The Future Smart Cities conference serves as a global platform for experts, researchers, practitioners, and policymakers to explore and shape the future of smart cities. IEREK aims to foster collaborative discussions, exchange cutting-edge ideas, and showcase innovative solutions that will shape the cities of tomorrow.

As the world stands at the forefront of a rapidly evolving urban landscape, this conference embraces the multifaceted aspects of city formation, planning, contemporary design, and smart technologies, recognizing the significance of these interconnected elements in creating sustainable, livable, and technologically advanced urban environments.

Future Smart Cities conference encompasses a diverse array of disciplines and areas of interest in smart city development, where professionals gather from fields such as urban planning, architecture, design, engineering, information technology, social sciences, governance, and more. Through transcending traditional disciplinary boundaries, this conference aims to facilitate holistic and integrated approaches to city formation, planning, and design.

With the exploration of innovative strategies and approaches for city formation, including the planning and development of new cities. Future Smart Cities delves into the challenges and opportunities associated with shaping urban environments, considering factors such as sustainability, infrastructure development, land use, transportation systems, environmental considerations, and community engagement.

Contemporary design principles play a pivotal role in envisioning and creating the cities of the future, through the integration of architectural, urban, and landscape design principles that prioritize functionality, aesthetics, human-centricity, and cultural context. With interactive sessions and case studies, FSC aims to inspire and challenge participants to think creatively and critically about the design and creation of smart cities.

Moreover, Future Smart Cities focuses on the transformative potential of smart technologies in shaping smart cities. From the deployment of Internet of Things (IoT) devices to data analytics, artificial intelligence, and digital platforms, it explores how these technologies can enhance urban infrastructure, optimize resource allocation, improve public services, and foster citizen engagement. Discussions also encompass privacy, security, and ethical considerations associated with the use of these technologies in urban contexts.

Throughout the conference, Future Smart Cities program will integrate and feature, keynote speeches, panel discussions, technical sessions, workshops, and exhibitions. These activities provide a platform for experts, and participants to share their research findings, practical experiences, and visionary ideas. The conference serves as a catalyst for multidisciplinary dialogue, collaboration, and networking, fostering connections among academia, industry, and government sectors, in order to explore the limitless possibilities, confront the challenges, and shape the future of our cities towards sustainability, resilience, inclusivity, and human well-being.

• 1. Transformation to Smart and Sustainable Cities

  1.1. Smart city financing and investment models

  1.2. Collaborative governance for smart city transformation

  1.3. Circular economy and resource management in smart cities

  1.4. Sustainable urban agriculture and food systems

  1.5. Social inclusivity and equitable access to smart city technologies

• 2. Sustainable Infrastructure

  2.1. Renewable energy integration and management in smart cities

  2.2. Smart grid technologies and energy-efficient systems

  2.3. Sustainable transportation solutions for urban areas

  2.4. Waste management and recycling innovations

  2.5. Water conservation and smart water management systems

• 3. Urban Mobility and Transportation

  3.1. Intelligent transportation systems and traffic management

  3.2. Shared mobility services and on-demand transportation

  3.3. Electric and autonomous vehicles in smart cities

  3.4. Integrated multi-modal transportation planning

  3.5. Smart parking solutions and congestion management

• 4. Urban Planning and Design

  4.1. Smart buildings and energy-efficient architecture

  4.2. Urban revitalization and adaptive reuse of spaces

  4.3. Green spaces and urban biodiversity in smart cities

  4.4. Resilient urban planning for climate change adaptation

  4.5. Digital twins and simulation models for urban design

• 5. Data Analytics and Artificial Intelligence

  5.1. Big data analytics for smart city planning and decision-making

  5.2. AI-powered urban mobility and traffic management

  5.3. Predictive analytics for efficient resource allocation

  5.4. Intelligent surveillance and security systems in smart cities

  5.5. Data privacy and ethics in smart city data management

• 6. Internet of Things (IoT) and connectivity

  6.1. IoT-enabled smart homes and buildings

  6.2. Connected infrastructure for efficient urban services

  6.3. Smart sensors and monitoring systems for environmental sustainability

  6.4. 5G and next-generation connectivity for smart cities

  6.5. Edge computing and fog computing in smart city applications

• 7. Smart Governance and Citizen Engagement

  7.1. Digital platforms for citizen participation and feedback

  7.2. Open data initiatives for transparent governance

  7.3. E-governance and digital service delivery in smart cities

  7.4. Blockchain technology for secure and decentralized governance

  7.5. Smart city policies and regulations for sustainable development

• 8. Public Safety and Emergency Management

  8.1. Smart surveillance and predictive policing

  8.2. Emergency response systems and disaster management

  8.3. Cybersecurity and resilience of smart city infrastructure

  8.4. Smart fire detection and prevention technologies

  8.5. Public safety apps and smart citizen safety initiatives

• 9. Health and Well-being in Smart Cities

  9.1. Telemedicine and remote healthcare services

  9.2. Smart hospitals and healthcare infrastructure

  9.3. IoT-enabled health monitoring and wearables

  9.4. Mental health support and well-being initiatives

  9.5. Smart city planning for inclusive and accessible healthcare

• 10. Energy Efficiency and Climate Change Mitigation

  10.1. Energy-efficient building design and retrofitting strategies

  10.2. Smart grid solutions for optimizing energy consumption

  10.3. Renewable energy generation and storage in arid zones

  10.4. Sustainable cooling and heating technologies for cold zones

  10.5. Climate change adaptation and resilience strategies in smart cities

• 11. Education and Digital Skills

  11.1. Smart classrooms and digital learning technologies

  11.2. Lifelong learning and upskilling in smart cities

  11.3. Digital inclusion and bridging the digital divide

  11.4. Smart city initiatives for promoting STEM education

  11.5. Collaborative platforms for knowledge sharing and innovation

A. Online Attendance

The fee covers:

• A softcopy of the abstract book and/ or hard copy (excluding shipping)
• IEREK Participation/ Contribution Certificate in softcopy
• Acceptance Letters in softcopy
• Consideration for publishing in the IEREK ASTI series by Springer or IEREK Press
• Access to conference recordings

• If multiple abstracts are submitted by the same first author submitted to the conference, a 25% discount is applied to each additional submission.
• Each research paper should have one main author who should pay the full fee (Author fees) regardless of attendance. Co-authors, each, have their own fees to pay to attend the event. This applies to online attendance as well as physical attendance.
• A research paper fee allows only one author, whether main or co-author, to attend the conference and receive only one copy of the conference Abstract book in soft copy. Extras can be requested for an additional fee.
• Professionals are categorized as participants who are not affiliated with universities such as practitioners, policymakers, entrepreneurs, etc.
• Students must provide proof of enrollment in a university by providing an enrollment certificate or a valid university ID (with issue/ expiry date) etc.

• Additionally, you have the option to present your submitted abstract as a presentation without the intention of publishing your work, for information about the fees and additional details, please feel free to get in touch with us at: [email protected].

B. Extra Fees

Payment Methods

 Payment of the registration fee can be made via the following methods (only after online registration):

1. Bank transfer 

Kindly send a request to the conference coordinator/ email and CC [email protected] to receive bank details to complete the payment.

2. Online payment gateway (PayPal)

Participants who would like to complete their payments online must send a request to the conference coordinator/ email and CC [email protected] to receive a customized link to complete their payments.

3. Cash in IEREK branches

Payment in person can be arranged. Please contact the conference coordinator/ Email to receive further information.

Payment Terms and Guidelines:

• Read more on Important Dates. For information on payment dates, kindly send a request to the conference coordinator/email and CC [email protected] to receive payment details to complete the payment.
• Authors who have registered and completed payment for virtual attendance CAN request a change to physical attendance. However, a change from physical to virtual is NOT possible.
• After online registration and payment, the registration fee cannot be reimbursed.
• Final Acceptance/ rejection of your full/ extended paper (if submitted) can only be given after the peer review process.
• Inclusion in the conference program, acceptance letters issuance and consideration for publication must be preceded by registration and payment completion.
• Online Payment (only) should only be completed once a proforma invoice is issued with respective instructions for successful payment.
• Contact our Financial Department for inquiries/ requests.

IEREK has an unyielding policy regarding plagiarism. We believe that copying/taking the ideas and work of other Authors without permission and credit is fraudulent. The Reviewing committee and IEREK employees have the authority to reject a paper during its reviewing process, based on the paper being subjected to either minor or major plagiarism.

Authors must refer to, and abide by, the following instructions in submitting their abstracts/ papers:

Step 1: Abstract Submission Process

• The author should prepare and submit an Abstract of at least 150 – 300 words through the website.
• The abstract should be concise and clearly state the proposed research study's purpose, results, and conclusions.
• The author should select the most relevant topic for the paper from the corresponding conference topics.
• The author can use/download an Abstract Writing Template prior to submission
• To submit your abstract, you first need to (1) click on the “Register” button on the conference page, (2) click on “Submit Now” and:
  • Select the Topic in which you are making the submission
  • Insert the title of your study in the "Paper Title" section
  • Insert the full abstract in the "Abstract" section/upload a file in the .pdf, .doc, .docm, or .docx format
  • Add in writing 3 – 5 keywords that define the field, subfield, topic, and research area covered by the article to help other researchers understand and find your work.
  • Provide the names, affiliations, and E-mails of all authors/ co-authors involved
  • Confirm your submission by ticking having read the instructions and “submit Abstract”

Step 2.1: Abstract Acceptance

• After acceptance of your abstract of at least (150 – 300 words), you will receive a proforma invoice and specific instructions to complete the payment online or by bank transfer (See Registration & Fees) to confirm your participation,
• Once your abstract has been accepted, please refer to the important dates tab and carefully review the announced dates to avoid late payment, as late payment comes at an extra charge (early bird/regular/late).
• After successfully completing payment, you will be issued upon request with the following:
  • A signed/ stamped abstract acceptance letter
  • Please note that acceptance of participation, abstract submission, and extended abstract/short paper submissions all have different deadlines. To stay up to date and avoid paying extra fees, or delaying your paper, please carefully review the important dates tab.
  • Receipt of Payment/ Payment Invoice
  • Visa Invitation Letter, if needed
• After abstract acceptance, you may be given the option to extend the abstract to publish your work in the conference proceedings in ASTI published by Springer Nature (indexed in Scopus/SCImago) (optional not obligatory).

  This is not a prerequisite for presenting your work at the conference. Meaning, you can present your submitted abstract without intending to publish your work.

Step 2.2: Abstract Extension / Short Paper (Optional)

• Your short paper / extended abstract should be 4 – 6 pages long and submitted before the paper submission deadline, in English, and fit within one of the conference topics.
• The Extended abstract i.e., the short paper should follow the research paper structure as follows: Abstract (+keywords), Introduction, problem statement, and study aim, Review of the Literature, Methodology, results and conclusion/ discussion, References list using the Paper Writing Template.
• The submission (short paper i.e. extended abstract) should be made following the same procedure followed for the abstract or sent to the conference email.
• Here: Authors may need more pages than the allotted maximum of 6 to insert figures, tables, appendixes, etc. In this case, they can submit regular papers (max. 12 pages) with the same fixed fee. For a detailed outline of the fees, please refer to the payment table in the conference fees tab.
• The conference does welcome Arabic submissions (with abstracts written in the english language), which will only be considered for publication in BAHETH by IEREK Press.

Step 3: Rigorous Peer Review Process (double-blind)

This process can only be initiated after payment completion and confirmation:

• If submitted, the extension (short paper) will be preliminarily checked (iThenticate plagiarism/ similarity screening Software, readability, and scope) and it will be peer-reviewed. If similarity issues are detected, the following will apply:
  • % from all sources: 10-15%
  • % from one source: 3-5%
  • Higher than 30% (all sources): Reject completely
  • Lower than 30% (all sources): Ask for revision to decrease the similarities
• IEREK has an unyielding policy regarding plagiarism. We believe that copying/ taking the ideas and work of other Authors without permission and credit is fraudulent. The Reviewing committee and IEREK employees have the authority to reject a paper during its reviewing process, on the basis of the paper being subjected to either minor or major plagiarism.
• Each paper/ chapter is evaluated by a minimum of two reviewers, after which a final decision by the responsible Editor is made. There is no maximum to the number of times a paper can be reviewed, depending on the quality of the submission.
• If your short paper is accepted by the Editors for publishing with comments/ requested modifications, our Editors (publishing department) will contact you once a decision is made and you will be asked to revise and correct it. After resubmission, it will be re-checked. Note: There may be more than one round of peer review and the decision rests with the editors of the title. Missed deadlines may result in complete exclusion/ rejection from the final publication.
• If your short paper is accepted for publishing without edits/ comments, the corresponding author will be contacted to provide the final version of their chapters/ papers following Springer Guidelines and sign the Springer consent-to-publish (CTP) form to authorize publication in the conference proceedings.
• A back-and-forth process: modifications will be sent back to the responsible Editor/ Series Editor and another round of evaluation conducted where needed. Participants/ Authors should regularly check their emails (Junk/ Spam folders).
• If you are not interested in publishing an extended abstract in the proceedings in ASTI by Springer Nature, please inform the conference support ([email protected]).

Step 4: Extended paper 

• After the conference, the authors of the best papers will be invited to submit an extended version of their research, 8 – 12+ pages in length, (optional) of their short papers for publishing in an edited volume to be published by Springer Nature.
• Publishing your short paper (i.e., extended abstract) in the conference proceedings does not prevent the submission of the full version for publishing consideration after the conference if the similarity percentages (SR%) in Step 3 are taken into account.

All accepted submissions to the conference, after a rigorous double-blinded peer-review process by the respective and a highly-extinguished Editorial Board, will be published in one of the following:

• Advances in Science, Technology and Innovation (ASTI), an IEREK Interdisciplinary book series published by Springer Nature. (Scopus indexed)  

About ASTI

Advances in Science, Technology & Innovation (ASTI) is a series of peer-reviewed books based on important emerging research that redefines the current disciplinary boundaries in science, technology and innovation (STI) in order to develop integrated concepts for sustainable development. It not only discusses the progress made towards securing more resources, allocating smarter solutions, and rebalancing the relationship between nature and people, but also provides in-depth insights from comprehensive research that addresses the 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs) as set out by the UN for 2030.

The series draws on the best research papers from various IEREK and other international conferences to promote the creation and development of viable solutions for a sustainable future and a positive societal transformation with the help of integrated and innovative science-based approaches. Including interdisciplinary contributions, it presents innovative approaches and highlights how they can best support both economic and sustainable development, through better use of data, more effective institutions, and global, local and individual action, for the welfare of all societies. The series particularly features conceptual and empirical contributions from various interrelated fields of science, technology and innovation, with an emphasis on digital transformation, that focus on providing practical solutions to ensure food, water and energy security to achieve the SDGs. It also presents new case studies offering concrete examples of how to resolve sustainable urbanization and environmental issues in different regions of the world. Read More.

The ASTI series is fully indexed in Scopus and any chapter/ paper published as part of this series will be seen on the Scopus database. Some titles have been successfully indexed or submitted for indexation in Web of Science (ISI).

About Built Heritage Journal

Built Heritage aims to enhance pluralism and criticism in debates on heritage conservation and revitalization with a globalized perspective. The conceptual basis of this refereed journal lies on the fundamental cultural differences concerning built heritage conservation, recognizing these differences as a source for creativity and a motivation for cutting-edge experimentation. It fosters scientific exchange between Chinese and international scholars and practitioners, offering a platform to record the latest developments in the field. Encouraging international authorship and evaluation, it allows for the homologation of research and practice with regards to cultural diversity.

Built Heritage promotes the awareness for built heritage conservation in China and internationally, inviting scholars to reflect on current hot topics discussions as: the role of contemporary architecture in historic environments; the balance between conservation and development; new tools of heritage management; policy, culture and identity; energy consumption and sustainability.

• IEREK Press Journals, a multidisciplinary publisher that aims to cultivate and disseminate research.

Environmental Science & Sustainable Development (ESSD)

ESSD is a peer-reviewed, scholarly journal that aims to systematically develop the research-driven curiosity and evidence-based discourse of aspiring scholars that seek to contribute to the academic community. As the world is currently living in an age of information where sources are widely available on the Internet, we at ESSD seek to efficiently utilize the available information to help create robust and evidence-based knowledge. In the process, we offer researchers, in general, and young and aspiring ones in particular a quicker way to get their work published and gain exposure through online open access. We pride ourselves on getting submitted work to be published quickly, through the use of our worldwide pool of subject specialist peer reviewers. Find out more about ESSD International Journal here.

The Academic Research Community Publication (ARChive)

ARChive is an open-access journal that publishes conference proceedings on a wide range of topics relating to social sciences. Consequently, it accepts original research papers on a wide spectrum of subjects. ARChive is a journal published on behalf of researchers that perpetually make an effort to contribute to their fields and provide them with high visibility of research submitted. The series publishes, both, theoretical and experimental high-quality papers of current and perpetual interest. It serves to cultivate, propagate, and essentially archive academic research that has been authored and submitted for academic conferences.

Find out more about ARChive International Journal here.

Proceedings of Science and Technology (Resourceedings)

Resourceedings is an open access journal that publishes conference proceedings. Conference proceedings compromise of different disciplines, ranging from Engineering including built environments, architecture, and sustainability. Disciplines also include Technology and Energy. Resourceedings is a journal that publishes research articles that shed light on different crucial issues in order to provide them with solutions and suggestions. The journal publishes articles submitted by researchers of interest in different fields.

Find out more about Resourceedings International Journal here.

BAHETH International Journal - Arabian Researchers Database (Arabic Papers only)

“BAHETH” in Architecture, Engineering, and Technology, is a peer-reviewed journal that publishes original academic research in the fields of Architecture, Engineering, and Technology. The journal welcomes research in the Arabic Language with an English Abstract. Papers submitted to this journal in Arabic must be presented in the English Language in the conference.

Find out more about BAHETH International Journal here.

Registration

To help the organizers plan for inter-disciplinary dialogue, participants are requested to choose from the conference themes/ Topics upon registration.

They must also refer to, and abide by, the following instructions in registering and submitting their abstracts/ papers:

Types of Participation

1. Attend/ Present Virtually and Publish in Conference proceedings

Organized from the comfort of your own home, the conference offers a virtual attendance option for your convenience. That said, participants will have a chance to present their abstract/research, online, and have their work considered for publication in the proceedings.

Virtual presenters are required to submit an abstract and extend this abstract following the “author instructions” below and before the deadline (see Important Dates). At least one author must pay the registration fee (see Registration & Fees).

For any reason, authors may wish to submit pre-recorded video presentations no later than 15 days prior to the conference. Alternatively, they may wish to record a voice-over PowerPoint presentation for submission to the conference organizers.

2. Registration to publish in the proceedings without presenting/ attending

If your extended abstract (short paper) is accepted, it may be published in the conference proceedings book in the Advances in Science, Technology & Innovation Book Series by Springer (indexed in Scopus) even if you are not attending the conference. In this case, the accepted work will not be included in the final conference program and the fee will cover the cost of editorial handling and peer-review evaluation of your paper (See Author Instructions and Publishing Opportunities)

3. Non-presenting participant

Non-presenting participants may also wish to attend the conference as Audience Members or Co-authors contributing to an already submitted abstract/ paper.

ORCID, which stands for Open Researcher and Contributor ID, is a global, not-for-profit organization that aims to provide unique identifiers for authors, researchers, and scholars. ORCiD effectively eliminates duplication and errors regarding author names, affiliations, previous works, and all related academic data.

IEREK is a proud member of ORCiD, and we contribute directly to their initiative of clear and identifiable markers for researchers and scholars. As the first Egyptian partner to ORCiD in the organization’s history, we strongly believe that by utilizing ORCiD’s database and verification services, we become one step closer to achieving an accurate, and identifiable academic landscape.

We encourage our authors to input their ORCiD ID when registering for one of our conferences, submitting an abstract, or a full paper. By doing so, you directly link your research to your identity and affiliation and can showcase your various academic efforts all in one place. By Registering your ORCiD ID, you also increase your works’ visibility and provide easy access to your entire library of research and academic activity.

Click here to learn more about ORCiD, and here to register your ORCiD ID for free.  

Click here to download the flyer and poster.

- The print ISSN of the Conference name "Future Smart Cities" is 2974-3869.

- The online ISSN of the Conference name "Future Smart Cities" is 2974-3737.