Rapid city growth creates complex "urban edges" where new development meets traditional and rural spaces. These transitional zones often present unique urban system challenges, including mobility, transportation, economics, cultural, and social contrasts. This phenomenon is even more pronounced in developing nations and the global south. In these urban peripheries, modernity meets with tradition, urban and rural landscapes collide, and planned development is confronted with organic growth. More importantly, rural and traditional modes of human life encounter the metropolitan and global markets. Understanding local dynamics and community initiatives in these areas is key to developing inclusive solutions. Technology offers tools for better information, optimized transport, and community engagement in planning. However, success depends on integrating these advancements with local knowledge and practices, making community involvement vital for effective urban systems solutions. The study, exploration, analysis of these transitional quasi-urban zones are imperative to realizing sustainable and resilient development and can bring about new insights informed by global and local similarities and contrasts. A core theme is the transformative potential of new technologies when coupled with active community engagement. We invite researchers to explore how this collaborative approach can reshape the Global South's urban fabric and mobility landscape.

The special issue aims to expose, analyze and optimize the intricate interplay between spatial planning, socio-cultural dynamics, transportation systems, and the data technologies used to understand and manage these evolving urban peripheral zones. The goal is to develop present solutions to integrate these transitional, and contested, zones seamlessly, by harnessing the power of spatial analysis and data-driven approaches to foster interconnected urban fabrics, create sustainable and resilient communities, and to allow these transitional frontiers to be integrated into cohesive urban systems. The special issue encourages submissions that delve into how advancements like GIS mapping, simulation tools, big data collection, mobile applications, and real-time data gathering can be harnessed to improve our understanding of these dynamic frontiers. Case studies highlighting success stories in "smart edge cities," along with strategies for bridging the urban-rural divide, are particularly valuable. Yet, it is imperative that submissions highlight how these innovative data-driven methodologies can be optimized to incorporate human, social, and cultural dimensions, and that integrate local knowledge and community-engagement into urban systems analysis and design, focusing on integrated solutions that consider urban development, economics, ecosystems mobility and transportation, logistics, data-solutions, and cultural dimensions.

The special issue encourages submissions that documents, studies or presents innovative methodology and solutions, related to participatory design and technology, smart and data-driven urban systems, and community-driven technological adoption. Also, innovations in methodologies for urban data collection, analysis and solutions deployment are encouraged. Most importantly, comparative studies that contrast conditions in the global south and global north are highly encouraged. The main areas of research proposed include: Community Engagement and Local Knowledge, Spatial Analysis of urban systems, Informal/formal systems, and Urban Planning and Mobility Dynamics.

The special issue covers a number of interconnected research questions that could be explored independently or in combinations. These include, 1) how can participatory and community-driven design be used to develop technology based urban systems that foster sustainable and resilient communities?, 2) How can smart solutions for transportation, logistics and economics be developed in informal and quasi-rural areas, which are not fully integrated into the city cores? 3) how can digital tools be used to enhance accessibility, equity and efficiency of urban systems in the transitional spaces?The special issue welcomes submissions that address the following areas of research:

1- Community Engagement and Local Knowledge: Detailed examinations of how local knowledge and participatory approaches are integrated into the urban edge's planning and implementation of urban solutions, and studies that explore the impact of these participatory methods in enhancing the effectiveness and sustainability of urban systems.

2- Spatial Analysis of urban systems: Empirical studies and theoretical explorations of urban systems and systems dynamics focusing specifically on critical junctures such as urban-rural interfaces, urban-historic transitions, and other urban edge conditions.

3-Informal/formal systems: Studies that explore and analyze how informal/formal solutions, traditional practices, and community-led efforts address resilience, equity, and accessibility challenges in peripheral locations. Case studies, supported by imperial evidence, showcase successful community-based urban solutions that can serve as models for similar urban environments.

4- Urban Planning and Mobility Dynamics: Research on how urban planning influences mobility patterns at urban edges, focusing on the spatial dynamics and interactions between new and existing structures. Insights into how urban planning decisions influence transportation accessibility and integration at these critical points.

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Frontiers in Built Environment

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