Massive traffic congestion is one of the many challenges faced by Jakarta as the capital city of Indonesia with the largest metropolitan area. The overarching goal of the study is to explore a combination of global navigation satellite system (GNSS) with vehicle-based measuring devices to precisely map the impact of the urban traffic on the CO2 emissions in Jakarta city. The research objectives include to examine and understand the CO2 intensity in major cities using state-of-the-art research strategies to correctly map the impact of the urban traffic patterns on urban areas and overall well-being of people in these locations. Urban traffic was studied in selected major urban transportation routes that were selected using PPK GNSS and the HT 2000 environmental sensor. This study reports that there is indeed a correlation between urban traffic and air pollution. The study noted that the macro and micro parameters of urban development and traffic policies are influencing the slowing down of traffic in city centers. The research outcomes could serve as a framework for designing the conceptual smart measure and tool of transportation carbon pricing in achieving the more sustainable transportation sector of Indonesia. © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group on behalf of the Architectural Institute of Japan, Architectural Institute of Korea and Architectural Society of China.