Abstract
This study explores the rising trend of traffic congestion in Riyadh and its impact on fuel consumption for passenger cars amid the challenges of rapid urbanization and increasing vehicle use. By utilizing real-time floating car data (FCD) collected by vehicles equipped with Global Positioning System (GPS) technology and communication systems, this study illustrates the potential of the Internet of Things (IoT) and smart city technologies in developing intelligent transportation systems and improving urban mobility management. A spatial analysis of the traffic flow dynamics in Riyadh, focusing on selected primary highways, reveals that driving on high-capacity roads tends to increase fuel consumption. We conducted an analysis at a mesoscopic level, representing traffic congestion in Riyadh on high-capacity roads. It shows that traffic congestion leads to up to a 29% increase in fuel consumption, primarily due to frequent stop-and-go driving behavior, reducing overall fuel efficiency. This study enhances our understanding of urban traffic patterns, providing policymakers with data-driven insights to help them create more sustainable road planning strategies to address the specific needs and challenges of urban mobility in cities.
