Vehicular Ad-Hoc Networks for Intelligent Transportation System: A Brief Review of Protocols, Challenges, and Future Research

Abstract

Vehicular Ad Hoc Networks (VANET) play an essential role in the advancement of intelligent transportation systems, facilitating real-time communication between vehicles (V2V), infrastructure (V2I), and surrounding environments (V2X). This systematic review analyzes a range of VANET routing protocols, highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of topology-based, position-based, cluster-based, and hybrid methods. Additionally, this review explores core challenges in VANET, including high mobility, data security, Quality of Service (QoS) requirements, and connectivity issues in dynamic and high-density traffic environments. The paper also provides insights into simulation tools and performance metrics employed in VANET research alongside practical applications in modern transportation systems, such as autonomous driving, traffic management, and safety-related communication. Furthermore, this review emphasizes the need for ongoing research to address the identified challenges and optimize VANET performance. Integrating emerging technologies, including 5G, artificial intelligence (AI), and edge computing, offers promising avenues for enhancing system efficiency and sustainability. This review establishes a comprehensive foundation for further advancements in VANET by highlighting key findings and research gaps. Ultimately, the effective implementation of VANET has the potential to significantly improve transportation safety, efficiency, and sustainability, contributing to the realization of smart city initiatives and innovative mobility solutions. This work aims to guide future research directions, ensuring that VANET continues to evolve in alignment with the demands of modern transportation systems and the broader context of intelligent mobility.

Keywords

• vanet protocols
• vehicle-to-everything (v2x)
• intelligent transportation systems
• dsrc standards
• autonomous vehicles