Benefits and Challenges of Emerging Technologies in Urban Transportation Planning

In recent times, a notable cultural transformation has taken place, leading to the majority of the global population residing in urban areas and being responsible for more than two-thirds of carbon emissions worldwide. This chapter offers a comprehensive examination of the influence of smart mobility and emerging technologies on transportation, transport infrastructure, transportation planning, and society as a whole. This chapter examines different emerging technologies and their benefits for efficient urban transportation planning. The role of automated robots, autonomous vehicles, 3D Printing, electric vehicles, drone technology among other technologies are examined, and it is discovered that these technologies have been useful in reduction in accidents, reduction in environmental pollution, improvement in safety, and reduction in traffic congestion. Hence, this chapter proposed that there is a need for stakeholders in the built environment to harness the benefits of these technologies in urban planning, while also addressing the challenges which might hinder its usage.