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Sustainable Smart Cities and Society Development
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Sustainable Smart Cities and Society Development

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainable Urban and Rural Development".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (28 February 2023) | Viewed by 17501

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Shen Wei

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
The Bartlett School of Sustainable Construction, University College London, London WC1E 7HB, UK
Interests: intelligent buildings; occupant behaviour and comfort; thermal storage; renewable energy
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Shuqin Chen

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
Interests: district energy planning; sustainable buildings
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Yaran Wang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Building Environments and Energy Application Engineering, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Yaguan Road 135#, Jinnan District, Tianjin, China
Interests: energy system simulation; city-scale district heating network transients; building thermal dynamics estimation & control; AI-aided auto-design of building HVAC systems; fast simulation of thermal systems
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

With the continuous deterioration of the global warming, reducing carbon emissions from human activities has become an extremely urgent task to solve, aiming to finally achieve a sustainable development of our cities and society. Builldings, as a widely acknowledged major energy consumer in our society, can definitely make significant contributions to this task.

In the past decades, many scholars have dedicated themselves in delivering low-energy buildings, which can be achieved from various aspects, such as developing more energy-efficient systems, utilizing renewable energy and promoting more energy-efficient/smart behaviour. Additionally, relevant regulations for building design will also promote the progression of delivering low-energy buidings in our society. Beyond these, a better understanding on how individual building can better fit in a larger scale, such as a community or a city, is also highly required.

This Special Issue focuses on recent research in developing low-energy buildings that will contribute to achieving sustainable/smart cities and society. The scope includes the above mentioned topics, with both research articles and review articles are welcome. The aim of this issue is to provide an interactive platfrom for researchers in relevant areas to share their current ideas, and to promote the speed of achieving sustainable cities/society from buildings.

Dr. Shen Wei
Dr. Chen Shuqin
Dr. Wang Yaran
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • sustainable buildings
  • energy efficient system
  • renewable energy

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

29 pages, 7568 KiB  
Article
Modeling Occupant Window Behavior in Hospitals—A Case Study in a Maternity Hospital in Beijing, China
by Zhuo Jia, Song Pan, Haowei Yu, Yiqiao Liu, Shen Wei, Mingyuan Qin, Li Chang and Ying Cui
Sustainability 2023, 15(11), 8606; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15118606 - 25 May 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1001
Abstract
Nowadays, relevant data collected from hospital buildings remain insufficient because hospital buildings often have stricter environmental requirements resulting in more limited data access than other building types. Additionally, existing window-opening behavior models were mostly developed and validated using data measured from the experimental [...] Read more.
Nowadays, relevant data collected from hospital buildings remain insufficient because hospital buildings often have stricter environmental requirements resulting in more limited data access than other building types. Additionally, existing window-opening behavior models were mostly developed and validated using data measured from the experimental building itself. Hence, their accuracy is only assessed by the algorithm’s evaluation index, which limits the model’s applicability, given that it is not tested by the actual cases nor cross-verified with other buildings. Based on the aforementioned issues, this study analyzes the window-opening behavior of doctors and patients in spring in a maternity hospital in Beijing and develops behavioral models using logistic regression. The results show that the room often has opened windows in spring when the outdoor temperature exceeds 20 °C. Moreover, the ward windows’ use frequency is more than 10 times higher than those of doctors’ office. The window-opening behavior in wards is more susceptible to the influence of outdoor temperature, while in the doctors’ office, more attention is paid to indoor air quality. Finally, by embedding the logistic regression model of each room into the EnergyPlus software to simulate the CO2 concentration of the room, it was found that the model has better applicability than the fixed schedule model. However, by performing cross-validation with different building types, it was found that, due to the particularity of doctors’ offices, the models developed for other building types cannot accurately reproduce the window-opening behavior of doctors. Therefore, more data are still needed to better understand window usage in hospital buildings and support the future building performance simulations of hospital buildings. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Smart Cities and Society Development)
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16 pages, 2312 KiB  
Article
Unveiling the Smart City Concept: Perspectives from an Emerging Market via the Social Representation Theory
by Flavia Michelotto and Luiz Antonio Joia
Sustainability 2023, 15(10), 8155; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15108155 - 17 May 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1056
Abstract
This study aims to investigate the perception of citizens about the smart city construct since, so far, there is no consensus on what a “smart city” really is. As a result of this, the term has been used in different circumstances and with [...] Read more.
This study aims to investigate the perception of citizens about the smart city construct since, so far, there is no consensus on what a “smart city” really is. As a result of this, the term has been used in different circumstances and with different names and is associated with several conceptual variants. Thus, the novelty of this work is based on capturing this perception and comparing it with the definition of the smart city found in the scientific literature in order to identify similarities and cognitive gaps and refine the smart city concept—a still open knowledge gap. For this purpose, the Social Representation Theory was used, operationalized by the evocation of words technique. The study was carried out in Brazil, herein considered as a proxy for other emerging markets with regard to smart cities. The results indicated a highly technocentric view on the part of citizens about the smart city concept. In addition, citizens did not realize some dimensions of smart cities that are often addressed in the scientific literature, such as People, Citizen Participation and Culture. Finally, it was noticed that most of the existing scientific literature on the definition of the smart city comes from developed countries rather than the Global South—curiously, where the largest urban agglomerations with the biggest problems to be faced are located. Thus, research on the concept of smart cities in developing countries is necessary, which is one of the motivations for the development of this work. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Smart Cities and Society Development)
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21 pages, 1665 KiB  
Article
The Impact of Stakeholders’ Management Measures on Citizens’ Participation Level in Implementing Smart Sustainable Cities
by Abood Khaled Alamoudi, Rotimi Boluwatife Abidoye and Terence Y. M. Lam
Sustainability 2022, 14(24), 16617; https://doi.org/10.3390/su142416617 - 12 Dec 2022
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2586
Abstract
Smart sustainable cities (SSC) tend to utilise technology to promote themselves by involving their citizens in urban development. Several cities around the world have adopted the “smart city” label in recognition of these advantages. In fact, citizen engagement in public urban development and [...] Read more.
Smart sustainable cities (SSC) tend to utilise technology to promote themselves by involving their citizens in urban development. Several cities around the world have adopted the “smart city” label in recognition of these advantages. In fact, citizen engagement in public urban development and decision making has been acknowledged globally in many countries; yet, evaluations of the outcomes that allow the contribution of empowerment to be measured and compared with other influences are lacking. This study examines the correlation between stakeholder management measures (SMM) and citizen participation level (CPL) in the process of achieving an SSC. Four SMM factors were extracted from a literature review and sent out to be examined by experts in the field of built environments. Mean score (MS) ranking was used to confirm the importance of these variables in terms of predicting correlations with CPL. The results were generalised by multiple regression analysis techniques. This study shows a positive significant correlation between SMM and CPL in terms of Regulation, Collaboration, Legitimates, and Control. These four predictors make a significant contribution to escalating the levels of engagement and empowerment of citizen participation (CP). This paper contributes to knowledge in the field by identifying pillars that can increase CPL. Our findings could support the stakeholders of SSC projects to raise CPL, not only by hearing their voices but also by delegating power. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Smart Cities and Society Development)
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16 pages, 814 KiB  
Article
An Unsustainable Smart City: Lessons from Uneven Citizen Education and Engagement in Thailand
by Phanaranan Sontiwanich, Chantinee Boonchai and Robert J. S. Beeton
Sustainability 2022, 14(20), 13315; https://doi.org/10.3390/su142013315 - 17 Oct 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1718
Abstract
The sustainability of a smart city development depends on the interpretations and prioritization driven by the key actors. Currently; the “top-down” smart city implementation in many countries is at risk of disengaging with local stakeholders and further widening the social disparities in the [...] Read more.
The sustainability of a smart city development depends on the interpretations and prioritization driven by the key actors. Currently; the “top-down” smart city implementation in many countries is at risk of disengaging with local stakeholders and further widening the social disparities in the cities. This paper presents the socio-political contexts of a smart city, the citizens’ perspectives and awareness using Phuket, and Thailand as a case study. Desktop research was used to describe the context of the smart city policy; key driving organizations; budget allocation; and the guiding vision and mission statements at the local level. A survey of 409 residents was conducted to assess their awareness and willingness to participate in Phuket Smart City (PSC) activities as well as internet behavior and communication channels. The findings reveal uneven awareness of PSC across demographic groups. PSC was more familiar to the middle-aged; highly educated; high-income; and locals with leadership positions and living near the city center. A perceived lack of knowledge, time, information, and relevance affected the residents’ willingness to be involved in smart city development. Active communication and grass-root engagement are needed to improve public awareness and engagement in smart city implementation and achieve meaningful and equitable development. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Smart Cities and Society Development)
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18 pages, 4137 KiB  
Article
Exploring the Applicability of Building Energy Performance Certification Systems in Underground Stations in China
by Yanzhe Yu, Shijun You, Shen Wei, Huan Zhang, Tianzhen Ye, Yaran Wang and Yanling Na
Sustainability 2022, 14(6), 3612; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14063612 - 18 Mar 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1897
Abstract
To improve the energy efficiency of underground metro stations, and in view of the absence of a comprehensive energy performance evaluation system for underground stations, this study introduced building Energy Performance Certification (EPC) tools into underground stations and conducted a comparative analysis of [...] Read more.
To improve the energy efficiency of underground metro stations, and in view of the absence of a comprehensive energy performance evaluation system for underground stations, this study introduced building Energy Performance Certification (EPC) tools into underground stations and conducted a comparative analysis of their applicability. The findings indicated that due to the unique characteristics of underground stations, China’s current EPC system was inapplicable to them. Specifically, (1) for basic items, although evaluation methods were available, due to the limited energy use data for the statistical method, the self-reference method was preferred, but its calculation encountered issues with missing reference values; (2) for prescribed items, the emphasis should be placed on the energy efficiency requirements of energy use systems rather than those of the thermal performance of envelopes; (3) for alternative items, the energy recovery measures related to the heat dissipation of trains and the piston wind should be addressed. Furthermore, a case study was conducted for verification of the proposed energy evaluation method, and the EPC system was updated based on the results of the comparison. The authors hope that this study will help improve China’s energy evaluation methods for underground stations and serve as a reference for expanding the EPC system to include public transportation buildings. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Smart Cities and Society Development)
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20 pages, 3183 KiB  
Article
The Experience and Enlightenment of Asian Smart City Development—A Comparative Study of China and Japan
by Yuan Su, Ziyu Miao and Chanjuan Wang
Sustainability 2022, 14(6), 3543; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14063543 - 17 Mar 2022
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 4139
Abstract
With the urbanization level advancing in cities, increasingly significant urban ecological environment problems must be solved. The construction of a smart city with the overall development of information technology also regards environmental friendliness as the primary goal. The “smart” idea of urban environment [...] Read more.
With the urbanization level advancing in cities, increasingly significant urban ecological environment problems must be solved. The construction of a smart city with the overall development of information technology also regards environmental friendliness as the primary goal. The “smart” idea of urban environment innovation and governance has become a new model. In this paper, we first expound on the development process of low-carbon cities, eco-cities, and smart cities in Japan and China. Then, we analyze the coordinated development of intelligent environmental protection measures in government policies, transportation, energy utilization, resource recovery, and community management. Finally, we compare Japan and China’s smart city development characteristics. We discuss the improvement measures for energy utilization, urban transportation, and urban operation, including developing renewable energy systems, efficient energy use, and citizen participation policy. These experiences can provide feasible measures for constructing Asian smart cities and have great significance for the city’s sustainable applications and practice. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Smart Cities and Society Development)
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22 pages, 2132 KiB  
Article
Forecast and Analysis of the Total Amount of Civil Buildings in China in the Future Based on Population Driven
by Tongdan Gong, Wenjie Zhang, Jinhan Liang, Changqing Lin and Kai Mao
Sustainability 2021, 13(24), 14051; https://doi.org/10.3390/su132414051 - 20 Dec 2021
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1740
Abstract
Controlling the scale of civil buildings is of great significance for energy saving and emission reduction in the construction field. This paper analyzes and extracts the key index parameters for the calculation of various civil building areas, establishes a detailed calculation model of [...] Read more.
Controlling the scale of civil buildings is of great significance for energy saving and emission reduction in the construction field. This paper analyzes and extracts the key index parameters for the calculation of various civil building areas, establishes a detailed calculation model of the total civil building area, and constructs three different scenarios to predict various civil building areas in China from 2020 to 2060. Under the three scenarios, the total amount of civil buildings in China will reach a peak of 93.5, 84.6, and 76.3 billion m2 in 2040, 2035, and 2035, respectively. Under the constraints of energy consumption and carbon emission, this paper suggests that civil buildings develop according to the medium control scenario. In 2035, the urban per capita residential area will reach a peak of 42 m2, the urban residential area will reach 43 billion m2, the rural per capita residential area will reach the peak of 55 m2, the rural residential area will reach 20.6 billion m2, and the public building area will reach 21 billion m2. By 2060, the total area of civil buildings will drop to 76.5 billion m2, including 37.1 billion m2 of urban residential buildings, 18.5 billion m2 of rural residential buildings, and 20.9 billion m2 of public buildings. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Smart Cities and Society Development)
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