Method for the computer-aided creation of digital rules for monitoring a technical system, in which: - an ontology (ON) is provided that contains multiple classes comprising classes (KO) of components of the technical system, classes (BZ) of operating state characteristics of the technical system and classes (RK) of abstract rules and also semantic relations (SR) between the classes; - a user interface (UI) comprising a visual display is provided, wherein a user can use the user interface (UI) to create abstract rule formulations on the basis of the classes and the semantic relations (SR) of the ontology (ON) by using the visual display, rule formulations created by the user being stored as digital abstract rules (AR); - the digital abstract rules (AR) are instantiated for the technical system in automated fashion as digital actual rules (KR) by virtue of the classes (KO) of components in the digital abstract rules (AR) being mapped onto specific device identifications (GID) of the technical system by accessing a database (DB) containing data about the technical system, and the classes (BZ) of operating state characteristics being converted into operating state characteristics specific to the technical system that comprise the specific device identifications (GID), wherein the user can take into consideration the classes (RK) of abstract rules for creating the abstract rule formulations and the classes (RK) of abstract rules are instantiated as applicable actual rules, wherein the technical system comprises an electrical power generation installation or an electrical power grid or a turbine or an automation installation or a means of transport or a medical device. - an ontology (ON) is provided that contains multiple classes comprising classes (KO) of components of the technical system, classes (BZ) of operating state characteristics of the technical system and classes (RK) of abstract rules and also semantic relations (SR) between the classes; - a user interface (UI) comprising a visual display is provided, wherein a user can use the user interface (UI) to create abstract rule formulations on the basis of the classes and the semantic relations (SR) of the ontology (ON) by using the visual display, rule formulations created by the user being stored as digital abstract rules (AR); - the digital abstract rules (AR) are instantiated for the technical system in automated fashion as digital actual rules (KR) by virtue of the classes (KO) of components in the digital abstract rules (AR) being mapped onto specific device identifications (GID) of the technical system by accessing a database (DB) containing data about the technical system, and the classes (BZ) of operating state characteristics being converted into operating state characteristics specific to the technical system that comprise the specific device identifications (GID), wherein the user can take into consideration the classes (RK) of abstract rules for creating the abstract rule formulations and the classes (RK) of abstract rules are instantiated as applicable actual rules, wherein the technical system comprises an electrical power generation installation or an electrical power grid or a turbine or an automation installation or a means of transport or a medical device. <EOS>