HMI and SCADA Software & Technologies White Papers and Articles
Articles and white papers on SCADA, HMI, and MMI software technologies used in the automation, process control, and instrumentation industry.
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Video Process Monitoring By Steve Rubin, Longwatch
White paper discusses the newest trend in HMI/SCADA: Embedding video into an HMI screen, so operators can actually see what is happening in a process plant, along an assembly line, or in remote areas. Click here to read full article...
Taking out the Garbage: Making Windows XP suitable as a HMI Platform
By Marty Huff, MSI Tec
Windows XP can provide a robust HMI environment, and has several advantages over either Windows CE or Linux. Out of the box, however, Windows XP is not suitable to act as a HMI / SCADA platform. There are several "tricks" that can be performed to "take out the garbage" thus creating a stable, robust, and secure environment for your application. Read complete article
QSI Offers a New White Paper Analyzing the Build versus Buy Decision in Regards to Human Machine Interface Terminals by QSI Corporation QSI Corporation manufacturer of rugged human machine interface terminals, addresses this important issue in the white paper, “Rugged Operator Interfaces: Build versus Buy”. This free white paper provides readers with pros and cons to tough questions to consider when deciding whether to build a human machine interface solution in-house or buy a third-party HMI. Click here for more information
Web-based HMI: An emerging trend? Once considered impractical for applications requiring responsive animation and real-time control, a new breed of web-based HMI system is starting to appear on plant floors and in manufacturing enterprises. Unlike traditional systems, these web-based systems can economically be extended to every aspect of a business such as QC, maintenance, logistics, plant manager, and so forth. Now every participant in the manufacturing cycle can have unprecedented access to vital plant production information. Read complete article written by Steven A. Hechtman of Calmetrics Company.
Enterprise HMI Systems: Is the cost too high? One hears so much about Enterprise HMI and Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) that it's easy to suppose these systems are everywhere. A visit to almost any manufacturing facility will show the contrary. There is a promise that tomorrow's systems will have a global view of all processes within the plant via the corporate intranet/portal. Why is this a promise of tomorrow? The technology is there and the need is recognized. So why the disconnection? Read complete article written by Steven A. Hechtman of Calmetrics Company.
Insider Tips on Buying a SCADA System One of the most important and difficult decisions is often the very first decision: do you upgrade with internal resources or hire an outside consultant? Some of the arguments for each side in this debate are obvious. You know what you want better than anyone, but a consultant may have more experience in the actual process of acquiring a SCADA system. There’s a lot to be said in favor of both approaches. Neither is an inherently good or bad approach. Read complete article written by Frank Kling, Control Systems International, Inc.
SCADA/Business Network Separation: Securing an Integrated SCADA System Global terrorism has the public and media concerned about the security of public utility companies’ critical infrastructure and their SCADA systems. Despite the public fears, there is no reason for utility companies to shun the immense benefits resulting from the integration of SCADA systems and the advantages of the Internet. The threat may be real, but the measures to protect SCADA systems are, fortunately, relatively easy. Read complete article written and provided by Citect.
OPC Tutorial - Basics, Vision and Integration of OPC for Process Control Data Exchange OPC (OLE for Process Control) is the world's fastest growing standard for the exchange of process control data. Since the inception of OPC in 1996, many companies have embraced the technology, which enables them to connect multi-vendor devices and applications while reducing integration time and costs and creating scalable infrastructures. Although this published standard has been around since the mid-nineties and the acronym OPC is well known within the process control industry, many do not really know how OPC is integrated and the many benefits it provides. Matrikon, an OPC Foundation Charter Member, has produced a vendor-independent multimedia presentation that provides a quick introductory overview of OPC. It talks about the vision of OPC, covers a case study, and provides information about the various OPC specifications. After this online presentation, viewers will understand the basics of OPC and possess the knowledge to begin integrating OPC into a new or current system. More Information on Tutorial
Thinking of Using Microsoft Windows NT or XP Embedded? The use of Microsoft Windows NT and XP Embedded operating systems offers many attractive benefits while providing rich functionality that can be added to an embedded application. More Info...
Optimized Internet Protocol Network for Scada Systems The basics of an O-IP system are to allow the use of Internet Protocol (IP) over narrow band systems with all the benefits of a licensed RF path. The data rates will be in the 4800 to 19200 bps range with a higher effective throughput. More Info...
How do Thin Clients run Windows software without a PC? Discusses the use of Terminal Server and Thin Client Technology in industrial HMI and SCADA applications. More...
Water Security: The Role of the SCADA System With security assessments and implementation of appropriate measures receiving the full attention of the water industry, we have been exploring how technology can contribute to these efforts. We have consulted extensively with our users, reviewed measures they have put in place over the years and discussed their latest plans. More Info...
OIL & GAS AMR WebSphere MQSeries Business Integration This document describes the added benefit available with the complete TCP/IP infrastructure of enabling the delivery of SCADA data from the field to the complete business infrastructure via IBM's WebSphere MQSeries message broker. More Info...
