What is this collection about?

Urbanisation, particularly in the Global South and other rapidly transforming urban regions, is characterized by fast growth and structural change, where urban systems are being reshaped by population pressures, infrastructure demands, climate risks, and persistent socio-spatial inequalities. At the same time, much of existing urban theory and planning practice has been developed under different urban conditions, raising questions about how well these ideas translate to contemporary urban transformations.

This collection therefore aims to focus on urban areas undergoing transformations as critical sites for understanding urban change. It would bring together research on shared urban processes shaping these transformations across diverse contexts, including rapid urbanisation, informality, infrastructure strain, postcolonial urban trajectories, and small island urban systems, with the aim of using these perspectives to broaden and rethink urban knowledge globally.

This Collection invites contributions from a wide range of disciplines, including urban planning, geography, development studies, sustainability science, economics, anthropology, and related fields. We welcome both empirical and theoretical work, including case studies and comparative research, using mixed methods, quantitative analyses, qualitative approaches, participatory research, and narrative-based work. We are particularly interested in scientific research that links empirical work with broader conceptual frameworks, that help develop inclusive and globally relevant understandings of urbanisation.

Why is this collection important?

This Collection supports and amplifies research directly related to the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goal 10, 11, and 13 – Reduced Inequalities, Sustainable Cities and Communities, and Climate Action.

Why submit to a collection?

Collections like this one help promote high-quality science. They are led by In-House Editors who are experts in their fields and supported by a dedicated team of Commissioning Editors and Managing Editors at Springer Nature. Collection manuscripts typically see higher citations, downloads, and Altmetric scores, and provide a one-stop-shop on a cutting-edge topic of interest.

Who is involved?

This is a cross-journal Collection involving Nature Communications, Communications Earth & Environment, and Scientific Reports. Authors are welcome to submit to any of the participating journals. All manuscripts published in the collection are hosted on a dedicated nature portfolio portal, giving articles high visibility beyond the journal they are published in.

How can I submit my paper?

Visit the Collection page to find out more about this collection and submit your article.