With the world rapidly urbanizing and the demand for resources on the rise, landscape architecture, and resource management are becoming increasingly crucial. Landscape architects play a pivotal role in designing sustainable and practical spaces that enhance people's quality of life while also preserving natural resources and ecological systems. Landscape architecture is a multidisciplinary field that blends art, science, and technology to create functional, aesthetically pleasing, and sustainable environments. By balancing the needs of people and nature, landscape architects design outdoor spaces such as parks, gardens, plazas, and streetscapes that are both environmentally responsible and visually appealing.

On the other hand, resource management involves the sustainable use and conservation of natural resources, including water, soil, and energy. Its primary objective is to strike a balance between the needs of human society and the finite resources available on the planet. Resource management is critical to sustainable development and the creation of resilient, healthy communities.

The benefits of well-designed outdoor spaces, such as parks and green areas, cannot be overstated. These spaces have been demonstrated to have a positive impact on both physical and mental health, promoting relaxation, reducing stress, and improving overall well-being. Furthermore, landscape architecture and resource management are essential components of sustainable development. By designing energy-efficient, water-efficient, and environmentally responsible buildings and outdoor spaces, we can reduce our environmental impact and promote sustainable development.

Climate change is a significant challenge that communities around the world face. It is causing more frequent and severe weather events, such as flooding and droughts, which can have a profound impact on our communities. Landscape architecture and resource management can help promote resilience and adaptation to these challenges by designing spaces that are resilient to these impacts and by managing resources sustainably.

IEREK is organizing the “Landscapes Across the Mediterranean (CrossMED)” conference to bring together scholars, experts, and academics to discuss sustainable development issues related to landscapes and natural resources. The conference will focus on the theme of “Landscape Architecture and Management” and aims to highlight the importance of landscape architecture and resource management in promoting sustainable development.

Scope

The “Landscapes Across the Mediterranean (CrossMED)” conference focuses on the critical role of landscape architecture and resource management in sustainable development. Landscape architecture involves designing outdoor spaces that are aesthetically pleasing, functional, and environmentally responsible, and resource management refers to the sustainable use and conservation of natural resources. This conference aims to explore the relationship between landscape architecture and resource management and their role in promoting sustainable development. The conference will provide a platform for scholars, experts, and academics to discuss innovative ideas and best practices in landscape architecture and resource management, with a particular focus on the Mediterranean region. It will promote interdisciplinary discussions and collaborations on issues related to sustainable development, natural resources, and landscape architecture.

Statement of Purpose

The “Landscapes Across the Mediterranean (CrossMED)” conference aims to bring together scholars, experts, and academics from different fields to discuss the importance of landscape architecture and resource management in promoting sustainable development. The conference seeks to explore the relationship between these two fields and their role in creating healthy and resilient communities. By sharing innovative ideas and best practices, the conference aims to promote interdisciplinary discussions and collaborations to address the challenges facing the Mediterranean region and beyond.

• 1. Sustainable Landscape Planning and Natural Resources Management

  1.1. Designing for Sustainability
  1.2. Landscape Planning for Sustainable Communities
  1.3. Sustainable Construction and Technology
  1.4. Health and Well-being in Landscape Planning and Architecture
  1.5. Modern Innovations in Landscape Planning and Architecture
  1.6. Geosciences as Tools for Natural Resource Management

• 2. Geosciences as Tools for Natural Resource Management

  2.1. Remote Sensing and GIS in natural resource management
  2.2. Soil Science and soil health assessment
  2.3. Geology and geophysics in mineral exploration and development
  2.4. Hydrology and water resource management
  2.5. Climate modeling and climate change impact assessment

• 3. Modern Techniques in Landscape Architectural Development

  3.1. Sustainable landscape design principles and Practices
  3.2. Green infrastructure planning and Development
  3.3. Innovative use of materials and technology in landscape architecture
  3.4. Integrating urban agriculture and edible landscapes into design
  3.5. Human-centered and inclusive landscape design

• 4. Integration of Green Landscapes in Urban Areas

  4.1. Urban Forestry and green space planning
  4.2. Green Roofs and green walls in urban design
  4.3. Urban agriculture and community gardens
  4.4. Stormwater Management and green infrastructure in Cities
  4.5. Benefits of green landscapes for urban Biodiversity and human Health

• 5. Sustainable Construction Practices

  5.1. Energy-efficient building design and construction
  5.2. Sustainable building materials and technologies
  5.3. Building certification and green building standards
  5.4. Waste reduction and sustainable construction waste management
  5.5. Circular economy approaches in construction and building maintenance

• 6. Human Health and the Environment

  6.1. Air pollution and its impact on human health
  6.2. Water Quality and human health
  6.3. Environmental toxins and their impact on human health
  6.4. Climate change and its impact on human health
  6.5. Health and wellness benefits of nature-based solutions

• 7. Mediterranean Landscapes and Environments

  7.1. Climatic Elements and Weather Patterns of the Mediterranean Region
  7.2. Biodiversity, the Wild, Flora, and Fauna of the Mediterranean
  7.3. Characteristics of Mediterranean Marine and Coastal Environments
  7.4. Historical Land Use and Settlements of the Mediterranean
  7.5. Historical and Modern-day Agricultural Practices and Local Economies

• 8. Architectural Vocabularies of the Mediterranean Landscape

  8.1. Mediterranean Architecture and Design
  8.2. The Intersection of Contemporary Architecture and Traditional Mediterranean Design
  8.3. Modern Exemplars of Mediterranean Vernacular Architecture
  8.4. Designing for Comfort in the Mediterranean Landscape
  8.5. Adaptive Reuse and Preservation of Historical Mediterranean Architecture
  8.6. Religious and Sacred Architecture Across the Mediterranean
  8.7. Sustainable and Environmentally Resilient Architectural Design

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 Conference 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.

A. Physical Attendance

• The fee covers:

  • The conference Kit inclusive of: a printed abstracts book, a softcopy of the abstracts book on a USB/CD, Conference notebook, IEREK pen, Conference Flyers/ Printouts.

  • IEREK Participation/ Contribution Certificate

  • Preliminary Acceptance Letters

  • Consideration for publishing in the IEREK ASTI series by Springer or IEREK Press

  • Lunches and Coffee Breaks

• 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 both hard and soft copies. 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.

B. Extra Fees

Payment Methods

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

1. Bank transfer to the following bank account(s):

Bank Account (EUR):

Bank Account Name/ Beneficiary name: IEREK

Beneficiary (IEREK) Address:11 Behera St. Janaklis, Abu Qir, Alexandria, Egypt

Bank Account (EUR): 100023143822

IBAN: EG730010005600000100023143822

SWIFT/BIC: CIBEEGCX044

Bank Name: Commercial International Bank (CIB) – Egypt S.A.E

Bank Address: 649 EL Horreya Rd, Janaklis, Elraml, Alexandria, Egypt

post code: 21141

Reason for Transaction: “CrossMED 2024 Participation”

*** Please note that the transaction fee is solely the payee’s/ Remitter’s responsibility. The Beneficiary should receive the total amount specified above without deductions. Incomplete amounts may result in an outstanding amount and a request for completion***

***After you have completed the payment, kindly inform us with full transaction details. The transaction will remain marked as pending until we receive confirmation. After you make your transfer, kindly send us a

scanned copy of the receipt to [email protected]***

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:

• 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.

The 1^st edition of the International Conference on Landscapes Across the Mediterranean (CrossMED) will be held in Rome, Italy.