Cuenca professor Lenin Erazo's thesis revolutionizes the development of the Internet of Things

An innovative methodology that seeks to simplify the development of Internet of Things (IoT) systems was the focus of the doctoral thesis of Cuenca professor Lenin Erazo.

His thesis was recognized as the best of the year by the National University of La Plata (UNLP), one of the most prestigious academic institutions in Argentina and Latin America.

The research is titled “Runtime Model-Based Methodology for Building and Operating Self-Aware Internet of Things Systems.”

Work

Cuenca) and co-directed by Dr. Gustavo Rossi (UNLP), one of the most cited researchers in Latin America in the field of software engineering.

The doctoral thesis focuses on solving one of the challenges of contemporary computing: how to build intelligent systems—such as those used in automated homes or smart cities—without requiring users to have advanced technical knowledge.

In other words, Professor Erazo's proposal allows professionals in areas such as health, transportation, or security, without programming training, to design complex systems using intuitive graphical tools.

For example, a healthcare professional could model a monitoring system for older adults with temperature or gas sensors without writing a single line of code.

“The key is abstraction. We seek to hide technical complexity behind visual tools so that more people can participate in creating intelligent solutions,” explained the professor, who has been teaching Computer Science for 25 years.

What is the Internet of Things?

The Internet of Things is a growing technological paradigm. It connects everyday objects through the internet, enabling interaction between devices and users. Phones, sensors, household appliances, and automated transportation systems are all part of this ecosystem.

However, its development involves considerable complexity. The methodology proposed in this thesis reduces this complexity, accelerates the development of solutions, and optimizes the use of resources.

Social Impact

Lenin Erazo's doctoral thesis didn't just focus on theory. It has been published in high-impact scientific journals classified as Q1 (those within the top 25% in their subject area) and has already accumulated more than 30 citations in just two years.

The thesis was defended before a top-level panel. This panel included experts such as Mario Piattini Velthuis, one of the world's 15 most influential researchers in software engineering, and Marcela Genero, professor at the University of Castilla de la Mancha.

This work has also enabled the establishment of collaborative networks between universities in Ecuador, Argentina, and Spain. Students from the University of Azuay and the University of Cuenca have participated in the implementation of the proposed software.

Economically, the proposal benefits the software industry. It offers tools that increase automation, automate processes, reduce costs, and improve productivity in the development of IoT systems.

In the social sphere, the methodology facilitates the creation of reliable technologies. These are applied in fields such as healthcare, home automation, smart cities, and personal assistance. This contributes to improving the quality of life and promotes a more sustainable use of technology.

In addition, the project seeks to apply artificial intelligence to software engineering to optimize processes such as requirements gathering and systems development. To this end, it proposes creating a network of universities to collaborate on multidisciplinary research.

Knowledge transfer 

“Everything we learn outside must return to the classroom. That's our responsibility as teachers: to transfer that knowledge to our students,” the professor reflected. He has balanced his academic work between research and teaching in various programs in the field of information technology.

The tools developed in Professor Lenin Erazo's thesis have already been validated with positive results and high potential for adoption by the productive sector. The next step is to implement these solutions in real-life cases within companies, establishing closer ties between academia and industry.

Currently, the contributions of her doctoral thesis are being integrated into national and international projects with competitive funding, especially in initiatives with social impact.