CONFLUENCE: An Integration Model for Human-in-the-Loop IoT Privacy-Preserving Solutions Toward Sustainability in a Smart City

The evolution of the Internet of Things (IoT), progressing from a hyper-connected world of seamless device interaction to a paradigm that emphasizes the human factor as a central component, is driven by approaches like human-in-the-loop IoT (HITL-IoT). This shift enables the development of innovative systems in various environments. For example, in the context of a smart city, which comprises diverse solutions aimed at enhancing citizens’ quality of life and urban service efficiency, HITL-IoT approaches are employed to promote sustainability. Given the strong human involvement in these systems, challenges related to personal data protection, transparency, and participation must be addressed. Additionally, ensuring interoperability among different smart city entities is crucial for the coexistence and synergy of these solutions. This article presents a model that incorporates contemporary technologies like Blockchain and LoRa to integrate citizen-centric IoT privacy preservation solutions, fostering the vision of smart and sustainable cities. To demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed model, a prototype was designed, implemented, and deployed in a realistic scenario. Assessment results include metrics, such as latency, throughput, and communication aspects of the components.