The aim of this study is to develop a software-oriented framework that will help simulate and study high impedance faults (HIFs) in power distribution systems, as well as design adequate HIF detection techniques. After a thorough literature review, three well-established HIF models have been developed in EMTP-RV, as part of this work. Systematic (black box) modelling is applied so that each developed HIF model can be used in any power system under investigation in the future. An overview of the mostly available HIF detection methods is also included in this study, which subsequently concludes with the development of two proper HIF detection techniques in EMTP-RV/MATLAB environment. A real 20 kV radial overhead distribution line located in Xanthi, Greece is modelled in EMTP-RV and several HIFs at various time and locations are simulated. The simulation results are presented in order to evaluate the accuracy of the developed HIF models and the effectiveness of the developed HIF detection techniques.