ABC2: Conference Proceedings Series of Architecture, Building, Construction, and Cities is an open-access proceedings publisher dedicated to the full spectrum of built environment disciplines. In the tradition of established series such as Lecture Notes in Civil Engineering, ABC2 partners with independently organised conferences to publish, archive, and disseminate their peer-reviewed proceedings to a global audience.

ABC2 does not organise conferences. Instead, it provides a rigorous, open-access publishing home for conference proceedings, ensuring that research presented at partner events reaches the widest possible readership and is permanently preserved in the scholarly record.

The series spans the interconnected domains of Architecture, Building, Construction, and Cities, and is committed to publishing research that addresses urgent global challenges — from climate change and rapid urbanisation to heritage deterioration, housing crises, and sustainable development. All published proceedings are freely accessible online, supporting the principles of open science and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

ABC2 aims to bridge theory and practice across architecture, building, construction, and urban studies. It serves as a platform for disseminating research findings, innovative methodologies, critical analyses, and policy-relevant insights that address contemporary challenges in the built environment.

By partnering with leading international conferences, ABC2 brings together interdisciplinary contributions that blur the boundaries between disciplines, integrating theoretical rigour with practical application and fostering productive dialogue between academia, industry, and policymakers.

CURRENT PROCEEDINGS PORTFOLIO

ABC2 currently publishes the proceedings of the following conference series. Both are fully open-access and freely available online:

Series

Full Title

Host Conference

Latest ISBN

Access

SASBE

Proceedings of Smart and Sustainable Built Environment Conference Series

SASBE Conference (CIB W116)

978-1-0684360-2-4

Open Access

DFBI

Proceedings of Digital Frontiers in Buildings and Infrastructure International Conference Series

DFBI International Conference

978-1-0684360-1-7

Open Access

SASBE — Smart and Sustainable Built Environment

The Proceedings of the Smart and Sustainable Built Environment Conference Series is one of the flagship series in ABC2's portfolio. SASBE is a CIB W116 event — one of the International Council for Research and Innovation in Building and Construction's oldest and most active commissions — focused on the integrated development of intelligent and sustainable aspects of the built environment. The most recent volume, SASBE 2025 (Lille, France), was edited by Prof. Farzad Rahimian (Loughborough University, UK) and contains peer-reviewed papers spanning digital technologies, circular construction, building renovation, smart cities, and sustainable design.

DFBI — Digital Frontiers in Buildings and Infrastructure

The Proceedings of the International Conference on Digital Frontiers in Buildings and Infrastructure covers cutting-edge research at the intersection of digital technologies and the built environment. The inaugural volume, DFBI 2025, was held at TU Delft (11–13 June 2025) and brought together research on AI, BIM, digital twins, XR, and smart infrastructure from institutions worldwide. DFBI 2026 is scheduled for 30 March – 1 April 2026 at the University of Barcelona.

SCOPE

ABC2 proceedings span four thematic areas, encompassing a wide range of critical topics that foster a holistic understanding of the built environment.

Architecture

The Architecture section explores the human, cultural, technical, and environmental dimensions of design. Topics include:

  • Architectural pedagogy and design studio teaching practices
  • Biophilic design and human-centred architecture
  • Computational and parametric design methodologies
  • Cultural identity and its influence on architectural forms
  • Heritage conservation and adaptive reuse of historic structures
  • Innovations in materials and building envelope systems
  • Sustainable architectural practices and green building design
  • The contribution of architectural histories and theories to design practice
  • The role of architecture in social equity and inclusion

Building

The Building section addresses technological and operational aspects of building systems and performance. Topics include:

  • Building performance analysis, energy efficiency, and thermal comfort
  • Fire safety engineering and disaster preparedness in building design
  • Indoor environmental quality, health and wellbeing
  • Life cycle assessment and embodied carbon evaluation in building materials
  • Renewable energy integration into building systems
  • Retrofitting and upgrading existing buildings for modern challenges
  • Smart building technologies and IoT integration
  • User-centred post-occupancy evaluations

Construction

The Construction section focuses on methodologies, processes, and innovations that improve efficiency and sustainability in construction practices. Topics include:

  • Advanced construction management techniques and project delivery methods
  • Circular economy approaches in construction material use
  • Construction risk management and safety protocols
  • Economic and policy impacts on construction practices
  • Integration of AI and robotics in construction workflows
  • Lean construction principles and waste minimisation
  • Offsite construction, prefabrication, and modular systems

Cities

The Cities section interrogates the design, planning, and governance of urban environments. Topics include:

  • Affordable housing and social equity in urban areas
  • Global and emerging cities and urban spectacles
  • Public spaces, placemaking, and community engagement
  • Resilient urbanism and climate-adaptive strategies
  • Smart cities and urban digitalisation
  • Sustainable urban planning and green infrastructure
  • Transportation systems and mobility in urban design
  • Urban informality and participatory planning approaches

PUBLISHING WITH ABC2

Conference organisers wishing to publish their proceedings with ABC2 are invited to contact the editorial office. ABC2 offers:

  • Open-access publication, freely available to readers worldwide at no cost
  • Rigorous double-blind peer review managed through the OJS/PKP platform
  • Permanent DOI assignment and indexing for each published paper
  • ISBN assignment for each proceedings volume
  • A professional, standards-compliant publishing workflow from submission to publication
  • Promotion through the ABC2 network and affiliated journals, including the Smart and Sustainable Built Environment (SASBE) journal

ABC2 is an open-access publisher. There are no subscription fees for readers. Conference organisers and authors should contact ABC2 for information on publication fees and partnership arrangements.