Integrating Vehicle-to-Infrastructure Communication for Safer Lane Changes in Smart Work Zones

As transportation systems evolve, ensuring safe and efficient mobility in Intelligent Transportation Systems remains a priority. Work zones, in particular, pose significant safety challenges due to lane closures, which can lead to abrupt braking and sudden lane changes. Most previous research on Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CAVs) assumes ideal communication conditions, overlooking the effects of message loss and network unreliability. This study presents a comprehensive smart work zone (SWZ) framework that enhances lane-change safety by the integration of both Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) and Vehicle-to-Infrastructure (V2I) communication. Sensor-equipped SWZ barrels and Roadside Units (RSUs) collect and transmit real-time hazard alerts to approaching CAVs, ensuring coverage of critical roadway segments. In this study, a co-simulation framework combining VEINS, OMNeT++, and SUMO is implemented to assess lane-change safety and communication performance under realistic network conditions. Findings indicate that higher Market Penetration Rates (MPRs) of CAVs can lead to improved lane-change safety, with time-to-collision (TTC) values shifting toward safer time ranges. While lower transmission thresholds allow more frequent communication, they contribute to earlier network congestion, whereas higher thresholds maintain efficiency despite increased packet loss at high MPRs. These insights highlight the importance of incorporating realistic communication models when evaluating traffic safety in connected vehicle environments.