Real-time data for improved operation and monitoring of water assets
To provide customers with a safe and reliable water supply, water utilities need to have access to accurate information regarding consumption, resources, production and quality. In order to continuously monitor all aspects of the water supply and treatment process, some form of automated system is usually implemented to capture process data in real time, these systems are commonly known as a Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition, or SCADA.
Reducing electricity costs with load shedding
Industrial and commercial buildings are increasingly energy hungry with information technology hardware and appliances adding to HVAC and lighting loads. Combined with increasing energy prices, building managers and owners are looking for ways to reduce costs. There are a number of opportunities available to improve energy use and efficiency by eliminating waste through process optimisation. Load shedding is one of the options available to better manage electricity usage and reduce costs.
Benefits of Energy Management Systems
With the cost of energy continuing to rise, asset and building owners are looking to increase efficiencies with their infrastructure to minimise environmental impact and maximise return on investments. One option is to implement an energy management system which allows asset owners and managers to monitor, manage and track their energy usage.
Improving power distribution networks with SCADA
With customers relying on continuous power supply, electricity distribution authorities need to provide power that meets customer needs by ensuring distribution infrastructure, including substations and transformers, are efficiently managed, operated and maintained. Automating power distribution networks by installing, or upgrading, a SCADA system is a cost-effective solution to minimise power disruptions and provides greater visibility and improved control of the distribution network.
Using SCADA to improve food and beverage manufacturing
Food and beverage manufacturers have ever expanding product lines and increasingly complex supply chains forcing them to fight for shelf space, as well as stricter standards on food traceability and safety. These have created a need for manufacturers to maximise production efficiency and increase profitability. SCADA is one of the ways that manufacturers are able to realise these objectives.
Keeping the power on in critical facilities
Keeping the power on at critical facilities such as airports, hospitals and data centres is imperative, as a loss of power could compromise the lives of people and have a wide economic impact. Backup power systems must be designed, installed and regularly maintained in order to operate effectively, and having a properly engineered control system to monitor and manage the power system should be one of the highest priorities for owners and operators of critical infrastructure.
Is SCADA secure against cyber security threats?
Cyber security has become an increasingly important issue, with the control systems of critical infrastructure becoming a potential target of hackers. In the past, control systems were isolated from other networks, however modern systems are complex, digital and connected, with data required to be transferred between industrial and external networks. This creates a potential for malware and hackers to access and disrupt the system. While these threats are real, there are steps that can be taken to ensure control systems are more secure.
