# Synergies and Potential of Industry 4.0 and Automated Vehicles in Smart City Infrastructure
## 4 Discussion
Smart sensors and analytical tools allow cities to monitor energy consumption in real time and identify areas of waste, with this information enabling more efficient energy management strategies to be put in place, leading to savings and optimized resource use. However, sustainability is no longer only linked to the above benefits. Industry 4.0 technologies in smart cities are a key tool for the transition to renewable energy sources. As an example, smart control systems allow solar and wind resources to be better integrated into the energy grid and managed efficiently, not only increasing the share of renewable energy in the urban grid but also reducing greenhouse gas emissions and dependence on fossil fuels. These improvements result not only in environmental sustainability but also in economic benefits because the city itself (reduced energy consumption also means less energy distribution and management costs, which can have a long-term positive impact on public finances and the city budget) and its citizens benefit from lower energy costs and increased resource efficiency. On the other hand, low energy costs are attractive for investors and start-ups, and this attracts new investments to the region, and with that comes new jobs and a reduced unemployment rate. Another important conclusion is that when we look at this integration comprehensively, it has huge potential for the overall sustainability of the city, a key part of which is the integration of Industry 4.0 technologies into smart cities. One of the most important factors affecting the overall sustainability in the city is the issue of efficient, clean and smooth transport, where there are conscious citizens who do not only travel by car but also by public transport and when they need to use a car they use automated electric vehicles because these vehicles contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants associated with traditional internal combustion engines. Their use also reduces noise and improves air quality in urban areas, which has a direct positive impact on the health of the population. Better managed energy systems are another example of how Industry 4.0 technologies are contributing to improving the sustainability of cities, as the intelligent control systems that are part of Industry 4.0 and smart cities themselves enable more efficient use of energy in buildings, public lighting and other components of a city's infrastructure, and this use of technology not only reduces energy consumption but also the costs associated with operation and maintenance. Smart cities should use smart technologies to better integrate solar, wind, and other renewable energy sources into their energy grids, as such an approach not only reduces dependence on fossil fuels but also strengthens the energy independence and stability of the city [76]. It is also essential to present future authors and researchers with directions on what future research can take. It is important to take into account the dynamics of technological developments and societal changes that affect the integration of Industry 4.0 technologies and automated vehicles into smart cities, specifically pointing out that these trends require constant analysis and monitoring in order to understand their further evolution and their impact on the urban environment and society as a whole. One possible direction for future research is to look more deeply into the social and economic aspects of the integration of Industry 4.0 technologies and automated vehicles into smart cities. In this paper, the authors did not explore how these technologies affect the lives of the inhabitants, their working environment, and the economic prosperity of the city and, as a result, the socio-economic impacts that can have a significant impact on the overall operation of smart cities and on such integration have not been analyzed in this paper, and at the same time may be a factor that significantly slows down the whole process of integration.