Evaluating vehicular networks: Analysis, simulation, and field experiments

Abstract

As deployment of smart vehicles becomes more widespread, the application of system evaluation methodologies to networked in-vehicle computing systems becomes increasingly more important. Such methods are essential to understand system behaviors as well as to assess alternate approaches toward realizing a rich variety of computing and information services to travelers. We describe our experiences in evaluating vehicular networks using analytic analysis, simulation, and field experiments. Each evaluation method presents its own challenges and offers different strengths and weaknesses. The context for these investigations concerns the exploration of the use of vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure communication to disseminate information in vehicular networks. © 2006 by Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.