Towards Urban Vehicular Networking

Abstract

Inter-Vehicle Communication (IVC) is attracting considerable attention from the research community and the automotive industry, where it is beneficial in providing Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) as well as assistance services for drivers and passengers. In this context, Vehicular Networks are emerging as a novel category of wireless networks, spontaneously formed between moving vehicles equipped with wireless interfaces that could have similar or different radio interface technologies, employing short-range to medium-range communication systems. The distinguished characteristics of vehicular networks such as high mobility, potentially large scale, and network partitioning introduce several challenges, which can greatly impact the future deployment of these networks. In this Keynote, we focus on IVC in urban environments. Our main goal is to discuss the feasibility of Vehicular Ad hoc Networking for road traffic estimation, vehicular data routing as well as information dissemination in urban environments. This will be discussed while considering the characteristics and constraints imposed by vehicular networks and their applications.