تبیین نقش فناوری‌های نوین در بهبود سیستم‌های حمل‌ونقل عمومی مطالعه موردی: شهر قزوین

ABSTRACT
Today, emerging technologies such as intelligent traffic management systems, autonomous and electric vehicles, ride-sharing platforms, the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), and big data are recognized as effective solutions for enhancing the efficiency and sustainability of transportation. This research was conducted with the aim of explaining the role of emerging technologies in improving public transportation systems during the winter of 2025 in Qazvin City. This study is applied-developmental in terms of its purpose and qualitative-exploratory in nature. In the qualitative phase, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 urban community experts identified through the snowball sampling method to extract local components. The research data were collected through semi-structured interviews with a range of specialists in the fields of urban planning, governance, and urban development. Data analysis was performed using qualitative coding techniques (open and axial) within qualitative data analysis software (e.g., MAXQDA). The analysis of the qualitative data revealed that the main factors influencing the improvement of the public transportation system, according to the structural model, are a combination of emerging technologies (advanced transportation systems, intelligent navigation) and socio-software factors (social components). The findings indicate that in Qazvin City, the improvement in the public transportation system is more attributable to "process intelligence" than to "hardware structural change." In other words, existing systems have become more efficient through the use of intelligent navigation (online taxis) and electronic payment systems.
Extended Abstract
Introduction
Rapid urbanization and increasing urban populations have exposed public transportation systems to serious challenges, including severe traffic congestion, air pollution, high energy consumption, and a diminished quality of life. This situation underscores the necessity for a transformation in traditional transportation systems. Emerging technologies such as intelligent traffic management systems, autonomous and electric vehicles, ride-sharing platforms, the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), and big data are recognized as effective solutions for improving the efficiency and sustainability of transportation.
As one of Iran's growing metropolises, Qazvin City faces profound and multifaceted challenges in the field of public transportation. These challenges have made the development of emerging technologies in this sector considerably difficult. These issues are not limited to a lack of physical and financial infrastructure; they also stem from weak strategic planning, inefficient urban management, resistance to structural change, and a lack of coordination among various public and private sectors.
One of the main obstacles to the development of emerging transportation technologies in Qazvin is the lack of necessary infrastructure. Intelligent traffic management systems, electric and autonomous vehicles, and ride-sharing platforms require high-speed communication networks, electric vehicle charging stations, and advanced digital infrastructures. However, Qazvin currently lacks such infrastructure, and the limited budgets of the municipality and the government do not allow for large-scale investment in this area.
Given the high potential of Qazvin City in various fields of urban development, the development of emerging transportation technologies could lead to the city's economic growth and an improved quality of life for its residents. This requires a serious commitment from officials and comprehensive cooperation among stakeholders so that Qazvin can emerge as a successful model for the use of emerging transportation technologies in Iran. In light of the above, the present study aims to answer the following question:
What factors contribute to improving public transportation systems in Qazvin City, and what types of emerging technologies are used in this context?
 
Methodology
This research adopts a problem-oriented approach and employs a qualitative method within the framework of a case study on Qazvin City. In terms of its purpose, the present study is applied-developmental, and in terms of its methodological nature, it falls under descriptive-analytical research with a mixed-methods approach. The required data were collected through semi-structured interviews with a group of specialists in the fields of urban planning, governance, and urban development. Data analysis was conducted using qualitative coding techniques (open and axial) within the MAXQDA qualitative data analysis software environment.
The target population of this research consists of specialists, academics, senior planners, and managers of executive bodies related to urban planning and development. Sampling was carried out purposefully using the snowball sampling technique, ultimately selecting 12 key experts as the sample size. These individuals played a central role in key stages of the research, including qualitative analysis, validity assessment of the instrument, and refinement of the final models. It is worth noting that the sample size was fixed at this number (12 participants) to achieve theoretical saturation and to focus on key roles.
 
Results and discussion
The key factors influencing the improvement of Qazvin's public transportation system can be categorized into three levels: structural, operational, and service-related. At the structural level, the primary factor is targeted investment in the development of integrated physical and digital infrastructure. This includes fleet modernization, full implementation of electronic ticketing, and the establishment of multimodal stations. At the operational level, the most important factor is the utilization of smart technologies to optimize traffic flow and scheduling, particularly the upgrade of the intelligent bus system to a real-time data-driven system to significantly reduce travel time. At the service level, improving accessibility to transportation through better route coverage, enhancing citizen satisfaction via information transparency and customer-oriented services, and effectively managing transportation costs to maintain the purchasing power of various societal groups play a fundamental role. Furthermore, integrating complementary private services (e.g., ride-hailing taxis) within a unified management framework will act as a facilitating factor for overall system improvement.
 
Conclusion
Based on the outputs of the qualitative phase (expert interviews), which were finalized in the methodology section, and drawing on the confirmatory results of the quantitative hypotheses, the emerging technologies employed in Qazvin City can be categorized into three main groups: intelligent navigation systems (including route-finding applications, online taxi positioning, and electric taxi positioning), electronic payment systems (including acceptance of bank cards, mobile wallets, and electronic tickets), and modern transportation management systems (including intelligent bus systems and information dissemination applications). The findings of the structural model confirmed that the first and third hypotheses (the impact of modern transportation systems and intelligent navigation on improving the public transportation system) are statistically significant, indicating the operational establishment of these technologies and their positive effect on network efficiency. This demonstrates that the primary infrastructure for implementing Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) has taken shape in Qazvin City, and citizens are beginning to benefit from its advantages.
The analysis of findings indicates that in Qazvin, the improvement of the public transportation system has been more attributable to "process intelligence" than to "hardware structural change." In other words, existing systems have become more efficient through the use of intelligent navigation (online taxis) and electronic payment systems. Confirming the fifth hypothesis (regarding payment) is highly significant, as electronic payment not only increases passenger boarding and alighting speed—an important factor in satisfaction and travel time reduction—but also, by generating transactional data, enables more precise resource planning and reduces tax evasion for urban managers. This latter point aligns with the emphasis on transparency found in qualitative studies. However, the lack of direct reference in the quantitative hypotheses to the direct impact of "social components" on the system itself (as opposed to their impact on quality of life) suggests that, at present, the role of society is more focused on accepting the outputs of technologies than on shaping the internal managerial processes of the transportation system.
 
Funding
There is no funding support.
 
Authors’ Contribution
Authors contributed equally to the conceptualization and writing of the article. All of the authors approved thecontent of the manuscript and agreed on all aspects of the work declaration of competing interest none.
 
Conflict of Interest
Authors declared no conflict of interest.
 
Acknowledgments
We are grateful to all the scientific consultants of this paper.