A Software-Centric Evaluation of the VEINS Framework in Vehicular Ad-Hoc Networks

The Large Communication Substitution between vehicles to infrastructure (V2I) or between vehicles (V2V), called as Vehicular Ad-Hoc Networks (VANETs), in new Tale Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) are degree and stop developing for extensive traffic manage, highway safety, and driverless cars. VEINS is a simulator framework that couples OMNeT++ and SUMO, widely used for assessing performance of VANET protocols and network architectures. However, it was observed that no existing research reviewed VEINS applications, limitations, or emerging trends in a structured manner. In this paper we provide a software-oriented summary of VEINS-based VANET studies. This research adds a taxonomy-oriented classification of studies published from 2011 to 2022, focusing on IEEE Xplore, ScienceDirect, and Scopus categorized security, safety, and other VANET applications. It identifies some gaps, right from the scalability, and computational overhead aspect to the limited integration of the next-generation technologies like 5G, Blockchain, and AI. A well-defined article selection strategy, extensive data extraction, and a comparative analysis of published VEINS studies is followed throughout the study. Statistical analyses show a growing percentage of VEINS but also point out obstacles to its real world usage. Key Insights point to an emphasis on security and safety, with little focus on emerging technologies and real-world validations. This review adds value to the body of knowledge by (1) establishing a systematic taxonomy of VEINS-based research, (2) highlighting gaps in research and methodological limits, and (3) providing future research directions focused on VEINS scalability enhancement, real-world validation frameworks, and AI-enabled VANET optimizations. The study is expected to be a useful reference for researchers and practitioners who intend to improve VEINS-based simulations of VANETs and accelerate development in the field of ITS.