This open access book includes a selection of innovative contributions presented at the 4th
international conference Smart and Sustainable Planning for Cities and Regions 2022 held in
Bolzano Italy in July 2022. Featuring 10 papers by academics and consultants strongly rooted
in practical experiences and international projects it discusses current ground-breaking
research in innovative and sustainable planning for cities with a focus on the environmental
economic and social challenges associated with the global sustainability transition and energy
systems integration. The contributions are illustrative of the richness of the issues discussed
and the breadth of the emerging themes including innovative business models for building and
infrastructure at district level integrated sustainability assessment schemes for Positive
Energy Districts a material flow accounting model for regional metabolism energy communities
as a lever to promote historical and landscape values optimized and electrified last-mile
logistics multi-criteria decision analysis tools to redefine center periphery relationships a
framework for socio-spatial analysis related to social practices design principles and
communication technologies improving both indoor and outdoor public spaces augmented
nature-based solution coupling the green elements with the latest technologies to deliver
healthier and more appealing cities.
