Spatial Analysis and Spatial Planning for Sustainability in Urban Areas

Cities today face unprecedented environmental, social, and economic challenges associated with rapid urbanization, climate change, resource consumption, demographic transformations, and increasing territorial pressures. In this context, the creation of more sustainable, resilient, and liveable urban environments has become a global priority. Addressing these challenges requires interdisciplinary approaches capable of integrating spatial analysis, territorial planning, environmental assessment, and technological innovation. This Reprint brings together contributions that explore theoretical and methodological advances in the field of sustainable urban development, with particular attention to urban resilience, ecosystem services, ecological networks, land-use dynamics, public health, and sustainable mobility. Through international case studies and empirical applications, the authors provide new perspectives for understanding and managing contemporary urban transformations. The motivation behind this Reprint stems from the growing need to better understand the interactions between natural and built environments and to support strategies capable of balancing environmental quality, social well-being, and territorial development. The contributions presented in this volume demonstrate how spatial modelling, geospatial technologies, big data analytics, and simulation tools can support more effective decision-making processes and a more informed management of cities. The topics addressed range from ecological network optimization and ecosystem service assessment to the analysis of urban expansion and its environmental impacts, the design of resilient public spaces, post-disaster reconstruction, mobility, and territorial development policies. Taken together, these contributions highlight the value of integrated approaches for addressing the complexity of contemporary urban contexts and promoting more sustainable and inclusive transformation pathways. This Reprint is intended for researchers, practitioners, and decision makers engaged in the study and management of urban transformations. We hope that the reflections and findings presented in this volume will stimulate further research activities, foster interdisciplinary collaboration, and contribute to the development of innovative solutions for more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable cities.