Performance Evaluation and Optimization of FANET-IoT-IoV Interactions in 6G-enabled Smart City Applications

Authors

  • Rizwan Raza Department of Computer Science, COMSATS University Islamabad, Attock Campus, Attock 43600, Pakistan Author
  • Farhan Aadil Department of Computer Science, COMSATS University Islamabad, Attock Campus, Attock 43600, Pakistan; Computer Engineering Department, Sivas University of Science and Technology, Sivas 58000, Turkey Author
  • Zahoor-ur-Rehman Department of Computer Science, COMSATS University Islamabad, Attock Campus, Attock 43600, Pakistan; Department of Computer Engineering, Faculty of Computer and Information Science, Sakarya University, Sakarya 54187, Turkey Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.64509/jicn.23.132

Keywords:

FANETs, IoT, IoV, 6G, Smart Cities, Performance Evaluation, Intelligent Networks

Abstract

In the wake of rapid urbanization and technological advancements, the emergence of 6G-enabled smart city applications presents unprecedented opportunities to revolutionize urban living, mobility, and sustainability. Central to the realization of smart city visions is the seamless integration and coordination of diverse communication systems, including Flying Ad Hoc Networks (FANETs), Internet of Things (IoT), and Internet of Vehicles (IoV). These interconnected systems hold the potential to enable real-time monitoring, data-driven decision-making, and proactive management of urban infrastructure and services. However, the dynamic nature of smart city environments, coupled with the heterogeneity and resource constraints of FANETs, IoT devices, and connected vehicles, pose significant challenges in ensuring reliable and efficient communication. This research endeavors to address these challenges by focusing on the performance evaluation and optimization of FANET-IoT-IoV interactions within the context of 6G-enabled smart city applications. By systematically evaluating the performance metrics, identifying optimization opportunities, and developing novel methodologies, this research paves the way for the development of robust, scalable, and resilient communication infrastructures that can underpin the future of smart urban environments.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

[1] Qian, Y., Wu, D., Bao, W., Lorenz, P.: The internet of things for smart cities: Technologies and applications. IEEE Network 33(2), 4–5 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1109/MNET.2019.8675165

[2] Hamid, U.Z.A., Zamzuri, H., Limbu, D. K.: “Internet of vehicle (IoV) applications in expediting the implementation of smart highway of autonomous vehicle: A survey”, in Performability in Internet of Things. Springer, Cham, Switzerland (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-93557-7_9

[3] Lucic, M.C., Bouhamed, O., Ghazzai, H., Khanfor, A., Massoud, Y.: Leveraging UAVs to enable dynamic and smart aerial infrastructure for ITS and smart cities: An overview. Drones 7(2), 79 (2023). https://doi.org/10.3390/drones7020079

[4] Minoli, D., Occhiogrosso, B.: Practical aspects for the integration of 5G networks and IoT applications in smart cities environments. Wireless Communications and Mobile Computing 2019, 5710834 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1155/2019/5710834

[5] Chandran, I., Vipin, K.: Multi‑UAV Networks for Disaster Monitoring: Challenges and Opportunities from a Network Perspective. Drone Systems and Applications 12, 1–28 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1139/dsa‑2023‑0079

[6] Bhat, J.R., Alqahtani, S.A.: 6G ecosystem: Current status and future perspective. IEEE Access 9, 43134–43167 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2021.3054833

[7] Khan, M.A., Kumar, N., Mohsan, S.A.H., Khan, W.U., Nasralla, M.M., Alsharif, M.H., Żywiołek, J., Ullah, I.: Swarm of UAVs for network management in 6G: A technical review. IEEE Transactions on Network and Service Management 20(1), 741–761 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1109/TNSM.2022.3213370

[8] Prateek, K., Ojha, N.K., Altaf, F., Maity, S.: Quantum secured 6G technology‑based applications in Internet of Everything. Telecommunication Systems 82(2), 315–344 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11235‑022‑00979‑y

[9] Shrestha, R., Bajracharya, R., Kim, S.: 6G enabled unmanned aerial vehicle traffic management: A perspective. IEEE Access 9, 91119–91136 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2021.3092039

[10] Houssein, E.H., Othman, M.A., Mohamed, W.M., Younan, M.: Internet of Things in smart cities: Comprehensive review, open issues, and challenges. IEEE Internet of Things Journal 11(21), 34941–34952 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1109/JIOT.2024.3449753

[11] Ang, L.‑M., Seng, K.P., Ijemaru, G.K., Zungeru, A.M.: Deployment of IoV for smart cities: Applications, architecture, and challenges. IEEE Access 7, 6473–6492 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2018.2887076

[12] Srivastava, A., Prakash, J.: Future FANET with application and enabling techniques: Anatomization and sustainability issues. Computer Science Review 39, 100359 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cosrev.2020.100359

[13] Lakew, D.S., Sa’ad, U., Dao, N.‑N., Na, W., Cho, S.: Routing in flying ad hoc networks: A comprehensive survey. IEEE Communications Surveys & Tutorials 22(2), 1071–1120 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1109/COMST.2020.2982452

[14] Khan, M.A., Qureshi, I.M., Khanzada, F.: A hybrid communication scheme for efficient and low‑cost deployment of future flying ad‑hoc network (FANET). Drones 3(1), 16 (2019). https://doi.org/10.3390/drones3010016

[15] Siddiqi, M.H., Draz, U., Ali, A., Iqbal, M., Alruwaili, M., Alhwaiti, Y., Alanazi, S.: FANET: Smart city mobility off to a flying start with self‑organized drone‑based networks. IET Communications 16(10), 1209–1217 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1049/cmu2.12291

[16] Raza, R., Aadil, F.: A comprehensive survey on FANET‑IoT‑IoV interactions: Challenges, opportunities, and future directions in 6G‑enabled smart cities. Computing, 108(1), 10 (2026). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00607‑025‑01602‑z

[17] Cheng, N., Wu, S., Wang, X., Yin, Z., Li, C., Chen, W., Chen, F.: AI for UAV‑assisted IoT applications: A comprehensive review. IEEE Internet of Things Journal 10(16), 14438–14461 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1109/JIOT.2023.3268316

[18] Sharma, S., Popli, R., Singh, S., Chhabra, G., Saini, G.S., Singh, M., Sandhu, A., Sharma, A., Kumar, R.: The role of 6G technologies in advancing smart city applications: opportunities and challenges. Sustainability 16(16), 7039 (2024). https://doi.org/10.3390/su16167039

[19] Sanjalawe, Y., Fraihat, S., Al‑E’Mari, S., Abualhaj, M., Makhadmeh, S., Alzubi, E.: A review of 6G and AI convergence: Enhancing communication networks with artificial intelligence. IEEE Open Journal of the Communications Society 6, 2308–2355 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1109/OJCOMS.2025.3553302

[20] Maglaras, L.A., Al‑Bayatti, A.H., He, Y., Wagner, I., Janicke, H.: Social internet of vehicles for smart cities. Journal of Sensor and Actuator Networks 5(1), 3 (2016). https://doi.org/10.3390/jsan5010003

[21] Uslu, E.E., Ozturk, B., Gorkemli, B., Soyturk, M., Cihan, S.B., Gunduzhev, A.R., Dagdeviren, O.: Next‑generation management and orchestration for 6G: Emerging trends, architectures, and challenges. IEEE Open Journal of the Communications Society 7, 2222–2269 (2026). https://doi.org/10.1109/OJCOMS.2026.3670073

[22] Liu, B., Shi, H., Jia, D., Wang, E., Han, W., Zhong, K., Wu, L., Chen, S., Qiao, C., Wang, J.: Collaborative sensing and communication for intelligent connected vehicles: A comprehensive survey. IEEE Communications Surveys & Tutorials 28, 3125–3164 (2026). https://doi.org/10.1109/COMST.2025.3626504

[23] Kuru, K.: Planning the Future of Smart Cities With Swarms of Fully Autonomous Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Using a Novel Framework. IEEE Access 9, 6571–6595 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2020.3049094

[24] Kumar, A., Ahuja, S., Gupta, G.: ”Disaster recovery management in FANETs”, In Autonomous Flying Ad‑Hoc Networks. Scrivener Publishing, Beverly, MA, USA (2025). https://doi.org/10.1002/9781394231089.ch8

[25] Sharma, M., Singh, M., Walia, K., Kaur, K.: A comprehensive study of performance parameters for MANET, VANET and FANET. In Proceedings of the 2019 IEEE 10th Annual Information Technology, Electronics and Mobile Communication Conference (IEMCON), pp. 643–646 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1109/IEMCON.2019.8936159

[26] Yogarayan, S.: Wireless ad hoc network of MANET, VANET, FANET and SANET: A review. Journal of Telecommunication, Electronic and Computer Engineering 13(4), 13–18 (2021). https://jtec.utem.edu.my/jtec/article/view/6119

[27] Wang, J., Feng, H., Chen, J., Zhou, L., Zhang, M., Jiang, C.: EDP protocol: Advancing mobility‑aware drone network connectivity with adaptive routing. IEEE/ACM Transactions on Networking 34, 2242–2255 (2026). https://doi.org/10.1109/TNET.2025.3556421

[28] Uddin, S., Shah, A.F.M.S., Karabulut, M.A., Ilhan, H.: Cooperative MAC protocol with optimal relay selection algorithm for UAVs ad hoc network in disasters. IEEE Transactions on Vehicular Technology 74(9), 14445–14456 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1109/TVT.2025.3558455

[29] Raza, R., Zahoor‑ur‑Rehman, Naeem, M., Aadil, F., Shehzad, F., Coronato, A.: A hybrid cognitive radio and multi‑agent reinforcement learning framework for jamming resilience in integrated FANET‑IoT‑IoV systems. Automation, 7(4), 108 (2026). https://doi.org/10.3390/automation7040108

[30] González‑Zamar, M.‑D., Abad‑Segura, Vázquez‑Cano, E., López‑Meneses, E.: IoT technology applications‑based smart cities: Research analysis. Electronics 9(8), 1246 (2020). https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics9081246

[31] Razmjoo, A., Gandomi, A., Mahlooji, M., Astiaso Garcia, D., Mirjalili, S., Rezvani, A., Ahmadzadeh, S., Memon, S.: An investigation of the policies and crucial sectors of smart cities based on IoT application. Applied Sciences 12(5), 2672 (2022). https://doi.org/10.3390/app12052672

[32] Karabulut, M.A., Shah, A.F.M., Pathan, A.‑S.K., Bradford, P.G.: IoT‑driven intelligent transportation system in the era of 6G and AI: A review. Computers, Materials & Continua 88(1), 1. (2026). https://doi.org/10.32604/cmc.2026.077625

[33] Kaginalkar, A., Kumar, S., Gargava, P., Niyogi, D.: Review of urban computing in air quality management as smart city service: An integrated IoT, AI, and cloud technology perspective. Urban Climate 39, 100972 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.uclim.2021.100972

[34] Laha, S.R., Pattanayak, B.K., Pattnaik, S.: Advancement of environmental monitoring system using IoT and sensor: A comprehensive analysis. AIMS Environmental Science 9(6), 771–800 (2022). https://doi.org/10.3934/environsci.2022044

[35] Saleem, M.U., Usman, M.R., Usman, M.A., Politis, C.: Design, deployment and performance evaluation of an IoT based smart energy management system for demand side management in smart grid. IEEE Access 10, 15261–15278 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2022.3147484

[36] Slany, V., Krcalova, E., Balej, J., Zach, M., Kucova, T., Prauzek, R., Martinek, R.: Smart water‑IoT: Harnessing IoT and AI for efficient water management. ACM Computing Surveys 57(12), 1–36 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1145/374433

[37] Ijemaru, G.K., Ang, L.M., Seng, K.P.: Transformation from IoT to IoV for waste management in smart cities. Journal of Network and Computer Applications 204, 103393 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnca.2022.103393

[38] Zhang, H., Zhang, R., Sun, J.: Developing real‑time IoT‑based public safety alert and emergency response systems. Scientific Reports 15, 29056 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598‑025‑13465‑7

[39] He, Q., Lin, J., Fang, H., Wang, X., Huang, M., Yi, X., Yu, K.: Integrating IoT and 6G: Applications of edge intelligence, challenges, and future directions. IEEE Transactions on Services Computing 18(4), 2471‑‑2488 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1109/TSC.2025.3586152

[40] Das, R., Zhou, L., Bi, S., Wang, T., Hou, T.: Towards the safety of intelligent transportation: A survey on the security challenges and mitigations in Internet of Vehicles (IoV). ACM Transactions on Sensor Networks, 22(3), 1–44 (2026). https://doi.org/10.1145/3786592

[41] Brito, O.D.D., Campoverde, L.M.S., Tropea, M., Rango, F.D.: Environmental monitoring in smart cities: An energy‑aware analysis on an IoV scenario. In Proceedings of the 2025 IEEE Symposium on Computers and Communications (ISCC), pp. 1–6 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1109/ISCC65549.2025.11326339

[42] Sedaghat, S., Conti, M.: CFEA‑IoV: An SDN‑enabled IoV architecture for time‑critical accident notification in automated vehicles. IEEE Transactions on Intelligent Vehicles 10(2), 752–761 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1109/TIV.2024.3418307

[43] Zhang, X., Li, J., Zhou, J., Zhang, S., Wang, J., Yuan, Y., Liu, J., Li, J.: Vehicle‑to‑everything communication in intelligent connected vehicles: A survey and taxonomy. Automotive Innovation, 8(1), 13–45 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42154‑024‑00310‑2

[44] Tan, K., Zhu, C.: Multimodal sensing for intelligent V2X: A review of recent advances toward deployment. IEEE Internet of Things Journal 12(22), 46294–46315 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1109/JIOT.2025.3601236

[45] Rodríguez‑Piñeiro, J., Wei, Z., Gutiérrez, C.A., Correia, L.M.: 6G‑enabled vehicle‑to‑everything communications: Current research trends and open challenges. IEEE Open Journal of Vehicular Technology 6, 2358–2391 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1109/OJVT.2025.3599570

jicn132

Downloads

Published

2026-08-18

Issue

Section

Articles

How to Cite

Raza, R. ., Aadil, F. ., & Zahoor-ur-Rehman. (2026). Performance Evaluation and Optimization of FANET-IoT-IoV Interactions in 6G-enabled Smart City Applications. Journal of Intelligent Computing and Networking, 2(3), 45-61. https://doi.org/10.64509/jicn.23.132