Adaptive enhancements to AODV and DSDV for post-disaster networks

Abstract

In post-disaster scenarios, the failure of conventional communication infrastructure often necessitates the deployment of Mobile Ad Hoc Networks (MANETs) for emergency communication. However, traditional MANET routing protocols such as Ad hoc On-Demand Distance Vector (AODV) and Destination-Sequenced Distance Vector (DSDV) have well-documented performance limitations in highly dynamic environments, leading to frequent link failures, increased end-to-end delay, and excessive energy consumption. To address these challenges, this study introduces adaptive enhancements to AODV and DSDV by incorporating link stability-based route selection and energy-aware routing mechanisms. These modifications are designed to improve reliability by dynamically optimizing routing decisions based on real-time network conditions. The performance of the proposed enhancements was evaluated through extensive NS-3 simulations in a post-disaster network scenario. Simulation results demonstrate that the enhanced AODV and DSDV protocols outperform their standard counterparts, achieving a packet delivery ratio (PDR) improvement of 17–19%, a 30–35% reduction in end-to-end delay, and a 40–50% increase in network lifetime. These improvements underscore the viability of the proposed approach in providing resilient, energy-efficient communication for emergency response teams and first responders. Furthermore, the study explores the potential integration of advanced technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI)-based predictive routing and blockchain-enabled secure communication, to further enhance MANET capabilities. Future research directions include developing hybrid routing protocols that can dynamically switch between proactive and reactive strategies, and implementing lightweight consensus mechanisms for secure and decentralized MANET operation. These findings contribute to the advancement of robust and efficient MANET architectures, addressing critical challenges in post-disaster recovery efforts.