Advances in Sustainable Communities, Neighborhoods and 15-Minute Cities-Theory, Methods and Techniques

Dear Colleagues,

The Topic of “Advances in Sustainable Communities, Neighourhoods and 15-Minute Cities” calls for papers on theory, methods, and techniques to support the creation of sustainable and liveable communities, neighbourhoods, 15-minute community-life circles, or 15-minute cities. Cities are important main human settlements, so cities are required to offer qualified living environments in housing, transport, food, air, water, energy, culture, employment, educaiton, socialisation, and so on. However, such requirements are sometimes comprised due to various mega challenges related to population increase, resource supply, job opportunities, economic growth, climate change, and air pollution. To enhance the capacity of addressing such challenges, the United Nations proposed the Sustainable Development Goals, of which Goal 11 highlighted Sustainable Cities and Communities to make cities inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.

Community, with spatial and functional organisation, is a neighbourhood unit of cities and a microcosm of the macro society. Accordingly, building sustainable communities and neighbourhoods contributes to the creation of Sustainable Cities and Communities. In particular, a new urban planning concept of 15-minute community-life circle or 15-minute city was proposed for polycentric cities, with the pursuit of inclusion, diversity, sharing, coordination, health and safety in aspects of residential, job opportunities, transport, services, entertainment, and so on. Pilot projects of this innovative framework can be found in Australia, China, Colombia, France, Italy, and the United States across different continents. However, the broad implementation of this framework for sustainable communities, neighbourhoods, 15-minute community-life circles, or 15-minute cities is still challenging in the early stage. This topic, therefore, aims to collect latest accomplishments and research findings on the ideas, frameworks, pathways, challenges, solutions, strategies, technologies, and pilot cases and exemplars that can generate implications on the enhancement of urban safety, equity, sustainability, resilience, and inclusivity.

This topic will provide a comprehensive understanding of possible opportunities for environmental, social, and economic sustainability. Moreover, this topic is expected to serve as an important resource to enable decision makers, practitioners, and researchers in various fields including architecture and civil engineering, transport, municipal engineering, environmental sciences, artificial intelligence, digital technologies, big data, information and communication, urban climate, construction management, public administration, public health, and so on, to anticipate, prepare for, and adapt to sustainable communities and neighbourhoods in urban planning, design, construction, operation, and governance.

Relevant themes include but are not limited to the following:

Sustainable Community Planning and Design

• Community needs and services;
• Healthy and liveable public spaces;
• Nature-based solutions;
• Human-centered design;
• Sustainable land use and planning;
• Walkability, accessibility, and cyclability;
• Job growth and economic vitality.

Low-carbon Communities and Neighborhoods

• Decarbonisation of built environment;
• Clean and renewable energies;
• Low-carbon transport;
• Low-carbon economy;
• Circular economy;
• Green infrastructure and carbon sequestration;
• Low-carbon education and propaganda.

Planning and Design for Climate Resilience

• Climate-related risks and vulnerabilities;
• Mitigation and adaptation strategies;
• Development of climate-resilient infrastructure;
• Policies, regulations, and initiatives for climate resilience;
• Financial support and investments;
• Co-benefits approaches;
• Decision-support tools and systems.

Advanced and Emerging technologies

• Innovative structures and materials;
• Remote sensing techniques;
• Building/city information modelling;
• Smart tools and technologies;
• Clean technologies;
• Carbon capture and storage techniques;
• Big data analytics techniques.

Prof. Dr. Baojie He
Prof. Dr. Deo Prasad
Prof. Dr. Ali Cheshmehzangi
Dr. Wu Deng
Dr. Samad Sepasgozar
Dr. Xiao Liu
Topic Editors