: Olberding, W.; Müller, A.; Batz, T.

Abstract
This contribution describes the use of object- oriented methods for projecting distributed automation systems (initial construction, maintenance and further development). These object- oriented methods allow a clear, cost-efficient and - in the ideal case - non redundant description of the distributed automation system to be built. By means of inheritance similiar objects can be modelled, with their common properties in superclasses and their differences in the respective classes, in an elegant and simple fashion. Such a description of a distributed automation system is of great assistance as an online documentation, for modification during the maintenance phase and for further development of the complete system (extension by adding new plant components or increasing the functionality).