A Citizen Centered Perspective on Smart Mobility: Identifying Key Factors through the Technology Acceptance Model
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.22581/muet1982.0471Keywords:
Smart Citizens, TAM, Transport Apps, Smart Mobility Services, Smart Transportation SystemAbstract
Smart cities are increasingly leveraging technology to improve urban living and meet the growing demands of their populations. The adoption of innovative technologies, such as mobile-based smart urban mobility services, plays a pivotal role in this transformation. This research aims to apply the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) to examine the key factors influencing citizens' intentions to adopt mobile-based mobility service apps in Lahore, Pakistan. A paper-based survey was conducted across six neighborhoods representing high-, medium-, and low-income groups, yielding 500 responses. Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) via SmartPLS4 indicates that Perceived Usefulness, Perceived Ease of Use, Habit, and Perceived Security Risk collectively explain 74.7% (R2 = 0.747) of user intention of citizens to adopt Smart Mobility Services (e.g., Mobile Application-based ride hailing) with all paths statistically significant (p < 0.001). Furthermore, the relationships among the variables have been explained using structural equation modelling (SEM). Based on these findings, this study provides valuable insights into the proposed approach to build smart citizens and increase well-being and quality of life. Findings provide useful insights for developing marketing strategies to improve the uptake of mobile-based mobility service applications among citizens.
Downloads
References
[1] F. Baig, S. Shaikh, and M. A. H. Talpur, “Motorization and under-reported road accidents: Spatial evidence from Pakistan,” Mehran Univ. Res. J. Eng. Technol., vol. 40, no. 3, pp. 482–495, July 2021, doi: 10.3316/informit.891065969670431.
[2] J. Lee, F. Baig, M. A. H. Talpur, and S. Shaikh, “Public Intentions to Purchase Electric Vehicles in Pakistan,” Sustainability, vol. 13, no. 10, p. 5523, Jan. 2021, doi: 10.3390/su13105523.
[3] A. A. Jamali, R. K. K. Ur, A. A. Shah, A. Bhutto, and A. M. Jamali, “Exploring ICT-based learning adoption in higher education: An extended perspective of the technology acceptance model,” Mehran Univ. Res. J. Eng. Technol., vol. 43, no. 3, pp. 89–101, July 2024, doi: 10.3316/informit.T2024072300013891912686037.
[4] T. Pangarkar, “Smart City Statistics and Facts (2025),” Market.us Scoop. Accessed: Dec. 29, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://scoop.market.us/smart-city-statistics/
[5] “Smart Cities - Pakistan | Statista Market Forecast,” Statista. Accessed: Dec. 29, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/outlook/tmo/internet-of-things/smart-cities/pakistan
[6] K. Axelsson, U. Melin, and M. Granath, “Exploring services in a smart city through socio-technical design principles: Revealing five tensions in a smart living context,” Gov. Inf. Q., vol. 41, no. 1, p. 101915, Mar. 2024, doi: 10.1016/j.giq.2024.101915.
[7] F. Baig, A. Talpur, G. Das, M. A. H. Talpur, and J. Lee, “Willingness to Shift towards Biogas-fueled Bus Rapid Transit in Karachi, Pakistan,” KSCE J. Civ. Eng., vol. 28, no. 4, pp. 1501–1512, Apr. 2024, doi: 10.1007/s12205-024-1636-9.
[8] O. Derse, “Sustainable Smart Parking Site Selection with Charging Stations for Electric and Hybrid Vehicles,” Int. J. Intell. Transp. Syst. Res., vol. 23, no. 1, pp. 76–90, Apr. 2025, doi: 10.1007/s13177-024-00435-y.
[9] N. Sahito, M. Y. Mangi, M. A. Basheer, F. Baig, Z. A. Lashari, and S. Kalwar, “Transforming cities from traditional to sustainability: role of electric vehicles and solar photovoltaic energy in decarbonization,” Environ. Dev. Sustain., 2025, doi: 10.1007/s10668-025-06695-2.
[10] A. R. Patel, R. Ahuja, and C. Roscia, Facilitating Citizen Engagement in Smart City Mobility. 2024, p. 6. doi: 10.1109/SEFET61574.2024.10717973.
[11] A. Mehmood, A. Tahir, S. Atif, E. Hussain, H. S. H. Arshad, and F. Baig, “Public Adoption of Smart Transportation: A Technology Acceptance Model,” J. Urban Plan. Dev., vol. 151, no. 3, p. 04025022, Sept. 2025, doi: 10.1061/JUPDDM.UPENG-5319.
[12] M. Soomro et al., “Sustainable Urban Mobility: Corridor Optimization to Promote Modal Choice, Reduce Congestion, and Enhance Livability in Hyderabad, Pakistan,” World, vol. 6, no. 1, p. 12, Mar. 2025, doi: 10.3390/world6010012.
[13] M. Husin et al., “Translation and Validation of the Questionnaire on Acceptance to Telemedicine from the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) for Use in Malaysia,” BioMed Res. Int., vol. 2022, no. 1, p. 9123887, Jan. 2022, doi: 10.1155/2022/9123887.
[14] H. E. Mustapha, B. Ozkan, and O. Turetken, “Acceptance of Mobility-as-a-Service: Insights from empirical studies on influential factors,” Commun. Transp. Res., vol. 4, p. 100119, Dec. 2024, doi: 10.1016/j.commtr.2024.100119.
[15] D. L. Angarita Lozano, S. E. Díaz Márquez, and M. E. Morales Puentes, “Sustainable and smart mobility evaluation since citizen participation in responsive cities,” Transp. Res. Procedia, vol. 58, pp. 519–526, Jan. 2021, doi: 10.1016/j.trpro.2021.11.069.
[16] S. Ahmed, A. Waheed, and S. A. Shah, “CHARACTERISTICS OF INFORMAL TRANSPORT IN PAKISTAN: A CASE STUDY OF PESHAWAR CITY,” J. Southwest Jiaotong Univ., vol. 56, pp. 973–988, Dec. 2021, doi: 10.35741/issn.0258-2724.56.6.85.
[17] S. Rehman, M. A. H. Talpur, A. Khoso, I. Chandio, and F. Javed, “Evaluation of commuter perception and optimization of public transit routes in Hyderabad using TOD applications,” Mehran Univ. Res. J. Eng. Technol., vol. 44, pp. 71–84, Apr. 2025, doi: 10.22581/muet1982.0142.
[18] K. Rathore and K. Ali, “Evaluation of Lahore Bus Rapid Transit System.,” Oct. 10, 2015, Social Science Research Network, Rochester, NY: 2740934. Accessed: Dec. 18, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://papers.ssrn.com/abstract=2740934
[19] A. Malik, E. Zolnik, and O. Riaz, “Effect of Urban Land Use on Travel Behaviour: Evidence from Lahore (Article),” Pak. Dev. Rev., vol. 61, no. 1, pp. 29–43, 2022.
[20] R. F. Denovan and E. G. Marsasi, “Perceived Ease Of Use, Perceived Usefulness And Satisfaction To Maximize Behavioral Intention With The Technology Acceptance Model In Generation Y And Z Consumers,” J. Pamator J. Ilm. Univ. Trunojoyo, vol. 18, no. 1, pp. 1–36, 2025.
[21] D. Gefen, “TAM or Just Plain Habit,” J. Organ. End User Comput., vol. 15, pp. 1–13, Sept. 2005, doi: 10.4018/joeuc.2003070101.
[22] Aballe et al., “Security Measures: Effectiveness of the Installation of CCTV Cameras in Relation to Crime Prevention as Perceived by the Community,” Middle East J. Appl. Sci. Technol., vol. 05, pp. 149–160, Jan. 2022, doi: 10.46431/MEJAST.2022.5216.
[23] N. Ali, M. A. Javid, S. A. Hussain, and A. Rahim, “UNDERSTANDING TRAFFIC CONGESTION FROM STAKEHOLDERS’PERCEPTIVE IN THE CENTRAL AREA OF LAHORE, PAKISTAN,” J. Appl. Eng. Sci., vol. 19, no. 1, pp. 125–136, 2021.
[24] F. W. Hutomo, “Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) methodology system analysis on mobile banking users,” J. Earth Kingd., vol. 1, no. 1, July 2023, doi: 10.61511/jek.v1i1.2023.32.
[25] A. G. Chaudhry et al., “Navigating urban mobility: Mobility attitudes and travel mode choices in Dubai and Lahore,” 2025, Accessed: Nov. 12, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://depositonce.tu-berlin.de/items/d262c20a-655a-4f45-9a3b-1cd75733988e
[26] R. F. Denovan and E. G. Marsasi, “Perceived Ease Of Use, Perceived Usefulness And Satisfaction To Maximize Behavioral Intention With The Technology Acceptance Model In Generation Y And Z Consumers,” J. Pamator J. Ilm. Univ. Trunojoyo, vol. 18, no. 1, pp. 1–36, 2025.
[27] K. Hyder and M. U. Sikander, “Poverty, Income Distribution and Social Development in Lahore,” 2007, Accessed: Nov. 12, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://mpra.ub.uni-muenchen.de/id/eprint/30531
[28] R. Soomro, I. A. Memon, A. F. H. Pathan, W. A. Mahar, N. Sahito, and Z. A. Lashari, “Factors That Influence Travelers’ Willingness to Adopt Bus Rapid Transit (Green Line) Service in Karachi,” Sustainability, vol. 14, no. 16, p. 10184, Jan. 2022, doi: 10.3390/su141610184.
[29] F. Kanwal, M. Rehman, and M. Malik, “E-Learning Adoption and Acceptance in Pakistan: Moderating Effect of Gender and Experience,” Mehran Univ. Res. J. Eng. Technol., vol. 39, pp. 324–341, Apr. 2020, doi: 10.22581/muet1982.2002.09.
[30] H. Munir, F. Baig, J. J. Lee, and A. Pervez, “Unsafe driving behavior in the presence of hawkers’ encroachment on urban roads,” Transp. Res. Part F Traffic Psychol. Behav., vol. 113, pp. 54–72, 2025, doi: 10.1016/j.trf.2025.04.022.
[31] S. A. H. Shah and H. Kubota, “Passenger’s satisfaction with service quality of app-based ride hailing services in developing countries: Case of Lahore, Pakistan,” Asian Transp. Stud., vol. 8, p. 100076, 2022.
[32] A. G. Chaudhry, H. Masoumi, H.-L. Dienel, A. B. Aslam, M. Ahmad, and M. Shahnaz, “Mobility attitudes and urban form: shaping public transport and shared mobility choices in Dubai and Lahore,” Urban Plan. Transp. Res., Dec. 2024, Accessed: Dec. 29, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/21650020.2024.2420735
[33] I. A. Memon, U. Soomro, S. Qureshi, I. A. Chandio, M. A. H. Talpur, and M. Napiah, “Multilayer Perceptron Modelling of Travelers Towards Park-and-Ride Service in Karachi,” in Advances in Road Infrastructure and Mobility, A. Akhnoukh, K. Kaloush, M. Elabyad, B. Halleman, N. Erian, S. Enmon II, and C. Henry, Eds., Cham: Springer International Publishing, 2022, pp. 1026–1038. doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-79801-7_72.
[34] K. Kangwanrattanakul and A. Ingard, “A comparative analysis of structural equation modeling and traditional regression analysis in investigating factors affecting health-related quality of life in general Thai population,” Health Qual. Life Outcomes, vol. 23, p. 119, Nov. 2025, doi: 10.1186/s12955-025-02450-3.
[35] Y. Bilan, G. Tovmasyan, and S. Dallakyan, “The impact of digital technologies on tourists’ travel choices and overall experience,” J. Tour. Serv., vol. 15, no. 29, pp. 153–175, 2024.
[36] H. El Mustapha, B. Ozkan, and O. Turetken, “Acceptance of Mobility-as-a-Service: Insights from empirical studies on influential factors,” Commun. Transp. Res., vol. 4, p. 100119, 2024.
[37] M. Zhang, “Older people’s attitudes towards emerging technologies: A systematic literature review,” Public Underst. Sci., vol. 32, no. 8, pp. 948–968, 2023.
[38] M. Nguyen et al., “Using the technology acceptance model to explore health provider and administrator perceptions of the usefulness and ease of using technology in palliative care,” BMC Palliat. Care, vol. 19, no. 1, p. 138, Dec. 2020, doi: 10.1186/s12904-020-00644-8.
[39] A. Manfreda and T. Mijač, “Highlighting gaps in technology acceptance research: A call for integrating happiness and well-being into smart city development,” J. Innov. Knowl., vol. 9, no. 4, p. 100585, 2024.
[40] H. B. Mårtensson, K. Larsen, and M. Höjer, “Investigating potential effects of mobility and accessibility services using the avoid-shift-improve framework,” Sustain. Cities Soc., vol. 96, p. 104676, Sept. 2023, doi: 10.1016/j.scs.2023.104676.
[41] A. Shoaib, “Addressing women’s mobility challenges in the public transportation system of Lahore, Pakistan,” J. Transp. Geogr., vol. 125, p. 104187, May 2025, doi: 10.1016/j.jtrangeo.2025.104187.
[42] D. Oladimeji, K. Gupta, N. A. Kose, K. Gundogan, L. Ge, and F. Liang, “Smart Transportation: An Overview of Technologies and Applications,” Sensors, vol. 23, no. 8, p. 3880, Jan. 2023, doi: 10.3390/s23083880.
[43] M. Soomro et al., “Sustainable Urban Mobility: Corridor Optimization to Promote Modal Choice, Reduce Congestion, and Enhance Livability in Hyderabad, Pakistan,” World, vol. 6, no. 1, p. 12, Mar. 2025, doi: 10.3390/world6010012.
[44] Z. R. M. A. Kaiser, “Smart governance for smart cities and nations,” J. Econ. Technol., vol. 2, pp. 216–234, Nov. 2024, doi: 10.1016/j.ject.2024.07.003.
[45] M. A. H. Talpur, S. H. Khahro, T. H. Ali, A. K. Hindu, and H. Marvi, “Time-space accessibility modeling: an individual-centered approach to develop a transport policy framework in remote environments,” Discov. Cities, vol. 2, no. 1, p. 76, Sept. 2025, doi: 10.1007/s44327-025-00123-w.
[46] H. Marvi, M. Soomro, and I. A. Memon, “Influence of Socio-economic Factors on Mode Choice of Employees in Karachi City,” Glob. Econ. Rev., vol. 7, no. 2, pp. 124–136, June 2022, doi: 10.31703/ger.2022(VII-II).11.
[47] C.-M. Chuang, “A current travel model: smart tour on mobile guide application services,” Curr. Issues Tour., vol. 23, no. 18, pp. 2333–2352, Sept. 2020, doi: 10.1080/13683500.2019.1631266.
[48] M. A. Basheer, A. Mehmood, F. Baig, and M. Abdullah, “Media influence, trust, and perceived risks in passengers’ intentions to discontinue the ride-hailing services in Lahore, Pakistan,” J. Urban Mobil., vol. 8, p. 100137, Dec. 2025, doi: 10.1016/j.urbmob.2025.100137.
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Mehran University Research Journal of Engineering and Technology

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
How to Cite
Similar Articles
- Sabahat Hussan , Shan Ul Haq, Muhammad Safi Ullah, Jamal Ahmed Khan, Atif Bilal , Laboratory Study on the Optimization of Asphalt Mixing Protocols , Mehran University Research Journal of Engineering and Technology: Vol. 45 No. 3 (2026): July Issue
- Rizwan Younas, Mohd Zaidi bin Jaafar , Shaziera Omar , Muhammad Shahid , Atif Ismail, Sajid Khan, Ahmed R. ALBajalan, Muftahu N Yahya , Sustainable Methane production from Petroleum-Produced Water via Indigenous Microbial Consortia Under Reservoir Conditions , Mehran University Research Journal of Engineering and Technology: Vol. 45 No. 2 (2026): April Issue
- Rashid Hussain Chandio, Madad Ali Shah, Abdul Aziz Memon, Faheem Akhter Chachar, An improved fault current limiter for hybrid DC circuit breakers in large-scale MMC-HVDC systems , Mehran University Research Journal of Engineering and Technology: Vol. 44 No. 3 (2025): July Issue
- Muhammad Yasir Zaheen, Muhammad Aamir, Abdul Moid Khan, Dure Jabeen, Ali Akbar Siddique, A Lightweight SVM-Based Framework for Smart Urban Flood Prediction and Response , Mehran University Research Journal of Engineering and Technology: Vol. 45 No. 4 (2026): October Issue
- Maria Ashraf, Maryam Arshad, Sajjad Haider Zaidi, Kiran Shaukat , Balancing comfort and conservation: dynamic programming algorithm for appliance scheduling in residential demand-side management , Mehran University Research Journal of Engineering and Technology: Vol. 44 No. 3 (2025): July Issue
- Munawwar Ali Abbas , Ahmad Cho , Muhammad Abid, Hafiz Abdul Wajid , Muhktar Ahmed, Modeling sediment transport on the storage capacity and life prediction of Sadpara dam , Mehran University Research Journal of Engineering and Technology: Vol. 44 No. 2 (2025): April Issue
- Inamullah Maitlo, Safdar Ali, Sadam Ali Khichi, Imran Ali, Ghulamullah Maitlo, Imran Nazir Unar, Aspen HYSYS-based Modeling of Liquefied Natural Gas Production from an Indigenous Natural Gas Source , Mehran University Research Journal of Engineering and Technology: Vol. 45 No. 1 (2026): January Issue
- Shan Ul Haq, Sabahat Hussan, Muhmmad Qasim Ch, Subhan Hameed, Muhammad Huzaifa, Performance and Economic Evaluation of RAP-Incorporated Asphalt Mixes for Local Road , Mehran University Research Journal of Engineering and Technology: Vol. 45 No. 3 (2026): July Issue
- Muhammad Zubair, Syed Muhammad Sajjad Haider, Ans Rehman, Muhammad Saqib Javed, Aashir Waleed, Rimsha Chauhdary, PackMLP: A Patch Based MLP Model for Intelligent Inventory Forecasting and Automation with A-LIQ QR Scanning Integration , Mehran University Research Journal of Engineering and Technology: Vol. 45 No. 1 (2026): January Issue
- Mubshra Qadir, Shahid Farid, Mujahid Alam, Kamran Abid, Haseeb Ur Rehman, Sidra Rehman, Challenges of Integrating ICT in Healthcare - A Predictive Analysis , Mehran University Research Journal of Engineering and Technology: Vol. 45 No. 1 (2026): January Issue
You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.