What is SCADA?

SCADA (Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition) refers to industrial control systems that monitor and control industrial infrastructure or facility processes such as power generation, oil & gas production, water/waste-water treatments, wind farms, large communication systems, building management systems and transportation systems.

Any application that gets operating data about a system in order to control and optimize that system is a SCADA application.

That application can be a petrochemical distillation process, a water filtration system, a pipeline compressor or just about anything else.

The SCADA industry was essentially born out of a need for a user-friendly front-end to a control system containing PLCs (programmable logic controllers).

One of the key processes of SCADA is the ability to monitor an entire system in real time.

This is facilitated by data acquisitions. These include meter reading and checking statuses of sensors. These data points are communicated at standard intervals depending on the system.

A typical SCADA system can be setup to monitor a critical leak on a pipeline, and then once a leak is detected; it can carry out a chain of commands using machines to either alert a signal of the leak and/or immediately close the valve to minimize or eliminate hazardous conditions, revenue or production loss.

A SCADA network consists of one of more Master Terminal Units (MTUs). These are utilized by staff to monitor and control a large number of Remote Terminal Units (RTUs).

The MTU is often a computing platform, like a PC, which runs SCADA software. The RTUs are most likely small dedicated devices that are hardened for outdoor use and industrial environments.

Many organizations are now adopting the latest wireless communication technologies to replace certain sections of their hardwired SCADA system infrastructures with wireless equipment for improving reliability and cost.

Wireless technologies cost-effectively provide remote and localized control and transfer of live and historical data to the industries home centralized location operation.

SCADA automation is simply the means to an end and not the end itself. At the end of the day, all businesses converge on the need for maximizing return on assets through operational excellence. Staying competitive means continually finding new ways to operate faster and leaner.