Exploring VANETs and Their Applications with Blockchain

Abstract

As the digitization of cities and the proliferation of automobiles continue, vehicular ad hoc networks (VANETs) have emerged as a prominent solution to enhance road safety and traffic management. VANETs enable vehicles to establish communication channels with each other (V2V) and with infrastructure nodes (V2I), facilitating real-time information exchange for applications like collision avoidance, traffic management, and multimedia delivery. This paper offers an in-depth analysis of popular VANET protocols, including 802.11p, WAVE IP, DSRC, and WSMP, to provide a comprehensive understanding of their functionalities within the VANET ecosystem. Through simulation studies involving simultaneous broadcast and unicast systems between nodes and roadside units (RSUs), as well as WSMP-based neighbor systems, we investigate their effectiveness in realistic scenarios. Ensuring the reliability and security of VANETs remains a substantial challenge. To address this, the paper explores the potential advantages of integrating VANETs with blockchain technology. By leveraging blockchain’s inherent immutability and decentralized architecture, VANETs can be fortified against malicious attacks and unauthorized access, thereby enhancing the overall system security. Furthermore, this paper investigates the vast potential of utilizing data obtained from VANETs. We examine various applications that can effectively leverage this data to make informed decisions and improve transportation systems. A noteworthy example involves the incorporation of machine learning models, where data from VANETs is processed through a blockchain network to obtain valuable predictions for actionable insights. This demonstrates how VANETs can contribute significantly to intelligent transportation systems and urban planning.