Comprehensible software architecture visualization with C4 model for WRM ecosystem members

Nordic countries have to deal with traffic safety challenges during the winter weather conditions such as snow, ice, snow slush, black ice etc. In order to increase the effectiveness of the winter road maintenance (WRM) decisions, an open and modular intelligent winter road maintenance support information system (IWiRoM) has been developed for Latvia’s road managers responsible for WRM operations. IWiRoM allows to make data-driven proactive decisions, minimize response time for performing optimal WRM operations, thus promoting driving safety during the winter season. During the IWiRoM development project an ecosystem has been established including large variety of actors, roles, responsibilities and interests. In order to develop an effective WRM solution, an extensive collaboration has been carried out with different stakeholders requesting an appropriate method for IWiRoM solution architecture design supporting communication during the project development and after. This paper describes how “C4 model” has been used as an architecture visualization method that gradually decomposes the system, defining the main building blocks and designing and detailing the specific services and components sequentially. Therefore, C4 method ensures the level of detail depending on stakeholder needs and interests.