SCADA is a system for managing and acquiring data used in process management policies. It requires hardware components such as a database, programmable logic controller, network, central repository system, and HMI. SCADA can access data faster than other systems and is useful for tasks involving data evaluation.
As an acronym for Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition, SCADA is a concept used to refer to the management and acquisition of data that can be used in the development of process management policies. Use of the term SCADA varies by location. In North America, SCADA refers to a distributed measurement and management system that operates on a large scale. For the rest of the world, SCADA refers to a system that performs the same basic functions, but operates in a number of different environments and at a variety of scales. While the use of the term SCADA may not be uniform, many components are the same, regardless of the scale of the process.
The collection and control of this data is essential to any SCADA process. In addition to the task of acquiring the data, there must also be a means to manage it. It is this oversight component that helps make sense of the data collected and enables it to be applied in a variety of ways. A robust SCADA system will enable quick and easy retrieval of data in relation to a number of different scenarios, such as market research, quality control, and even something as simple as developing sales and marketing brochures.
For a system to be classified as SCADA, a number of hardware components will be required. A database with appropriate search and archiving software lays the foundation for the system. A programmable logic controller allows for the assimilation and classification of the collected data. A network is also required to host the SCADA and allow access to the local and remote end unit. The establishment of a central repository system allows both a single point of control or data monitoring function, and the qualification of any remote access and use of the data. The HMI, or human-machine interface, allows automatic protocols to be suspended if necessary so that an individual with suitable credentials can process the data that is being collected and ingested.
Typically, a master station including the servers and software that enable and monitor communication with field equipment used to collect data and enable HMI access will pretty much complete the SCADA landscape. The result is a resource that is ever-expanding and capable of accessing data much faster than any other process currently within the bounds of human technology. In some cases, access to a SCADA can lead to conclusions much faster than a standard computer/human interface. SCADA can help you quickly research obscure diseases, correlate the direction of a storm front, or perform any number of tasks involving data evaluation much faster than most systems that rely on human intervention to determine where to look for relevant information.
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