Edge-Cloud Continuum: Integrating Edge Computing and Cloud Computing for IOT Applications

Abstract: This research will use a mixed-method approach with qualitative understanding and the quantitative analysis of data to examine how edge and cloud computing blend into the frame of an edge-cloud continuum for IoT applications. It adopts an exploratory and descriptive approach to research in carrying out a holistic assessment of the edge-cloud continuum in efficiency, scalability, and performance. The data required for collection was obtained through simulations using the IoTSim-Osmosis framework and also through the use of other case studies and literature published elsewhere before preparing this document. The data is usual to what has been used in several IoT deployments, including smart cities, the health sector, and industrial automation. Based on those KPIs - latency, 70.83%; bandwidth utilization, 40% reduced; energy consumption, 25% reduced; and task completion rate improved by 18.75% - the edge-cloud continuum significantly outperforms traditional cloud-only systems. Especially a very big reduction in latency is significantly important for real-time applications as it would drive the potential ability to improve responsiveness in those applications, like autonomous cars and smart healthcare. The current study demonstrates that the edge-cloud continuum can efficiently enhance resource allocation and enhance the effectiveness of complex IoT systems. This has wide implications for designing and implementing IoT solutions across industry domains