The emergence of smart cities has addressed many critical challenges associated with conventional urbanization worldwide. However, sustainable traffic management in smart cities has received less attention from researchers due to its complex and heterogeneous nature, which directly affects smart cities’ transportation systems. The study aimed at addressing traffic-related issues in smart cities by focusing on establishing a sustainable framework based on the Internet of Things (IoT) and Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) applications. To sustain the management of traffic in smart cities, which is composed of a hybridized stream of human-driven vehicles (HDV) and connected automated vehicles (CAV), a dual approach was employed by considering traffic as either modeling- and analysis-based, or/and the decision-making issues of previous research works. Moreover, the two techniques utilized real-time traffic data, and collected vehicle and road users’ information using AI sensors and ITS-based devices. These data can be processed and transmitted using machine learning algorithms and cloud computing for traffic management, traffic decision-making policies, and documentation for future use. The proposed framework suggests that deploying such systems in smart cities’ transportation could play a significant role in predicting traffic outcomes, traffic forecasting, traffic decongestion, minimizing road users’ lost hours, suggesting alternative routes, and simplifying urban transportation activities for urban dwellers. Also, the proposed integrated framework adopted can address issues related to pollution in smart cities by promoting public transportation and advocating low-carbon emission zones. By implementing these solutions, smart cities can achieve sustainable traffic management and reduce their carbon footprint, making them livable and environmentally friendly.

The use of enormous amounts of material is required for production. Due to the current emphasis on the environment and sustainability of materials, waste products and by-products, including silica fume and fly ash (FA), are incorporated into concrete as a substitute partially for cement. Additionally, concrete fine aggregate has indeed been largely replaced by waste materials like crumb rubber (CR), thus it reduces the mechanical properties but improved some other properties of the concrete. To decrease the detrimental effects of the CR, concrete is therefore enhanced with nanomaterials such nano silica (NS). The concrete mechanical properties are essential for the designing and constRuction of concrete structures. Concrete with several variables can have its mechanical characteristics predicted by an artificial neural network (ANN) technique. Using ANN approaches, this paper predict the mechanical characteristics of concrete constructed with FA as a partial substitute for cement, CR as a partial replacement for fine aggregate, and NS as an addition. Using an artificial neural network (ANN) technique, the mechanical characteristics investigated comprise splitting tensile strength (Fs), compressive strength (Fc), modulus of elasticity (Ec) and flexural strength (Ff). The ANN model was used to train and test the dataset obtained from the experimental program. Fc, Fs, F_f and Ec were predicted from added admixtures such as CR, NS, FA and curing age (P). The modelling result indicated that ANN predicted the strength with high accuracy. The proportional deviation mean (MoD) values calculated for F_c, F_s, F_f and E_c values were −0.28%, 0.14%, 0.87% and 1.17%, respectively, which are closed to zero line. The resulting ANN model’s mean square error (MSE) values and coefficient of determination (R²) are 6.45 × 10⁻² and 0.99496, respectively.

Polymer-modified cement mortar has been increasingly used as a runway/road pavement repair material due to its improved bending strength, bonding strength, and wear resistance. The flexural strength of polyurethane–cement mortar (PUCM) is critical in achieving a desirable maintenance effect. This study aims to evaluate and optimize the flexural strength of PUCM involving nano silica (NS) using a central composite design/response surface methodology (CCD/RSM) to design and establish statistical models. The PU binder and NS were utilized as input parameters to evaluate the responses, such as compressive and flexural strength. Moreover, machine learning (ML) algorithms including artificial neural networks (ANN) and Gaussian regression process (GPR) were used. The PUCM mixtures were prepared by adding a PU binder at 0%, 10%, 15%, and 25% by weight of cement. At the same time, NS was incorporated into the mortar mixes at 0 to 3% (interval of 1%) by cement weight. The results showed that the simultaneous effect of PU binder at the optimal content and NS improved the performance of PUCM. Adding NS to the mortar mixture mitigated some of the strength lost due to the PU binder, which remarkably reduces the strength properties at a high content. The optimized PUCM can be obtained by partly adding 3.5% PU binder and 2.93% NS particles by the weight of cement. The performance of the machine learning algorithms was tested using performance indicators such as the determination of coefficient (R²), mean absolute error (MAE), mean-square error (MSE), and root-mean-square error (RMSE). The GPR algorithm outperformed the ANN with higher R² and lower MAE values in the training and testing phases. The GPR can predict flexural strength with 90% accuracy, while ANN can predict it with 75% accuracy.