SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) is widely used throughout the world wherever control and monitoring of remote industrial sites are desired.
Most small electrical utility substations do not have workers on site. They are designed to run themselves. When the unexpected occurs and there is a malfunction, repairs are greatly facilitated if there is a pre-existing SCADA link. Sometimes corrective action is automatic and takes place instantly. If human intervention is needed, the nearest available workers can be dispatched, preventing a lengthy outage.
SCADA systems aren’t just found in traditional electrical substations. Consider a wind farm located on a high ridge remote from any populated area. It would be a costly and inefficient to maintain a crew of workers at these and similar sites to deal with infrequent malfunctions. And yet when maintenance is needed, it must take place in a timely fashion so as to prevent or limit any outage.
SCADA is a collection of hardware and software that lets operators monitor one or more facilities from a remote site. Often repairs are performed automatically or with a small amount of mouse and keyboard work. If direct human intervention is needed, the correct number of workers with the right tools and spare parts is dispatched and post-repair operation is observed.
SCADA provides in real time remote data acquisition and control over hardwire, telephone lines, or an Internet-based network. It is applicable to industrial processes, infrastructure such as water and waste treatment plants, oil and gas pipelines, air defense networks and communication systems. Additionally, entire facilities such as buildings or parts of them including elevator banks, airports and ships are routinely equipped with SCADA terminals. Needless to say, SCADA plays a prominent role in the ongoing remarkably successful functioning of the International Space Station.
An important part of any SCADA installation is an advanced human-machine interface (HMI). Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) and Remote Terminal Units (RTUs) work together to monitor and control the point(s) of interest. What makes it all come together are proprietary SCADA-based software programs on CDs installed on one or more computers at the monitoring site. A graphic display allows the human at the monitoring site to exercise control options for routine maintenance or specific remedial operations in the event of malfunction.
SCADA enables remote workers to poll each remote site at preset intervals, or where necessary the unmanned substation can initiate an unsolicited communication. It is one more milestone in the gradual development of artificial intelligence.
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