This paper promotes the concept of smart and connected communities SCC, which is evolving from the concept of smart cities. SCC are envisioned to address synergistically the needs of remembering the past (preservation and revitalization), the needs of living in the present (livability), and the needs of planning for the future (attainability). Therefore, the vision of SCC is to improve livability, preservation, revitalization, and attainability of a community. The goal of building SCC for a community is to live in the present, plan for the future, and remember the past. We argue that Internet of Things (IoT) has the potential to provide a ubiquitous network of connected devices and smart sensors for SCC, and big data analytics has the potential to enable the move from IoT to real-time control desired for SCC. We highlight mobile crowdsensing and cyber-physical cloud computing as two most important IoT technologies in promoting SCC. As a case study, we present TreSight, which integrates IoT and big data analytics for smart tourism and sustainable cultural heritage in the city of Trento, Italy.

Data security has consistently been a major issue in information technology. In the cloud computing environment, it becomes particularly serious because the data is located in different places even in all the globe. Data security and privacy protection are the two main factors of user's concerns about the cloud technology. Though many techniques on the topics in cloud computing have been investigated in both academics and industries, data security and privacy protection are becoming more important for the future development of cloud computing technology in government, industry, and business. Data security and privacy protection issues are relevant to both hardware and software in the cloud architecture. This study is to review different security techniques and challenges from both software and hardware aspects for protecting data in the cloud and aims at enhancing the data security and privacy protection for the trustworthy cloud environment. In this paper, we make a comparative research analysis of the existing research work regarding the data security and privacy protection techniques used in the cloud computing.

Intelligent transportation systems (ITS) have made significant advancements in enhancing transportation safety, reliability, and efficiency. However, challenges persist in security, privacy, data management, and integration. Metaverse, an emerging technology enabling immersive and simulated experiences, presents promising solutions to overcome these challenges. By establishing secure communication channels, facilitating virtual simulations for safe testing and training, and enabling centralized data management with real-time analytics, metaverse offers a transformative approach to address these challenges. While metaverse has found extensive applications across industries, its potential in transportation remains largely untapped. This comprehensive review delves into the integration of the metaverse in ITS, exploring key technologies like virtual reality, digital twin, blockchain, and artificial intelligence, and their specific applications in the context of ITS. Real-world case studies, research projects, and initiatives are compiled to showcase the metaverse’s potential for ITS. It also examines the societal, economic, and technological implications of metaverse integration in ITS and highlights the associated integration challenges. Lastly, future research directions are identified to unlock the metaverse’s full potential in enhancing transportation systems.