Guest editors:
Umar Muhammad Modibbo
Department of Operations Research,Faculty of Computing, Modibbo Adama University, Nigeria
Email: umarmodibbo@mau.edu.ng
Scopus ID: https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=57216654774
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9242-4948
Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=KYMd2uoAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao
Fariba Goodarzian
University of the West of Scotland
Email: fariba.Goodarzian@uws.ac.uk
ScopusID: https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=57208797688
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9295-1839
Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=6jWMoQcAAAAJ&hl=en
Maria Lapina
North Caucasus Federal University, Stavropol, Russia
Email: mlapina@ncfu.ru
ScopusID: https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=57205116248
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8117-9142
Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=UnaY9gIAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao
Shabtai Isaac
Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be'er Sheva, Israel
Email: isaacsh@bgu.ac.il
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8601-7601
Special issue information:
1. AIMS AND SCOPE
Operations Research (OR) has been instrumental in solving complex problems and improving decision-making processes across various industries. The emergence of new technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI), Block-chain, Internet of Things (IoT), and Big Data Analytics has transformed the OR landscape, creating new opportunities and challenges. This special issue aims to explore the intersection of OR and emerging technologies, highlighting innovative applications, methodologies, and theoretical advancements for sustainable development.
Sub-themes:
1. AI and Machine Learning in OR: Applications of AI and ML in optimization, prediction, and decision-making for sustainability.
2. Block-chain and OR: Innovative uses of Block-chain in supply chain management, cybersecurity, and optimization for sustainable development.
3. IoT and OR: Integration of IoT data and OR techniques for smart systems and decision-making in sustainable development.
4. Big Data Analytics and OR: Leveraging large datasets and OR methods for insights and optimization in sustainability.
5. Digital Twins and OR: Virtual modeling and simulation for optimization and decision-making in sustainable development.
6. Emerging Trends in OR: New areas of application, such as healthcare, finance, and sustainability.
7. Theoretical Advancements: Novel methodologies, algorithms, and theoretical frameworks for OR and emerging technologies in sustainable development.
2. TOPICS COVERED
Sustainability Analytics and Modeling publishes articles that develop and apply quantitative methods of analytics and operations research to take on global sustainability challenges. These challenges are many and broad in scope. They involve poverty, hunger, health, well-being, education, equality, water, sanitation, energy, economies, industry, infrastructure systems, smart communities, consumption and production, climate, peace, and justice, among other topics, all of which are targeted by the 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs) of the United Nations (https://www.un.org/development/desa/disabilities/envision2030.html).
Topics that are of interest for this special issue include, but are not limited to:
· AI-powered optimization techniques for sustainability
· Blockchain-based supply chain optimization for sustainable development
· IoT-driven decision-making for sustainable development
· Big Data Analytics for OR applications in sustainability
· Digital Twins for simulation and optimization in sustainable development
· Emerging technologies in healthcare and finance for sustainability
· Theoretical foundations of OR and emerging technologies for sustainable development
Manuscript submission information:
3. SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
The APC (Article Publishing Charge) will be covered by IFORS for all papers submitted by 1st April 2026. Submitted papers should be original works and should not have been previously published or currently considered for publication elsewhere. The manuscripts should be prepared according to the Guide for Authors available at:
https://www.elsevier.com/journals/sustainability-analytics-and-modeling/2667-2596/guide-for-authors.
All manuscripts should be submitted electronically using the journal's online manuscript submission system at: https://www.editorialmanager.com/samod/default.aspx when prompted for the article type, please select, "OR and Emerging Technologies".
On the Attach Files screen, please submit the Manuscript, Highlights, Cover Letter summarizing the contributions of the paper, and Conflict of Interest Declaration (template available at https://service.elsevier.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/286/supporthub/publishing).
At the Review Preferences screen, you may suggest potential reviewers for this submission and provide specific reasons for your suggestion in the comments box for each person.
Manuscripts submitted after the deadline may not be considered for the special issue and may be transferred, if accepted, to a regular issue.
4. IMPORTANT DATES
Eligible submissions will be quickly submitted to the peer review process by the guest editors. The guest editors will work to ensure a maximum time of three months for the initial peer review process. Accepted papers will be published online quickly after acceptance, so that papers submitted early will also be published well ahead of the special issue’s scheduled publication date.
Deadline for submissions: April 1, 2026
Notification of Acceptance: October 1, 2026
Keywords:
Operations Research; Emerging Technologies; Real-life Applications; Sustainability; Globalization; Problem Solving