Enhanced Routing and Secure Data Transmission In Vanets: A Hybrid Optimization Approach

Abstract

Vehicular Ad Hoc Networks (VANETs) play a crucial role in modern intelligent transportation systems by enabling vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) and vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) communication. However, challenges such as dynamic topology, congestion, and security threats hinder efficient data transmission. This paper proposes an extended VANET framework that integrates an optimized hybrid routing algorithm with an advanced encryption technique to enhance network performance and security. The proposed model employs a Hybrid Ant Colony Optimization and Particle Swarm Optimization (HACO-PSO) for selecting optimal routing paths, reducing packet loss, and improving transmission efficiency. Additionally, a Modified Blowfish Encryption Algorithm (MBEA) ensures secure data transmission by enhancing key expansion and reducing encryption overhead. Experimental evaluations conducted using NS-3 and MATLAB demonstrate superior performance in terms of Packet Delivery Ratio (PDR), End-to-End Delay (E2ED), Throughput, and Security Resilience against common cyber threats. The proposed approach significantly outperforms traditional models, making it suitable for large-scale VANET deployments.