Urban Soundscape and Sustainability: Designing Cities That Speak

Dear Colleagues,

Urban soundscape quality has emerged as a critical dimension of urban sustainability and quality of life. The relationship between sound, urban environments, and human well-being requires an integrated multidisciplinary approach that combines acoustic engineering, urban planning, energy efficiency, and environmental sustainability. Recent studies have demonstrated that acoustic comfort in public spaces, educational institutions, and urban corridors significantly influences user satisfaction and environmental perception. The assessment of urban soundscapes involves both quantitative acoustic measurements (following ISO standards) and qualitative evaluation of sound perception, considering the complex interaction between environmental noise, human psychology, and cultural contexts. Furthermore, the integration of soundscape planning with energy-efficient urban design and environmental sustainability strategies represents an emerging field that addresses contemporary urban challenges.

This Special Issue aims to advance the understanding of urban soundscapes by exploring the interplay between acoustic quality, energy efficiency, and environmental sustainability in urban development. It promotes an integrated approach to urban science that recognizes soundscape assessment as a fundamental component of sustainable city design. We invite contributions that address the following: (a) methodologies for soundscape evaluation and monitoring in urban contexts; (b) case studies demonstrating the relationship between acoustic comfort and urban sustainability; (c) technical solutions integrating building physics and acoustic design for energy-efficient and acoustically comfortable spaces; (d) policy frameworks and multi-criteria decision making strategies that prioritize soundscape quality alongside environmental objectives. This initiative aligns with the journal's commitment to fostering innovative research in urban science that enhances livability, sustainability, and resilience of contemporary cities.

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

• Soundscape assessment and monitoring in urban public spaces, residential areas, and institutional settings
• Acoustic comfort evaluation and human perception in urban environments
• Energy-efficient building design and acoustic performance optimization
• Green infrastructure, urban corridors, and their contribution to soundscape quality
• Integration of soundscape planning in urban development strategies and policies
• Technical physics approaches for noise reduction and acoustic comfort in cities
• Case studies of sustainable urban regeneration projects addressing acoustic quality
• Interdisciplinary approaches linking urban soundscape with environmental and social sustainability
• Innovative tools and technologies for soundscape evaluation and urban acoustic mapping

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Samantha Di Loreto
Prof. Dr. Sergio Montelpare
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 1600 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.