A computer-implemented method of monitoring and controlling an HVAC system which comprises one or more fluid transportation systems (10a, 10b, 10c, 10m, 10) with a plurality of parallel zones in each of the fluid transportation systems (10a, 10b, 10c, 10m, 10), the method comprising one or more processors of a computer system performing the steps of: receiving via a communication network from a plurality of devices of the HVAC system a plurality of operating variables of the fluid transportation systems (10a, 10b, 10c, 10m, 10); determining for each of the operating variables a temporal course of the respective operating variable; and detecting from the temporal courses of the operating variables interdependencies between the temporal courses of the operating variables; characterized by the one or more processors of the computer system performing the steps of: grouping the operating variables and their associated devices into different sets, depending on the interdependencies, each set being related to a different section of the HVAC system and including the operating variables and their associated devices related to the different section of the HVAC system; and using the sets to control the HVAC system by performing at least one of: controlling the devices of a particular section of the HVAC system, using the operating variables related to the particular section of the HVAC system, and generating a fault detection message regarding one or more of the devices of the particular section of the HVAC system, using the operating variables associated with the one or more devices of the particular section of the HVAC system. receiving via a communication network from a plurality of devices of the HVAC system a plurality of operating variables of the fluid transportation systems (10a, 10b, 10c, 10m, 10); determining for each of the operating variables a temporal course of the respective operating variable; and detecting from the temporal courses of the operating variables interdependencies between the temporal courses of the operating variables; characterized by the one or more processors of the computer system performing the steps of: grouping the operating variables and their associated devices into different sets, depending on the interdependencies, each set being related to a different section of the HVAC system and including the operating variables and their associated devices related to the different section of the HVAC system; and using the sets to control the HVAC system by performing at least one of: controlling the devices of a particular section of the HVAC system, using the operating variables related to the particular section of the HVAC system, and generating a fault detection message regarding one or more of the devices of the particular section of the HVAC system, using the operating variables associated with the one or more devices of the particular section of the HVAC system. grouping the operating variables and their associated devices into different sets, depending on the interdependencies, each set being related to a different section of the HVAC system and including the operating variables and their associated devices related to the different section of the HVAC system; and using the sets to control the HVAC system by performing at least one of: controlling the devices of a particular section of the HVAC system, using the operating variables related to the particular section of the HVAC system, and generating a fault detection message regarding one or more of the devices of the particular section of the HVAC system, using the operating variables associated with the one or more devices of the particular section of the HVAC system.