Introduction

Over half of the world’s 7.7 billion population now reside in urban environments and require good transport options so that they can reach those destinations, people and resources they need for enjoying an adequate standard of living and productivity. Efficient, safe, inclusive and sustainable mobility services and infrastructure have emerged therefore as a prerequisite (and possibly a benchmark) for city prosperity and societal well-being. Reaching this goal, however, is not easy. In the United Kingdom alone, 32.5 million vehicles are resulting in increasing congestion, with the average citizen losing 115 h to road traffic every year at a cost of £8 billion to the economy. In an era where artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing technology and reshaping the world, smart traffic investments and intelligent transport systems (ITS) can be critical for reducing road traffic congestion and all its adverse impacts (i.e. environmental degradation, noise pollution, traffic accidents, unhealthy lifestyles, productivity losses).