From Data to Decisions: AI, Digital Twins, and Cyber-Physical Systems for Intelligent and Sustainable Built Environments

Call for Papers

From Data to Decisions: AI, Digital Twins, and Cyber-Physical Systems for Intelligent and Sustainable Built Environments

JOURNAL NAME: Smart and Sustainable Built Environment

PUBLISHER: Emerald Publishing

SUBMISSION OPENS: 15 January 2026

SUBMISSION DEADLINE: 31 December 2026

ABOUT THIS SPECIAL ISSUE

Buildings account for approximately 40% of global energy consumption and carbon emissions, making their decarbonization critical to climate action. Artificial intelligence, digital twins, and cyber-physical systems have matured sufficiently to move beyond proof-of-concept demonstrations toward practical deployment. Yet a fundamental gap persists between technological capability and successful implementation in construction's complex organisational structures.

This special issue addresses this disconnect by examining not only what AI and digital technologies can achieve, but how organisations successfully deploy them. While existing research focuses disproportionately on technical demonstrations, this issue emphasises the integration of technological innovation with organisational enablers, change management strategies, and policy frameworks essential for practical adoption.

Contributions are welcomed across three interconnected domains:

• Data-centric methodologies — exploring AI, machine learning, and analytics for building performance optimisation

• Cyber-physical integration — examining BIM, digital twins, IoT networks, and sensor systems for intelligent lifecycle management

• Sustainability outcomes and implementation — addressing energy efficiency, indoor environmental quality, circular economy principles, and governance structures for responsible AI deployment

Submissions that bridge technical innovation with deployment understanding are particularly encouraged. Research demonstrating implementation pathways, organisational barriers, empirical productivity assessments, and lessons learned from real-world projects will provide exceptional value. Studies examining the gap between promised and realised impacts of AI in construction are especially welcome.

SCOPE & THEME AREAS

We invite submissions addressing (but not limited to) the following themes:

1. BIM, digital twins, cyber-physical systems, and IoT integration — Intelligent building lifecycle management through the integration of interconnected digital and physical systems.

2. AI and machine learning for building performance — Applications for energy efficiency optimisation, structural health monitoring, and predictive maintenance in built environments.

3. Data-driven approaches to sustainability — Decarbonisation strategies, indoor environmental quality, circular economy principles, and climate resilience through data and analytics.

4. Organisational enablers and barriers to digital transformation — Change management, workforce development, business models, and interoperability challenges in construction digitalisation.

5. Policy frameworks, governance, and ethical AI deployment — Responsible AI governance structures, cybersecurity considerations, and data privacy frameworks in the built environment.

6. Empirical case studies of real-world implementation — Productivity impacts, implementation outcomes, and comparative assessments of promised versus realised benefits of AI and digital technologies in construction.

GUEST EDITORS

Dr. M. Reza Hosseini ✉️ Contact via journal submission system

Dr. Ania Khodabakhshian ✉️ Contact via journal submission system

Dr. Mazdak Nik-Bakht ✉️ Contact via journal submission system

Dr. Ruoyu Jin ✉️ Contact via journal submission system

KEY DEADLINES & DATES

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

How to submit: Manuscripts must be submitted via ScholarOne Manuscripts. Registration and access available at: https://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/sasbe

Author guidelines: Must be strictly followed. Full guidelines available at: https://www.emeraldgrouppublishing.com/journal/sasbe#jlp_author_guidelines

Selecting the special issue: At the appropriate submission step, authors must select the special issue title from the drop-down menu in response to "Please select the issue you are submitting to."

Eligibility: Submitted articles must not have been previously published, nor should they be under consideration for publication elsewhere while under review.

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