The Role of IoT and Big Data in Smart City Transport Management: Lessons Learned from Case Studies in Slovakia and the EU

The integration of the Internet of Things (IoT) and Big Data into urban transport management has emerged as a key enabler of smart city development, addressing challenges such as congestion, inefficiencies, and environmental impact. This study explores the role of these technologies through a comparative analysis of six case studies: Barcelona, Copenhagen, and Amsterdam in the European Union, and Bratislava, Košice, and Žilina in Slovakia The cities in this study were selected based on their notable advancements in smart city initiatives, their diverse urban characteristics, and the quantifiable outcomes derived from IoT and Big Data applications. Moreover, they represent a range of urban development categories, including differences in economic size, environmental sustainability, technological readiness, and governance models. The findings highlight significant improvements in traffic flow, public transport efficiency, and sustainability, demonstrating a 21% reduction in central traffic in Barcelona and a 25% decrease in delays in Copenhagen. However, challenges such as high implementation costs, data privacy concerns, and technological fragmentation persist. This paper provides actionable recommendations for urban planners and policymakers, emphasizing scalability, stakeholder collaboration, and ethical data governance to mitigate risks and ensure the long-term success of smart transport systems. The study contributes to a growing body of literature on smart cities, offering transferable lessons for urban centers of varying sizes and technological readiness.