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Urban Science
Special Issues
Human, Technologies, and Environment in Sustainable Cities
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Human, Technologies, and Environment in Sustainable Cities

A special issue of Urban Science (ISSN 2413-8851). This special issue belongs to the section "Urban Environment and Sustainability".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 August 2026 | Viewed by 6009

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Qian-Cheng Wang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
Interests: human-environment interaction; built environment; geography (general); transportation and communications; activity-based modelling
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Yu (Eddie) Hu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong
Interests: future workspace; flexible working; urban regeneration
Dr. Hua Du

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Urban Planning and Design, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen 518055, China
Interests: agent-based model; renewable energy adoption; travel behavior transition
Dr. Ruidong Chang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Technology, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia
Interests: environmental digital twins; environmental-friendly techniques; sustainable construction
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue addresses the accelerating convergence of residents, digital technologies, and urban environments in today’s rapidly transforming cities. Fueled by post-pandemic hybrid work regimes, burgeoning gig-economy enterprises, and novel productivity platforms, urban life now hinges on ubiquitous sensor networks, artificial intelligence, and smart-transport tools. At the same time, cities face mounting challenges—from extreme weather events and ageing infrastructure to widening socio-spatial inequalities—underscoring the urgent need to understand how human behaviours, technological systems, and environmental processes co-evolve for sustainable outcomes.

Our goal is to convene cutting-edge, interdisciplinary scholarship that aligns with Urban Sciences’ mission to explore sustainability, resilience, and innovation in urban contexts. We particularly welcome contributions that bridge empirical observations, computational modelling, and policy critique to reveal pathways toward more adaptive, inclusive, and environmentally sound cities. By drawing together perspectives from multiple disciplines, this Special Issue aims to deepen our collective insight into the complex socio-techno-ecological fabric of 21st-century urbanism.

Original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

  • Hybrid and remote working and urban spatial restructuring;
  • Smart infrastructure and Internet of Things;
  • AI-driven urban planning, digital twins and immersive modelling;
  • Nature-based solutions for urban climate adaptation and resilience;
  • Circular economy, resource efficiency and urban waste management;
  • Mobility innovations: micro-mobility and autonomous transit;
  • Health, well-being and inclusive public space in technology-mediated cities;
  • Pandemic-resilient design, public health informatics and social cohesion;
  • Ageing populations, accessibility and assistive technologies in the urban realm.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Qian-Cheng Wang
Dr. Yu (Eddie) Hu
Dr. Hua Du
Dr. Ruidong Chang
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. Urban Science is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly 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 1800 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

  • human–technology interactions
  • urban green mobility
  • smart infrastructure
  • energy management
  • urban resilience
  • sustainable transport
  • nature-based solutions
  • coupled human and urban systems

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

26 pages, 7810 KB  
Article
Spatio-Temporal Analysis of Severe Meteorological Events and the Urban Environment Specific to the Historical Region of Muntenia (Romania)
by Elena Bogan, Alexandru-Ionuț Bănescu, Florina Tatu and Elena Grigore
Urban Sci. 2026, 10(5), 254; https://doi.org/10.3390/urbansci10050254 - 6 May 2026
Viewed by 616
Abstract
For the environment and the daily life of urban settlements, in the context of contemporary challenges, severe meteorological events rank second worldwide. Therefore, these events tend to become a real threat to human society and to specific economic activities. The main objective of [...] Read more.
For the environment and the daily life of urban settlements, in the context of contemporary challenges, severe meteorological events rank second worldwide. Therefore, these events tend to become a real threat to human society and to specific economic activities. The main objective of this study is to analyze the spatio-temporal evolution of severe meteorological events in urban environments and to assess their relationship with atmospheric circulation regimes and urban thermal conditions. The analysis focuses on five types of severe events (significant atmospheric precipitation, hail, strong winds, tornadic structures, and cloud-to-ground lightning) recorded in 11 cities located in the historical region of Muntenia, Romania, over the period 2014–2024. The methodological framework is based on three complementary components. First, a new database was developed by integrating information from multiple sources, including the National Meteorological Administration (ANM), the European Severe Storms Laboratory (ESSL), international databases, and validated media reports, with spatio-temporal filtering and aggregation into synoptic episodes. Second, atmospheric circulation regimes were identified using ECMWF ERA5 reanalysis data, based on geopotential height anomalies at the 500 hPa level, allowing the classification of large-scale synoptic patterns. Third, urban thermal conditions were assessed using the ECMWF CERRA regional reanalysis dataset, which provides high-resolution air temperature data, enabling the analysis of urban–peri-urban thermal contrasts and the estimation of the urban heat island effect. The results highlight a total of 997 severe meteorological events, of which 253 (25.6%) were recorded in the analyzed urban areas, 85 (15.9%) in other towns, and 583 (58.5%) in rural areas. The analysis reveals pronounced interannual and intraseasonal variability, as well as distinct spatial clustering patterns, particularly in urban and peri-urban zones. Among the circulation regimes, the Zonal Regime exhibits the highest event rate, suggesting increased favorability for severe weather occurrence, while other regimes show weaker or even inhibitory effects. In addition, most severe events were associated with positive urban–peri-urban temperature contrasts, indicating an active contribution of the urban heat island effect. By combining observational data, synoptic-scale analysis, and urban-scale thermal assessment, this study provides an integrated regional perspective on severe meteorological events and contributes to the enrichment of data sources in the region, while improving the understanding of their dynamics in urban environments affected by data limitations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Human, Technologies, and Environment in Sustainable Cities)
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23 pages, 914 KB  
Article
Smart Sustainability Beyond Infrastructure: An Institutional and Algorithmic Governance Framework for Green Urban Performance
by Khoren Mkhitaryan, Susanna Karapetyan, Amalya Manukyan, Anna Sanamyan and Tatevik Mkrtchyan
Urban Sci. 2026, 10(4), 214; https://doi.org/10.3390/urbansci10040214 - 16 Apr 2026
Viewed by 512
Abstract
Cities are increasingly expected to achieve environmentally sustainable outcomes while simultaneously adapting to rapid technological transformation and growing governance complexity. However, sustainability performance in urban systems cannot be explained by technological infrastructure alone. Institutional capacity and algorithmic governance capabilities play a critical role [...] Read more.
Cities are increasingly expected to achieve environmentally sustainable outcomes while simultaneously adapting to rapid technological transformation and growing governance complexity. However, sustainability performance in urban systems cannot be explained by technological infrastructure alone. Institutional capacity and algorithmic governance capabilities play a critical role in shaping coherent environmental policy implementation and green urban performance, particularly in transition city contexts. This study proposes the ISAG-G Governance Framework (Institutional and Smart Algorithmic Governance for Green Performance), a governance-oriented analytical framework designed to assess green urban governance capacity. The framework integrates four governance dimensions: institutional governance capacity, algorithmic and digital governance enablement, green urban governance performance, and citizen sustainability interaction. Methodologically, the study develops a composite governance index based on a structured indicator system. Indicator weights are determined using the Best–Worst Method (BWM) through expert consultation, while Min–Max normalization and weighted aggregation are applied to construct the composite index. The framework is empirically applied through a comparative analysis of five transition municipalities (evidence from Armenia) representing different levels of administrative capacity and urban development. The findings reveal distinct governance profiles across municipalities and highlight the importance of institutional coherence and algorithmic governance capacity in shaping green urban performance. By moving beyond infrastructure-centric approaches, the proposed framework provides both an analytical and policy-oriented tool for evaluating urban sustainability governance in transition city contexts. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Human, Technologies, and Environment in Sustainable Cities)
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27 pages, 2755 KB  
Article
A Co-Created Framework to Define Digital Twinning Use Cases for Urban Transport Decarbonisation
by Heather Steele, Joshua Duvnjak, Paul Byron, Melinda Matyas, John Easton, Clive Roberts, David Flynn and Philip Greening
Urban Sci. 2026, 10(3), 140; https://doi.org/10.3390/urbansci10030140 - 5 Mar 2026
Viewed by 859
Abstract
With global urbanisation anticipated to reach 68% by 2050, there is a significant risk of exacerbating urban transport emissions. Urban transport decarbonisation is a complex adaptive system challenge, the understanding and optimisation of which could be supported by digital twins (DTs). Although prior [...] Read more.
With global urbanisation anticipated to reach 68% by 2050, there is a significant risk of exacerbating urban transport emissions. Urban transport decarbonisation is a complex adaptive system challenge, the understanding and optimisation of which could be supported by digital twins (DTs). Although prior research has explored digital and big data technology applications, creating actionable insights requires human-centred designs. We conducted a structured workshop to gather practitioner views on how urban-scale DTs can support transport decarbonisation. Specifically, we explored the outcomes they aim to achieve, the interventions they are interested in, and the value digital twinning offers compared to current methods. The data was synthesised and analysed to identify (1) impacts, (2) interventions, (3) location types, (4) data sources and (5) feedback mechanisms of importance to participants. These five aspects are proposed as a framework to support the definition of digital twinning use cases targeting urban transport decarbonisation. Application of the framework encourages creators to explicitly consider the services to be provided to users, how the derived insights influence the real world and the data connections between the physical and digital, noting that these are often overlooked in reported research. A framework application is illustrated through an example use case described for the West Midlands, UK. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Human, Technologies, and Environment in Sustainable Cities)
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26 pages, 4263 KB  
Article
Health and Environmental Drivers of Urban Park Visitation Inequalities During COVID-19: Evidence from Las Vegas
by Zheng Zhu, Shuqi Hu and Beiyu Lin
Urban Sci. 2025, 9(12), 545; https://doi.org/10.3390/urbansci9120545 - 18 Dec 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 701
Abstract
Urban parks are essential components of sustainable cities, providing vital health, social, and environmental benefits. Using weekly smartphone-based visitation data for 182 parks in Las Vegas from 2019 to 2022, this study quantifies how the COVID-19 pandemic altered park use and identifies the [...] Read more.
Urban parks are essential components of sustainable cities, providing vital health, social, and environmental benefits. Using weekly smartphone-based visitation data for 182 parks in Las Vegas from 2019 to 2022, this study quantifies how the COVID-19 pandemic altered park use and identifies the socio-economic, environmental, and infrastructural determinants of these changes. Park visitation in Las Vegas showed a marked early pandemic decline followed by uneven recovery, with socially vulnerable neighborhoods lagging behind. Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) and Random Forest (RF) models were used to capture both linear and nonlinear relationships. The RF model explained 81% of the variance in standardized visitation (R2 = 0.81, RMSE = 0.0415), substantially outperforming the OLS benchmark (R2 = 0.24, RMSE = 0.0656). Domain-specific RF models show that socio-economic variables alone achieve an R2 of 0.88, compared with about 0.70 for housing, environmental/health, and lighting variables, while demographic variables explain only 0.39, indicating that social vulnerability is the dominant driver of visitation inequalities. Phase-specific analyses further reveal that RF performance increases from R2 = 0.84 before the pandemic to R2 = 0.87 after it, as park visitation becomes more strongly coupled with socio-economic and health-related burdens. After COVID-19, poverty, uninsured rates, and asthma prevalence emerge as the most influential predictors, while the relative importance of demographic composition and environmental exposure diminishes. These findings demonstrate that pandemic-era inequalities in park visitation are driven primarily by reinforced socio-economic and health vulnerabilities, underscoring the need for targeted, equity-oriented green-infrastructure interventions in disadvantaged neighborhoods. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Human, Technologies, and Environment in Sustainable Cities)
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24 pages, 31209 KB  
Article
Characterisation of GPS Horizontal Positioning Errors and Dst Using Recurrence Plot Analysis in Sub-Equatorial Ionospheric Conditions
by Lucija Žužić, Luka Škrlj, Aleksandar Nešković and Renato Filjar
Urban Sci. 2025, 9(11), 451; https://doi.org/10.3390/urbansci9110451 - 31 Oct 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1170
Abstract
The Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) positioning performance may be degraded due to the effects of various natural and adversarial causes, most notably those related to space weather, geomagnetic, and ionospheric conditions and disturbances. Here we present a contribution to understanding the nature [...] Read more.
The Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) positioning performance may be degraded due to the effects of various natural and adversarial causes, most notably those related to space weather, geomagnetic, and ionospheric conditions and disturbances. Here we present a contribution to understanding the nature of geomagnetic and ionospheric conditions in terms of the effects on the GPS positioning performance through the comparative time-series analysis of the long-term annual (Year 2014) non-linear properties of Disturbance storm-time (Dst) index, an indicator of geomagnetic conditions, and the single-frequency commercial-grade GPS horizontal positioning errors as derived from raw single-frequency commercial-grade GPS observations taken at the International GNSS Service (IGS) reference station at Darwin, Northern Territory (NT), Australia. The analysis reveals candidate non-linear property indicators for future assessments and modelling, as potential descriptors of the long-term non-linear association between geomagnetic/ionospheric disturbances and GNSS positioning performance degradation: recurrence rate (RR), total number of lines in the recurrent plot, Shannon entropy, and trapping time (TT). The inference presented may serve as a framework for introducing advanced GNSS PNT correction procedures to mitigate environmental ionospheric effects on GNSS positioning performance, thereby offering more resilient and robust PNT services for GNSS applications in urban mobility, systems, and services. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Human, Technologies, and Environment in Sustainable Cities)
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23 pages, 1386 KB  
Article
Invisible Threads, Tangible Impacts: Industrial Networks and Land Use Efficiency in Chinese Cities
by Tian Tian, Fubin Wang and Mingxin Song
Urban Sci. 2025, 9(9), 332; https://doi.org/10.3390/urbansci9090332 - 25 Aug 2025
Viewed by 1221
Abstract
Efficient urban land use is a cornerstone of sustainable city development, yet the drivers of such efficiency are increasingly complex in an era of spatial transformation. As industrial specialization and collaboration deepen, cities are becoming interconnected through complex networks. These “invisible threads” are [...] Read more.
Efficient urban land use is a cornerstone of sustainable city development, yet the drivers of such efficiency are increasingly complex in an era of spatial transformation. As industrial specialization and collaboration deepen, cities are becoming interconnected through complex networks. These “invisible threads” are redefining the dynamics of land use and spatial efficiency. This study examines the influence of intercity industrial networks on urban land use efficiency by constructing urban networks from multi-regional input–output data and evaluating city performance using a super-SBM model. We employed Tobit regression and mediation analysis to identify the mechanisms. Results indicate that both the quantity and quality of urban network connections significantly enhance land use efficiency, with notable differences across city types. The positive effect of industrial network centrality is most pronounced in large cities. In growing cities, both the number and quality of industrial linkages promote efficiency, whereas in shrinking cities, connection quality is more critical than quantity. Mechanism analysis reveals that industrial networks improve land use efficiency primarily by expanding intermediate goods markets and fostering technological innovation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Human, Technologies, and Environment in Sustainable Cities)
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