The idea of a smart city has evolved in recent years from limiting the city’s physical growth to a comprehensive idea that includes physical, social, information, and knowledge infrastructure. As of right now, many studies indicate the potential advantages of smart cities in the fields of education, transportation, and entertainment to achieve more sustainability, efficiency, optimization, collaboration, and creativity. So, it is necessary to survey some technical knowledge and technology to establish the smart city and digitize its services. Traffic and transportation management, together with other subsystems, is one of the key components of creating a smart city. We specify this research by exploring digital twin (DT) technologies and 3D model information in the context of traffic management as well as the need to acquire them in the modern world. Despite the abundance of research in this field, the majority of them concentrate on the technical aspects of its design in diverse sectors. More details are required on the application of DTs in the creation of intelligent transportation systems. Results from the literature indicate that implementing the Internet of Things (IoT) to the scope of traffic addresses the traffic management issues in densely populated cities and somewhat affects the air pollution reduction caused by transportation systems. Leading countries are moving towards integrated systems and platforms using Building Information Modelling (BIM), IoT, and Spatial Data Infrastructure (SDI) to make cities smarter. There has been limited research on the application of digital twin technology in traffic control. One reason for this could be the complexity of the traffic system, which involves multiple variables and interactions between different components. Developing an accurate digital twin model for traffic control would require a significant amount of data collection and analysis, as well as advanced modeling techniques to account for the dynamic nature of traffic flow. We explore the requirements for the implementation of the digital twin in the traffic control industry and a proper architecture based on 6 main layers is investigated for the deployment of this system. In addition, an emphasis on the particular function of DT in simulating high traffic flow, keeping track of accidents, and choosing the optimal path for vehicles has been reviewed. Furthermore, incorporating user-generated content and volunteered geographic information (VGI), considering the idea of the human as a sensor, together with IoT can be a future direction to provide a more accurate and up-to-date representation of the physical environment, especially for traffic control, according to the literature review. The results show there are some limitations in digital twins for traffic control. The current digital twins are only a 3D representation of the real world. The difficulty of synchronizing real and virtual world information is another challenge. Eventually, in order to employ this technology as effectively as feasible in urban management, the researchers must address these drawbacks.

The US Infrastructure Investment and Job Act (IIJA), also commonly referred to as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill, passed in 2021, has drawn international attention. It aims to help to rebuild US infrastructure, including transportation networks, broadband, water, power and energy, environmental protection and public works projects. An estimated $1.2 trillion in total funding over ten years will be allocated. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill is the largest funding bill for US infrastructure in the recent history of the United States. This review article will specifically discuss funding allocations for roads and bridges, power and grids, broadband, water infrastructure, airports, environmental protection, ports, Western water infrastructure, electric vehicle charging stations and electric school buses in the new spending of the Infrastructure Investment and Job Act and why these investments are urgently necessary. This article will also briefly discuss the views of think tank experts, the public policy perspectives, the impact on domestic and global arenas of the new spending in the IIJA, and the public policy implications.

This article explores the dynamic and complex regulatory landscape of cargo transportation in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). As a critical hub in global trade, the UAE’s approach to cargo transportation not only impacts its economic landscape but also has broader implications for international logistics and trade. When the authors speak about air cargo, a very prominent characteristic comes to mind, that is, the ‘speed’ at which goods are transported from one point to another in a world which is fueled by time-based competition which connects leading suppliers, smaller businesses to consumers within a complicated global supply chain operating within networks. The authors aim to examine the current regulatory framework governing cargo operations, highlighting key events contributing to the growth of cargo transportation in recent years within the UAE, shedding light on the central regulatory bodies and key players in the UAE which contribute to the chain of transporting cargo and shipments in the UAE. This study will also briefly compare the standards applied in the UAE with international norms. It delves into the implications of existing regulations on various facets of trade and logistics, including compliance challenges faced by businesses. The article identifies specific challenges in the regulatory setting, such as safety, environmental considerations and the integration of emerging technologies. Furthermore, it distinguishes between the flexible and rigid aspects of these regulations, analyzing their impact on the industry. Looking ahead, the article forecasts emerging trends and potential shifts in regulatory policies, emphasizing the need for adaptability and forward-thinking in policymaking. The aim is to provide a comprehensive overview of the UAE’s regulation of the cargo transportation landscape. The present study offers insights into its current status, challenges, and future directions, thereby contributing to policy development in this vital sector. New research examining the UAE’s cargo regulations reveals significant gaps that could stall its ambitions of becoming a leading cargo transportation global hub. The study identifies shortcomings in regulations related to cargo transportation in the UAE and its efficiency. These areas, along with potential inflexibility in the current system, pose challenges to the UAE to compete effectively in the time-sensitive world of cargo shipments.

The relationship between transport infrastructure and accessibility has long stood as a central research area in regional and transport economics. Often invoked by governments to justify large public spending on infrastructure, the study of this relationship has led to conflicting arguments on the role that transport plays in productivity. This paper expands the existing body of knowledge by adopting a spatial analysis (with spillover effects) that considers the physical effects of investment in terms of accessibility (using distinct metrics). The authors have used the Portuguese experience at regional level over the last 30 years as a case study. The main conclusions are as follows: i) the choice of transport variables matters when explaining productivity, and more complex accessibility indicators are more correlated with; ii) it is important to account for spill-over effects; and iii) the evidence of granger causality is not widespread but depends on the regions.