# Synergies and Potential of Industry 4.0 and Automated Vehicles in Smart City Infrastructure
## 4 Discussion  
As this article shows, the synergy between Industry 4.0 and smart cities offers significant opportunities for innovation, economic growth, and sustainable development, especially as the integration of modern technologies brings new dimensions to the urban environment and takes cities to the next level, enabling more efficient use of resources, improving the quality of life of citizens and strengthening the competitiveness of cities in the global marketplace, and last but not least, strengthening the economy of the city and of the whole country. With a stronger economy and more financial capital comes new investment, while at the same time, the city opens the door to investment in research and development and support for start-ups. At the same time, however, the risks and challenges that this integration brings must also be addressed, and these include issues around data security, ethical issues, and social inclusion to ensure that all city residents have access to the opportunities and benefits that technological development brings. Working together, Industry 4.0 and smart cities can create dynamic and sustainable urban environments that will serve as a model for future generations and contribute to overall societal well-being and  
Figure 8: Traffic management and control based on big data, AI, AV and Industry 4.0. Source: AUVIS. Available online: [[https://thedocs.worldbank.org/en/doc/147471501515848530-0190022017/render/KOTIWB2017](https://thedocs.worldbank.org/en/doc/147471501515848530-0190022017/render/KOTIWB2017) MyJ2 Moderator.pdf]([https://thedocs.worldbank.org/en/doc/147471501515848530-0190022017/render/KOTIWB2017](https://thedocs.worldbank.org/en/doc/147471501515848530-0190022017/render/KOTIWB2017) MyJ2 Moderator.pdf) (accessed on 12 March 2024) [74]. development, which brings us to the fact that the main hypothesis was that this integration will lead to significant improvements in transport efficiency, resource use, and overall city sustainability. The authors consider this hypothesis confirmed, as they have presented a large body of evidence that shows that, despite certain challenges that this integration has to face, the benefits still outweigh the costs. Automated vehicles bring a new dimension to smart cities in the form of improvements in transport efficiency, as technologies that incorporate automated vehicles are able to interact with smart cities and Industry 4.0 on a wide scale, creating a great opportunity to change the way transport is managed and performed in urban environments. With better coordination of traffic flows and minicongestion mitigation, smoother traffic flow will be achieved, and cars will be enabled to optimize roads through GPS connected to smart cities, which ultimately improves the movement of inhabitants, reduces the stress associated with congestion, and improves the overall sustainability and quality of life in cities. Following on from the above, it is important to highlight that smooth movement, reduced emissions, and a congestion-free city have a positive impact on the environment. With fewer vehicles in queues, greenhouse gas emissions are reduced, while it is true that this environmental aspect is important for sustainable urban development and biodiversity conservation [75]. Improved transport, with all of its associated benefits, such as a better environment, new investments, and a stronger economy, are key benefits of integrating Industry 4.0 technologies and automated vehicles into smart cities. Another very important finding and conclusion is that this integration has the potential to increase resource efficiency in smart cities, with increased resource efficiency also ensuring a more sustainable urban environment and economy. The integration of Industry 4.0 technologies into smart cities brings new tools and opportunities for better management and use of energy and other resources, for example, in the energy sector, but not only.