A cooperative model for internet of things tourism-based solutions under network-constrained environments
Geraldo Ernesto Miguel Cangondo, Bruno M. C. Silva, Edgar F. Ladeira · Internet of Things · 2026
The Internet of Things (IoT) plays a central role in the digital transformation of tourism, enabling interactive, personalised, and connected visitor experiences. However, the dependence of many IoT-based tourism systems on stable Internet connectivity limits their functionality in remote or infrastructure-poor areas. This paper proposes NCoop , a novel application-layer cooperative model that allows IoT devices to exchange data through temporary storage and controlled retransmission, maintaining service continuity even without direct Internet access. The mechanism was validated through both simulation and a real-world pilot integrated into the Wall by Wall tourism application. Results demonstrate that NCoop improves network performance and energy efficiency compared with representative protocols such as First Contact (FC), Dynamic Cooperative Cluster Algorithm (DCCA), and Cooperation-based Adaptive and Reliable MAC (CAR-MAC). The model achieved up to 98.3% data delivery, with average delays below 2 s and throughput around 0.3 Mbps, while maintaining a modest energy cost of approximately 1.2–1.8 J per message. These outcomes confirm that the proposed cooperation mechanism enhances reliability and sustainability of IoT communication under constrained conditions, ensuring seamless user experiences in smart tourism environments.