EE434 Digital Communications
Syllabus | International University of Sarajevo - Last Update on Oct 10, 2025
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Electrical and Electronics Engineering
Tarik Namas
Course Lecturer
Course Objectives
The Digital Communications course provides a comprehensive understanding of industrial data communication protocols, networks and the fundamentals of SCADA systems. Students will gain knowledge of various communication protocols used in industrial automation, develop an understanding of SCADA system architecture, components, and functions, and acquire skills in configuring and troubleshooting industrial communication networks. Additionally, they will familiarize themselves with data acquisition and monitoring techniques in SCADA systems. Also, this course provides students the knowledge of the structure, classification, and application of the telecommunication system including data acquisition system and control in energy supply networks. The goal of this course is to give the students a complete overview of the tasks, structures, tools, and challenges that are required today in the electrification and automation. Students will be familiar with the processing and operating principle of the signal processing unit, the practical signal processing units and the programming technics to collect the data in real systems. Besides, students will be introduced to knowledge of the SCADA system and some specific software to design the SCADA system. Student will learn and deal with the communication structures in field, station, and network control technology, which form the backbone of future energy supply developments. Main objective of this course is: “Preparing students for the work environment in line with current trends and equipment used on a global scale”.
Learning Outcomes
After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
Course Materials
Required Textbook
Substation Automation systems Design and Implementation, Evelio Padilla, Wiley Computer Networks: A Systems Approach, Larry Peterson and Bruce Davie Practical Modern SCADA Protocols: DNP3, 60870.5 and Related Systems by Gordon Clarke CP Eng BEng MBA (Author), Deon Reynders Pr Eng BSc (ElecEng) (Hons) MBA (Author)
Additional Literature
IEC standards (ISO/IEC 27001, IEC 62351, IEC 61850, IEC 60870-5, IEC 62439) and recommendations IEEE database Market Leaders (Siemens/ABB/Hitachi/GE/Schneider...) available documentationTeaching Methods
Combination of lectures (theory and explaining the background of the topic) and practical exercises.
Weekly Topics
| Week | Topic | Readings / References |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction (Introduction to Digital Communications; Digital communications in Energy networks with focus for Substation Automation) | |
| 2 | Basic communication principles (Communication principles, common communication practices, and a selection of theories; Basic communication principles in Energy networks) | |
| 3 | Electrification and Automation (Energy and Automation in Digital communication world; Automation of energy supply networks; Communication structures; Current developments in energy automation; Main voltages and network structures; Grid protection tasks and grid protection principles; Practical exercise and demonstrations) | |
| 4 | Digital Substation principles (Connecting substation to Digital world; Energy networks (with focus on substations) in the Digital world) | |
| 5 | Mission critical communication networks (Transmission communication protocol and networks) | |
| 6 | Communication protocols and networks (Design, analysis, and implementation of networks and protocols) | |
| 7 | Communication protocols and networks (Substation automation communication standards and protocols; IEC 61850 standard in substation communication) | |
| 8 | Midterm exam | |
| 9 | Communication protocols and networks (Substation automation communication protocols; Modbus RTU/TCP, IEC 60870-5-x) | |
| 10 | Cyber security (Fundamentals of security related activities, security technologies and concepts; Cyber security for the industry and Energy Automation systems) | |
| 11 | SCADA system architecture (Substation automation elements) | |
| 12 | Practical examples and market-leader solutions for Digital communications (Overview of available Digital communications solutions with its pros and cons; Practical examples from market-leaders in Energy sector) | |
| 13 | Smart Infrastructure (Industrial IoT (IIoT) - future of intelligent infrastructure and learn about the latest technologies and trends) | |
| 14 | AI in Energy system (Tomorrow's energy system will have to overcome many different challenges in the areas of cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and environmental aspects) | |
| 15 | Practical examples and presentations |
Course Schedule (All Sections)
| Section | Type | Day 1 | Venue 1 | Day 2 | Venue 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EE434.1 | Course | Monday 17:00 - 19:50 | A F1.10 | - | - |
Office Hours & Room
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Assessment Components
Final Exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4 5
Midterm
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 3 5
Quizzes
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 3 5
Project assignment and presentation
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 2 4
IUS Grading System
| Grading Scale | IUS Grading System | IUS Coeff. | Letter (B&H) | Numerical (B&H) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 - 44 | F | 0 | F | 5 |
| 45 - 54 | E | 1 | ||
| 55 - 64 | C | 2 | E | 6 |
| 65 - 69 | C+ | 2.3 | D | 7 |
| 70 -74 | B- | 2.7 | ||
| 75 - 79 | B | 3 | C | 8 |
| 80 - 84 | B+ | 3.3 | ||
| 85 - 94 | A- | 3.7 | B | 9 |
| 95 - 100 | A | 4 | A | 10 |
Late Work Policy
Information about late submission policies will be shared during class and posted in this section. Please check back for official guidelines.
ECTS Credit Calculation
📚 Student Workload
This 6 ECTS credit course corresponds to 150 hours of total student workload, distributed as follows:
Lecture hours
42 hours ⏳ (14 week × 3 h)
In-term exam study
30 hours ⏳ (3 week × 10 h)
Project assignment / presentations
24 hours ⏳ (12 week × 2 h)
Home study
42 hours ⏳ (14 week × 3 h)
Final exam study
12 hours ⏳ (1 week × 12 h)
150 Total Workload Hours
6 ECTS Credits
Course Policies
Academic Integrity
All work submitted must be your own. Plagiarism, cheating, or any form of academic dishonesty will result in disciplinary action according to university policies. When in doubt about citation practices, consult the instructor.
Attendance Policy
Students are expected to adhere to the attendance requirements as outlined in the International University of Sarajevo Study Rules and Regulations. Excessive absences, whether excused or unexcused, may impact academic performance and eligibility for assessment. Mandatory sessions (e.g., labs, workshops) require attendance unless formally exempted. For detailed policies on absences, documentation, and penalties, please refer to the official university regulations.
Technology & AI Policy
Laptops/tablets may be used for note-taking only during lectures. Phones should be silenced and put away during all class sessions. Audio/video recording requires prior permission from the instructor.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Usage: The use of AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini) varies by assessment component. Please refer to the AI usage indicator next to each assessment item in the Assessment Methods and Criteria section above. Submitting AI-generated content as your own work, where AI is not explicitly allowed, constitutes an academic integrity violation.
Communication Policy
All course-related communication should occur through official university channels (institutional email or SIS). Emails should include [EE434] in the subject line.
Academic Quality Assurance Policy
Course Academic Quality Assurance is achieved through Semester Student Survey. At the end of each academic year, the institution of higher education is obliged to evaluate work of the academic staff, or the success of realization of the curricula.
Learning Tips
Be prepared to contribute thoughtfully during class discussions, labs, or collaborative work. Active participation deepens understanding and encourages critical thinking.
Complete assigned readings or prep materials before class. Take notes, highlight key ideas, and jot down questions. Aim to grasp core concepts and their applications—not just facts.
Use course frameworks or methodologies to analyze problems, case studies, or projects. Begin early to allow time for reflection and refinement. Seek feedback to improve your work.
Don’t hesitate to reach out when something is unclear. Use office hours, discussion boards, or peer networks to clarify concepts and stay on track.
Syllabus Last Updated on Oct 10, 2025 | International University of Sarajevo
Print Syllabus
Referencing Curricula Print this page
| Course Code | Course Title | Weekly Hours* | ECTS | Weekly Class Schedule | ||||||
| T | P | |||||||||
| EE434 | Digital Communications | 2 | 5 | 6 | ||||||
| Prerequisite | EE331 | It is a prerequisite to | - | |||||||
| Lecturer | Tarik Namas | Office Hours / Room / Phone | ||||||||
| tnamas@ius.edu.ba | ||||||||||
| Assistant | Assistant E-mail | |||||||||
| Course Objectives | The Digital Communications course provides a comprehensive understanding of industrial data communication protocols, networks and the fundamentals of SCADA systems. Students will gain knowledge of various communication protocols used in industrial automation, develop an understanding of SCADA system architecture, components, and functions, and acquire skills in configuring and troubleshooting industrial communication networks. Additionally, they will familiarize themselves with data acquisition and monitoring techniques in SCADA systems. Also, this course provides students the knowledge of the structure, classification, and application of the telecommunication system including data acquisition system and control in energy supply networks. The goal of this course is to give the students a complete overview of the tasks, structures, tools, and challenges that are required today in the electrification and automation. Students will be familiar with the processing and operating principle of the signal processing unit, the practical signal processing units and the programming technics to collect the data in real systems. Besides, students will be introduced to knowledge of the SCADA system and some specific software to design the SCADA system. Student will learn and deal with the communication structures in field, station, and network control technology, which form the backbone of future energy supply developments. Main objective of this course is: “Preparing students for the work environment in line with current trends and equipment used on a global scale”. |
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| Textbook | Substation Automation systems Design and Implementation, Evelio Padilla, Wiley Computer Networks: A Systems Approach, Larry Peterson and Bruce Davie Practical Modern SCADA Protocols: DNP3, 60870.5 and Related Systems by Gordon Clarke CP Eng BEng MBA (Author), Deon Reynders Pr Eng BSc (ElecEng) (Hons) MBA (Author) | |||||||||
| Additional Literature |
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| Learning Outcomes | After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to: | |||||||||
|
||||||||||
| Teaching Methods | Combination of lectures (theory and explaining the background of the topic) and practical exercises. | |||||||||
| Teaching Method Delivery | Face-to-face | Teaching Method Delivery Notes | ||||||||
| WEEK | TOPIC | REFERENCE | ||||||||
| Week 1 | Introduction (Introduction to Digital Communications; Digital communications in Energy networks with focus for Substation Automation) | |||||||||
| Week 2 | Basic communication principles (Communication principles, common communication practices, and a selection of theories; Basic communication principles in Energy networks) | |||||||||
| Week 3 | Electrification and Automation (Energy and Automation in Digital communication world; Automation of energy supply networks; Communication structures; Current developments in energy automation; Main voltages and network structures; Grid protection tasks and grid protection principles; Practical exercise and demonstrations) | |||||||||
| Week 4 | Digital Substation principles (Connecting substation to Digital world; Energy networks (with focus on substations) in the Digital world) | |||||||||
| Week 5 | Mission critical communication networks (Transmission communication protocol and networks) | |||||||||
| Week 6 | Communication protocols and networks (Design, analysis, and implementation of networks and protocols) | |||||||||
| Week 7 | Communication protocols and networks (Substation automation communication standards and protocols; IEC 61850 standard in substation communication) | |||||||||
| Week 8 | Midterm exam | |||||||||
| Week 9 | Communication protocols and networks (Substation automation communication protocols; Modbus RTU/TCP, IEC 60870-5-x) | |||||||||
| Week 10 | Cyber security (Fundamentals of security related activities, security technologies and concepts; Cyber security for the industry and Energy Automation systems) | |||||||||
| Week 11 | SCADA system architecture (Substation automation elements) | |||||||||
| Week 12 | Practical examples and market-leader solutions for Digital communications (Overview of available Digital communications solutions with its pros and cons; Practical examples from market-leaders in Energy sector) | |||||||||
| Week 13 | Smart Infrastructure (Industrial IoT (IIoT) - future of intelligent infrastructure and learn about the latest technologies and trends) | |||||||||
| Week 14 | AI in Energy system (Tomorrow's energy system will have to overcome many different challenges in the areas of cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and environmental aspects) | |||||||||
| Week 15 | Practical examples and presentations | |||||||||
| Assessment Methods and Criteria | Evaluation Tool | Quantity | Weight | Alignment with LOs | AI Usage |
| Final Exam | 1 | 30 | 1,2,3,4,5 | Not Allowed | |
| Semester Evaluation Components | |||||
| Midterm | 1 | 30 | 1,3,5 | Not Allowed | |
| Quizzes | 2 | 20 | 1,3,5 | Not Allowed | |
| Project assignment and presentation | 1 | 20 | 2,4 | Not Allowed | |
| *** ECTS Credit Calculation *** | |||||
| Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | |||
| Lecture hours | 3 | 14 | 42 | In-term exam study | 10 | 3 | 30 | |||
| Project assignment / presentations | 2 | 12 | 24 | Home study | 3 | 14 | 42 | |||
| Final exam study | 12 | 1 | 12 | |||||||
| Total Workload Hours = | 150 | |||||||||
| *T= Teaching, P= Practice | ECTS Credit = | 6 | ||||||||
| Course Academic Quality Assurance: Semester Student Survey | Last Update Date: 07/10/2025 | |||||||||