Distributed vehicular traffic control and safety applications with VGrid

In this paper we describe VGrid which is an ad hoc grid computing platform supported by wireless network enabled vehicles equipped with processing and storage capabilities. We present the overall framework and describe how such an ad hoc platform can support distributed vehicular traffic control and safety applications. We also outline how the ad hoc part can integrate with existing and new road side fixed traffic monitoring and control infrastructure. We present our work on two applications - a) accident alert and Variable Speed Limit and b) distributed ad hoc obstruction identification on freeways. We present preliminary results that have been obtained through a simulation analysis based on a tool that we have developed for our work.