What are SCADA Systems and What Are Their Functions?
The full form of SCADA is Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition. SCADA is actually a name given to the control systems of industries. The work of this control system is to monitor and control the following processes:
1. Industrial processes
Industrial processes controlled by SCADA systems include:
? Refining
? Production
? Manufacture
? Fabrication and,
? Power generation
These processes can be done using repetitive, batch, discrete, or continuous modes. This system is responsible for controlling lighting, refrigeration, and entry units.
2. Infrastructure processes
The infrastructure processes monitored by SCADA systems can be public as well as private. These include:
? Water treatment
? Water distribution
? Collection of waste water
? Treatment or waste water
? Electricity transmission
? Distribution of electricity
Others include:
? Civil defense siren systems
? Large communication processes
? Gas and pipeline monitoring
? Wind farms
3. Facility processes
SCADA systems can be used to monitor both, private as well as public processes. The facility processes include space stations, airports, ships, and buildings. A transportation company can use the SCADA system to monitor the following processes:
? The electricity supply
? Controlling of traffic signals for railway systems
? The tracking and location of trains and also buses
? Crossing gates can be controlled at railroads using SCADA systems
Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system works by putting together the data that it receives from numerous sensors. It then transmits the compiled data to a central computer system. This computer system stores the received data. The ability to supervise various processes in real time is the topmost benefit of the usage of SCADA systems.
What does a SCADA system comprise of
A SCADA system is a central area that contains all the following components:
? Input and output signal hardware
? Networks
? Communication software and equipments
? Controllers
? User interface
It has many functions. Nonetheless, the most important ones carried out by this type of system are:
? Gathering of data
? Presenting data in a suitable form
? Transmitting data and,
? Controlling different processes
SCADA systems are the most popular and are considered the best ones around the world. These are very useful and have made our lives a lot easier. Without this type of system, it would have been very difficult for humans to control all the processes. It is considered as a highly intellectual system that has the capability of operating on its own or with little human involvement.
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