Traffic flow-based roadside unit allocation strategy for VANET

Abstract

In a Vehicular Ad-hoc Network Environment, roadside units (RSU), which are traffic data transmitters located statically on the roads, are the most essential infrastructural units for supporting seamless communications. In this paper, we propose an improved traffic flow based RSU allocation strategy that places the least number of RSUs at the most popular and important intersections where vehicles pass by the most frequently. We newly define the concept of intersection connectivity based on the traffic influence to an adjacent roadway, traffic flow probability, and the distance between intersections. We find RSU allocation candidates by clustering intersections based on the intersection connectivity using with Markov clustering algorithm, and then finally find RSU allocation locations according to the intersection priorities. Consequently, our strategy can place RSUs at intersections having high priorities and maximal traffic flow at the same time.