Open Access

REVIEW

IoT-Driven Intelligent Transportation System in the Era of 6G and AI: A Review

Muhammet Ali Karabulut¹, A. F. M. Shahen Shah², Al-Sakib Khan Pathan^3,*, Phillip G. Bradford⁴

1 Electronics Engineering Department, Turkish Air Force Academy, National Defense University, Istanbul, Türkiye
2 Electronics and Communication Engineering Department, Yildiz Technical University, Istanbul, Türkiye
3 Department of Computer Science and Engineering, United International University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
4 Department of Computing, University of Connecticut, Stamford, CT, USA

* Corresponding Author: Al-Sakib Khan Pathan. Email:

Computers, Materials & Continua 2026, 88(1), 4 https://doi.org/10.32604/cmc.2026.077625

Received 13 December 2025; Accepted 19 March 2026; Issue published 08 May 2026

Abstract

Today, technological progress is broad and deep. The next generation networks and systems will integrate features, technologies, and models requiring smooth cooperation between new and old technologies. This survey’s uniqueness is that it considers an integrated, hybrid and heterogeneous future where Internet of Things (IoT), Sixth-Generation (6G) mobile communications technology, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) will work together, providing a smart and connected Intelligent Transportation System (ITS). This smart ITS will give better road safety and optimized travel. Currently, there is a scarcity of surveys focusing particularly on smart ITS that is expected soon. In this work, we investigate 6G technology and its enhanced features, then provide an overview of how AI systems will work. We also consider the effectiveness and security of ITS for autonomous driving, traffic management, route optimization, and accident prevention. We discuss how AI techniques evaluate data produced by IoT devices to improve ITS performance. Moreover, a performance analysis is conducted considering different system parameters for secure IoT-based ITS. Before concluding the paper, we outline the potential advantages and drawbacks of 6G and AI-enabled ITS and then offer suggestions for future research.

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Keywords

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Supplementary Material

Supplementary Material File

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