Abstract: A process for constructing a Bayes network for the imaging and diagnosis of a technical system by means of a system description includes the following steps: constructing a system input node for each system input of the system; constructing a system output node for each system output of the system; imaging all components of the system by means of component state nodes, component input nodes and component output nodes; constructing linkages between component state nodes of different components by means of direct logical and/or causal relationships between function states of components; constructing linkages between component output nodes and component input nodes of different components by means of flows of material, energy and/or information in the system; constructing linkages between system input nodes and component input nodes by means of flows of material, energy and/or information in the system; and constructing linkages between component output nodes and system output nodes by means of flows of material