For many years, supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems have been deployed using common architectures,
hardware designed to maximize communications, and multiple software sub-systems
that are not integrated off the shelf. These traditional systems have evolved over time
from totally centralized mainframe systems to distributed systems built with off-the-shelf
hardware and custom software. The growth in capabilities of these systems has been
controlled largely by two major factors: the availability of reliable communications
between remote locations and the central host control room; and, by the capabilities
of software used to manage the hardware systems.
However, it is now possible to create more flexible and manageable SCADA systems
using several key technologies that have been available for many years. These
important technologies include object-oriented programming (OOP) and operations
environments, an improved communications infrastructure, and the use of robust
software tools that allow you to design, configure, and test SCADA systems
independent of the hardware they are originally intended to work with, thus allowing you
to upgrade to as yet unknown hardware without re-engineering the system.
By incorporating these key components into existing SCADA systems, utility owners will
see a reduction in both time and cost associated with developing and maintaining a
SCADA system. Owners will also see increased benefits from being able to establish
and enforce consistent control and communication standards across their whole
enterprise.
This paper details important shortcomings of existing SCADA
architectures, explains how the use of specific new technologies can benefit water
SCADA applications, and describes how these technologies are built into automation
software.
| Edition : | Vol. - No. |
| File Size : | 1
file
, 150 KB |
| Note : | This product is unavailable in Ukraine, Russia, Belarus |
| Number of Pages : | 9 |
| Published : | 04/27/2003 |
