Using the inter-contact time for planning the communication infrastructure in vehicular networks

Abstract

Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) demand sophisticated vehicular networks integrating entities from the transportation sector. The ability to plan and manage such networks represents a key challenge for moving ITS solutions from laboratories into the streets. In this work, we propose Gamma Deployment as a metric for evaluating the distribution of roadside units in vehicular networks by considering the inter-contact time between vehicles and infrastructure. By solving the location of roadside units in order to meet the Gamma Deployment, the network designer assures a given share of vehicles to keep frequent contacts with roadside units. Since Gamma Deployment reflects the connectivity experienced by drivers, it can be used for comparing vehicular networks deployed over distinct conditions.