This book incorporates a wealth of research focused on the more and more urgent challenges that urban planning and architectural design all over the world must cope with: from climate change to environmental decay, from an increasing urban population to an increasing poverty. In detail, this book aims at providing innovative approaches, tool and case study examples that, in line with the agenda of 2030, may better drive human settlements toward a sustainable, inclusive and resilient development. To this aim, the book includes heterogeneous regional perspectives and different methodologies and suggests development models capable of limiting further urban growth and re-shaping existing cities to improve both environmental quality and the overall quality of life of people, also taking account the more and more close relationships among urban planning and technological innovation.

Francesco Alberti is Associate Professor of Urban Planning and Design at the Department of Architecture of the University of Florence, where he is currently in charge of the Laboratory of Urban Planning and Design at the 5-year Master's Degree Course in Architecture, and of the course "Smart City Planning" for the postgraduate programme "ABITA" (Bioecological Architecture and Technological Innovation for the Environment). In the same Department, he is the scientific coordinator of the research unit "SUP&R" (Sustainable Urban Projects & Research) and of the related university spin-off "Urban LIFE" (Urban Liveability & Innovation for Everyone).As a member of the Italian National Institute of Urban Planning (INU - Istituto Nazionale di Urbanistica) he joined the National Committees "Networks, Infrastructure and Innovation Policies" (2014-2016), "Urban Accessibility for Everyone" (2016-), and "Mobility, Infrastructure, and logistics" (2019-). Since 2016 he is the President of the Regional division of INU in Tuscany.His scientific interests in the fields of spatial planning and urban design refer to an approach aimed at giving cultural coherence and operational continuity between the dimensions of research and education on the themes of the city and the territory, with a special focus on two main areas: - the relationship between urban planning, design, and management in the perspective of sustainability; - the interpretation of mobility systems as "public spaces", playing a major role in structuring contemporary territories.On these topics, he has written many essays, articles, and books, joined national and international conferences, lectured in postgraduate programmes and master courses for professionals and public administrators, provided expert help in participatory processes, coordinated seminars, and conducted research on behalf of public institutions and private enterprises. Mourad Amer is Architect, Planner and Real Estate Developer. He holds a Ph.D. degree in Urban Planning and Environmental Design from Alexandria University, Egypt. He gained experience in scientific publishing as Author and Guest Editor in several reputable journals. In 2008, he founded IEREK, an institution which aims to promote the exchange of knowledge, research and culture between countries and across the globe. IEREK's activities include internationally organizing conferences, workshops and study abroad programs in wide range of fields and disciplines as well as publishing through close partnerships with world renowned publishers. It 2017, IEREK in collaboration with Springer, has launched a book series on Advances in Sciences, Technology and Innovation (ASTI) with the aim of publishing a series of edited volumes and conference proceedings on emerging scientific topics which promote sustainable development. Yasser Mahgoub is an architect, academic and scholar and received his Doctorate in Architecture degree from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA, in 1990. He held several academic positions at Ain Shams University, United Arab Emirates University, Kuwait University and Qatar University, and practiced as a professional architect and consultant in Egypt, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Qatar. He teaches design studios, research methods, environment and behavior, creativity and innovation, professional practice, graduation/senior projects and graduate courses. His research interests include social and cultural aspects of architecture, sustainable architecture, architectural education and the impact of globalization on architecture. He published several refereed research papers in internationally refereed journal and book chapters and attended and presented papers in several international and regional conferences. Served as a scientific referee for many scientific conferences and journals, he was a member of the Agha Khan for Architecture Award reviewers for the 2010 cycle