Urban, Planning and Transport Research

Reimagining Urban Futures: Planning, Infrastructure, and Community Engagement

Contemporary urban landscapes are undergoing rapid transformations in response to environmental, social, and technological shifts. As cities grapple with climate crises, migration, inequality, and post-pandemic recovery, urban planning practices must evolve to meet emerging demands. This Article Collection seeks to highlight how new approaches in planning, infrastructure, and community engagement are shaping more equitable, sustainable, and resilient urban futures.

Urban areas are the epicenters of both vulnerability and innovation. Addressing challenges such as infrastructural decay, spatial segregation, and community disempowerment demands interdisciplinary strategies that foreground inclusivity and adaptive resilience. By drawing attention to grounded case studies and theoretical insights, this Collection aims to generate dialogue and actionable knowledge among scholars, practitioners, and policymakers invested in transformative urban futures.

This Collection welcomes a range of contributions including research articles, case studies, and theoretical reflections that fit the scope of Urban, Planning and Transport Research. Themes of interest include adaptive reuse of urban spaces and buildings, community-led planning initiatives, sustainable infrastructure integration, digital urban technologies, and planning in diverse cultural and geographic contexts. We invite contributions that not only critique current paradigms but also propose creative, inclusive, and future-oriented planning practices.

Dr. Asma Mehan is an Assistant Professor of Architecture at Texas Tech University and Director of the Architectural Humanities and Urbanism Lab. Her research bridges urban studies, architecture, and critical theory, with a focus on public space, community engagement, and urban heritage. She has published widely on topics such as adaptive reuse, spatial justice, and post-industrial landscapes. Dr. Mehan also serves as Editor-in-Chief of PlaNext Journal by AESOP (Association of European Schools of Planning).

Dr. Mehan has no conflicts of interest to disclose.

For more information about this Collection, please contact the commissioning editor, Dr. Molly Cole, at molly.cole@taylorandfrancis.com