diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index f09b8fa7f3..2452dcfdec 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -207,18 +207,6 @@ endif()
 # --------------------------------------------------------
 # offer the user the choice of overriding the installation directories
 # --------------------------------------------------------
-set(INSTALL_LIB_DIR lib CACHE PATH "Installation directory for libraries")
-set(INSTALL_BIN_DIR bin CACHE PATH "Installation directory for executables")
-set(INSTALL_INCLUDE_DIR include CACHE PATH
-  "Installation directory for header files")
-if(WIN32 AND NOT CYGWIN)
-  set(DEF_INSTALL_CMAKE_DIR CMake)
-else()
-  set(DEF_INSTALL_CMAKE_DIR lib/CMake/eCAL)
-endif()
-set(INSTALL_CMAKE_DIR ${DEF_INSTALL_CMAKE_DIR} CACHE PATH
-  "Installation directory for CMake files")
-
 include(GNUInstallDirs)
 set(eCAL_install_app_dir           ${CMAKE_INSTALL_BINDIR})
 set(eCAL_install_archive_dir       ${CMAKE_INSTALL_LIBDIR})
diff --git a/app/app_pb/CMakeLists.txt b/app/app_pb/CMakeLists.txt
index 4118e26256..f9202924cc 100644
--- a/app/app_pb/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/app/app_pb/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -59,7 +59,10 @@ endif()
 
 add_library(eCAL::${PROJECT_NAME} ALIAS ${PROJECT_NAME})
 
-protobuf_target_cpp(${PROJECT_NAME} ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/src INSTALL_FOLDER include ${ProtoFiles})
+protobuf_target_cpp(${PROJECT_NAME} ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/src
+  INSTALL_FOLDER "${eCAL_install_include_dir}"
+  ${ProtoFiles}
+)
 
 target_compile_options(${PROJECT_NAME}
   PRIVATE
diff --git a/app/apps/CMakeLists.txt b/app/apps/CMakeLists.txt
index 2a88de0679..2e4c3d616b 100644
--- a/app/apps/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/app/apps/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -31,9 +31,9 @@ target_include_directories(${PROJECT_NAME} INTERFACE
 
 #install(
 #  DIRECTORY "include/" 
-#  DESTINATION "${INSTALL_INCLUDE_DIR}" 
+#  DESTINATION "${eCAL_install_include_dir}"
 #  COMPONENT sdk
 #  FILES_MATCHING PATTERN "*.h"
 #)
 
-#set_property(TARGET ${PROJECT_NAME} PROPERTY FOLDER contrib)
\ No newline at end of file
+#set_property(TARGET ${PROJECT_NAME} PROPERTY FOLDER contrib)
diff --git a/app/mon/mon_plugin_lib/CMakeLists.txt b/app/mon/mon_plugin_lib/CMakeLists.txt
index bf817acdb3..f7a6f4b708 100644
--- a/app/mon/mon_plugin_lib/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/app/mon/mon_plugin_lib/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ target_compile_features(${PROJECT_NAME} PRIVATE cxx_std_14)
 
 ecal_install_library(${PROJECT_NAME})
 install(DIRECTORY
-  "include/" DESTINATION "${INSTALL_INCLUDE_DIR}" COMPONENT sdk
+  "include/" DESTINATION "${eCAL_install_include_dir}" COMPONENT sdk
    FILES_MATCHING PATTERN "*.h")
 
 set_property(TARGET ${PROJECT_NAME} PROPERTY FOLDER app/mon)
diff --git a/app/rec/rec_addon_core/CMakeLists.txt b/app/rec/rec_addon_core/CMakeLists.txt
index 430e8bb6d0..cb86af603f 100644
--- a/app/rec/rec_addon_core/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/app/rec/rec_addon_core/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ target_compile_features(${PROJECT_NAME} PUBLIC cxx_std_14)
 
 ecal_install_library(${PROJECT_NAME})
 install(DIRECTORY
-  "include/" DESTINATION "${INSTALL_INCLUDE_DIR}" COMPONENT sdk
+  "include/" DESTINATION "${eCAL_install_include_dir}" COMPONENT sdk
    FILES_MATCHING PATTERN "*.h")
 
 source_group(TREE "${CMAKE_CURRENT_LIST_DIR}"
diff --git a/cmake/helper_functions/ecal_install_functions.cmake b/cmake/helper_functions/ecal_install_functions.cmake
index 0558740809..66b1907b8c 100644
--- a/cmake/helper_functions/ecal_install_functions.cmake
+++ b/cmake/helper_functions/ecal_install_functions.cmake
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ endfunction()
 
 
 # Samples are sample applications that demonstrate eCAL capability
-# They will be installed to "${INSTALL_BIN_DIR}/ecal_samples"
+# They will be installed to `${prefix}/share/ecal/samples`
 function(ecal_install_sample TARGET_NAME)
   install(TARGETS ${TARGET_NAME}
     RUNTIME DESTINATION  "${eCAL_install_samples_dir}" COMPONENT samples
diff --git a/contrib/ecalhdf5/CMakeLists.txt b/contrib/ecalhdf5/CMakeLists.txt
index 37b87df48f..cd9073b74b 100644
--- a/contrib/ecalhdf5/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/contrib/ecalhdf5/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ source_group(TREE "${CMAKE_CURRENT_LIST_DIR}"
 
 ecal_install_library(${PROJECT_NAME})
 install(DIRECTORY
-    "include/" DESTINATION "${INSTALL_INCLUDE_DIR}" COMPONENT sdk
+    "include/" DESTINATION "${eCAL_install_include_dir}" COMPONENT sdk
     FILES_MATCHING PATTERN "*.h")
 
 set_property(TARGET ${PROJECT_NAME} PROPERTY FOLDER contrib)
diff --git a/contrib/ecaltime/ecaltime_pb/CMakeLists.txt b/contrib/ecaltime/ecaltime_pb/CMakeLists.txt
index 59998dfefe..a6d9cd7513 100644
--- a/contrib/ecaltime/ecaltime_pb/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/contrib/ecaltime/ecaltime_pb/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -48,7 +48,10 @@ endif()
 
 add_library(eCAL::${PROJECT_NAME} ALIAS ${PROJECT_NAME})
 
-protobuf_target_cpp(${PROJECT_NAME} ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/src INSTALL_FOLDER include ${ProtoFiles})
+protobuf_target_cpp(${PROJECT_NAME} ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/src
+  INSTALL_FOLDER "${eCAL_install_include_dir}"
+  ${ProtoFiles}
+)
 
 target_compile_options(${PROJECT_NAME}
   PRIVATE
diff --git a/contrib/measurement/base/CMakeLists.txt b/contrib/measurement/base/CMakeLists.txt
index 3e89f6554d..258a0fdf9f 100644
--- a/contrib/measurement/base/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/contrib/measurement/base/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ target_include_directories(${PROJECT_NAME} INTERFACE
 ecal_install_library(${PROJECT_NAME})
 
 install(DIRECTORY
-   "include/" DESTINATION "${INSTALL_INCLUDE_DIR}" COMPONENT sdk
+   "include/" DESTINATION "${eCAL_install_include_dir}" COMPONENT sdk
 )
 
 
diff --git a/contrib/measurement/hdf5/CMakeLists.txt b/contrib/measurement/hdf5/CMakeLists.txt
index 9e17e8aefc..209d68daaa 100644
--- a/contrib/measurement/hdf5/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/contrib/measurement/hdf5/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ target_link_libraries(${PROJECT_NAME}
 ecal_install_library(${PROJECT_NAME})
 
 install(DIRECTORY
-   "include/" DESTINATION "${INSTALL_INCLUDE_DIR}" COMPONENT sdk
+   "include/" DESTINATION "${eCAL_install_include_dir}" COMPONENT sdk
 )
 
 set_property(TARGET ${PROJECT_NAME} PROPERTY FOLDER contrib)
diff --git a/ecal/core/CMakeLists.txt b/ecal/core/CMakeLists.txt
index 29e4de4b98..9b753a1fcb 100644
--- a/ecal/core/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/ecal/core/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -764,12 +764,12 @@ ecal_install_ecal_shared_library(${PROJECT_NAME}_c)
 ecal_install_ecal_shared_library(${PROJECT_NAME})
 
 install(DIRECTORY
-   "include/" DESTINATION "${INSTALL_INCLUDE_DIR}" COMPONENT sdk
+   "include/" DESTINATION "${eCAL_install_include_dir}" COMPONENT sdk
     FILES_MATCHING PATTERN "*.h")
 
 # install generated ecal_defs.h file    
 install(DIRECTORY
-   "${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/include/" DESTINATION "${INSTALL_INCLUDE_DIR}" COMPONENT sdk
+   "${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/include/" DESTINATION "${eCAL_install_include_dir}" COMPONENT sdk
     FILES_MATCHING PATTERN "*.h")
 
 if(NOT ${CMAKE_VERSION} VERSION_LESS "3.8.0") 
@@ -793,4 +793,4 @@ if(UNIX)
     ecal_install_app(${PROJECT_NAME_PROCESS_STUB})
 
     set_property(TARGET ${PROJECT_NAME_PROCESS_STUB} PROPERTY FOLDER core)
-endif(UNIX)
\ No newline at end of file
+endif(UNIX)
diff --git a/ecal/core_pb/CMakeLists.txt b/ecal/core_pb/CMakeLists.txt
index 6259f6a56a..6ab84cd160 100644
--- a/ecal/core_pb/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/ecal/core_pb/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -56,7 +56,10 @@ endif()
 
 add_library(eCAL::${PROJECT_NAME} ALIAS ${PROJECT_NAME})
 
-protobuf_target_cpp(${PROJECT_NAME} ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/src INSTALL_FOLDER include ${ProtoFiles})
+protobuf_target_cpp(${PROJECT_NAME} ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/src
+  INSTALL_FOLDER "${eCAL_install_include_dir}"
+  ${ProtoFiles}
+)
 
 target_compile_options(${PROJECT_NAME}
   PRIVATE
diff --git a/lang/csharp/Continental.eCAL.Core.Test/CMakeLists.txt b/lang/csharp/Continental.eCAL.Core.Test/CMakeLists.txt
index 810e2a36a2..8a28316699 100644
--- a/lang/csharp/Continental.eCAL.Core.Test/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/lang/csharp/Continental.eCAL.Core.Test/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -43,9 +43,9 @@ set_property(TARGET ${PROJECT_NAME}  PROPERTY
 install(TARGETS ${PROJECT_NAME}
     # IMPORTANT: Add the library to the "export-set"
     EXPORT eCALTargets
-    RUNTIME DESTINATION "${INSTALL_BIN_DIR}" COMPONENT runtime
-    LIBRARY DESTINATION "${INSTALL_LIB_DIR}" COMPONENT sdk
-    PUBLIC_HEADER DESTINATION "${INSTALL_INCLUDE_DIR}/ecal" COMPONENT sdk
+    RUNTIME DESTINATION "${eCAL_install_bin_dir}" COMPONENT runtime
+    LIBRARY DESTINATION "${eCAL_install_lib_dir}" COMPONENT sdk
+    PUBLIC_HEADER DESTINATION "${eCAL_install_include_dir}/ecal" COMPONENT sdk
 )
 
 set_property(TARGET ${PROJECT_NAME} PROPERTY FOLDER tests/csharp)
diff --git a/lang/csharp/Continental.eCAL.Core/CMakeLists.txt b/lang/csharp/Continental.eCAL.Core/CMakeLists.txt
index c918aff104..b1c42aac56 100644
--- a/lang/csharp/Continental.eCAL.Core/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/lang/csharp/Continental.eCAL.Core/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -39,9 +39,9 @@ set_property(TARGET ${PROJECT_NAME} PROPERTY POSITION_INDEPENDENT_CODE ON)
 install(TARGETS ${PROJECT_NAME}
     # IMPORTANT: Add the library to the "export-set"
     EXPORT eCALTargets
-    RUNTIME DESTINATION "${INSTALL_BIN_DIR}" COMPONENT runtime
-    LIBRARY DESTINATION "${INSTALL_LIB_DIR}" COMPONENT sdk
-    PUBLIC_HEADER DESTINATION "${INSTALL_INCLUDE_DIR}/ecal" COMPONENT sdk
+    RUNTIME DESTINATION "${eCAL_install_bin_dir}" COMPONENT runtime
+    LIBRARY DESTINATION "${eCAL_install_lib_dir}" COMPONENT sdk
+    PUBLIC_HEADER DESTINATION "${eCAL_install_include_dir}/ecal" COMPONENT sdk
 )
 
 set_property(TARGET ${PROJECT_NAME} PROPERTY FOLDER lang/csharp)
diff --git a/lang/csharp/Continental.eCAL.Protobuf.Test/CMakeLists.txt b/lang/csharp/Continental.eCAL.Protobuf.Test/CMakeLists.txt
index 1d6ca615b5..18090823cb 100644
--- a/lang/csharp/Continental.eCAL.Protobuf.Test/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/lang/csharp/Continental.eCAL.Protobuf.Test/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -43,9 +43,9 @@ set_property(TARGET ${PROJECT_NAME}  PROPERTY
 install(TARGETS ${PROJECT_NAME}
     # IMPORTANT: Add the library to the "export-set"
     EXPORT eCALTargets
-    RUNTIME DESTINATION "${INSTALL_BIN_DIR}" COMPONENT runtime
-    LIBRARY DESTINATION "${INSTALL_LIB_DIR}" COMPONENT sdk
-    PUBLIC_HEADER DESTINATION "${INSTALL_INCLUDE_DIR}/ecal" COMPONENT sdk
+    RUNTIME DESTINATION "${eCAL_install_bin_dir}" COMPONENT runtime
+    LIBRARY DESTINATION "${eCAL_install_lib_dir}" COMPONENT sdk
+    PUBLIC_HEADER DESTINATION "${eCAL_install_include_dir}/ecal" COMPONENT sdk
 )
 
 set_property(TARGET ${PROJECT_NAME} PROPERTY FOLDER tests/csharp)
diff --git a/lang/csharp/Continental.eCAL.Protobuf/CMakeLists.txt b/lang/csharp/Continental.eCAL.Protobuf/CMakeLists.txt
index 7c82155993..88e8f545f0 100644
--- a/lang/csharp/Continental.eCAL.Protobuf/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/lang/csharp/Continental.eCAL.Protobuf/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -46,9 +46,9 @@ set_property(TARGET ${PROJECT_NAME} PROPERTY
 install(TARGETS ${PROJECT_NAME}
     # IMPORTANT: Add the library to the "export-set"
     EXPORT eCALTargets
-    RUNTIME DESTINATION "${INSTALL_BIN_DIR}" COMPONENT runtime
-    LIBRARY DESTINATION "${INSTALL_LIB_DIR}" COMPONENT sdk
-    PUBLIC_HEADER DESTINATION "${INSTALL_INCLUDE_DIR}/ecal" COMPONENT sdk
+    RUNTIME DESTINATION "${eCAL_install_bin_dir}" COMPONENT runtime
+    LIBRARY DESTINATION "${eCAL_install_lib_dir}" COMPONENT sdk
+    PUBLIC_HEADER DESTINATION "${eCAL_install_include_dir}/ecal" COMPONENT sdk
 )
 
 set_property(TARGET ${PROJECT_NAME} PROPERTY FOLDER lang/csharp)
diff --git a/thirdparty/asio/build-asio.cmake b/thirdparty/asio/build-asio.cmake
index c835e9a012..0d0ea6bf90 100644
--- a/thirdparty/asio/build-asio.cmake
+++ b/thirdparty/asio/build-asio.cmake
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 include_guard(GLOBAL)
 
+include(GNUInstallDirs)
 add_library(asio INTERFACE EXCLUDE_FROM_ALL)
 target_include_directories(asio INTERFACE 
   $<BUILD_INTERFACE:${CMAKE_CURRENT_LIST_DIR}/asio/asio/include>
@@ -20,7 +21,7 @@ install(
 install(
   EXPORT asioTargets 
   FILE asioTargets.cmake 
-  DESTINATION lib/CMake
+  DESTINATION "${CMAKE_INSTALL_LIBDIR}/cmake"
   NAMESPACE asio::
   COMPONENT asio_dev
-)
\ No newline at end of file
+)
diff --git a/thirdparty/cmakefunctions/cmake_functions/CMakeLists.txt b/thirdparty/cmakefunctions/cmake_functions/CMakeLists.txt
index 8d13b791c1..4d44da2ae7 100644
--- a/thirdparty/cmakefunctions/cmake_functions/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/thirdparty/cmakefunctions/cmake_functions/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -4,11 +4,12 @@ include(cmake_functions.cmake)
 
 project(CMakeFunctions VERSION 0.4.1)
 
+include(GNUInstallDirs)
 if (MSVC)
 # Variable definitions
 set(cmake_functions_install_cmake_dir   cmake)
 else (MSVC)
-set(cmake_functions_install_cmake_dir   lib/cmake/${PROJECT_NAME}-${PROJECT_VERSION})
+set(cmake_functions_install_cmake_dir   "${CMAKE_INSTALL_LIBDIR}/cmake/${PROJECT_NAME}-${PROJECT_VERSION}")
 endif (MSVC)
 set(cmake_functions_config              ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/cmake/${PROJECT_NAME}Config.cmake)
 set(cmake_functions_config_version      ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/cmake/${PROJECT_NAME}ConfigVersion.cmake)
diff --git a/thirdparty/hdf5/build-hdf5.cmake b/thirdparty/hdf5/build-hdf5.cmake
index de11131e15..dc3aa09e30 100644
--- a/thirdparty/hdf5/build-hdf5.cmake
+++ b/thirdparty/hdf5/build-hdf5.cmake
@@ -28,7 +28,8 @@ include_guard(GLOBAL)
   set(HDF5_BUILD_EXAMPLES    OFF CACHE BOOL "Do not build HDF5 Library Examples" FORCE)
   set(HDF5_BUILD_CPP_LIB     OFF CACHE BOOL "Do not build C++ lib" FORCE)
   set(HDF5_BUILD_HL_LIB      OFF CACHE BOOL "Do not build hdf5-hl" FORCE)
-  
+  set(HDF5_USE_GNU_DIRS      ON  CACHE BOOL "Use GNU install dirs" FORCE)
+
   # TODO: Let HDF5 use its own targets.
   # Adding the HDF5 targets to the eCALCoreTargets is a hack that we have had
   # before and so I am adding it again, to not break compatibility in eCAL 5.8
@@ -74,4 +75,4 @@ include_guard(GLOBAL)
     unset(CMAKE_RUNTIME_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY CACHE)
   endif()
   
-  set(BUILD_SHARED_LIBS ${OLD_BUILD_SHARED_LIBS} CACHE BOOL "Build hdf5 shared" FORCE)
\ No newline at end of file
+  set(BUILD_SHARED_LIBS ${OLD_BUILD_SHARED_LIBS} CACHE BOOL "Build hdf5 shared" FORCE)