Comparative Study of Propagation Models in Urban VANET Environments: Assessing OLSR Routing Based Vehicular Networks

Amidst the rapid pace of technological advancement, vehicular communication emerges as a pivotal element in the modern urban landscape. Vehicular Ad hoc Networks (VANETs), operating within this ecosystem, serve as fundamental infrastructure, heavily shaped by routing protocols and propagation models. This study delves into the real-time ramifications of various propagation models on VANET performance, recognizing the dynamic and intricate nature of vehicular environments. The selection of an appropriate propagation model assumes paramount importance in establishing resilient communication networks, particularly within urban settings. This investigationassesses and compare the effectiveness of commonly utilized propagation models-Free Space, Nakagami and ITU-R P.1411 Loss Model, within the context of an Optimized Link State Routing (OLSR) based VANETin urban environments. By meticulously scrutinizing performance metrics such as Average Routing Goodput, Packet Loss Ratio, MAC/PHY-Overhead and Packet Delivery Ratio of Basic Safety Messages, employing in SUMO and NS3 platforms, which shed light on the intricate dynamics between propagation models and VANET performance. Importantly, the findings of this study underscore the limitations inherent in relying on a fixed propagation model and advocate for the dynamic adaptation of propagation models tailored to specific scenarios. The findings indicate a robust correlation between propagation models and the performance of OLSR within the VANET scenarios.