Effective strategies for advancing smart and sustainable city development have become a crucial focus for urbanized areas, especially in China. With the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and digital technologies, urban planners, engineers, and scientists can easily access and analyze large-scale spatial and temporal datasets. This allows the integration of diverse informatics to conduct comprehensive assessments at local, urban, and city-wide levels within China. In addition, these attributes enable simulations that forecast potential urban transformations, supported by case study projections in individual Chinese cities.

This special issue aims to explore how AI-driven tools, big data analytics, and Internet of Things (IoT) devices can be synergized in urban planning processes of creating a better future Chinese community. By doing so, we seek to enhance citizen engagement in decision-making and foster innovative methodologies across various disciplines. We welcome research articles, methodological papers, literature reviews, and community case studies that highlight the transformative role of digital technologies and AI in shaping resilient and sustainable urban environments of China in the foreseeable future. Together, these contributions will help identify innovative solutions for promoting long-term urban sustainability and resilience in Chinese cities.

Through this collection, we aim to inspire collaborations among researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and relevant community stakeholders to advance the agenda for smart and sustainable societal development. Another goal is to address the pressing challenges that Chinese cities face today and in the near future, while enhancing the technological capabilities of modern communities through digital means.