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The Internet of Things, Fog, and Cloud Continuum: Integration Challenges and Opportunities for Smart Cities

Author

Listed:
  • Rodger Lea

    (School of Computing and Communication, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YW, UK)

  • Toni Adame

    (Fundació i2CAT, Gran Capità 2-4, 08034 Barcelona, Spain)

  • Alexandre Berne

    (Commissariat à l’Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives, Laboratoire d’Intégration de Systèmes et des Technologies (CEA LIST), Université Paris-Saclay, F-91120 Palaiseau, France)

  • Selma Azaiez

    (Commissariat à l’Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives, Rue Leblanc 25, F-75015 Paris, France)

Abstract

This paper explores the broad area of Smart City services and how the evolving Cloud-Edge-IoT continuum can support application deployment in Smart Cities. We initially introduce a range of Smart City services and highlight their computational needs. We then discuss the role of the Cloud-Edge-IoT continuum as a technological platform to meet those needs. To validate this approach, we present the COGNIFOG platform, a Cloud-Edge-IoT platform developed to support city-centric use cases, and an initial technology trial that shows the early benefits of using the platform. We conclude with plans for improvements to COGNIFOG based on the trials and with a broader set of observations on the future of the Cloud-Edge-IoT continuum in Smart City services and applications.

Suggested Citation

  • Rodger Lea & Toni Adame & Alexandre Berne & Selma Azaiez, 2025. "The Internet of Things, Fog, and Cloud Continuum: Integration Challenges and Opportunities for Smart Cities," Future Internet, MDPI, vol. 17(7), pages 1-23, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jftint:v:17:y:2025:i:7:p:281-:d:1687021
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Panagiotis Gkonis & Anastasios Giannopoulos & Panagiotis Trakadas & Xavi Masip-Bruin & Francesco D’Andria, 2023. "A Survey on IoT-Edge-Cloud Continuum Systems: Status, Challenges, Use Cases, and Open Issues," Future Internet, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-27, November.
    2. Seung-Yoon Shin & Dongwook Kim & Soon Ae Chun, 2021. "Digital Divide in Advanced Smart City Innovations," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-22, April.
    3. Inese Mavlutova & Dzintra Atstaja & Janis Grasis & Jekaterina Kuzmina & Inga Uvarova & Dagnija Roga, 2023. "Urban Transportation Concept and Sustainable Urban Mobility in Smart Cities: A Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(8), pages 1-16, April.
    4. Leonardo Militano & Adriana Arteaga & Giovanni Toffetti & Nathalie Mitton, 2023. "The Cloud-to-Edge-to-IoT Continuum as an Enabler for Search and Rescue Operations," Future Internet, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-18, January.
    5. Auwal Alhassan Musa & Salim Idris Malami & Fayez Alanazi & Wassef Ounaies & Mohammed Alshammari & Sadi Ibrahim Haruna, 2023. "Sustainable Traffic Management for Smart Cities Using Internet-of-Things-Oriented Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS): Challenges and Recommendations," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-15, June.
    6. Vito Albino & Umberto Berardi & Rosa Maria Dangelico, 2015. "Smart Cities: Definitions, Dimensions, Performance, and Initiatives," Journal of Urban Technology, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 22(1), pages 3-21, January.
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