Coherent Taxonomy of Vehicular Ad Hoc Networks (VANETs) Enabled by Fog Computing: A Review

Vehicular ad hoc networks (VANETs) are evolving rapidly with the advent of fog computing (FC), which enhances their capabilities by bringing computational resources closer to the network’s edge. This article presents a comprehensive review and novel taxonomy of FC integration within VANETs, highlighting its potential to significantly improve latency, reliability, and security. We explore various architectures, communication protocols, and services that utilize FC to meet the unique challenges of VANETs. Notably, the introduction of a “Distributed Results” section provides empirical evidence supporting the practical viability and scalability of fog-enhanced VANET architectures, thereby bridging the gap between theoretical research and real-world applicability. In addition, a comparative analysis with existing surveys delineates this article’s unique contributions, particularly its focused examination of security and privacy issues tailored for vehicular environments. By identifying current research gaps and suggesting future directions, this work serves as a crucial resource for both researchers and practitioners aiming to implement and optimize FC solutions in vehicular networks.