There are various mobility models in vehicular ad-hoc networks (VANET). These mobility models guide the driver of the vehicle in taking the right path, also provides safety and comfort. One such mobility model is the Manhattan mobility model. The Manhattan mobility model uses a grid road topology. This mobility model was mainly proposed for the movement in urban area, where the streets are in an organized manner.
In this mobility model, the mobile nodes move in horizontal or vertical direction on an urban map. The Manhattan model employs a probabilistic approach in the selection of nodes movements, since, at each intersection, a vehicle chooses to keep moving in the same direction. The probability of going straight is 0.5 and taking a left or right is 0.25 each.
From the above discussion, it is very clear that this model is not suitable for highway systems. Although this model provides flexibility for the nodes to change the direction, it imposes geographic restrictions on node mobility.
Important Characteristics of Manhattan Mobility model: