Semiotics: Semantic model-driven development for IoT interoperability of emergency services

Modern early warning systems (EWSs) use Internet-of-Things (IoT) technologies to realize real-time data acquisition, risk detection and message brokering between data sources and warnings' destinations. Interoperability is crucial for effective EWSs, enabling the integration of components and the interworking with other EWSs. IoT technologies potentially improve the EWS efficiency and effectiveness, but this potential can only be exploited if interoperability challenges are properly addressed. The three main challenges for interoperability are: (1) achieving semantic integration of a variety of data sources and different representations; (2) supporting time- and safety-critical applications with performance and scalability; and (3) providing data analysis for effective responses with personalized information requirements. In this paper, we describe the “SEmantic Model-driven development for IoT Interoperability of emergenCy serviceS” (SEMIoTICS) framework, which supports the development of semantic interoperable IoT EWSs. The framework has been validated with a pilot performed with accident use cases at the port of Valencia. The validation results show that it fulfils the requirements that we derived from the challenges above.