IoT-Enhanced Vehicular Networks: Simulation Frameworks for Energy Efficiency and Cyber-Security in Smart Cities

Abstract

The Internet of Things (IoT) has rapidly evolved over the past two decades, transforming the way we interact with the environment through a network of interconnected devices. The purpose of this thesis is to explore the integration of IoT with Vehicular Ad-Hoc Net- works (VANETs) in order to enhance intelligent transportation systems (ITS) and smart city infrastructure through the use of IoT. VANETs, characterized by high mobility and dynamic topology, play a crucial role in enhancing traffic safety, efficiency, and vehicu- lar services. They improve traffic safety by enabling real-time communication between vehicles and roadside infrastructure, allowing the sharing of critical information such as accident warnings and road conditions to prevent collisions and enhance emergency re- sponse times. VANETs boost traffic efficiency through intelligent traffic management, optimizing signal timings and route planning based on real-time data to reduce con- gestion and travel times. Additionally, they provide enhanced vehicular services such as infotainment, navigation assistance, and maintenance alerts, thereby improving the overall driving experience and vehicle performance monitoring. This research addresses the significant challenges of simulating VANET environments, particularly the high mobility of vehicles and the need for realistic traffic scenarios. Ex- isting VANET simulators, while advanced, often lack support for new technologies and comprehensive security systems, highlighting the necessity for more comprehensive sim- ulation frameworks. The primary aim of this PhD thesis is to integrate IoT and traffic simulations to accurately evaluate vehicular energy efficiency and overall network perfor- mance. Therefore, this thesis presents multilateral research towards optimization, mod- eling, and simulation of VANET and IoT environments. Several tools and algorithms have been proposed, implemented, and evaluated, considering various environments and applications.