“Eco-Sustainability, Digital Technologies, and Data-Driven Decision-Making in Built Environments”

Call for Papers – Special Issue: “Eco-Sustainability, Digital Technologies, and Data-Driven Decision-Making in Built Environments”

Journal: Urbanization, Sustainability and Society
Publisher: Emerald Publishing
Submission deadline: 30 June 2026

Overview

This special issue—published by Emerald Publishing—addresses the convergence of climate imperatives and digital innovation in urban environments. It shifts the focus from purely technical adoption of "smart" technologies to a socio-technical decision-making perspective. It explores how digital systems (such as AI, BIM, and digital twins) influence accountability, governance, and stakeholder behavior in the planning, construction, and operation of sustainable cities.

Key Research Themes

• Digital Technologies for Sustainability: The application of digital twins, BIM, and AI to enhance environmental performance and lifecycle management in the built environment.

• Data-Driven Governance: Investigating how algorithmic tools and real-time monitoring reshape urban policy implementation, transparency, and institutional accountability.

• Human-AI Collaboration: Exploring the interaction between human expertise and automated intelligence in infrastructure management and project decision-making.

• Behavioral Change: The role of incentives, organizational adoption of green technologies, and stakeholder responses to data-driven insights.

• Circular Economy & Resilience: Integrating lifecycle assessment and climate-resilient strategies within digital urban planning and operational frameworks.

Submission Details

• Submission window: 01 March 2026 – 30 June 2026.

• Submission portal: https://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/uss

• Special Instructions: During the submission process, ensure you select the special issue title from the "Please select the issue you are submitting to" drop-down menu.

Guest Editors

• Dat Tien Doan, Auckland University of Technology (dat.doan@aut.ac.nz)

• Ali GhaffarianHoseini, Auckland University of Technology (ali.ghaffarianhoseini@aut.ac.nz)

• Amirhosein Ghaffarianhoseini, Auckland University of Technology (amirhosein.ghaffarianhoseini@aut.ac.nz)

Why This Issue Matters

Sustainability performance in modern cities is increasingly determined not just by engineering solutions, but by governance structures and decision-making processes. This special issue—published by Emerald Publishing—advances our understanding of how urban systems can transition toward more transparent and accountable practices by harnessing digital transformation to support resilient, climate-conscious infrastructure.

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