Blockchain for the Internet of Vehicles towards Intelligent Transportation Systems: A Survey (2007.06022v2)

Abstract: Internet of Vehicles (IoV) is an emerging concept that is believed to help realise the vision of intelligent transportation systems (ITS). IoV has become an important research area of impactful applications in recent years due to the rapid advancements in vehicular technologies, high throughput satellite communication, Internet of Things and cyber-physical systems. IoV enables the integration of smart vehicles with the Internet and system components attributing to their environment such as public infrastructures, sensors, computing nodes, pedestrians and other vehicles. By allowing the development of a common information exchange platform between vehicles and heterogeneous vehicular networks, this integration aims to create a better environment and public space to the people as well as to enhance safety for all road users. Being a participatory data exchange and storage, the underlying information exchange platform of IoV needs to be secure, transparent and immutable in order to achieve the intended objectives of ITS. In this connection, the adoption of blockchain as a system platform for supporting the information exchange needs of IoV has been explored. Due to their decentralized and immutable nature, IoV applications enabled by blockchain are believed to have a number of desirable properties such as decentralization, security, transparency, immutability, and automation. In this paper, we present a contemporary survey on the latest advancement in blockchain for IoV. Particularly, we highlight the different application scenarios of IoV after carefully reviewing the recent literatures. We also investigate several key challenges where blockchain is applied in IoV. Furthermore, we present the future opportunities and explore further research directions of IoV as a key enabler of ITS.

• The paper pioneers a comprehensive survey of blockchain's role in enhancing security, interoperability, and latency reduction in IoV for ITS.
• It details how blockchain’s decentralization ensures tamper-proof data sharing, secure vehicular management, and efficient resource trading.
• The survey identifies key challenges and future research directions, calling for advanced consensus algorithms and integration with emerging technologies.

Blockchain for the Internet of Vehicles towards Intelligent Transportation Systems: A Survey

The paper "Blockchain for the Internet of Vehicles towards Intelligent Transportation Systems: A Survey" provides a comprehensive exploration into the integration of blockchain technology within the Internet of Vehicles (IoV). This survey is particularly pertinent in the context of Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) which aim to advance vehicular connectivity and automate traffic infrastructures. As cars become increasingly intelligent and interconnected, the potential for blockchain to address security, interoperability, and latency challenges presents intriguing opportunities. This survey undertakes the task of cataloging the latest advancements while outlining unresolved challenges within this rapidly evolving field.

Overview of Blockchain in IoV

Blockchain, initially introduced as the underpinning technology for Bitcoin, offers features such as decentralization, transparency, immutability, and enhanced security—qualities that are advantageous for IoV applications. Unlike traditional centralized systems, blockchain can facilitate a decentralized model for IoV, enhancing data exchange between vehicles and infrastructures without a single point of failure. The paper meticulously details how these properties align with the requirements of IoV, especially in supporting vehicular ad-hoc networks, ensuring data integrity, and establishing trust among untrusted entities.

Application Scenarios

In detailing the application scenarios, this paper provides a fine-grained analysis of how blockchain can spur advancements in areas such as:

• Data Security and Management: Vehicles in the IoV context generate immense volumes of data, necessitating secure data sharing and storage. Solutions employing blockchain ensure tamper-proof and verifiable storage.
• Resource and Data Trading: Blockchain's decentralized nature allows for peer-to-peer trading of vehicular data and resources, spurred by the advancements in smart contracts, thereby reducing latency and transaction costs.
• Vehicular Management: The management of smart parking services and vehicle platooning is highlighted, where blockchain empowers decentralized decision-making processes, enhances privacy, and offers transparent transaction records without a central authority.

Challenges and Future Directions

The paper discusses extensive research on blockchain integration in IoV and presents several critical challenges. Security and privacy remain the cornerstone challenges, emphasizing the need for more sophisticated cryptographic techniques and consensus mechanisms that are optimized for vehicular networks. Additionally, the performance of blockchain systems concerning scalability and latency in IoV settings raises pertinent concerns requiring further investigation. Notably, the authors propose developing more felicitous consensus algorithms that cater specifically to the unique characteristics of IoV, such as high mobility and heterogeneity.

Furthermore, the survey ushers in potential areas for future exploration such as the incorporation of differential privacy methods and the integration of cutting-edge technologies like edge computing and AI with blockchain to enable real-time, privacy-preserving operations. The importance of devising incentive models that adequately reward participant contributions, resource allocations, and tolerances to network instability is underscored as foundational in stimulating broadly distributed IoT environments.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the use of blockchain in IoV is a vibrant and promising field with the potential to drive forward ITS. Through intricate survey and evaluation of existing research, this paper contributes significantly to the understanding of blockchain's capabilities in resolving extant IoV challenges and identifies future research trajectories. It stands as a valuable resource for researchers and practitioners who are looking to leverage blockchain technology to build secure, efficient, and autonomous transportation systems.