Handbook of Regenerative Urbanism

Abdulaziz I. Almulhim is an Associate Professor of Urban Sustainability at Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University (IAU), in the College of Architecture and Planning. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Liverpool, UK. Dr. Almulhim’s research focuses on urban sustainability, urbanization, sustainable cities, climate change, environmental planning, the circular economy, and resource management. He has published more than 50 high-impact research papers in leading international peer-reviewed journals. He also serves as a reviewer and chief guest editor for several reputable international journals. He has edited several book volumes. Additionally, Dr. Almulhim is a Lead Author for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Special Report on Climate Change and Cities (2027), commissioned by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).Tan Yigitcanlar is an eminent researcher with international recognition and impact in urban studies and planning. He is a Professor of Urban Studies and Planning at the School of Architecture and Built Environment, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia. Along with this post, he is an Honorary Professor at the School of Technology, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianopolis, Brazil, and the Founding Director position of the Australia-Brazil Smart City Research and Practice Network. His research is clustered around three interdisciplinary themes: Smart technologies, communities, cities, and urbanism; Sustainable and resilient cities, communities, and urban ecosystems; Knowledge-based development of cities and innovation districts. His research findings are disseminated in over 250 articles published in high-impact journals and 18 key reference books. Amongst urban and regional planning scholars, 2020 Science-wide Author Databases of Standardised Citation Indicators ranked him as #1 highly cited researcher in Australia and #7 worldwide. Ayyoob Sharifi is Professor at the IDEC Institute, Hiroshima University. He also is Core Member of the Network for Education and Research on Peace and Sustainability (NERPS). His research is mainly focused on climate change mitigation and adaptation. Ayyoob actively contributes to global change research programmes such as the Future Earth and has served as Lead Author for the Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The ultimate goal of his education and research activities is to inform actions towards building sustainable and peaceful communities. Ali Cheshmehzangi is Head of the School of Architecture, Design and Planning and a Professor at The University of Queensland (UQ), Brisbane, Australia. He is Editor-in-Chief of the Urban Sustainability book series with Springer Nature. He is committee member of the 2032 Games in Brisbane for Legacy and Growth sub-committee, as well as an expert member of the Olympics and Paralympic Games. With a career spanning over two decades, he has made significant contributions to the academic and professional communities, with a focus on sustainable and environmentally conscious design. Ali has published over 500 journal papers, articles, conference papers, book chapters, and reports, as well as 44 academic books, some of which have received awards at the international, national, provincial, and municipal levels. He has received international awards and recognition for his research, as well as the 2018 Vice-Chancellor’s award for his impactful contribution to higher education.Ali Soltani is an active researcher and dedicated educator whose work spans road safety, transportation, environmental systems, and urban GIS applications. His research, characterised by a strong emphasis on data-driven approaches, directly informs his teaching philosophy. His work is further defined by interdisciplinary collaboration, innovative methodologies, and an unwavering commitment to sustainable development.

• Section I: Concepts & Principles1. Introduction: Cities in the Era of Climate Change and Digital Revolution2. Smart Cities in the Twin Digital and Green Transition3. From Sustainability to Net-Positive Urbanism in the Digital Age4. Principles of Regenerative Urbanism with Smart and Data-Driven Tools5. Social, Cultural, and Inclusivity Dimensions of Regenerative Urbanism in Smart CitiesSection II: Strategies for Regenerative and Climate-Positive Planning6. Digital Modelling of Urban Ecosystems for Carbon Sequestration7. Blue-Green Infrastructure as a Climate-Positive Tool in Smart Cities8. Circular Economy in the Built Environment with Smart Material Tracking9. Nature-Based Solutions Integrated with IoT and Remote Sensing10. AI-Assisted Urban Planning for Biodiversity and Multispecies Urbanism11. AI-Optimized Low-Emission Mobility Systems12. IoT-Enabled Smart Water Management13. Zero-Waste Strategies Powered by Digital PlatformsSection III: Smart Technologies for Regenerative and Climate-Positive Cities14. Digital Twins for Climate-Responsive and Regenerative Urban Planning15. IoT and Sensor Networks for Real-Time Environmental Monitoring16. AI and Data Analytics for Predictive Climate and Resource Management17. Smart Grids, Renewable Energy, and Net-Positive Energy DistrictsSection IV: Smart Governance, Digital Policy, and Community Co-Creation18. AI-Enabled Governance and Climate Data Integration for Smart Cities19. Digital Platforms for Participatory Urban Planning and Co-Creation20. Blockchain and Data Trusts for Transparent Climate and Resource ManagementSection V: Case Studies and Future Directions21. Case Study – Global North: Copenhagen’s Climate-Positive Energy Districts22. Case Study – Global North: Vancouver’s Regenerative Urban Waterfront23. Case Study – Global South: Curitiba’s Integrated Smart Mobility and Green Infrastructure24. Case Study – Global South: Singapore’s Smart Water and Zero-Waste Systems25. Conclusion: A Vision for Net-Positive Urban Futures