Understanding and using the IEC 61850: a case for meta-modelling

The paper shows how the complex standard can be modelled elegantly and precisely with a meta-modelling approach, in which we utilise the UML for the model representation. The conceptual approach presented makes the inherent complexity of the standard's data model manageable for both humans and machines. That is, it facilitates human comprehension and machine processability and thereby contributes to a better understanding of the standard as well as to a better utilisation of the standard through functionality provided in today's CASE tools. One important aspect is that it allows one to establish and maintain consistency across the standard's data and communications models.