THEME
The conference focuses on innovative planning methodologies, tools and experiences aimed to support the transition of our cities and regions towards a more smart and sustaina​ble dimension, approaching different scales, environments and perspectives.

Contributions from different research fields dealing with urban and regional planning from the scientific as well as the professional community are welcome. Cooperation and demonstration projects are warmly invited to disseminate their innovative approaches, implemented activities and achieved results.​


THEMATIC SESSIONS

The conferees are invited to develop their contributions within the four proposed thematic sessions or the special session dedicated to cooperation and demonstration projects​. ​

• SESSION 1 - Energy planning for cities and regions
Energy planning for cities and regions: from strategies to actions. How to couple the energy-climate goals with the development or renovation of the built environment and how to tackle the vulnerability to climate change.
KEYWORDS: smart energy, low carbon cities, mitigation and adaptation, resilience, urban and regional energy planning, urban ecosystem services.

• SESSION 2​ - Smart and sustainable technologies
Smart and sustainable technologies, big data, integrated infrastructures and mobility management: challenges and opportunities for urban and regional planning, from holistic geospatial tools to innovative apps and Internet of Things​.
KEYWORDS: sensors, GIS, big data, remote sensing, standards, statistics, interconnections, app, key performance indicators.

• SESSION 3 - Benefits, costs and opportunities of urban transition
Benefits, costs and opportunities of urban transition toward a more smart and sustainable dimension: accounting and assessment of values and trade-offs within the decision making processes.
KEYWORDS: financial assessment, multi-criteria, green economy, investments, market, intangibles, co-benefits, assessment methodologies and techniques.
​
• SESSION 4 - Governance for smart and sustainable growth​
Governance for smart and sustainable growth: fostering place-based policy-making, active and effective stakeholders’ participation, co-production and public-private partnerships.
KEYWORDS: participatory governance, local partnerships, implementation effectiveness, policy innovation, smart communities, barriers to implementation.

• SPECIAL SESSION - Cooperation and demonstration projects

Cooperation and demonstration projects play an essential role in fostering the adoption of new approaches and technologies, towards the development of win-win solutions. Several cutting-edge smart initiative, from single cities to large communities’ networks, are currently under development or already achieving outstanding results. Projects and demonstration cities, communities and regions representatives are invited to present their contribution in oral or poster form, to sustain the peer to peer learning exchange among cities and communities.

KEYWORDS: Cooperation and demonstration projects, win-win solutions, peer to peer learning, smart cities and communities initiative.


LANGUAGE
Presentations must be held in English. However, please consider that no interpreting service is foreseen.


PRESENTER SCHEDULE
Only presenters that have completed the registration process will be included in the presenter schedule. Due to the limited number of time slots in the schedule, we encourage everyone to register early. We regret that applicants who have registered late might not be given a time slot. The Presenter Schedule is normally announced shortly after the deadline for all presenters to register.


ORAL PRESENTERS
Oral presenters will be allotted 20 minutes to present depending on the format, which includes time for comments and questions. If two or more co-authors will present together, the allotted time still remain 20 minutes total. Seating arrangement for oral presentations will be theatre style with a table at the front. Computers, projectors and screens will be provided in each presentation room. Please prepare an extra copy of your presentation on a USB Drive.


POSTER PRESENTERS
Poster boards mounted on stands will be provided with tape.

Posters must be set up at least 15 minutes before the start of the first Conference day and taken down after the last session of the second day ends.

Poster materials should include the title of the presentation and the list of authors. Bring all illustrations needed - figures, tables, color photographs, charts. Posters must be size A0 (A Zero). Common dimensions for posters are A0 118cm x 84cm (47 x 33 inches). Poster material should be well labelled and easy to read from a distance of one meter. No audio-visual equipment is permitted for poster presentations.


VIRTUAL PRESENTERS
In our effort to be a carbon neutral event and also to assist participants unable to attend because of funding problems, a schedule conflict, illness, etc., we will prepare a virtual panel to be shown during the event. The number of virtual panels and presenter slots is limited.

Virtual presenters that have completed the registration process will be included in the conference programme and proceedings.

Guidelines for virtual presenters are as follows

1.Select the ‘virtual presentation’ option on the submission application or contact the secretariat.

2.After completing the registration process you will be contacted by our technical support staff with instructions for preparing your virtual presentation.

3.Prepare a 10 minute presentation using the video instructions we send to you. Please note that PowerPoint with an audio track is not acceptable.

4.Upload your presentation file to our “virtual area”(details will be provided upon confirmation of registration)

5.To be included in the programme and proceedings, your virtual presentation must be received no later than 30th October, 2015.

6.Please note that virtual panels are shown during the conference.

7.As indicated, virtual presenters are accorded the same inclusion rights in the schedule and proceedings as the other presenters. For further information regar​ding virtual presentations guidelines, please contact the secretariat.


LIMITATIONS

•Each author can submit up to three contributions.

•At least one author must be registered and present at the conference.

•An individual cannot present someone else’s paper, if their name is not listed as an author on the abstract.


GUIDELINES
If the proposal has been submitted correctly, you will receive an automatic response via e-mail. This confirms that your contribution has been filed for review.


The abstract text must not exceed 400 words in length and must be without bibliography.



The contributions should report:​

•The selected section (see sub-themes)​

•The title

•The names of the authors and their affiliation

•The name and address of the corresponding authors

•Up to five keywords


The preferred type of presentation (oral, poster or virtual) should be made clear with the abstract submission.

More infos you can find on our website: http://sspcr2015.eurac.edu