climate Change and Sustainable City Design (Deadline: 31 July 2026)
- City and Ageing: A Challenge for Urban Planning (Deadline: 4 August 2026)
- Research on Plural Values in Sustainable Urban Planning (Deadline: 31 August 2026)
- Sustainable Urban Futures Through Building Energy Efficiency: Integrating Innovations and Strategies (Deadline: 31 August 2026)
- Innovation for Urban Resilience: Bridging Planning, Technology, and Governance (Deadline: 31 August 2026)
- Urban and Regional Environmental Planning: New Perspectives (Deadline: 2 September 2026)
- Urban Planning, Heritage, and Tourism: Pathways to Sustainable Cities (Deadline: 1 October 2026)
- Urbanization Dynamics, Urban Space, and Sustainable Governance (Deadline: 25 October 2026)
- Emerging -Scapes: Conceptual and Spatial Constructs in Architectural and Urban Studies (Deadline: 31 October 2026)
- Sustainable Urban Tourism: Integrating Spatial Planning and Governance Strategies (Deadline: 31 October 2026)
- The Experience of Urban Development in Global South Cities (Deadline: 30 November 2026)
- Research on Low-Carbon Buildings and Sustainable Urban Energy (Deadline: 30 November 2026)
- Pathways of Urbanization: From Spatial Dynamics to Planning Futures (Deadline: 31 December 2026)
- GeoAI-Driven Urban Analytics: From Spatial Data to Planning Decisions (Deadline: 31 December 2026)
Topical Collections
Following topical collections within this section are currently open for submissions:
