Water management

SCADA/HMI

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November 2008 SCADA/HMI

Technology changes in the water industry.

The water management market is changing very fast with the most important recent developments being:

* Far-reaching centralisation – the world-wide trend is to integrate services for city councils, municipalities and water boards.

* Integration of technologies such as a Internet, communication (GPRS, SMS, UMTS), hosting and data management.

* Cost saving in the new chain – the new larger systems serve huge areas, cost more and need to be efficient to realise the potential savings. Both the prices for new installations and cost-of-ownership are important here.

Seven steps have been identified to implement an efficient water management system:

1. Open communication is critical – it is better to be able to integrate than to replace existing control layers.

2. Google Earth technology.

3. Integration with GIS systems.

4. Support for existing telecommunication standards.

5. Complete service by means of a standard web browser.

6. Alarming by means of e-mail, SMS and/or speech.

7. Hosting services for data; only pay what is used, and if it can be produced.

A technology checklist

Users should make certain that the control and HMI technology that are used comply with their requirements. Existing technologies should not be changed unless they no longer meet current requirements.

The physical and organisational requirements in the water industry present unique challenges. To meet these, the most important features to look for are:

* Interfacing to existing and future systems – open, simple and easy to maintain.

* Replication and enhancements should not require re-engineering. Make certain that over and above standard protocols for PLCs, that open architecture standards and communication protocols are supported (OPC (DA, HDA, A&E, XML), OLE Automation, ODBC/SQL, HTTP, XML, DNP3, IEC60870-5, Modbus & DFI). Open protocols to be supported – OPC, MODBUS, IEC60870-5 and DNP3.

* Multiple communication link support is especially important, because control/data in the water industry happens over Ethernet, radio systems, GPRS communication systems etc.

* Make certain that the HMI product chosen makes use of component objects.

* Event logging of all actions, alarms, set point violations, acknowledgements and configuration changes is important for disaster aversion systems.

* Redundancy – computers can fail.

To obtain more information you are welcome to contact Jaco via e-mail at: [email protected]

For more information contact Jaco Hoogenboezem, SCADAgroup, +27 (0)83 282 5706, [email protected], www.scadagroup.co.za

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