Intelligent Transportation Systems Powered by Artificial Intelligence: A Review

Abstract

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as a transformative technology in the development of Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS), enabling safer, more efficient, and sustainable transportation networks. This review paper presents a comprehensive analysis of AI-driven ITS by examining the integration of advanced technologies such as machine learning, deep learning, computer vision, natural language processing, reinforcement learning, and the Internet of Things (IoT) into modern transportation infrastructures. The study explores the application of AI in key domains including traffic flow prediction, intelligent traffic signal control, autonomous vehicles, route optimization, public transportation management, accident detection, driver behavior analysis, and predictive maintenance. It also reviews recent research trends, methodologies, datasets, and evaluation metrics employed in AI-based transportation systems. Furthermore, the paper discusses the significant benefits of AI-enabled ITS, including reduced traffic congestion, enhanced road safety, lower fuel consumption, improved mobility, and decreased environmental impact. Despite these advantages, several challenges remain, such as data privacy and security concerns, algorithmic bias, high implementation costs, interoperability issues, real-time computational requirements, and regulatory constraints. The review critically compares existing AI approaches, identifies current research gaps, and highlights emerging opportunities involving edge computing, digital twins, connected autonomous vehicles, vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication, and smart city integration. By synthesizing recent advancements and future research directions, this paper provides researchers, policymakers, and transportation engineers with a comprehensive understanding of how AI is reshaping intelligent transportation systems and supporting the evolution of sustainable, resilient, and data-driven mobility solutions for next-generation urban environments.