Emerging Technologies for Climate-Proof Infrastructure and Next-Generation Cities

Cities are at the frontline of climate change, facing compounding risks from extreme weather, sea-level rise, heat stress, resource scarcity, and rapid urbanisation. Traditional infrastructure systems designed using stationary climate assumptions and siloed engineering approaches are increasingly unable to cope with these dynamic, multi-hazard conditions. Recent advances in emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, digital twins, advanced sensing, robotics, and data-driven decision platforms offer unprecedented opportunities to rethink how urban infrastructure is planned, designed, operated, and governed. When strategically integrated, these technologies can enable climate-proof, adaptive, and anticipatory infrastructure systems that respond in real time to evolving environmental and societal pressures. However, their deployment remains fragmented, uneven across regions, and insufficiently aligned with long-term sustainability, resilience, and net-zero objectives at the city scale.



The goal of this Research Topic is to address the critical gap between rapid technological innovation and its effective application in delivering climate-proof infrastructure and next-generation cities. While individual technologies such as AI-based predictive analytics, digital twins, smart sensing networks, and automation have demonstrated promise, their systemic integration into urban infrastructure systems remains limited. This Research Topic seeks to advance scientific understanding and practical pathways for embedding emerging technologies into climate-resilient, low-carbon, and adaptive urban systems across planning, design, construction, operation, and governance phases. It aims to move beyond proof-of-concept studies toward scalable, interoperable, and implementation-ready solutions that enhance infrastructure performance under climate uncertainty. By bringing together cutting-edge research, real-world case studies, and interdisciplinary perspectives, this Topic will support the transition from reactive risk management to proactive, data-driven, and climate-informed urban infrastructure strategies aligned with net-zero and sustainable development goals.



This Research Topic welcomes contributions addressing the role of emerging technologies in enabling climate-proof infrastructure and next-generation cities. Relevant themes include, but are not limited to: AI and machine learning for climate risk prediction and infrastructure optimisation; digital twins for urban systems and critical infrastructure; smart sensing, IoT, and real-time monitoring; robotics and automation in resilient construction; climate-resilient materials and systems; net-zero and decarbonisation pathways; multi-hazard adaptation strategies; data governance and interoperability; and technology-enabled urban decision-making and policy frameworks. We encourage submissions spanning multiple scales, from asset-level to city-wide systems, and interdisciplinary approaches integrating engineering, data science, urban planning, and governance. Article types of interest include original research articles, reviews, methodological papers, case studies, perspectives, and policy-oriented contributions with strong technical grounding and practical relevance.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Community Case Study
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Community Case Study
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Policy and Practice Reviews
• Policy Brief
• Review
• Systematic Review

Keywords: Climate-resilient infrastructure, Emerging technologies, Next-generation cities, Smart urban systems, Digital twins, Artificial intelligence (AI), Net-zero and decarbonisation, Climate adaptation and mitigation, Sustainable urban development

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.