Call for Papers: LAND, SMART CITIES, AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

The 4th edition of the CITA 2026 International Conference will focus on crucial issues related to land management, smart urbanization, and sustainable development trajectories. In a global context marked by demographic pressure, resource scarcity, and ecological transition, the relationship between land, smart cities, and sustainability appears to be a major field of research and innovation. The conference will bring together experts, decision-makers, and practitioners from around the world to discuss these issues and identify solutions for the future.

CITA 2026 will bring together researchers, practitioners, policy makers, businesses, and civil society actors to explore interdisciplinary approaches and innovative technological solutions for inclusive land governance and resilient cities.

Topics

The conference encourages the submission of research papers, case studies, and feedback covering, but not limited to, the following areas:

1. Smart Cities and Emerging Technologies for Urban Governance

This track is dedicated to the application of digital technologies for the optimization of services, infrastructure, and city management.

• Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Big Data for the use and analysis of urban data for participatory governance.
• Internet of Things (IoT) for urban infrastructure management and control of urbanization-related risks.
• Digital twins, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and 3D modeling for urban planning and digital urbanism.
• Carbon footprint reduction, smart water and air management.
• Sustainable mobility and resilient infrastructure design.

2. Securing the Land Management Sector, Transparency, and Inclusion

This area focuses on the challenges of digitizing land management and the issues of security, equity, and access.

• Digitization of land registries and land services.
• E-land platforms and geographic information systems (GIS).
• Use of blockchain technology to secure land titles.
• Data security, land transparency, social and digital inclusion.
• Cybersecurity and data privacy.
• Digital inclusion of urban and rural communities.
• Equitable access to land for women, youth, and marginalized communities.
• Digital skills training and development.

3. Urban Resilience and Climate Change

This focus area explores the integration of ecological and climate imperatives into land and development policies for sustainable cities.

• Integration of climate change into land policies.
• Urban resilience, ecological transition, and climate adaptation.
• City planning in the face of natural disasters (green zones and ecological developments in cities).
• The role of land in combating deforestation and land degradation.
• Public policies and regulations for inclusive and secure digital urban planning.

4. Fundamental Research and Technological Advances in Digital Technology

This area is open to original and technical contributions in all sub-fields of Information and Communication Technologies.

• Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Machine Learning: Deep learning architectures, generative models, explainable AI (XAI), and their critical applications.
• Network Systems and Architectures: 5G/6G, next-generation networks (SDN, NFV), satellite communication, and optical communication systems.
• Parallel and Distributed Computing: HPC (High-Performance Computing), Cloud Computing, Edge Computing, and Fog Computing.
• Systems Security and Cryptography: Post-quantum cryptography, advanced authentication mechanisms, and data security protocols.
• Specialized Technologies: Non-ionizing radiation (from 0 Hz to 300 GHz), e-health, ICT applications for agriculture (AgriTech), etc.
• Etc.

Submission Guidelines

All papers must be original and not simultaneously submitted to another journal or conference. The following paper categories are welcome:

• Full papers : Short articles (5 pages) and Long articles (5 to 15 pages)
• Submission link :   https://www.manuscriptlink.com/conferences/cita2026  
• Submission template : https://www.cita-ansalb.bj/files/Template_Cita2026.docx

Committees

Program Committee

Organizing committee

Administration committee :

2 Logistic committee :

3 Finances committee :

Venue

ISBA, Champ de Foire, Faculté des Sciences de Santé (FSS)

Cotonou, Benin, June 26-27, 2026

Contact

All questions about submissions should be emailed to ahmed.kora@esmt.sn