TrustChain-VANETs: Blockchain and IPFS Integration for Reliable and Secure Vehicular Communication in Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS)

Vehicular ad-hoc networks (VANETs) are pivotal in intelligent transportation systems (ITS), enabling enhanced traffic efficiency and safety. However, VANETs within ITS face critical challenges related to trust, privacy, and data reliability. To address these issues, this paper proposes a comprehensive solution that integrates blockchain and InterPlanetary file system (IPFS) technologies for ITS applications. We introduce a blockchain-based trust management system, TrustChain-VANETs, designed to ensure message credibility, privacy, and data reliability in ITS environments. Our model safeguards vehicle privacy while enabling credible messages to be shared through anonymous aggregate vehicular announcements, an essential feature for ITS. Reputation values, stored in the blockchain, allow roadside units (RSUs) to assess message reliability, achieving a 15% higher malicious vehicle detection rate compared to traditional methods at low probabilities of false reporting, crucial for trust in ITS. Additionally, conditional privacy is maintained by tracking malicious entities through public addresses, ensuring accountability in ITS. The system leverages IPFS on RSUs for secure, reliable data storage, with aggregated event data from vehicles stored in IPFS and vehicle reputation values maintained on the blockchain, addressing storage and cost challenges in ITS. This approach reduces transaction costs by 20% and decreases storage overhead by 30%, enhancing the efficiency of ITS data sharing. An incentive mechanism encourages honest data sharing among vehicles, with monetary rewards for aligning with verified event information, transparently recorded on the blockchain. Performance analysis demonstrates that TrustChain-VANETs reduces message verification time by an average of 25% compared to traditional proof-of-work blockchain models, making it suitable for the dynamic and demanding nature of ITS. This innovative framework addresses critical challenges in VANETs, delivering robust, scalable, and efficient solutions for security, privacy, and reliability in ITS.