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Social Evolution and Sustainability in the Urban Context

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 1 July 2026 | Viewed by 15072

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Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Juan R. Coca

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Guest Editor

Social Research Unit on Health and Rare Diseases, Department of Sociology and Social Work, University of Valladolid, 42004 Soria, Spain
Interests: sociology of health and disabilities; social sustainability and wellness; urban sociology; mixed methods; biosociology; biosocial semiotics; moral and daily sociology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Julio Fernandez Portela

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Guest Editor

Department of Geograph, Spanish National University of Distance Education (UNED), 28040 Madrid, Spain
Interests: rural geography; agrarian landscapes; wine landscape; changes of the territory; geohistorical sources; geodemography
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Victor Jimenez

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Guest Editor

Departamento de Geografía, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35001 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
Interests: land planning; rural geography; urban geography; rural space

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In today's societies, sustainability and social evolution, understood as mechanisms for the improvement of urban contexts, are of increasing importance. Our analytical capacity has allowed us to better understand these processes, and to propose or design intervention strategies. This includes the use of simulations, research on the future, inference strategies, qualitative studies, the design of urban environments and the promotion of sustainability. This Special Issue therefore focuses on a multidisciplinary perspective of great relevance and topicality.

This Special Issue aims to present existing multidisciplinary knowledge and perspectives. We therefore welcome the submission of theoretical and empirical studies that investigate urban sustainability and social evolution within the urban context.

This Special Issue will provide an overview of urban studies on social patterns and mechanisms. We are interested in prospective work, case studies of planning in which the social is highly relevant, socio-critical analyses of urban interventions and significant future challenges, as well as scientific and strategic responses. In short, we are interested in the rational analysis of social decision-making in its urban context. The scope of this Special Issue therefore includes, but is not limited to, the following:

Analysis of social sustainability in the urban context.
Impact of urban interventions on social groups.
Analysis of the relationships/conditions between socio-types and the urban.
Study of disability in the urban environment.
Strategies for promoting social sustainability in cities.
Mechanisms of social participation in decision-making when intervening in cities.
Improvement of social relations through urban intervention.
Study of urban social reality through simulation tools.
Analysis of the disruptions and imbalances that new global economic and development models introduce at the local/urban scale, and the social imbalances generated.

Prof. Dr. Juan R. Coca
Dr. Julio Fernandez Portela
Dr. Victor Jimenez
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

social sustainability in the urban context
social evolution
disability in the urban environment
social participation
urban intervention
urban social reality

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

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19 pages, 6439 KB

Open AccessArticle

Patterns of Visitor Perception of Services and Disservices in Urban Green Spaces: Insights from a Fast-Growing City in the Peruvian Amazon

by Jorge Garate-Quispe, Liurka Flores-Llerena, Franksua Huaylla-Ttito, Jhon Choqueneira-Aguilar, Rembrandt Canahuire-Robles and Gabriel Alarcon-Aguirre

Urban Sci. 2026, 10(3), 145; https://doi.org/10.3390/urbansci10030145 - 10 Mar 2026

Viewed by 600

Abstract

Urban green spaces (UGSs) are considered a key component of the urban ecosystem because they promote sustainable development and can improve people’s quality of life. The present study aimed to analyze human perceptions of services and disservices provided by UGSs in the city of Puerto Maldonado (southeastern Peruvian Amazon) and their relationships with socioeconomic variables. A questionnaire was designed to quantify the degree of user agreement regarding 14 services and 15 disservices provided by UGSs. Cultural and ecosystem services received the highest level of agreement. Thus, providing shade and reducing air temperature, improving air quality, beautifying the urban environment, and regulating rainwater were the four most important services of UGSs. However, the respondents perceived that the main concerns generated by UGSs were reduced visibility for drivers and damage to infrastructure. There were significant but weak associations among four socioeconomic factors and residents’ perception. Likewise, the age, education, and income level of respondents were significantly related to perceived levels of most UGS services and disservices. The findings are valuable because they provide relevant information for developing sustainable public policies for urban areas and to align them to maintain and enhance the services provided by UGSs and diminish their potential disservices. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Social Evolution and Sustainability in the Urban Context)

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21 pages, 1517 KB

Open AccessArticle

Urban Fragmentation and Residential Segregation in Medium-Sized Cities: A Multidimensional Urban Territorial Index (UTI) Analysis from Spain

by Maria Angeles Rodríguez-Domenech and Isabel Rodriguez-Domenech

Urban Sci. 2026, 10(2), 118; https://doi.org/10.3390/urbansci10020118 - 14 Feb 2026

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 890

Abstract

Medium-sized cities are increasingly affected by processes of urban fragmentation and residential segregation, despite having traditionally been perceived as more socially cohesive and territorially balanced than large metropolitan areas. Acting as functional connectors between metropolitan hubs and rural regions, these cities are particularly vulnerable to unplanned suburban growth, housing market polarization and uneven access to urban opportunities. This study develops and applies a multidimensional Urban Territorial Index (UTI) to diagnose socio-spatial inequality in medium-sized cities, using Ciudad Real (central Spain) and its functional urban area as a case study. The UTI integrates six indicators across three analytical dimensions—socioeconomic, sociodemographic and housing—through a PCA-informed weighting scheme and GIS-based spatial analysis. The index is calculated at census-tract and neighborhood scales and is validated through internal consistency checks, external comparison with a local Human Development Index (r = 0.87; p < 0.001), and qualitative robustness assessments. Results reveal a pronounced core–periphery polarization: central and strategically located neighborhoods associated with key infrastructures (university, high-speed rail station and hospital) concentrate higher income levels, educational attainment and land values, while peripheral municipalities and disadvantaged neighborhoods exhibit higher unemployment, lower housing values and greater social vulnerability. The analysis also identifies population–housing mismatches linked to suburban expansion without equivalent functional integration. Beyond the local case, the study provides a transparent and replicable methodological framework tailored to medium-sized cities, where metropolitan-scale indices often fail to capture fine-grained socio-spatial disparities. The UTI offers a practical tool for comparative analysis, temporal monitoring and evidence-based urban policy, supporting more inclusive and territorially balanced development strategies in diverse institutional and geographical contexts. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Social Evolution and Sustainability in the Urban Context)

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30 pages, 3639 KB

Open AccessArticle

Tiered Evolution and Sustainable Governance of High-Quality Development in Megacities: A System Dynamics Simulation of Chinese Cases

by Zongyuan Huang, Liying Sheng, Miaomiao Qin and Xiangyuan Yu

Urban Sci. 2026, 10(1), 49; https://doi.org/10.3390/urbansci10010049 - 14 Jan 2026

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 673

Abstract

Against the backdrop of rapid urbanization, megacities have become crucial drivers of development. As the country with the largest number of megacities (seven in total), China is confronted with significant challenges such as population–resource–environment conflicts, which render high-quality development an imperative pursuit. This study employs a system dynamics approach to assess high-quality development in China’s megacities. It analyzes interactions among economic growth, technological innovation, environmental quality, and livelihood security under policy regulation, clarifying their evolutionary mechanisms and constructing a model to project the high-quality development index (HQDI) and coupling coordination degree (CCD) among subsystems. Findings reveal an upward trend in both HQDI and CCD across the seven megacities, with notable stratification. Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen form the top echelon, leveraging financial and technological resources, driven by science and green development. Guangzhou and Chongqing constitute the second tier, supported by regional integration and industrial clusters, while Chengdu and Tianjin form the third echelon via regional strategic transformations. In coordinated development, Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen, and Guangzhou lead with multi-link synergy, whereas Chengdu, Chongqing, and Tianjin advance industry–ecology–livelihood coordination through regional strategies. This study offers insights for overcoming development bottlenecks, optimizing policies, and enhancing urban governance to foster a coordinated, high-quality development pattern. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Social Evolution and Sustainability in the Urban Context)

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35 pages, 8407 KB

Open AccessArticle

Urban Mobility and Socio-Environmental Aspects in David, Panama: A Bayesian-Network Analysis

by Jorge Quijada-Alarcón, Anshell Maylin, Roberto Rodríguez-Rodríguez, Analissa Icaza, Angelino Harris and Nicoletta González-Cancelas

Urban Sci. 2025, 9(9), 387; https://doi.org/10.3390/urbansci9090387 - 22 Sep 2025

Viewed by 1694

Abstract

Given that urban mobility arises from the interaction between social and environmental conditions, this study constructs a Bayesian network to represent these relationships in David, Panama, using 500 georeferenced household surveys that recorded variables related to demographics, travel behavior, infrastructure, mobility patterns and perceptions of risk, safety, and vulnerability. The Bayesian network was built and validated through a consensus-driven hybrid procedure combining structural learning and expert knowledge, resulting in a directed acyclic graph (DAG) with 127 nodes and 189 arcs; and conditional probability tables (CPTs) were learned from data. The topology of the network was analyzed with Louvain community detection, revealing eleven subsystems that group household economy and mode choice, hydrometeorological mobility barriers, congestion, public-transport quality, and safety in school travel. The inferences show gender-based differences in the risk of harassment on public transport, higher perceived vulnerability on longer trips, and elevated stress among middle-aged drivers. The model highlights potential priority interventions such as reinforcing public-transport safety, promoting self-contained trips, and encouraging short-distance active mobility, based on population perceptions. The resulting DAG functions as both an analytical and communication tool for urban management, is visually understandable to all stakeholders, and provides unprecedented evidence for Panama in a little-studied context. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Social Evolution and Sustainability in the Urban Context)

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18 pages, 4803 KB

Open AccessArticle

Global Health as Vector for Agroecology in Collective Gardens in Toulouse Region (France)

by Wilkens Jules, Stéphane Mombo and Camille Dumat

Urban Sci. 2025, 9(7), 272; https://doi.org/10.3390/urbansci9070272 - 15 Jul 2025

Viewed by 2174

Abstract

Agroecological transitions in collective urban gardens in Toulouse region were studied through the prism of global health (2011–2022). The specific meaning of “global health” in the context of urban gardens concerns the health of gardeners (well-being and physical health), plants, soil, and animals, as well as the interactions between humans and non-humans, which are crucial for gardeners. A sociotechnical research project was developed on four different collective gardening sites, consisting of the following: 1. surveys issued to 100 garden stakeholders to highlight issues and practices, participation in meetings with the social centers in charge of events, and focus groups; 2. participative agronomic and environmental measurements and field observations, including soil quality analyses; and 3. analysis of the available documentary corpus. In order to produce the results, these three research methods (surveys, agronomy, document analysis) were combined through a transdisciplinary approach, in that both the field experimentation outcomes and retrieved scientific publications and technical documents informed the discussions with gardeners. Consideration of the four different sites enabled the exploration of various contextual factors—such as soil or air quality—affecting the production of vegetables. A rise in the concerns of gardeners about the impacts of their activities on global health was observed, including aspects such as creating and enjoying landscapes, taking care of the soil and biodiversity, developing social connections through the transmission of practices, and regular outside physical activity and healthier eating. The increased consideration for global health issues by all stakeholders promotes the implementation of agroecological practices in gardens to improve biodiversity and adherence to circular economy principles. Four concepts emerged from the interviews: health, production of vegetables, living soil, and social interactions. Notably, nuances between the studied sites were observed, according to their history, environment, and organization. These collective gardens can thus be considered as accessible laboratories for social and agroecological experimentation, being areas that can strongly contribute to urban ecosystem services. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Social Evolution and Sustainability in the Urban Context)

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22 pages, 6838 KB

Open AccessArticle

AI-Driven Deconstruction of Urban Regulatory Frameworks: Unveiling Social Sustainability Gaps in Santiago’s Communal Zoning

by Jose Francisco Vergara-Perucich

Urban Sci. 2025, 9(6), 186; https://doi.org/10.3390/urbansci9060186 - 23 May 2025

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3006

Abstract

This article presents a novel methodology for auditing urban regulatory frameworks through the application of artificial intelligence (AI) using the case of Greater Santiago as an empirical laboratory. Based on the semantic analysis of 31 communal zoning ordinances (Planes Reguladores Comunales, PRCs), the study uncovers how legal structures actively reproduce socio-spatial inequalities under the guise of normative neutrality. The DeepSeek-R1 model, fine-tuned for Chilean legal-urban discourse, was used, enabling the detection of normative asymmetries, omissions, and structural fragmentation. Key findings indicate that affluent communes, such as Vitacura and Las Condes, display detailed and incentive-rich regulations, while peripheral municipalities lack provisions for social housing, participatory mechanisms, or climate resilience, thereby reinforcing exclusionary patterns. The analysis also introduces a scalable rubric-based evaluation system and GIS visualizations to synthetize regulatory disparities across the metropolitan area. Methodologically, the study shows how domain-adapted AI can extend regulatory scrutiny beyond manual limitations, while substantively contributing to debates on spatial justice, institutional fragmentation, and regulatory opacity in urban planning. The results call for binding mechanisms that align local zoning with metropolitan equity goals and highlight the potential of automated audits to inform reform agendas in the Global South. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Social Evolution and Sustainability in the Urban Context)

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Review

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34 pages, 983 KB

Open AccessReview

Urban Transformations for Universal Accessibility: Socio-Educational Dialogue

by Susana Gómez-Redondo, Nicolás Plaza Gómez, Lilian Johanna Obregón, Juan R. Coca and Anabel Paramá Díaz

Urban Sci. 2024, 8(4), 161; https://doi.org/10.3390/urbansci8040161 - 29 Sep 2024

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 4065

Abstract

This paper offers a systematic review of the papers in the present century that have addressed the intersection between urbanism, universal accessibility, and the socio-educational sphere. The paper explores, describes, and interprets the published literature found in academic sources included in Scopus and Web of Science (WOS) from the year 2000 to the present about the intersection of these three topics. We start from the dialogue between the social and the educational spheres as a basic premise. Thus, the main objectives of this review are (1) to identify how many articles explicitly address the social dimension in relation to education and universal accessibility; (2) to determine if there is an upward or downward trend in socio-educational perspectives, inclusion, and new urbanism; and (3) to find out if the research provides frameworks for universal accessibility, urban planning, and socio-educational inclusion from this holistic perspective. After removing all exclusion criteria, the study was restricted to 29 papers. The small number of research found is noteworthy. We understand that this shortage is due to the inclusion of the social dimension as a required area. Although there seems to have been a slight increase in recent years, the sample found does not allow us to determine whether or not there is a greater interest in studying the social sphere in relation to inclusive education. We do conclude, however, that this gap highlights the need to make the socio-educational dimension more present. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Social Evolution and Sustainability in the Urban Context)

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