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Paving the Future: Sustainable Road Design and Urban Mobility in...
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Paving the Future: Sustainable Road Design and Urban Mobility in Smart Cities, 2nd Edition

A special issue of Smart Cities (ISSN 2624-6511). This special issue belongs to the section "Smart Urban Mobility, Transport, and Logistics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 July 2026 | Viewed by 5017

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Maria Luisa Tumminello

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Guest Editor
Department of Engineering, University of Palermo, 90133 Palermo, Italy
Interests: performance analysis of road transport networks; road traffic micro-simulation models; connected and automated driving technologies; sustainability and environmental impact of road facilities; analysis of road safety; surrogate measures of safety; road design solutions; traffic flows management; traffic calming measures
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Elżbieta Macioszek

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Transport Systems, Traffic Engineering and Logistics, Faculty of Transport and Aviation Engineering, Silesian University of Technology, Krasińskiego 8 Street, 40-019 Katowice, Poland
Interests: road traffic engineering; road and intersections capacity analysis; measurements; traffic modeling; research and traffic flow analysis; transport infrastructure; functional analysis; transport systems and processes modeling; transportation engineering
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Anna Granà

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Engineering, University of Palermo, 90128 Palermo, Italy
Interests: sustainable geometric road design; road safet and remodeling; microscopic traffic simulation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Tullio Giuffrè

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, University of Enna Kore, Viale della Cooperazione, 94100 Enna, Italy
Interests: road safety evaluation; road design; connected automated vehicle operation; transport infrastructure; traffic operation modeling; statistical analysis
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue is centered on the critical interplay of sustainable road design and urban mobility, aiming to explore innovative strategies for creating intelligent, eco-friendly, and safe transportation infrastructures. It focuses on the multifaceted dimensions of urban mobility in smart cities, examining solutions for road infrastructure, policy frameworks, and technological advancement.

The emphasis is on the convergence of advanced technologies with urban mobility, highlighting the role of intelligent traffic management, real-time data analytics, and cooperative driving technologies in optimizing road space, user flows, and overall efficiency. Road and intersection design should be inclusive, ensuring accessibility for pedestrians, cyclists, and individuals with diverse mobility needs to foster both efficiency and equity. Further exploration is needed to integrate renewable energy sources into road infrastructure, evaluating solutions like solar roadways and kinetic energy harvesting to power smart urban mobility systems sustainably. This Special Issue also addresses the resilience of roads and road networks to climate change and human or natural disruptions, emphasizing adaptive design strategies.

Global case studies from smart cities are invited to showcase successful sustainable road design implementation, offering replicable models and lessons. The overarching objective is to inspire the widespread adoption of eco-conscious urban mobility practices, promoting a collective movement towards a sustainable and resilient urban future.

Original research articles and review papers featured in this Special Issue will delve into diverse topics, including but not limited to:

  • Sustainable road design principles;
  • Planning shared mobility;
  • Inclusive and accessible road design;
  • Digital transition in road design;
  • Innovative design solutions for intersections and interchanges;
  • Reliability and safety of AI in transport operation;
  • Intelligent traffic management;
  • Smart technologies in urban mobility;
  • Cooperative driving technologies;
  • Disruptive innovation in intermodal transportation;
  • Novel measures for urban resilience;
  • Latest road economy trends;
  • Energy harvesting from roads;
  • Monitoring and mitigation of vehicular air and noise pollution;
  • Contemporary challenges in road research;
  • Global perspectives through case studies;
  • Integrating traffic calming measures into smart roads;
  • People-centered solutions for smart road design.

Dr. Maria Luisa Tumminello
Dr. Elżbieta Macioszek
Prof. Dr. Anna Granà
Dr. Tullio Giuffrè
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Smart Cities is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2000 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • road design
  • urban mobility
  • sustainable transportation
  • road safety
  • shared mobility
  • microscopic traffic simulation modeling
  • LCA
  • road economy
  • traffic management
  • vulnerable road users
  • fuel consumption and emissions
  • energy saving solutions
  • connected and automated vehicles
  • intelligent transport systems (ITS)
  • smart cities
  • smart traffic calming measures
  • road resilience
  • pedestrian safety

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  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
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  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Related Special Issue

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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22 pages, 1362 KB  
Article
Towards a Temporal City: Time of Day as a Structural Dimension of Urban Accessibility
by Irfan Arif, Fahim Ullah, Siddra Qayyum and Mahboobeh Jafari
Smart Cities 2026, 9(4), 67; https://doi.org/10.3390/smartcities9040067 - 10 Apr 2026
Viewed by 559
Abstract
Urban accessibility is commonly evaluated using static spatial indicators, which assume stable travel conditions throughout the day. Road congestion, network saturation, and service variability change the function and experience of the built environment (BE). This study tests the Temporal City Framework (TCF) by [...] Read more.
Urban accessibility is commonly evaluated using static spatial indicators, which assume stable travel conditions throughout the day. Road congestion, network saturation, and service variability change the function and experience of the built environment (BE). This study tests the Temporal City Framework (TCF) by examining how time of day (TOD) reshapes urban accessibility and travel behaviour with varying levels of congestion. Using 30,288 trip records from the 2022 US National Household Travel Survey (NHTS), duration is operationalised as a sixth dimension of the BE. A time-normalised impedance metric, measured in minutes per mile (MPM), is used that captures realised congestion independently of distance. Temporal impedance (TI) varies strongly with TOD, with substantially higher MPM during peak and midday periods than at night. Compared with nighttime conditions, midday travel requires approximately 19% more time per mile. This indicates a measurable contraction in functional accessibility under identical BE conditions. The TI model outperforms duration-only models, with impedance remaining dominant when both measures are included. These results support interpreting duration as a structural dimension of urban accessibility. TI significantly increases the relative likelihood of active and public transport compared to private cars, even after accounting for absolute trip duration. Hired transport modes (taxi and ride-hailing services) are most prevalent at night, reflecting a greater reliance on on-demand services outside regular daytime schedules. This study tests duration as a structural dimension of the BE by operationalising time-normalised TI. Associations are interpreted as trip-level behavioural constraints rather than causal effects. Planning frameworks based on static travel times systematically misrepresent exposure, equity, and travel mode feasibility. Time-stratified accessibility metrics should therefore be integrated into transport and land-use evaluation and associated policies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Paving the Future: Sustainable Road Design and Urban Mobility in Smart Cities, 2nd Edition)
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32 pages, 9463 KB  
Article
Smart Tourism for All: Optimizing Rental Hub Locations for Specialized Off-Road Wheelchairs Using Spatial Analysis
by Marcin Jacek Kłos and Marcin Staniek
Smart Cities 2026, 9(4), 55; https://doi.org/10.3390/smartcities9040055 - 24 Mar 2026
Viewed by 467
Abstract
The development of Smart Tourism often overlooks the “Wilderness Last Mile”, leading to the spatial exclusion of people with disabilities in mountain areas. This problem exists because standard tourist maps and urban-centric accessibility models rely on averaged terrain data, failing to identify critical [...] Read more.
The development of Smart Tourism often overlooks the “Wilderness Last Mile”, leading to the spatial exclusion of people with disabilities in mountain areas. This problem exists because standard tourist maps and urban-centric accessibility models rely on averaged terrain data, failing to identify critical micro-scale barriers (e.g., short, sudden steep ascents) that pose severe safety and traction risks for off-road wheelchair users. To address this gap, this article presents a novel GIS methodology for planning accessible off-road tourism for electric Specialized Off-Road Wheelchairs. The proposed four-stage analytical model includes (1) graph-based trail network topologization to enable precise routing; (2) traction safety verification utilizing high-resolution (1 × 1 m) Digital Elevation Model (DEM) micro-segmentation to detect hidden slope barriers; (3) multi-criteria evaluation combining a user-calibrated Difficulty Index (EDI) and a Tourism Quality Index (TQI); and (4) a hub optimization algorithm that prioritizes locations maximizing the diversity of accessible routes. The method was empirically tested in a case study of the Bieszczady Mountains (Poland), calibrating the model with the technical limits (25% max slope) of a prototype wheelchair. The experimental results clearly validate the model’s superiority over traditional approaches: the micro-segmentation successfully identified hidden terrain traps, disqualifying 55% of the standard trail network that would have otherwise been deemed safe by average-slope assessments. Furthermore, the model identified a contiguous safe network of 153 km and pinpointed the optimal rental hub location, ensuring the highest inclusivity and route variety. Ultimately, this approach transforms raw spatial data into safe, ready-made tourism products, providing a precise tool with which to implement Universal Design in natural environments. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Paving the Future: Sustainable Road Design and Urban Mobility in Smart Cities, 2nd Edition)
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15 pages, 1328 KB  
Article
Clustering of Driver Behavioral Strategies During Speed Cushion Traversal: A Driving Simulator Study
by Gaetano Bosurgi, Alessia Ruggeri, Giuseppe Sollazzo, Orazio Pellegrino and Domenico Passeri
Smart Cities 2026, 9(3), 53; https://doi.org/10.3390/smartcities9030053 - 20 Mar 2026
Viewed by 475
Abstract
Traffic calming measures are widely used to reduce operating speeds and mitigate crash risk in urban corridors; however, the way drivers adapt their control strategy when traversing Berlin speed cushions is still poorly described from a multivariate behavioral perspective. This study proposes a [...] Read more.
Traffic calming measures are widely used to reduce operating speeds and mitigate crash risk in urban corridors; however, the way drivers adapt their control strategy when traversing Berlin speed cushions is still poorly described from a multivariate behavioral perspective. This study proposes a behavior-oriented analysis to identify recurring speed-cushion traversal strategies using driving simulator telemetry. A fixed-base simulator reproduced a real urban corridor, and trajectories were segmented in device-centered spatial windows capturing approach, traversal, and immediate recovery. Each segment was summarized by three indicators describing longitudinal and lateral control: mean speed, peak braking demand, and average lane position deviation. Features were standardized and clustered using k-means. The number of clusters was selected primarily through mean silhouette evaluation, while resampling-based checks and a Gaussian mixture modeling comparison were used as supportive evidence rather than competing decision rules. Three traversal profiles emerged: smooth cautious, reactive cautious, and unmoderated fast. The introduction of speed cushions shifted the distribution of segments towards cautious profiles, while driver-level concentration within a single profile was moderate. Overall, results indicate that speed cushions influence the whole vehicle control strategy, offering a quantitative basis for behavior-oriented evaluation of local traffic calming interventions in smart-city contexts. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Paving the Future: Sustainable Road Design and Urban Mobility in Smart Cities, 2nd Edition)
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16 pages, 1825 KB  
Article
An Analytical Approach to Evaluating Traffic Performance at Urban Railway Level Crossings for Sustainable Mobility in Smart Cities
by Wojciech Kazimierz Szczepanek and Maciej Kruszyna
Smart Cities 2026, 9(3), 46; https://doi.org/10.3390/smartcities9030046 - 2 Mar 2026
Viewed by 595
Abstract
Irregular and non-cyclical railway level-crossing closures generate traffic disruptions that cannot be directly assessed using standard intersection analysis methods. Railway level crossings interrupt road traffic in irregular, non-cyclical intervals, yet no dedicated analytical methodology exists for estimating their traffic impacts. Microsimulation tools such [...] Read more.
Irregular and non-cyclical railway level-crossing closures generate traffic disruptions that cannot be directly assessed using standard intersection analysis methods. Railway level crossings interrupt road traffic in irregular, non-cyclical intervals, yet no dedicated analytical methodology exists for estimating their traffic impacts. Microsimulation tools such as PTV Vissim and SUMO may support such analyses, although modelling adjustments are required to represent non-cyclical closures realistically. This study proposes an analytical alternative based on adapting capacity-calculation procedures for signalised intersections from Polish regulations, derived from Highway Capacity Manual (HCM) principles. The method provides approximate estimates of maximum queue length and average time loss. Empirical data collected in Wrocław, Poland, were compared with results from Vissim and SUMO. While the analytical model supports preliminary assessment of traffic performance at level crossings, its outputs depend on simplified assumptions and limited empirical calibration. The method is intended as a complementary tool rather than a replacement for detailed microsimulation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Paving the Future: Sustainable Road Design and Urban Mobility in Smart Cities, 2nd Edition)
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42 pages, 2996 KB  
Article
Visual Context and Behavioral Priming in Pedestrian Crossing Decisions: Evidence from a Stated Preference Experiment in Ecuadorian Urban Areas
by Yasmany García-Ramírez, Fernando Arrobo-Herrera, Alejandra Cruz-Cortez, Luis Fernández-Garrido, Joshua Flores, Wilson Lara-Bayas, Carlos Lema-Nacipucha, Diego Mejía-Caldas, Richard Navas-Coque, Harold Torres-Bermeo and Kevin Zambrano-Delgado
Smart Cities 2026, 9(1), 19; https://doi.org/10.3390/smartcities9010019 - 22 Jan 2026
Viewed by 692
Abstract
Pedestrian safety in developing countries faces critical challenges from rapid urbanization and infrastructure deficiencies. This study investigates how visual context influences pedestrian crossing preferences through a controlled stated preference experiment in multiple Ecuadorian cities. A sample of 875 participants was randomly assigned to [...] Read more.
Pedestrian safety in developing countries faces critical challenges from rapid urbanization and infrastructure deficiencies. This study investigates how visual context influences pedestrian crossing preferences through a controlled stated preference experiment in multiple Ecuadorian cities. A sample of 875 participants was randomly assigned to view either non-compliant (mid-block crossing) or compliant (signalized crosswalk) imagery before evaluating six hypothetical scenarios involving three crossing alternatives. Multinomial logit models reveal that waiting time, traveling with a minor, and walking distance are primary determinants of choice. Visual context showed systematic associations with choice patterns: compliant imagery was associated with increased preference for safer alternatives (50.5% versus 43.8% prediction accuracy) and larger safety-related parameter magnitudes. Principal Component Analysis identified two latent perception constructs, safety/security and bridge-specific convenience, providing behavioral interpretation of choice patterns. Substantial spatial heterogeneity emerged across cities (χ2 = 124.10 and 84.74, p < 0.001), with larger urban centers showing stronger responsiveness to formal infrastructure cues. The findings demonstrate that visual stimuli systematically alter choice distributions and attribute sensitivities through normative activation and perceptual recalibration. This research contributes methodologically by establishing visual framing effects in stated preference frameworks and provides actionable insights for pedestrian infrastructure design, emphasizing alignment of objective safety improvements with perceived risk and contextual behavioral cues. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Paving the Future: Sustainable Road Design and Urban Mobility in Smart Cities, 2nd Edition)
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Review

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44 pages, 1244 KB  
Review
The Convergence of Artificial Intelligence and Public Policy in Shaping the Future of Ride-Hailing: A Review
by Cătălin Beguni, Alin-Mihai Căilean, Eduard Zadobrischi, Sebastian-Andrei Avătămăniței, Alexandru Lavric and Florinel-Mădălin Stoian
Smart Cities 2026, 9(2), 40; https://doi.org/10.3390/smartcities9020040 - 23 Feb 2026
Viewed by 1606
Abstract
In the context in which on-demand mobility services are rapidly gaining popularity in the transportation sector, this article provides a literature review focusing on the emerging research topics related to ride-hailing. Based on a comprehensive review of the existing scientific literature, ten main [...] Read more.
In the context in which on-demand mobility services are rapidly gaining popularity in the transportation sector, this article provides a literature review focusing on the emerging research topics related to ride-hailing. Based on a comprehensive review of the existing scientific literature, ten main research areas are identified, covering aspects ranging from operational algorithms to macro-level policy impacts enforced by local authorities. Each topic is discussed and analyzed based on available published research. This work analyzes state-of-the-art research directions such as demand forecasting, passenger–driver matching algorithms, pricing strategies, electric vehicle integration, trust and security aspects, quality of service and user satisfaction, integration with public transportation, and robotaxi integration. The solutions identified pave the way for new, evolving technologies related to on-demand mobility services and ride-hailing, a domain at the intersection of data science, artificial intelligence, and futuristic urban planning. Finally, the main results of this work are focused on the integration of AI, the optimization of the latency–security trade-off, and the development of unified global transportation standards that better address the balance between technological efficiency, sustainability, environmental protection, and social equity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Paving the Future: Sustainable Road Design and Urban Mobility in Smart Cities, 2nd Edition)
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