Introducing SCADA
SCADA is a system consisting of various hardware and software that work together to monitor and control machines in an industrial process.
Supervisory control refers to a high level of overall control of several individual PLCs or multiple control loops.
Data acquisition refers to the gathering of information and data from a process that is analyzed in real time. Real-time data collection helps to reduce overhead costs, monitor an entire process, and increase efficiency.
SCADA system helps to collect, analyze, and visualize data from equipment or a machine and also provides a means of controlling the equipment or machine from a central location, which can be local or remote (that is, near the machine or far away from the machine).
SCADA is typically used to monitor and control geographically dispersed machines or devices. The following figure shows a simple SCADA system:
Figure 11.1 – A simple SCADA system showing SCADA...