ICMT 2009 - ICMT2009 - International Conference on Model Transformation Theory and Practice of Model Transformations

Preliminary Call for Papers

Modelling is now essential for dealing with the complexity of IT systems during their development and maintenance processes. Models allow engineers to precisely capture rele-vant aspects of a system from a given perspective and at an appropriate level of abstraction. As models grow in use for developing IT systems, transformations between models grow in importance. Model transformations allow the defini-tion and implementation of operations on models, and also provide a chain that enables the automated development of a system from its corresponding models. Furthermore, model transformations may also be realized using models, and are, therefore, an integral part of any model-driven approach.

There are already several proposals for model transformation specification, implementation, and execution, which are beginning to be used by Model-Driven Engineering (MDE) practitioners. However, model transformations require specialized support in order to realize their full potential: we also must understand their foundations, their semantics, and their structuring mechanisms and properties (e.g., modularity, composability, and parameterization). We should find effective and efficient ways to treat transformations as first-class assets in MDE, allowing them to be stored, managed, discovered and reused. There is also a need to chain and combine model transformations in order to produce new and more powerful transformations, and to be able to implement new operations on models. Finally, model transformations must have methodology support, i.e., they need to be integrated into software development methodologies supported by appropriate tools and environments.

SCOPE

After the success of the inaugural Conference on Model Transformations in 2008, ICMT 2009 will bring together researchers and practitioners to share experiences in using model transformations. ICMT 2009 combines a strong practical focus with theoretical approaches required in any discipline that supports engineering practices. Of particular interest to the organisers of ICMT 2009 are papers that describe challenges for model transformation technology, e.g., large-scale experiments in transformation, or problems that are thought to be difficult in model transformation.

ICMT 2009 will be held at the ETH premises in Zurich, Switzerland, and will host invited talks, technical sessions, and panels. As a working conference, ICMT 2009 will foster the interactions between the participants, stimulating lively debates and discussions around the topics of interest of the conference.

ICMT 2009 participants will explore the practical problems of existing languages, tools, and environments for transforming models, and discuss the new challenges ahead. In particular, the conference will address questions about the nature and features of model transformations, their composability and combination to build new model transformations and implement high-level model management operations (e.g., merge, refinement, realization, union, difference and comparison). The conference will also address issues related to the classification of languages for expressing transformations, the measurement of the quality and extra-functional requirements of model transformations (e.g., scalability, robustness, adaptability, reusability), and the definition of development methodologies that allow exploiting all their potential benefits. A special interest of the conference is on the relationships between model transformation theory and tools, and transformations in other domains, e.g., data transformation, program transformation. Papers that relate model transformation to other domains are particularly welcome.

TOPICS

Contributions are solicited on all aspects of model transformation foundations, practices and technologies. In particular, we encourage submissions from both academia and industry about the following (non-exhaustive) list of topics:


Languages for model transformations
Scalability and reuse of model transformations
Domain-specific and concern-oriented modelling with model transformations
Semantics and formal aspects of model transformations
Implementation of model transformation engines
Model transformations in Model-Driven Architecture (MDA) and other model-driven approaches
Model-driven code generation and other generative techniques using a model transformation approach
Model query languages as related to model transformation concerns
Higher-level transformations, transformation operators
Model merging, weaving and composition
Maintenance and evolution of model transformations
Model-driven development methodologies, approaches, and languages with a focus on transformations
Tools and environments for model-driven development with transformations
Case studies, novel applications, and industrial experiences reporting on success or failure with model transformations
Relationship between model transformation and other domains and technologies, e.g., data transformation, program transformation, and aspect orientation.