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Author Guidelines — npj Smart Urban Governance and Policy

About this journal

Aims npj Smart Urban Governance and Policy (NPJSUPG) is an international, open-access journal dedicated to exploring the complex intersection of digital innovation, public administration, and social equity. As urban environments increasingly rely on integrated data systems, algorithmic decision-making, and sensor-based infrastructures, there is an urgent need for scholarly critique regarding how these technologies are governed. The journal aims to provide a rigorous platform for interdisciplinary research that examines the shift from technocratic management to democratic urban governance. By bridging the gap between urban planning, computer science, and the social sciences, NPJSUPG seeks to establish new frameworks for ensuring that smart city initiatives are accountable, inclusive, and ethically grounded. We prioritize work that challenges the status quo of 'efficiency-first' urbanism, advocating instead for policies that prioritize the rights of citizens and the long-term sustainability of urban ecosystems. Scope The journal welcomes original research, theoretical inquiries, and empirical analyses across the following areas: • Ethical frameworks for algorithmic decision-making and automated urban services. • Legal paradigms for municipal data sovereignty, ownership, and privacy protections. • Socio-technical barriers to inclusive citizen participation in digital planning processes. • Governance structures for decentralized urban infrastructure and the Internet of Things (IoT). • Comparative policy analysis of smart city initiatives across diverse global and economic regions. • The role of Digital Twins in public transparency and community-led urban design. • Regulating public-private partnerships (PPPs) in the delivery of smart municipal services. • Social equity and the digital divide: addressing algorithmic bias in urban resource allocation. • Climate-responsive governance and the integration of 'Green' and 'Smart' policy agendas. Article Types NPJSUPG accepts a variety of manuscript formats to accommodate diverse scholarly contributions, including: • Original Research Articles: Extensive reports of new empirical or theoretical findings. • Review Articles: Comprehensive syntheses of current literature and future directions in urban policy. • Policy Briefs: Concise analyses of specific legislative or regulatory challenges in the smart city sector. • Case Studies: Deep dives into the implementation and impact of specific urban technology projects. • Perspectives: Short, provocative essays on emerging trends or controversial ethical issues. • Data Descriptors: Peer-reviewed descriptions of significant urban datasets to encourage reuse and transparency. Audience The journal is designed for a global audience of urban planners, policy makers, sociologists, legal scholars, data ethicists, and public administration researchers. It also serves as a vital resource for technologists and engineers who seek to understand the social and regulatory implications of their work within the built environment.

Before you submit

Manuscript structure

  1. Title page (title, all authors with affiliations, corresponding author, ORCID iDs)
  2. Abstract (structured where appropriate) and 3–8 keywords
  3. Main text: Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion, Conclusion
  4. References in a consistent style; DOIs where available
  5. Tables and figures supplied as separate, high-resolution files

Peer review

npj Smart Urban Governance and Policy uses double-blind peer review. At least two independent reviewers assess each manuscript.

Licensing and fees

Articles are published open access under CC BY 4.0. The article processing charge is USD 400; waivers are available for authors from low-income countries.

Publication frequency: Continuous Quarterly. Publisher: AIR JOURNALS.

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