“Smart Cities: Innovative Urban Planning and the Challenge of Sustainability”

Call for Papers – Virtual Special Issue (VSI): “Smart Cities: Innovative Urban Planning and the Challenge of Sustainability”

Journal: Cities
Publisher: Elsevier
Submission deadline: 30 June 2026

Overview

This virtual special issue (VSI)—published by Elsevier—aims to compile high-quality research and reviews on the evolution of smart cities. As rapid urbanization and climate change reshape metropolitan areas, this issue seeks innovative solutions that prioritize the quality of life, sustainability, and efficiency. It invites research on the nexus of new urban planning paradigms, the integration of renewable energy, sustainable mobility, and advanced digital governance. The goal is to provide a comprehensive scientific platform for understanding how smart city frameworks can effectively address the most pressing challenges of modern urban development.

Key Research Themes

• Urban Planning & Governance: Innovative planning paradigms, digital governance, and models for active citizenship.

• Energy Systems: Integration of renewable energy, smart grids, and policies to enhance urban energy efficiency.

• Sustainable Mobility: Energy-aware transport systems and mobility solutions that reduce the urban ecological footprint.

• Infrastructure & IoT: Utilizing IoT, computational intelligence, and advanced building systems to create resilient infrastructure.

• Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Strategies that align smart city growth with global sustainability targets.

Submission Details

• Submission deadline: 30 June 2026.

• Submission portal: https://www.editorialmanager.com/jcit/default2.aspx

• Special Instructions: You must select the article type “VSI: ICSC-CITIES-NUP” during the online submission process.

• Virtual Special Issue (VSI) Format: Upon acceptance, your paper will go into production immediately, appearing in the latest regular issue while being simultaneously showcased on the VSI webpage.

• Contact: For inquiries regarding topic appropriateness, please contact Prof. Luis Hernández-Callejo at luis.hernandez.callejo@uva.es.

• Submission Standards: The journal welcomes research articles and reviews. All manuscripts must adhere to the Cities Guide for Authors.

Guest Editor Team

• Prof. Luis Hernández-Callejo, Universidad de Valladolid, Spain

• Prof. Sergio Nesmachnow, Universidad de la República, Uruguay

• Prof. Pedro Moreno-Bernal, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, Mexico

• Dr. Renzo Massobrio, University of Antwerp, Belgium

Why This Issue Matters

Technology alone does not create a "smart" city; rather, the success of these urban environments depends on the seamless integration of technology with proactive, sustainable, and human-centric planning. By consolidating research at the interface of these domains, this special issue provides an essential resource for researchers and city planners looking to build resilient, inclusive, and future-ready urban spaces.

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