The first edition of the International Conference on “Geographic Perspectives on Climate Change Mitigation in Urban and Rural Environments” was held at the University of Salento, Italy as the main host. The conference took place physically and virtually from the 25^th of June till the 27^th of June 2024, including attendees from all corners of the world.

This conference aim was to disseminate knowledge and enhance the research community. IEREK invited all interested environmentalists, and university students from all over the world to discuss and elaborate on topics about climatic mitigation in urban and rural environments, specifically in a geographic context. The conference covered a wide array of topics that pertained to sustainable development. Some of the main topics that were discussed include:

1. Applications of Climatology in Urbanism
2. The Role of Geography in Climate Change Mitigation
3. Wind Energy Resource Assessment and Optimization
4. Meteorology and Disaster Prevention in Urban and Rural Environments
5. Urban Planning and Climate Change Mitigation
6. Rural Land Use and Climate Change Mitigation
7. Geography Mapping and Innovative Systems for Rural Fragmentation Protection
8. Food Crisis in Climate Change phenomenon
9. Heritage Conservation with Climate Change Hazards
10. Sustainable Transportation and Transit Systems
11. Climatic Impacts and Response Methods in Rural Environments
12. Environmental Impacts on Human Geography and Culture
13. Sustainable Governmental Policy and Leadership

Day 1:

Welcoming Session:

The Opening Ceremony started with registration and welcoming speeches from the Chancellor of the University of Salento, Prof. Fabio Pollice, and Dr. Hind Al-Shoubaki Institute Social Planning, Organizational Change and Urban Development the University of Applied Science FHNW, Switzerland, and IEREK’s founder, Dr. Mourad Amer.

Following the speeches, a brief presentation was given that introduced IEREK and its activities to the audience.

Following the session, and the welcoming notes lunch break started.

Plenary sessions:

A plenary session followed introducing the keynote speakers Egidio Dansero Full Professor of Political and Economic Geography at the University of Turin and Vice-Rector for Sustainability and Development Cooperation, and Massimo De Marchi Associate Professor of Geography at the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering, University of Padua.

Following the keynote speeches, parallel sessions 1 and 2 started right away.

The First Session of the conference titled “Urban Climate Dynamics: Insights and Adaptations” was moderated by Valentina Albanese and Giovanna Zavettieri.

The Second Session of the conference titled “Ecological Insights and Ecosystems in Climate Change” was moderated by Patrizia Miggiano and Sara Nocco.

As the sessions went on, multiple authors presented their research in person and online, taking questions from the audience, and answering them as best they could.

After the discussions and Q&A, the first conference day ended with a Panel session where final remarks and feedback were discussed.

Day 2:

Welcoming Session:

The second day started with registrations and then the welcome speech by our keynote speaker Teresa Amodio, Full Professor of Political and Economic Geography at the University of Salerno and Vice-Rector for Third Mission – Social Impact, Antonella Ambrosino PhD student in “Risk and Sustainability in civil, architectural and environmental engineering systems at the University of Salerno, Lucrezia Lopez, Ph.D. in Geography (University of Santiago de Compostela, 2012) an Assistant Professor in the Department of Geography at the USC and Piero Lionello, Full professor of Atmospheric Physics and Oceanography, director of the Museum of the Environment at the University of Salento.

Following the keynote speech, parallel sessions 3 and 4 started right away.

The Third Session of the conference titled “Urban Planning, Architectural Design, and Heritage Management in Climate Mitigation” was moderated by Gustavo D'Aversa and Federica Epifani.

The Fourth Session of the conference titled “Innovative Approaches to Sustainable Urban Development, Climate Mitigation, and Policy Integration” was moderated by Cristina Baglivo and Piero Lionello.

As the sessions went on, multiple authors presented their research in person and online, taking questions from the audience, and answering them as best they could.

After a discussion and a Questions and Answers session, the second conference day ended with a Panel session where final remarks and feedback were discussed.

Day 3:

Welcoming Session:

On the final day of the GCUE 2024, the third day began with registrations and then a welcome speech by our keynote speaker Giuseppina Padeletti, Research Director at the Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR) Institute for the Study of Nanostructured Materials (ISMN-CNR) and Marco Grasso, Professor of Political Geography at the University of Milano-Bicocca.

Following the keynote speech, the last session took place.

The fifth Session of the conference titled “Climate Resilience: Innovations in Hazard Management” was moderated by Valentina Albanese and Federica Epifani.

Wrapping up, a final remarks session and a closing ceremony were held.

Breaking News: Highlights from "Geographic Perspectives on Climate Change Mitigation in Urban and Rural Environments” conference! Click Here

The field of geographic sciences takes many forms and has been continuously evolving over the years. Physical geography specifically deals with aspects of climate, weather, wind currents, and aquatic movements. A subfield of physical geography is the field of climatology. As a recently established field under the umbrella of geographic sciences, climatology aims to address the continuous damage mankind is inflicting upon the earth’s natural atmosphere, weather, and climate by studying its causes, effects, and practical mitigation techniques.

Developments in the field are becoming increasingly needed by the day, as the devastating effects of climate change take hold, and are unleashed upon cities, and human settlements. The biggest offender that contributes to the threat of climate change is the consumption of fossil fuels and other non-renewable resources of energy, namely to meet the rising demand for energy in urban environments. In pursuit of technological advancement, economic prowess, and global success, many cities have turned a blind eye to the harmful effects of unsustainable practices in urban development. These practices cost the world, and the cities, their respective livability, habitability, and continuity. They are short-term solutions to long-term problems.

While the spotlight is often shed on urban environments when it comes to the discussion of climate change, the environment that takes on the brunt of climate change’s detriments is the rural counterpart. Isolated from the interconnected network of cities, rural areas suffer the most due to physical isolation, limited access to infrastructural services, economic stagnation, and a reliance on natural habitats and environments such as rivers, lakes, fertile land, and wildlife. The sustainability of natural habitats and ecological structures is of utmost importance for the flourishing of rural environments, and climate change poses a direct threat to them. The livelihoods of people in rural areas are in danger due to climate change, which causes degradation of coastal areas effectively inhibiting fishing activities, floods and droughts that limit agricultural developments, and so on.

Geographers and climatologists have been sounding the alarm about climate change for several years, presenting undeniable evidence of mankind’s undue influence on the climate, marine and land life, as well as the topography of Earth’s crust. Urban environments are the locus of discussion when it comes to climate change mitigation, due to housing a vast majority of humanity’s population, and the requirements of meeting the demands of a dense population. Perhaps furthering the detrimental effects of climate change, the degradation of rural areas causes migration waves to urban environments, further exacerbating climate-impacting activities, and hindering adaptation capabilities in rural environments. Sustainable techniques that aim to lessen the acceleration of climate change include shifting away from automobile dependence, the inclusion of green public spaces, incorporating energy-saving techniques in cities, and the utilization of renewable energy.

The first international conference on “Geographic Perspectives on Climate Change Mitigation in Urban and Rural Environments” will highlight advancements and innovations in geography and climatology, and their role in climate change mitigation and adaptation techniques in urban and rural environments.

Scope

The first edition of the Geographic Perspectives on Climate Change Mitigation in Urban and Rural Environments conference aims to discuss and elaborate on topics pertaining to climatic mitigation in urban and rural environments in nations and cities, specifically in a geographic context. These geographic contexts include Hydrology, Climatology, Digital Geography, and more. The conference will aggregate research that innovates and disseminates upon topics pertaining to climatic mitigation in urban and rural environments, weather forecasting, atmospheric pollution, governmental policies affecting climate change, geographic cultural shifts due to climate change, sustainable transit systems, and more.

Statement of Purpose

The first edition of the Geographic Perspectives on Climate Change Mitigation in Urban and Rural Environments conference will raise awareness of the impacts of climate change on rural and urban environments. Not only does the conference aim to shed light on this critical issue, it looks to seek out geographic solutions to this problem, discussing the contribution of hydrology, climatology, geomorphology, and many more fields of geography to this ever-emerging problem.

Highlights on "Geographic Perspectives on Climate Change Mitigation in Urban and Rural Environments” conference!

IEREK exerts efforts in continuous pursuit of your utmost satisfaction, the CEO has recently been to Lecce, Italy, for a meeting with Professor Fabio Pollice, the chair of the "Geographic Perspectives on Climate Change Mitigation in Urban and Rural Environments" conference. Professor Fabio Pollice also serves as the Rector of Salento University. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss strategies to enhance the overall experience for conference attendees.

During the meeting, it was decided to:

- Engage prominent institutions and geographical societies to participate in the conference, aiming to maximize the benefits for all involved.
-Professor Fabio Pollice took the initiative to use the Castello Carlo V for the opening session venue. This magnificent castle, constructed in the 12th century AD, provides a captivating setting for our event.
-Monastero Degli Olivetani is secured as the venue for the parallel sessions. The Monastero, built between 1171 and 1174 AD, offers a serene and historically rich environment for our conference.                                                                
We are truly excited about these arrangements, as they will undoubtedly contribute to the success of the conference and create a memorable experience for all participants. To accommodate the inclusion of these institutions and secure the booking of these remarkable buildings, the university Rector has proposed extending the conference dates to June 25-27, 2024. Consequently, the deadline for abstract submission has been extended to February 29, 2024.

Publication Information:

Volume 1: Pre-conference publication:

For authors who have submitted their full papers, the publication process and peer review will commence this week for (Volume 1). As long as authors promptly respond to the editors' comments and revisions, their publications will be available online before the conference.

Authors who have submitted abstracts or new applicants will also have the opportunity to publish in Volume 1 by the deadline of December 15th.

Volume 2: Post-conference publication:

This volume will include the remaining papers from the conference, as well as any new papers that may be received in May. We strongly encourage authors to promptly address any comments provided by the editors, we kindly request that you submit them before April 30, 2024.

We hope these adjustments provide ample time for authors to prepare their submissions and contribute to the success of the conference. If you have any further inquiries or require additional information, please feel free to contact us.

• 1. Applications of Climatology in Urbanism

  1.1. Climatic Factors Influencing Urban Planning and Development

  1.2. Urban Mapping for Environmental Spatial Data Analysis, Monitoring and Assessment

  1.3. Satellite Imaging and Remote Sensing of Atmospheric Effects, monitoring land cover changes

  1.4. Effect of Weather Variability on Agriculture & Vegetation in Cities

  1.5. Urban wind patterns and airflow modeling

  1.6. Mitigation of the Urban Heat Island Effect

  1.7. Urban stormwater management and Urban flooding and drainage systems

• 2. The Role of Geography in Climate Change Mitigation

  2.1. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for Climate Mitigation Planning

  2.2. Spatial Analysis and Mapping of Climate Change Impacts

  2.3. Geographical Factors Influencing Climate Change Vulnerability and Resilience

  2.4. Coastal vulnerability and sea-level rise

  2.5. Mountainous regions and climate change impacts

  2.6. Regional Disparities in Climate Change Mitigation Efforts

  2.7. Geographical Considerations in Renewable Energy Deployment and Resource Assessment

• 3. Wind Energy Resource Assessment and Optimization

  3.1. Geographic Mapping, wind atlas development, and modelling of Wind Energy Potential

  3.2. Wind climate analysis and modeling and characterization

  3.3. Site Selection for Wind Farms Using Geographical Factors

  3.4. Land use compatibility and wind farm siting

  3.5. Environmental impact assessment for wind energy projects

  3.6. Wind Resource Assessment Techniques and Data Collection

  3.7. Wind turbine layout optimization considering geographic constraints

• 4. Meteorology and Disaster Prevention in Urban and Rural Environments

  4.1. Climate Disaster Forecasting and Early Warning Systems

  4.2. Monitoring Atmospheric Pollution and Particulate Matter Concentration in Cities

  4.3. Innovations in Emergency Response and Warning Tools for Climate Disasters

  4.4. Forestry and Agriculture to Mitigate Climate Change in Urban and Rural Areas

  4.5. Climate-smart agriculture and sustainable land management

  4.6. Integration of Meteorological and Innovative Geographical Approaches to Forecasting Systems

  4.7. Decision Support Systems for Climate Disaster Preparedness and Response

  4.8. Geospatial decision support tools for disaster management

• 5. Urban Planning and Climate Change Mitigation

  5.1. Sustainable Urban Design Principles: Urban green spaces and parks

  5.2. Compact and mixed-use urban development

  5.3. Low-Carbon Transportation Systems

  5.4. Green Infrastructure and Urban Forestry

  5.5. Stormwater management through green infrastructure

  5.6. Urban Heat Island Mitigation Strategies: greening for temperature reduction

  5.7. Energy-Efficient: Passive design strategies for energy efficiency

  5.8. Waste Management and Recycling Initiatives

• 6. Rural Land Use and Climate Change Mitigation

  6.1. Sustainable Agriculture and Land Management Practices

  6.2. Precision agriculture and smart farming techniques

  6.3. Forest Conservation and Reforestation Efforts

  6.4. Agroforestry and carbon farming practices

  6.5. Off-grid and decentralized renewable energy systems

  6.6. Bioenergy and biomass utilization in rural contexts

  6.7. Sustainable water resource management

  6.8. Biodiversity conservation and ecosystem services

• 7. Geography Mapping and Innovative Systems for Rural Fragmentation Protection

  7.1. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for Rural Land-Use Planning

  7.2. Identifying and quantifying rural fragmentation patterns

  7.3. Assessing the ecological and socio-economic vulnerability of rural areas

  7.4. Geospatial Tools for Monitoring and Managing Rural Development

  7.5. Landscape Connectivity Analysis for Preserving Ecological Corridors

  7.6. Conservation strategies for maintaining ecological corridors

  7.7. Innovative Planning Approaches for Rural Land Conservation and Protection

• 8. Food Crisis in Climate Change phenomenon

  8.1. Impact of climate change on agricultural productivity

  8.2. Changing patterns of food production and consumption

  8.3. Vulnerability of small-scale farmers to climate change

  8.4. Strategies for climate-resilient agriculture

  8.5. Urban agriculture as a solution to food insecurity

  8.6. Sustainable food systems and climate change mitigation

  8.7. Policy interventions for sustainable food production and climate adaptation

• 9. Heritage Conservation with Climate Change Hazards

  9.1. Vulnerability of cultural heritage sites to climate change

  9.2. Climate change adaptation strategies for heritage conservation

  9.3. Integrating climate change considerations into heritage management plans

  9.4. Community engagement and participation in heritage conservation

  9.5. Role of technology in assessing and monitoring climate change impacts on heritage

  9.6. Funding mechanisms for climate-resilient heritage conservation

  9.7. Balancing conservation and development in the context of climate change

• 10. Sustainable Transportation and Transit Systems

  10.1. Minimizing the Carbon Footprint of Urban Transportation Systems

  10.2. Utilization of Geographic Data and GIS in Transit System Design

  10.3. Shifting Away from Automobile Reliance: Active Transportation and Non-Motorized Modes

  10.4. Designing Pathways and Pedestrian-Centric Urban Environments of the City

  10.5. Intelligent Transportation Systems and Sustainable Urban Transportation Planning

  10.6. Integrating Electric Vehicles into Urban Transportation Systems

  10.7. Promoting Public Transport and Mass Transit Solutions

  10.8. Enhancing Bike Infrastructure and Bike-Sharing Programs

• 11. Climatic Impacts and Response Methods in Rural Environments

  11.1 Geographic Obstacles Hindering Rural Areas’ Climatic Adaptation

  11.2. Rural to Urban Migration and Social Geographic Shifts as a Result of Climate Change

  11.3. Climatology within a Rural Context

  11.4. Ecological Geographic Shifts and Natural Habitat Destruction in Rural Areas due to Climate Change

  11.5. Rural Economies’ Influence on Climatic Adaptation

  11.6. Governmental Policies, and NGO’s Influence on Rural Climatic Adaptation

• 12. Environmental Impacts on Human Geography and Culture

  12.1. Cultural Habits and Their Environmental Effects

  12.2. Social Norms’ Contributions to Climate Change Mitigation

  12.3. Reciprocal Environmental Relation Establishment

  12.4. Revitalization of Green Public Spaces and Livability in Cities

  12.5. Integration of Greenery in Urban Development

  12.6. Creative Expression and Media for Promoting Climate Change Awareness

• 13. Sustainable Governmental Policy and Leadership

  13.1. Governmental Influence Towards Carbon Neutrality in Cities

  13.2. Implementation of Sustainable Energy Infrastructures and Networks

  13.3. Geographic Measurement, Assessment, and Analysis Tools and Design Methods

  13.4. Data-driven Green Policy and Decision-making

  13.5. Food Policies in Urban Space

A. Physical Attendance

• The conference Kit inclusive of: a softcopy of the abstracts book on a USB/CD, Conference notebook, IEREK pen, Conference Flyers/ Printouts.

• IEREK Participation/ Contribution Certificate

• Preliminary Acceptance Letters

• Consideration for publishing in the IEREK ASTI series by Springer or IEREK Press

• Lunches and Coffee Breaks

• If multiple abstracts are submitted by the same first author submitted to the conference, a 25% discount is applied to each additional submission.

• Each research paper should have one main author who should pay the full fee (Author fees) regardless of attendance. Co-authors, each, have their own fees to pay to attend the event. This applies to online attendance as well as physical attendance.

• A research paper fee allows only one author, whether main or co-author, to attend the conference and receive only one copy of the conference Abstract book in both hard and soft copies. Extras can be requested for an additional fee.

• Professionals are categorized as participants who are not affiliated with universities such as practitioners, policymakers, entrepreneurs etc.

• Students must provide proof of enrollment in a university by providing an enrollment certificate or a valid university ID (with issue/ expiry date) etc.

• Additionally, you have the option to present your submitted abstract as a presentation without the intention of publishing your work, for information about the fees and additional details, please feel free to get in touch with us at: [email protected].

B. Online Attendance

• A softcopy of the abstracts book and/ or hard copy (excluding shipping)

• IEREK Participation/ Contribution Certificate in softcopy

• Acceptance Letters in softcopy

• Consideration for publishing in the IEREK ASTI series by Springer or IEREK Press

• Access to conference recordings

C. Extra Fees

Payment Methods

 Payment of the registration fee can be made via the following methods (only after online registration):

1. Bank transfer 

Kindly send a request to the conference coordinator/ email and CC [email protected] to receive bank details to complete the payment.

2. Online payment gateway (PayPal)

Participants who would like to complete their payments online must send a request to the conference coordinator/ email and CC [email protected] to receive a customized link to complete their payments.

3. Cash in IEREK branches

Payment in person can be arranged. Please contact the conference coordinator/ Email to receive further information.

Payment Terms and Guidelines:

• Read more on Important Dates. For information on payment dates, kindly send a request to the conference coordinator/email and CC [email protected] to receive payment details to complete the payment.

• Authors who have registered and completed payment for virtual attendance CAN request a change to physical attendance. However, a change from physical to virtual is NOT possible.

• After online registration and payment, the registration fee cannot be reimbursed.

• Final Acceptance/ rejection of your full/ extended paper (if submitted) can only be given after the peer review process.

• Inclusion in the conference program, acceptance letters issuance and consideration for publication must be preceded by registration and payment completion.

• Online Payment (only) should only be completed once a proforma invoice is issued with respective instructions for successful payment.

• Contact our Financial Department for inquiries/ requests.

All accepted submissions to the conference, after a rigorous double-blinded peer-review process by the respective and a highly-extinguished Editorial Board, will be published in one of the following:

• Advances in Science, Technology and Innovation (ASTI), an IEREK Interdisciplinary book series published by Springer Nature. (Scopus indexed)  

About ASTI

Advances in Science, Technology & Innovation (ASTI) is a series of peer-reviewed books based on important emerging research that redefines the current disciplinary boundaries in science, technology and innovation (STI) in order to develop integrated concepts for sustainable development. It not only discusses the progress made towards securing more resources, allocating smarter solutions, and rebalancing the relationship between nature and people, but also provides in-depth insights from comprehensive research that addresses the 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs) as set out by the UN for 2030.

The series draws on the best research papers from various IEREK and other international conferences to promote the creation and development of viable solutions for a sustainable future and a positive societal transformation with the help of integrated and innovative science-based approaches. Including interdisciplinary contributions, it presents innovative approaches and highlights how they can best support both economic and sustainable development, through better use of data, more effective institutions, and global, local and individual action, for the welfare of all societies. The series particularly features conceptual and empirical contributions from various interrelated fields of science, technology and innovation, with an emphasis on digital transformation, that focus on providing practical solutions to ensure food, water and energy security to achieve the SDGs. It also presents new case studies offering concrete examples of how to resolve sustainable urbanization and environmental issues in different regions of the world. Read More.

The ASTI series is fully indexed in Scopus and any chapter/ paper published as part of this series will be seen on the Scopus database. Some titles have been successfully indexed or submitted for indexation in the Web of Science (ISI).

• IEREK Press Journals, a multidisciplinary publisher that aims to cultivate and disseminate research.

Environmental Science & Sustainable Development (ESSD)

ESSD is a peer-reviewed, scholarly journal that aims to systematically develop the research-driven curiosity and evidence-based discourse of aspiring scholars that seek to contribute to the academic community. As the world is currently living in an age of information where sources are widely available on the Internet, we at ESSD seek to efficiently utilize the available information to help create robust and evidence-based knowledge. In the process, we offer researchers, in general, and young and aspiring ones in particular a quicker way to get their work published and gain exposure through online open access. We pride ourselves on getting submitted work to be published quickly, through the use of our worldwide pool of subject specialist peer reviewers. Find out more about ESSD International Journal here.

The Academic Research Community Publication (ARChive)

ARChive is an open-access journal that publishes conference proceedings on a wide range of topics relating to social sciences. Consequently, it accepts original research papers on a wide spectrum of subjects. ARChive is a journal published on behalf of researchers that perpetually make an effort to contribute to their fields and provide them with high visibility of research submitted. The series publishes, both, theoretical and experimental high-quality papers of current and perpetual interest. It serves to cultivate, propagate, and essentially archive academic research that has been authored and submitted for academic conferences.

Find out more about ARChive International Journal here.

Proceedings of Science and Technology (Resourceedings)

Resourceedings is an open access journal that publishes conference proceedings. Conference proceedings compromise of different disciplines, ranging from Engineering including built environments, architecture, and sustainability. Disciplines also include Technology and Energy. Resourceedings is a journal that publishes research articles that shed light on different crucial issues in order to provide them with solutions and suggestions. The journal publishes articles submitted by researchers of interest in different fields.

Find out more about Resourceedings International Journal here.

BAHETH International Journal - Arabian Researchers Database (Arabic Papers only)

“BAHETH” in Architecture, Engineering, and Technology, is a peer-reviewed journal that publishes original academic research in the fields of Architecture, Engineering, and Technology. The journal welcomes research in the Arabic Language with an English Abstract. Papers submitted to this journal in Arabic must be presented in the English Language in the conference.

Find out more about BAHETH International Journal here.

Participants’ Instructions

Registration

To help the organizers plan for inter-disciplinary dialogue, participants are requested to choose from the conference themes/ Topics upon registration.

They must also refer to, and abide by, the following instructions in registering and/ or submitting their contributions:

NOTE: If you are contributing as an Author of a submitted abstract (for publishing consideration and/or presentation), and regardless of attendance, the fee for the registration is the same. See and Registration & Fees for more information.

Types of Participation

1. Attend/ Present in-person or Online and Publish in indexed Conference proceedings

The conference offers a Physical attendance option for your convenience. That said, participants will have a chance to present their abstract/research, on campus, and have their work considered for publication in the ASTI Series by Springer as part of the conference proceedings.

See Author Instructions and Registration & Fees for more information.

2. Registration to publish in the proceedings without presenting/ attending

If your full paper is accepted, it may be published in the conference proceedings book in the Advances in Science, Technology & Innovation Book Series by Springer (indexed in Scopus) even if you are not attending the conference. In this case, the accepted work will not be included in the final conference program. See Author Instructions and Publishing Opportunities for more information.

3. Non-presenting participant

Non-presenting participants may also wish to attend the conference as Audience Members or Co-authors contributing to an already submitted abstract/ paper. See Registration & Fees for more information.

Notes to consider:
* Attendance online and in-person are possible upon confirmation with the conference secretariat/ coordinator at [email protected] and following Registration & Fees covered.

* The participation fee is uninform for all options presented above.

* For participants wishing to attend in-person, a visa invitation letter will be provided upon request, for which case a copy of your passport will be required. The invitation letter can only be provided after acceptance and full payment.

* Before planning your trip, be sure to check travel restrictions to the conference’s hosting country. Visit travel information and restrictions, and send in your questions if you have any to the conference coordinator at the email [email protected]

IEREK has an unyielding policy regarding plagiarism. We believe that copying/taking the ideas and work of other Authors without permission and credit is fraudulent. The Reviewing committee and IEREK employees have the authority to reject a paper during its reviewing process, based on the paper being subjected to either minor or major plagiarism.

Authors must refer to, and abide by, the following instructions in submitting their abstracts/ papers:

Step 1: Abstract Submission Process

• The author should prepare and submit an Abstract of at least 150 – 300 words through the website.
• The abstract should be concise and clearly state the proposed research study's purpose, results, and conclusions.
• The author should select the most relevant topic for the paper from the corresponding conference topics.
• The author can use/download an Abstract Writing Template prior to submission
• To submit your abstract, you first need to (1) click on the “Register” button on the conference page, (2) click on “Submit Now” and:
  • Select the Topic in which you are making the submission
  • Insert the title of your study in the "Paper Title" section
  • Insert the full abstract in the "Abstract" section/upload a file in the .pdf, .doc, .docm, or .docx format
  • Add in writing 3 – 5 keywords that define the field, subfield, topic, and research area covered by the article to help other researchers understand and find your work.
  • Provide the names, affiliations, and E-mails of all authors/ co-authors involved
  • Confirm your submission by ticking having read the instructions and “submit Abstract”

Step 2.1: Abstract Acceptance

• After acceptance of your abstract of at least (150 – 300 words), you will receive a proforma invoice and specific instructions to complete the payment online or by bank transfer (See Registration & Fees) to confirm your participation,
• Once your abstract has been accepted, please refer to the important dates tab and carefully review the announced dates to avoid late payment, as late payment comes at an extra charge (early bird/regular/late).
• After successfully completing payment, you will be issued upon request with the following:
  • A signed/ stamped abstract acceptance letter
  • Please note that acceptance of participation, abstract submission, and extended abstract/short paper submissions all have different deadlines. To stay up to date and avoid paying extra fees, or delaying your paper, please carefully review the important dates tab.
  • Receipt of Payment/ Payment Invoice
  • Visa Invitation Letter, if needed
• After abstract acceptance, you may be given the option to extend the abstract to publish your work in the conference proceedings in ASTI published by Springer Nature (indexed in Scopus/SCImago) (optional not obligatory).

  This is not a prerequisite for presenting your work at the conference. Meaning, you can present your submitted abstract without intending to publish your work.

Step 2.2: Abstract Extension / Short Paper (Optional)

• Your short paper / extended abstract should be 4 – 6 pages long and submitted before the paper submission deadline, in English, and fit within one of the conference topics.
• The Extended abstract i.e., the short paper should follow the research paper structure as follows: Abstract (+keywords), Introduction, problem statement, and study aim, Review of the Literature, Methodology, results and conclusion/ discussion, References list using the Paper Writing Template.
• The submission (short paper i.e. extended abstract) should be made following the same procedure followed for the abstract or sent to the conference email.
• Here: Authors may need more pages than the allotted maximum of 6 to insert figures, tables, appendixes, etc. In this case, they can submit regular papers (max. 12 pages) with the same fixed fee. For a detailed outline of the fees, please refer to the payment table in the conference fees tab.
• The conference does welcome Arabic submissions (with abstracts written in the english language), which will only be considered for publication in BAHETH by IEREK Press.

Step 3: Rigorous Peer Review Process (double-blind)

This process can only be initiated after payment completion and confirmation:

• If submitted, the extension (short paper) will be preliminarily checked (iThenticate plagiarism/ similarity screening Software, readability, and scope) and it will be peer-reviewed. If similarity issues are detected, the following will apply:
  • % from all sources: 10-15%
  • % from one source: 3-5%
  • Higher than 30% (all sources): Reject completely
  • Lower than 30% (all sources): Ask for revision to decrease the similarities
• IEREK has an unyielding policy regarding plagiarism. We believe that copying/ taking the ideas and work of other Authors without permission and credit is fraudulent. The Reviewing committee and IEREK employees have the authority to reject a paper during its reviewing process, on the basis of the paper being subjected to either minor or major plagiarism.
• Each paper/ chapter is evaluated by a minimum of two reviewers, after which a final decision by the responsible Editor is made. There is no maximum to the number of times a paper can be reviewed, depending on the quality of the submission.
• If your short paper is accepted by the Editors for publishing with comments/ requested modifications, our Editors (publishing department) will contact you once a decision is made and you will be asked to revise and correct it. After resubmission, it will be re-checked. Note: There may be more than one round of peer review and the decision rests with the editors of the title. Missed deadlines may result in complete exclusion/ rejection from the final publication.
• If your short paper is accepted for publishing without edits/ comments, the corresponding author will be contacted to provide the final version of their chapters/ papers following Springer Guidelines and sign the Springer consent-to-publish (CTP) form to authorize publication in the conference proceedings.
• A back-and-forth process: modifications will be sent back to the responsible Editor/ Series Editor and another round of evaluation conducted where needed. Participants/ Authors should regularly check their emails (Junk/ Spam folders).
• If you are not interested in publishing an extended abstract in the proceedings in ASTI by Springer Nature, please inform the conference support ([email protected]).

Step 4: Extended paper 

• After the conference, the authors of the best papers will be invited to submit an extended version of their research, 8 – 12+ pages in length, (optional) of their short papers for publishing in an edited volume to be published by Springer Nature.
• Publishing your short paper (i.e., extended abstract) in the conference proceedings does not prevent the submission of the full version for publishing consideration after the conference if the similarity percentages (SR%) in Step 3 are taken into account.

ORCID, which stands for Open Researcher and Contributor ID, is a global, not-for-profit organization that aims to provide unique identifiers for authors, researchers, and scholars. ORCiD effectively eliminates duplication and errors regarding author names, affiliations, previous works, and all related academic data.

IEREK is a proud member of ORCiD, and we contribute directly to their initiative of clear and identifiable markers for researchers and scholars. As the first Egyptian partner to ORCiD in the organization’s history, we strongly believe that by utilizing ORCiD’s database and verification services, we become one step closer to achieving an accurate, and identifiable academic landscape.

We encourage our authors to input their ORCiD ID when registering for one of our conferences, submitting an abstract, or a full paper. By doing so, you directly link your research to your identity and affiliation and can showcase your various academic efforts all in one place. By Registering your ORCiD ID, you also increase your works’ visibility and provide easy access to your entire library of research and academic activity.

Click here to learn more about ORCiD, and here to register your ORCiD ID for free.  

1. Vinita Vishwakarma, Prof. and Additional Dean (Research), Galgotias University, Greater Noida-203201, Delhi, NCR, INDIA

2. Mahesh Kumar Jat, Professor Dr eng., Dept. of Civil Engineering, MNIT Jaipur, water Resources Modelling & Management and Geospatial Technologies

3. Uznir Ujang, Associate Professor, Head of 3D GIS Research Group. Geoinformation, Faculty of Built Environment and Surveying, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia

4. Alkan Mehmet, Professor in the Department of Geomatics Yıldız Technical University, Turkey. He graduated from Department of Geodesy and Photogrammetry

5. Ashraf Aboulfetooh Mostafa, Professor of Geomorphology, department of Geography, Faculty of Arts, Suez University, Suez, Egypt

6. Alaa Morsy, Dean, Port Training Institute, Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport, Specialized Organization of Arab League Consultant Engineer of Structural Engineering, Egyptian Engineers Syndicate

7. Trapani Ferdinando, Professor of Urban and Regional Spatial Planning, City and Territory Department, University of Palermo, Italy

8. Francesco Alberti, Associate Professor in Regional and Urban Planning and Design, University of Florence (Università degli studi di Firenze) Department of Architecture (DIDA)

- The Print ISSN for “ Geographic Perspectives on Climate Change Mitigation in Urban and Rural Environment ” is 3009-7983.

- The Online ISSN for “Geographic Perspectives on Climate Change Mitigation in Urban and Rural Environment ” is 3009-7088.

- For participants who need Entry Visas to the country where the conference will be held, IEREK will issue the corresponding invitation letter for accepted applicants to facilitate visa issuance.

- Please notice that we will endeavor to assist you in obtaining a visa but the responsibility is yours and the decision rests solely with the appropriate Embassy.

Invitation Letter Issuance Process

1- In case the participant is an author who has submitted a research paper to the conference, it must get accepted by the Scientific Committee

2- Required participation fees must be paid

3- The participant should send the following information to the conference's official email:

* A clear copy of passport

* Passport number

* Full name as written in your passport.

* Date of Issuing and Expiration

* Date of Birth

* Email address of the nearest Embassy/Consulate to you

* Mobile Number including country code

4- Conference coordinator will issue the needful invitation letter and send a copy to the participant's email, in addition to another one to the corresponding email address of embassy/consulate

5- The participant should print out the invitation letter along with all other required documents by the embassy/consulate and apply for VISA

Click here to download the flyer & Poster.

Lecce is famous with the best-knowns sights in Italy that it would take weeks to see everything in it, also it is one of Europe’s most popular cities. It has many breathtaking views and tourist attractions from museums to churches and palaces.

The following are some suggestions of places to visit while you are in Lecce, Italy:

Roman Amphitheatre in Piazza Sant’Oronzo

The highlight is the large Roman amphitheatre which once seated 14,000 spectators on its two tiers, although only the lower tier remains. Sometimes concerts still take place here.

In the piazza, you can also see the column of Sant’Oronzo and an unusual 20-meter-high bronze clock, the Orologio Delle Meraviglie, created in 1955 on the wall of the Banco di Napoli.

Lecce Cathedral

Lecce’s Cathedral is on one of the most beautiful squares in Lecce, the Piazza del Duomo.

Piazza del Duomo has a more intimate feel and is enclosed by ornate buildings including the bishop’s residence and seminary.

The Cathedral was originally built in 1144 and was rebuilt in the 17th century by architect Giuseppe Zimbalo in the decorative baroque style that now characterises the city.

Lecce’s Portas

The three remaining city gates of the previously walled city are useful landmarks for navigating the city, and all are decorative and worth seeing.

Once you pass through the gates, you leave the historic centre behind for the modern part of the city which is less attractive, but it does have some good restaurants and shops.

The main city gate is Porta Napoli built in 1548 for a state visit from Charles V and modelled on a Roman triumphal arch. Just outside the arch is the obelisk and beyond this is the university area.

Basilica di Santa Croce

Lecce’s most extravagant baroque church is Santa Croce, also designed by Zimbalo. If you only visit one church in Lecce, make it this one.

The facade features intricate carved figures and a rosette window, and inside are ornate columns and a decorative ceiling, next to Santa Croce is another Zimbalo creation, the Palazzo dei Celestini, now the seat of the local government.

After admiring the exterior, you can walk through the courtyard and out the archway to reach Lecce’s park, just beyond the church and palace is a lovely little street full of wine bars—perfect for a light lunch or aperitivo.

By Train

You can reach Lecce easily by direct Trenitalia train from cities such as Brindisi (30 minutes), Bari (1.5 hours), Rome (5.5 hours), and Bologna (7 hours). From Naples you’ll have to change trains at Caserta (5.5 hours total).

You can check timetables and book tickets in advance for the best rates from the Trenitalia website. You need to use Italian place names (i.e. Torino not Turin). 

The Bari to Lecce Trenitalia train stops at a number of places in Puglia including Polignano a Mare, Monopoli, Cisternino, and Ostuni.

By Plane

The nearest airport to Lecce is Brindisi (30-minute drive), while Bari airport is a 2-hour drive away.

You can rent a car at Brindisi airport or take a shuttle bus from the airport to Lecce (40 minutes).

By Car 

From Bari (150Km), via a freeway. Just follow the signs to Brindisi-Lecce. Rental cars are available in the main Italian airports, including the airports of Brindisi and Bari. This could be a good idea if you wish to join a visit to the South of Italy to the conference.

Grand Hotel Tiziano e dei Congressi

Address: Viale Porta D'Europa, 73100 Lecce, Italy.

Location on map: Grand Hotel Tiziano e dei Congressi

Suite Hotel Santa Chiara

Address: Via degli Ammirati, 24, 73100 Lecce, Italy.

Location on map: Suite Hotel Santa Chiara

Eos Hotel - VESTAS Hotels & Resorts

Address: Viale Alfieri, 11, 73100 Lecce, Italy.

Location on map: Eos Hotel - VESTAS Hotels & Resorts 

Rudiae Boutique

Address: 73 Via Dalmazio Birago, 73100 Lecce, Italy.

Location on map: Rudiae Boutique

Ada Suites & Spa

Address: 15 Via di Valesio, 73100 Lecce, Italy.

Location on map: Ada Suites & Spa

Palazzo Bernardini Suites

Address: Via Marco Basseo 25 , 73100 Lecce, Italy.

Location on map: Palazzo Bernardini Suites

B&B La Corte Lecce

Address: Via Roberto Caracciolo 24, 73100 Lecce, Italy.

Location on map: B&B La Corte Lecce

Hotel Delle Palme

Address: Via Di Leuca 90, 73100 Lecce, Italy.

Location on map: Hotel Delle Palme

Donna Teresa Guest House

Address: Via Giuseppe Libertini n. 41, Palazzo Luperto, scala unica, 2 piano, 73100 Lecce, Italy.

Location on map: Donna Teresa Guest House

Nonna Jole

Address: Via Guglielmo Paladini 26, 73100 Lecce, Italy

Location on map: Nonna Jole

To download the conference program Click here.

*IMPORTANT: Minor changes could occur and the program could be updated accordingly. All participants should regularly check the program until the event's launch.

To download the presentation template Click here.

A.Physical Attendance