George Cristian Lazaroiu is a professor at the National University of Science and Technology POLITEHNICA Bucharest, Romania. His research interests cover the fields of smart cities, energy systems, renewable energy sources, and optimization of power systems operation. He is energy executive editor of UPB Scientific Bulletin, editorial board member of Renewable Energy, and editorial board member of Smart Cities. He holds a PhD degree in electrical engineering from Politecnico di Milano, Italy. He is a senior member of the IEEE, member and secretary of the Energy Commission within Engineering Sciences Section of the Romanian Academy.Mariacristina Roscia is an associate professor in the Department of Engineering and Applied Sciences, and research fund manager on smart city for the University of Bergamo, Italy. Her research interests include the fields of smart homes and buildings, smart cities, energy engineering, and sustainable and intelligent transport. She was involved in the drafting of an action plan for sustainable efficiency for the EU. She is a member of the reviewer board for IEEE-ICHQP and IEEE PES General Meeting. She holds a PhD degree in electronics and electrical engineering from the University of Naples "Federico II," Italy.Vasile Sebastian Dancu is a professor in the Department of Sociology and Social Work at the University of Bucharest, Romania. He is the former minister of public information, president of governmental strategies agency, and former vice-minister of regional development and public administration in Romania. He elaborated the Romanian Territory Development Strategy (2016-2035). His research focuses on smart services, sociology, and regional developments. He holds a PhD degree in sociology from the University Babes Bolyai, Romania.

• Chapter 1: Inclusive transformation: toward an ecosystem of social innovationChapter 2: Smart cities' key indicatorsChapter 3: Smart cities' development roadmap: case of the urban digital twin for the city of Berkane, MoroccoChapter 4: Expansion and optimization of multi-carrier infrastructure in smart citiesChapter 5: Smart sensors for smart environmentChapter 6: Positive energy districtsChapter 7: Wastes integration for increasing energy efficiency in smart citiesChapter 8: Smart transport services in large urban citiesChapter 9: Economic feasibility: key points analysis of smart cities projectsChapter 10: Smart governance and e-public administration in smart citiesChapter 11: Smart educationChapter 12: Facing pandemics through smart citiesChapter 13: Conclusion: future perspectives and new research directions