Digital Sustainability

The convergence of digital technologies and sustainability practices is considered increasingly vital in addressing the challenges generally faced by the built infrastructure due to the changing climate. In the context of climate change and the urgent need for resilient infrastructure, there exists a critical gap in harnessing the full potential of digital technologies to achieve sustainability objectives. Despite the promise of digital solutions, the infrastructure sector typically requires help adopting and effectively utilizing the technology to minimize environmental impact. Some of the commonly known digital technologies, including the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, and data analytics, have opened new avenues for sustainable infrastructure development, etc. The "smart city" concept typically exemplifies this integration, where interconnected systems and sensors enable real-time monitoring, data-driven decision-making, and resource optimization, as noted in the literature. Digital sustainability in climate-resilient infrastructure highlights the transformative potential of digital technologies in enhancing sustainability, resilience, and efficiency. From energy optimisation to blockchain-enabled transparency, digital and sustainability principles convergence offer innovative solutions to pressing infrastructure challenges. Therefore, the Digital Sustainability theme stands at the forefront of this interdisciplinary field, aiming to develop innovative solutions that support a sustainable and resilient future for built infrastructure in the face of climate change.