Towards Scalable Architectures in oneM2M-based Interoperability deployments in Smart Cities

Abstract

Smart Cities represent the nexus of innovation in urban planning, leveraging the Internet of Things (IoT) to foster enhanced urban living. However, the diversity of IoT devices and protocols often creates interoperability barriers. oneM2M, a global standard, addresses this challenge by providing a common service layer that enables seamless communication and data exchange between heterogeneous IoT devices along with features for device management, security, and semantic interoperability. Its resourcebased model and support for various communication protocols make it a key enabler for interoperable smart city solutions. This enables a wide range of intelligent smart city applications, including coordinated traffic management, intelligent energy grids, and responsive public services. This thesis zeroes in on the pivotal aspect of interoperability within Smart Cities, with a particular focus on oneM2M-based interoperability systems. Through a detailed exploration of oneM2M standards and their application in the Smart City context, this research underscores the importance of a unified, standards-based approach to IoT integration, highlighting the role of interoperability in unlocking the full potential of Smart City initiatives. In addressing the critical challenge of enhancing latency and performance in oneM2M-based systems within Smart City frameworks, this thesis recognizes the limitations of existing architectures, which often impede scalability and efficiency. A novel distributed, multi-layered data platform architecture for oneM2M based interoperability platforms is proposed, aiming to demonstrate significant improvements in latency and overall system performance while ensuring scalability across diverse and large-scale Smart City deployments. The research encompasses a comprehensive performance analysis of this architecture versus a centralized alternative within a real-world Smart City Living Lab deployment. Additionally, an exploratory analysis of open-source oneM2M-based interoperability systems (Mobius, OM2M, ACME) using this large-scale system offers insights into architectural choices and their suitability for smart city implementations. Another challenge that becomes fairly evident is the complexity that arises in the usage of the said interoperability solutions based on oneM2M. To increase the ease of use and of the oneM2M based solutions within the IoT ecosystems, this thesis presents the City IoT Operating Platform (ctOP). This platform, meticulously engineered as a lightweight oneM2M wrapper, is designed to enhance interoperability, streamline IoT device integration, and provide robust functionality such as user management and security within real-world smart city deployments. This contribution is pivotal for the IoT field, challenging the status quo of existing oneM2M system design paradigms and proposing a more adaptable, scalable, and user-friendly alternative. Through rigorous analysis, real-world deployment scenarios, and the development of the ctOP platform, this research contributes to both the academic discourse on Smart City development and provides actionable insights for practitioners and policymakers seeking to implement or refine IoT interoperability solutions in urban settings. The ultimate goal is to pave the way for more interconnected, sustainable, and resilient Smart Cities, where technology serves as a backbone for addressing complex urban challenges.