Sustainable Implications of Smart Urban Mobility and Logistics
A special issue of Urban Science (ISSN 2413-8851). This special issue belongs to the section "Urban Mobility and Transportation".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 January 2027 | Viewed by 215
Special Issue Editors
Interests: large-scale complex urban and transportation systems; state-of-the-art evaluation tools; smart/future/automated mobility solutions; sustainable transportation; transport and environmental equity; machine learning for transportation
Interests: transportation; smart mobility; intelligent transportation system (ITS)
Interests: urban mobility; smart city; smart transportation; urban accessibility
Interests: modelling and control of traffic systems in presence of automated and connected vehicles; integration, management, and optimization of emerging mobility systems and technologies; optimization of intelligent transportation systems for smart and sustainable mobility; traffic flow theory, modelling, and simulation
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The emergence of smart mobility and logistics systems represents a transformative shift in transportation that carries profound sustainability implications; however, while smart and automated mobility promises significant environmental, economic, and social benefits through optimized driving patterns, reduced congestion, and enhanced safety, it simultaneously poses critical sustainability challenges that remain inadequately understood. The technology’s impact on sustainability is not technologically deterministic but is contingent rather upon deployment strategies, governance frameworks, and societal responses. Recent research has revealed that environmental impacts arise from AV-facilitated transformations at multiple system levels, vehicle, transportation network, urban system, and society, rather than from AV technology directly.
This Special Issue focuses on the multidimensional sustainability implications of smart mobility and logistics systems, examining environmental, economic, and social outcomes across passenger and freight transportation. The focus spans from micro-level vehicle technology to macro-level urban system transformations, emphasizing the interconnections between automation, electrification, connectivity, and sharing paradigms.
The primary aim of this Special Issue is to advance the understanding and application of sustainable approaches to emerging smart and autonomous transportation systems; Therefore, we seek to gather together and disseminate cutting-edge research, innovative practices, and insightful analyses that explore the dynamic interactions between smart mobility technologies and logistics systems, urban environments, and sustainability outcomes. We welcome diverse perspectives and methodologies, spanning transportation engineering, urban planning, environmental science, economics, social sciences, and policy studies-to examine how autonomous systems can be designed, deployed, and governed to support sustainable development goals. Consequently, we hope to attract contributions that address technological innovations, behavioural responses, infrastructure transformations, environmental impacts, economic implications, social equity considerations, and policy frameworks that shape the sustainability trajectory of autonomous mobility and logistics.
In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome and research areas may include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Life cycle sustainability assessments (manufacturing, operation, and end-of-life) for autonomous passenger vehicles and freight systems;
- Behavioural and demand-side implications including rebound effects, modal shifts, and induced travel;
- Urban form transformations, land use changes, and infrastructure adaptation requirements;
- Freight and logistics optimization including heavy-duty trucking, last-mile delivery, and warehouse automation;
- Policy frameworks, governance strategies, and regulatory approaches to maximize sustainability benefits;
- Equity and accessibility dimensions across diverse demographic and geographic contexts;
- Real-world empirical validation of simulation-based findings through pilot deployments and case studies;
- Integration with broader sustainability goals including decarbonization targets, circular economy principles, and social equity objectives.
We look forward to receiving your contributions.
Dr. Bat Hen Nahmias–Biran
Dr. Simon Oh
Dr. Ada Garus
Dr. Claudio Roncoli
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- smart mobility
- autonomous vehicle
- smart logistics
- automated logistics
- sustainability
- environmental impact
- energy
- connected and automated vehicles
- economic impact
- social impact
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