Model-Driven Engineering for Smart Cities: A Systematic Literature Review of Techniques, Challenges, and Emerging Trends

Abstract

Model-Driven Engineering (MDE) has become a key approach for addressing the complexity and heterogeneity of smart city systems. However, the state-of-the-art in MDE applications for smart cities remains underexplored. This study systematically reviews 42 primary studies, published between January 2019 and August 2024, to examine how MDE techniques are applied in smart cities, focusing on tools, techniques, and challenges. Six key themes emerged: MDE tools and techniques, security and privacy, scalability and interoperability, digital twins and emerging technologies, strategic alignment and enterprise architecture, and testing and verification. These themes highlight MDE’s potential to enable high-level design, rapid prototyping, and integration of diverse technologies. While tools like SI4IoT and InterSCity demonstrate MDE’s adaptability, challenges such as scalability, real-world validation, and lack of standardization persist. This study provides a comprehensive understanding of the state-of-the-art, identifies emerging trends, and proposes future research directions to address existing gaps, paving the way for more robust and scalable MDE solutions in smart cities.