Editorial: Smart Cities, Innovating in the Transformation of Urban Environments

presents a collection of original research contributions that employ mathematical modeling, optimization, machine learning, and deep learning techniques to tackle urgent challenges in designing, monitoring, and operating smart urban systems. The articles in this special issue cover a range of topics, including environmental engineering, intelligent transportation, photovoltaic performance assessment, and urban mobility. All manuscripts share a commitment to rigorous quantitative methodologies and data-driven decision support, with results that directly impact ecological integrity, public health, and overall population well-being. Additionally, the articles emphasize the importance of providing context for each contribution within the broader field of smart city research. They highlight their relevance to the Mathematical Biosciences and Engineering journal, which focuses on complex data and information processing at the intersection of mathematics, engineering, and life sciences.