The Internet of Things for Smart Roads: A Road Map From Present to Future Road Infrastructure

Smart roads can potentially improve the safety and efficiency of present transportation systems and promote the future mass deployment of connected and autonomous vehicles (CAVs). In this article, based on the experience and lessons we learned from our research, field implementation, and industry engagement, we present our view about the phased and spiral development of smart roads and CAVs. A particular focus is on the development of an Internet of Things (IoT)-based system for smart roads to enable construction of a digital twin of the traffic and road system and various applications that can be built on that basis to improve the traffic safety and efficiency of current transportation systems, and the evolution of the IoT system to support the future mass deployment of CAVs.