Developing computable sustainable urbanization science: interdisciplinary perspective

Abstract

AbstractIn this era of drastic global change, the Anthropocene, carbon neutrality and sustainable development have become common twenty-first century human challenges and goals. Large-scale urbanization is indicative of human activities and provides an important impetus for environmental changes; therefore, cities have become an important stage in which to promote a more sustainable future development of human society. However, current researchers study urbanization issues based on the perspectives and tools of their respective disciplines; therefore, a holistic and comprehensive understanding of urbanization is lacking due to the insufficient integration of multidisciplinary study perspectives. We explored the construction of interdisciplinary computable sustainable urbanization and introduces a conceptual framework for interdisciplinary urbanization, as scientific computing supports and integrates the natural sciences and humanities to simulate urban evolution and further observe, explain, and optimize human and environment interactions in urban areas. We advocated for the establishment of major international research programs and organizations in the field of sustainable urbanization, and the cultivation of talented young professionals with broad-ranging interdisciplinary interests. Expectantly, we hope a livable planet in the Anthropocene era could be created by developing sustainable urbanization and achieving carbon neutrality.