Understanding the functions of SCADA
The meaning of SCADA already implies its major functions. The following goes into detail about what a SCADA system does:
- It controls industrial processes either locally or remotely. Switching on or off a machine, increasing or decreasing setpoints, and so on are control functions that a SCADA system can be programmed to perform.
- It collects data (acquires real-time data) from a field or machine, which provides a status indicator to the operator or process engineer for monitoring.
- It enables a process engineer to have a bird’s-eye view of an entire plant, which can consist of various machines/devices at different geographical locations.
- It generates alarms when abnormal conditions occur within a process. It can trigger alarms that can be in the form of audible sounds, lights, emails, SMS, or other forms when something is wrong in a process.
- It records events (data logging).
Next, let’s take a look at the...