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V J S Pranavasri

V J S Pranavasri supervised by Dr. Deepak Gangadharan received his Master of Science – Dual Degree  in Computational Linguistics (CL). Here’s a summary of his research work on Towards Scalable Architectures in oneM2M-based Interoperability deployments in Smart Cities:

Smart Cities are becoming increasingly common as urbanization and technological advancements continue to reshape our world. The surge in global urbanization presents multifaceted challenges, including heightened demand for resources, increased environmental pollution, and exacerbated strain on infrastructure and public services. As urban areas continue to expand, traditional city planning and resource management approaches are proving inadequate to sustainably meet the needs of growing populations. This is where the concept of Smart Cities, underpinned by the Internet of Things (IoT), plays a transformative role. By integrating digital technology into urban management, Smart Cities aim to enhance the efficiency of city operations, improve the quality of life for residents, and minimize environmental impact. IoT, with its network of interconnected devices and sensors, enables real-time data collection, analysis, sensing, actuation, and seamless communication between diverse nodes, facilitating informed decision-making and proactive management of urban environments. Smart Cities are becoming increasingly common as urbanization and technological advancements continue to reshape our world. The rapid evolution of Smart Cities underscores the intersection of urban innovation and advancements in the Internet of Things (IoT). With IoT sensors and devices becoming ubiquitous within urban infrastructures, cities have the potential to become more efficient, responsive, and sustainable. However, to fully realize this potential, one critical challenge needs to be addressed: interoperability. Diverse IoT devices using a multitude of protocols and standards often operate in silos, hindering seamless communication and data exchange. To tackle this challenge, the oneM2M global standard has emerged as a promising solution. As a comprehensive framework, it offers a common service layer fostering effective communication among IoT devices, applications, and systems. The resource-based model and support for diverse communication protocols within oneM2M are fundamental enablers for robust smart city solutions that address transportation, energy management, public services, and other critical urban functions. It is this foundational infrastructure that the Smart City Living Lab exemplifies by providing a platform to experiment with these crucial elements. To fully realize the potential of this solution, scaling its interoperability and data streaming architecture becomes paramount. This thesis delves into the intricacies of this architecture, examining its current state, analyzing its effectiveness, and proposing architectural enhancements following the oneM2M standard. oneM2M is a global initiative that provides a standardized framework for IoT interoperability, ensuring compatibility and communication between diverse devices and systems. By adhering to this standard, the proposed architectural improvements aim to advance IoT interoperability within the smart cities framework, ensuring that solutions are not only innovative but also scalable and adaptable to the evolving needs of urban environments. By focusing on these architectural improvements, the thesis aims to contribute to the broader discourse on smart city development, particularly in the context of India’s unique urban challenges. Through detailed analysis and proposed enhancements, this research endeavours to pave the way for more resilient, efficient, and robust smart cities. Through an in-depth analysis of the oneM2M standard and its practical application within Smart City scenarios, this research underlines the significance of a standardized approach to IoT integration. The thesis highlights the fundamental role interoperability plays in driving the full potential of Smart City initiatives. A major focus of this thesis lies in addressing performance and latency challenges associated with existing oneM2M-based architectures within Smart Cities. These architectures can impede scalability and efficient data handling. The thesis proposes a novel distributed, multi-layered data platform architecture for oneM2M interoperability platforms. The aim is to demonstrate marked improvements in system performance and scalability while ensuring adaptability to the expanding scope of Smart City deployments. A thorough performance analysis of the proposed architecture against a centralized approach is conducted using a real-world Smart City Living Lab testbed. Furthermore, an exploratory study of established open-source oneM2M interoperability systems (Mobius, OM2M, ACME) is conducted. This analysis delves into architectural elements, performance benchmarks, and suitability for smart city implementations. Lastly, this thesis goes beyond theoretical analysis and proposes a practical solution designed to enhance the usability of oneM2M-based systems within real-world IoT ecosystems. The City IoT Operating Platform (ctOP), a meticulously crafted, lightweight oneM2M wrapper, streamlines IoT device integration and offers vital functionality such as user management and security. This empowers real-world deployments of smart city solutions. The proposed advancements improvise the norms of oneM2M system design, introducing a more scalable and user-centric paradigm. Through real-world deployment examples, rigorous analysis, and the development of the ctOP platform, this research makes a noteworthy contribution to the IoT discourse and the evolution of Smart Cities. The findings provide actionable insights for urban planners, researchers, and IoT solution developers aiming to refine or implement interoperability solutions across diverse urban settings.

 

 June 2024