SCADA

SCADA
SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition) is a system operating with coded signals over
communication channels so as to provide control of remote equipment (using typically one
communication channel per remote station). The control system may be combined with a data
acquisition system by adding the use of coded signals over communication channels to acquire
information about the status of the remote equipment for display or for recording functions. It is a
type of industrial control system (ICS). Industrial control systems are computer-based systems that
monitor and control industrial processes that exist in the physical world.
SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition) is a category of software application program for
process control, the gathering of data in real time from remote locations in order to control equipment
and conditions. SCADA is used in power plants as well as in oil and gas refining,
telecommunications, transportation, and water and waste control.
SCADA systems include hardware and software components. The hardware gathers and feeds data
into a computer that has SCADA software installed. The computer then processes this data and
presents it in a timely manner. SCADA also records and logs all events into a file stored on a hard
disk or sends them to a printer. SCADA warns when conditions become hazardous by sounding
alarms.
Terminology
A SCADA system usually consists of the following subsystems:
Remote terminal units (RTUs) connect to sensors in the process and convert sensor signals to
digital data. They have telemetry hardware capable of sending digital data to the supervisory
system, as well as receiving digital commands from the supervisory system. RTUs often have
embedded control capabilities such as ladder logic in order to accomplish boolean logic
operations.
Programmable logic controller (PLCs) connect to sensors in the process and converting sensor
signals to digital data. PLCs have more sophisticated embedded control capabilities, typically one
or more IEC 61131-3 programming languages, than RTUs. PLCs do not have telemetry hardware,
although this functionality is typically installed alongside them. PLCs are sometimes used in
place of RTUs as field devices because they are more economical, versatile, flexible, and
configurable.
A telemetry system is typically used to connect PLCs and RTUs with control centers, data
warehouses, and the enterprise. Examples of wired telemetry media used in SCADA systems
include leased telephone lines and WAN circuits. Examples of wireless telemetry media used in
SCADA systems include satellite (VSAT), licensed and unlicensed radio, cellular and
microwave.
A data acquisition server is a software service which uses industrial protocols to connect software
services, via telemetry, with field devices such as RTUs and PLCs. It allows clients to access data
from these field devices using standard protocols.

A supervisory (computer) system, gathering (acquiring) data on the process and sending
commands (control) to the SCADA system.
Communication infrastructure connecting the supervisory system to the remote terminal units.
DCS
A distributed control system (DCS) is a control system for a process or plant, wherein control
elements are distributed throughout the system. This is in contrast to non-distributed systems, which
use a single controller at a central location. In a DCS, a hierarchy of controllers is connected by
communications networks for command and monitoring.
A type of automated control system that is distributed throughout a machine to provide instructions to
different parts of the machine. Instead of having a centrally located device controlling all machines,
each section of a machine has its own computer that controls the operation. For instance, there may be
one machine with a section that controls dry elements of cake frosting and another section controlling
the liquid elements, but each section is individually managed by a DCS. A DCS is commonly used in
manufacturing equipment and utilizes input and output protocols to control the machine.

SCADA

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from these field devices using standard protocols.

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