Disclosed is a computer-implemented method for characterizing a complex system, wherein said complex system consists of a plurality of objects and wherein relations are present between said objects, said method comprising the steps of (a) forming a hierarchical structure having a plurality of hierarchical levels, wherein super ordinate objects of a respective higher hierarchical level of the hierarchical structure are combinations of objects of a respective lower hierarchical level of the hierarchical structure, wherein a characteristic and a boundary condition is assigned to each of said objects within the hierarchical structure; (b) forming groups of objects which belong to the same superordinate object of a respective higher hierarchical level; determining relations between objects in each respective group by taking into account the respective boundary conditions of the objects within the respective group; (d) determining at least one characteristic for each group based on the determined relations between objects within a respective group while taking into account the respective boundary conditions of the objects within the respective group in order to describe a superordinate object; (e) determining boundary conditions for each object of a respective group based on the characteristic of an superordinate object which represents the respective group; (f) modifying the objects in accordance with the determined characteristics and boundary conditions; and (g) iterative repeating steps (b) to (f) until a predetermined condition is met.