Hence, this project aims to design a secure and dependable architecture for VANETs in order to guarantee integrity, authenticity, confidentiality, non-repudiation and availability of information and network services supporting ITSs. The architecture will comprise mechanisms, algorithms, protocols and models for guaranteeing security and dependability of ITS’s services on all layers of the protocol stack. Further, the architecture will also address security issues related to information collection, storage, processing and aggregation.

The project hosts original research work into VANETs in order to support services on Intelligent Transportation Systems. The project work has three main dimensions: the design of a general architecture; the design of protocols, algorithms, mechanisms and models; and evaluations. These three dimensions are described as follows:

• General architecture design – the project team is elaborating a general architecture, quantifying the impact of attacks, failures and communication issues on normal network service operation. Determining requirements, metrics, classes of network security and reliability are the focus of this level. Its outcome should improve researchers understanding of both security and reliability aspects required on VANETs towards ITS. Further, it can result analytical models, such as User Mobility Prediction Models (UMPM) of VANETs, that will guide researchers on the development of algorithms, protocols and mechanisms. Particularly, UMPM will enable the prediction of mobile node topologies for the purpose of finding secure, reliable and efficient network traffic routes. Each team will contribute into their expertise scope, providing insights to put together different point of views.
• The design of protocols, algorithms, mechanisms and models – the project looks into the mechanisms, algorithms and protocols to add security and reliability on VANET’s services, reaching the requirements identified at the architecture design dimension. The wireless network communication and the information being transferred are subject of work, including the security and reliability of information collection, storage, processing and aggregation. The focus is on basic functions and technologies that constitute the building blocks of VANETs. Nevertheless, some study cases (scenarios) of network service failure are considered in order to exemplify the synthesis of these blocks into a working system.
• Evaluations – this dimension takes a leading role in terms of resource consumption, attacks impact and significance to the project objectives. Specific scenarios will be evaluated focusing on particular network service provision composed of failure, attacks types and resilient mechanisms. The goal is to demonstrate both the applicability of the systematic approach, as it unfolds, and the benefits for several aspects of the network functionality. An equally important task will be to provide feedback on the fine tuning of individual mechanisms in the network. The evaluation facilities will come from simulators, emulations and test beds, or other facilities developed by the project as analytical models.