Systematic Metric Systems Engineering: Reference Architecture and Process Model

In the recent past, the research community contributed a considerable amount of work to extend the understanding of the theoretical foundations of metric systems. However, a dedicated approach for engineering of metric systems is still missing. As a result, they are often developed chaotically. This thesis introduces MeDIC – a dedicated metric systems engineering approach, which fills this gap. MeDIC supports flexible conception, design, construction, and operation of metric systems. The approach is based on two pillars: the MeDIC process model and the MeDIC reference architecture. They integrate software engineering best practices, emerging concepts, and well-established metric-related standards and techniques. The MeDIC reference architecture provides technical guides with a layered architecture blue-print of loosely interconnected micro-services. The MeDIC process model provides ready-to-use process elements and artifacts (fragments), which drastically ease the setup of a specific engineering process. The reference architecture and process model are based on formal foundations, which provide additional benefits for conceptual analysis of metrics systems. Various field studies, in cooperation with multiple industry partners, were used to evaluate the approach. This thesis provides insight into three selected field studies, which utilize various aspects of MeDIC in industrial environments. The evaluation shows the practical application, usefulness, and efficiency of MeDIC. Challenges associated with the development and operation of metric systems in industrial environments can thus be overcome by MeDIC. As a result, the engineering of better, more reliable, and sustainable metric systems is possible.