The functioning of modern urban environments relies heavily on the public transport system. Given spatial, economic, and sustainability criteria, public transport in larger urban areas is unrivaled. The system’s role depends on the quality of service it offers. Achieving the desired service quality requires a design that meets transport demands. This paper uses a data-driven approach to address headway deviations in public transport lines and explores ways to improve regularity during the design phase. Headway is a critical dynamic element for transport organization and passenger quality. Deviations between planned and actual headways represent disturbances. On lines with headways under 15 min, passengers typically do not consult schedules, making punctuality less crucial. Reduced headway regularity affects the average travel time, travel time uncertainty, and passenger comfort. Ideally, the public transport system operates with regular headways. However, disturbances can spread and affect subsequent departures, leading to vehicle bunching. While previous research focused on single primary disturbances, this study, with the help of AI (reinforcement learning), examines multiple primary disturbances in the cities of Belgrade, Novi Sad, and Niš. The goal is to model the cumulative impact of these disturbances on vehicle movement. By ranking parameter influences and using the automatic optimization of static line elements, this research aims to improve headway regularity and increase system resilience to disturbances. The results of this research could also be useful in developing adaptive public transport management systems that leverage AI and IoT technologies to continuously optimize headway regularity in response to real-time data, ultimately enhancing service quality and passenger satisfaction.
In today’s rapidly evolving technological landscape, effective management of information technology (IT) projects is paramount for organizational success. However, ensuring sustainability in IT project management remains a persistent challenge. This paper proposes a novel approach centered on data-driven strategies to enhance sustainability and excellence in IT project management. By harnessing the power of data analytics, organizations can derive actionable insights to optimize resource allocation, mitigate risks, and streamline project workflows. The integration of data-driven decision making processes enables project managers to make informed choices, fostering adaptability and resilience in the face of dynamic project environments. This research explores the utilization of IT software project performance metrics and historical project data to fuel analysis of how strategies drive business sustainability. Moreover, this paper examined these dimensions with the help of advanced analytics techniques such as multiple linear regression. By aligning IT project management practices with business sustainability objectives, organizations can enhance project success rates, while minimizing adverse environmental impacts and resource consumption. Prospectively, this kind of research should expand to determining factors for the adoption of data-driven strategies to empower organizations to achieve sustainable IT project management excellence, ensuring long-term competitiveness and value creation in a digitalized world.
Efficient traffic management in urban areas represents a key challenge for modern cities, particularly in the context of sustainable development and reducing negative environmental impacts. This paper explores the application of artificial intelligence (AI) in optimizing urban traffic through a combination of reinforcement learning (RL) and predictive analytics. The focus is on simulating the traffic network in Belgrade (Serbia, Europe), where RL algorithms, such as Deep Q-Learning and Proximal Policy Optimization, are used for dynamic traffic signal control. The model optimized traffic signal operations at intersections with high traffic volumes using real-time data from IoT sensors, computer vision-enabled cameras, third-party mobile usage data and connected vehicles. In addition, implemented predictive analytics leverage time series models (LSTM, ARIMA) and graph neural networks (GNNs) to anticipate traffic congestion and bottlenecks, enabling initiative-taking decision-making. Special attention is given to challenges such as data transmission delays, system scalability, and ethical implications, with proposed solutions including edge computing and distributed RL models. Results of the simulation demonstrate significant advantages of AI application in 370 traffic signal control devices installed in fixed timing systems and adaptive timing signal systems, including an average reduction in waiting times by 33%, resulting in a 16% decrease in greenhouse gas emissions and improved safety in intersections (measured by an average reduction in the number of traffic accidents). A limitation of this paper is that it does not offer a simulation of the system’s adaptability to temporary traffic surges during mass events or severe weather conditions. The key finding is that integrating AI into an urban traffic network that consists of fixed-timing traffic lights represents a sustainable approach to improving urban quality of life in large cities like Belgrade and achieving smart city objectives.
In the present paper, we have analytically explored the small variations of the local pressure in the trapped air film of both sides of the clamped circular capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducer (CMUT), which consists of a thin movable membrane of silicon nitride (Si3N4). This time-independent pressure profile has been investigated thoroughly by solving the associated linear Reynold’s equation in the framework of three analytical models, viz. membrane model, plate model, and non-local plate model. The solution involves Bessel functions of the first kind. The Landau–Lifschitz fringing technique has been assimilated to engrave the edge effects in estimation of the capacitance of CMUT, which should be considered in the micrometer or lesser dimension. To divulge the dimension-based efficacy of the considered analytical models, various statistical methods have been employed. Our use of contour plots of absolute quadratic deviation revealed a very satisfactory solution in this direction. Though the analytical expression of the pressure profile is very cumbersome in various models, the analysis of these outputs exhibits that the pressure profile follows the displacement profile in all the cases indicating no viscous damping. A finite element model (FEM) has been used to validate the systematic analyses of displacement profiles for several radii and thicknesses of the CMUT’s diaphragm. The FEM result is further corroborated by published experimental results bearing excellent outcome.
As the global energy transition accelerates, the integration of solar power and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies offers new pathways for sustainable local development. This study examines four Serbian municipalities—Šabac, Sombor, Pirot, and Čačak—to assess how AI-enabled solar power systems can enhance energy resilience, reduce emissions, and support community-level sustainability goals. Using a mixed-method approach combining spatial analysis, predictive modeling, and stakeholder interviews, this research study evaluates the performance and institutional readiness of local governments in terms of implementing intelligent solar infrastructure. Key AI applications included solar potential mapping, demand-side management, and predictive maintenance of photovoltaic (PV) systems. Quantitative results show an improvement >60% in forecasting accuracy, a 64% reduction in system downtime, and a 9.7% increase in energy cost savings. These technical gains were accompanied by positive trends in SDG-aligned indicators, such as improved electricity access and local job creation in the green economy. Despite challenges related to data infrastructure, regulatory gaps, and limited AI literacy, this study finds that institutional coordination and leadership commitment are decisive for successful implementation. The proposed AI–Solar Integration for Local Sustainability (AISILS) framework offers a replicable model for emerging economies. Policy recommendations include investing in foundational digital infrastructure, promoting low-code AI platforms, and aligning AI–solar projects with SDG targets to attract EU and national funding. This study contributes new empirical evidence on the digital–renewable energy nexus in Southeast Europe and underscores the strategic role of AI in accelerating inclusive, data-driven energy transitions at the municipal level.
This research focuses on small- and medium-sized businesses that provide machining or other process services but do not produce their own products. Their daily manufacturing schedule varies according to client needs. Small- and medium-sized businesses strive to operate in these circumstances by extending their customer base and creating adequate production planning targets. Their resources are limited, including the technical and technological components of their equipment, tools, people resources, time, and capacities. As a result, planning operations with the present resources of small- and medium-sized businesses in the midst of the global economic crisis is a widespread issue that must be addressed. This study seeks to offer a novel mathematical optimization model based on a genetic algorithm to address job shop scheduling and capacity planning difficulties in small- and medium-sized businesses, therefore improving performance management and production planning procedures. On the basis of the created optimization model, an appropriate software solution, and quantitative data concerning the job shop scheduling and capacity planning challenges of manufacturing operations in small- and medium-sized businesses, the study findings will be obtained. The practical implications include the establishment and development of a decision support system based on the genetic algorithm optimization method, which may improve the effectiveness of the flexible job shop scheduling problem and capacity planning in the production planning process. The given model and the application of the differential precedence preservative crossover operator within genetic algorithms are what constitute the novelty of this study.