SCADA Software

SCADA meaning

SCADA is Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition. SCADA systems are used mainly for industrial automation data acquisition and process control using PLC, Programmable Logic Controller technology, or RTU equipment with communication in a distributed control system (DCS) inside the industrial control system (ICS). The SCADA software is for automation and data acquisition on the computer using the supervisory.

This technology assists the management of the industrial process in real-time. In the software, a user interface is designed in a computer for monitoring and controlling the process. Customized reports can be generated with the storage data to show the calculus and statistical information of management and the quality of the process. Automation of the data acquisition from industrial equipment. Programming the logic in the computer, the software helps the automation of the industry. Programming can be done on the computer software and on the Programmable Logic Controller. The user interface can be developed on the computer, in the SCADA software, for monitoring and controlling industrial automation. Supervisory is important to control the quality of the automation. The management of the programmable logic computer can be used by the supervisory. The supervisory monitors and controls the quality, speed, and stability of industrial production. Acquisition of data, in the interface, and also in the database, is used in the supervisory. Real-time control and reports of industry results in the supervisory. Distributed control systems in the industry can be controlled by SCADA software. Supervisory control and data acquisition can be programmed into the computer. Acquisition data are received by the software. Also, in addition to the acquisition, information is sent to the equipment to help control the system. SCADA systems must have a high level of security. Security is an important issue so that both the network and the system have protection over the industrial process. They gather the industrial equipment network data in real time and provide monitoring, alarms, and statistical and quality reports. Each project can be edited by a user or designed by an engineer in the software. These process data can be also distributed in the computer network using the industrial Internet of Things (IIOT) concept.

SCADA software

SCADA software is the monitoring and control program, developed on the computer. It has an interface, which can be designed in a personalized way, and which helps in the management of industrial production, equipment testing, water treatment, and monitoring. In addition to the interface, it also has statistical reports.
Examples here: SCADA programming examples The software installed on the computer can be a management system in the industry. The production management system is important in the software.
LAquis SCADA system solution is a tool and language software for data acquisition, control, process supervision, automation, storing, reports generation, and application development. Set tags (I/O points), equipment (modules, devices, PLC, IIOT, ...), DCS (distributed control system), variables, databases, customizable properties, HMI SCADA visual interfaces, customizable reports until advanced processes through a script programming language oriented to industrial automation. Download LAquis SCADA.

Communication PLC drivers can be developed in the SCADA software itself with a language oriented to driver development (ethernet or serial). The driver is specific for each protocol developed in the programmable logic controller. Data acquisition, using the supervisory in the computer, has a specific format for each system. Acquisition automation is configured in the computer program. Communication drivers are software libraries designed to control the devices that send and receive frames to the equipment and get or set information based on each protocol in real time. It is possible to create or edit drivers for equipment and PLC in the software through script programming, external DLLs, or OPC. Each driver depends on each equipment industrial protocol. Some drivers are already included in the SCADA software for free such as MODBUS (TCP or RTU), Alnet, Advantech, DF1, Omron, etc...

There is also a 3D interface feature to edit in the SCADA software: transform a 2D factory plan into a 3D OpenGL interface with visual objects associated with PLC variables. The industry can be monitored by a computer interface to control the automation in the supervisory. The objects may be created in the supervisory software itself or imported from other systems.
LAquis SCADA software solution is used to control industries and business systems like food, textile, metal, electric, manufacturing, oil and gas, automotive, security, agronomy, energy, wood, inspection, hydraulic, chemical, paper, water treatment, etc...
Get a tutorial for training. Download LAquis SCADA.

Introduction:
The main SCADA screen in development programming mode is divided into two parts: the bottom where there is a spreadsheet with the PLC variables and the top panel where visual HMI objects are placed to control data in real time. In runtime mode panels can be set to full screen. A full application, designed by a user or engineer, can be developed through windows and panels, from the SCADA software to reporting, with data acquisition and process control. Factory plants, control systems, screen panels navigation, web, etc... panels may be created for specific cases.

Tags:
In this SCADA software, IN and OUT points variables can be edited in a PLC tags spreadsheet to control the whole process in the supervisory system. Properties like equipment, PLC, variables, files, formulas, scales, etc... are defined for each case. These tags data can be stored in the SCADA database continuously or through systems events with security. They may be associated with the visual objects and reports. Limits can be defined for each tag state generating alarms. Formulas are used to calculate values for the data and define scales in the SCADA software. And to advanced cases, script programming can control these PLC variables. To specific cases, there is a possibility to create customized properties. The access to these variables must be protected from unauthorized users through the SCADA system security. Download LAquis SCADA

Objects:
On the HMI panel, visual objects may be used in the system both to control specific systems and also for simple data monitoring in real time for supervisory purposes. These objects can be developed inside the SCADA software or imported from other software. Some of these objects are available with source for free. Each object can control the information from the defined variables in the tag sheet. It is possible to create and modify objects drawing with vector objects to specific cases. There is also an option for an object script development system with open source SCADA solutions. Each object has properties and events that may be configured. Some of these objects can be exported to WEB monitoring with security protection.

Programming scripts:
Scripts can be used in programming to create specific applications using objects, PLC tags, databases, and reporting. They are used to control tags behavior according to each process. There are several commands oriented to industrial automation. This script is a language for software development for Windows 32 platform. Scripts may be executed inside events from objects or processes. The security of the script language is also important to prevent unauthorized actions.

Database:
When setting a SCADA database in the tags spreadsheet, reports can be generated from the stored data acquisition for quality management, analysis, and charts with stored history information. These reports can be modified according to each case with a generic spreadsheet with cells, calculus, and database listing. This spreadsheet is customized with databases and formulas. Templates are also available for generic industrial needs and can be also modified. Scripts are used inside reports to create specific SCADA applications using calculation and analysis. The security of the database is also important to protect the data.

Monitoring:
The SCADA also monitors the data through an integrated computer remote network in a distributed industrial control system (WEB or directly via TCP) in real time. Some objects are exported to HTML if WEB control is needed, and in this case, the SCADA software becomes a WEB server in parallel to the desktop system. A remote supervisory desktop version can be used without WEB using TCP. Acquisition of the information is shown on the interface. Automation items are tracked by the on-screen supervisory. The SCADA screen, with the acquisition, can be mounted in any way that is possible in the supervisory. The user interface can be implemented in the programming of the control and data acquisition supervisory software. Exports visual objects and panels and reports and distribute to the PCs in the plant network system. The monitoring data must be allowed only to authorized users in the security.

Security:
SCADA security control is an important item to secure access to industrial information. The industrial control system network, for example, must be controlled and can not allow unauthorized access. The SCADA systems must prevent this. There is continuous work on mitigating security issues in the SCADA system as reported by ICS Cert advisories.

Architecture:
The project, defined by the engineer, can be specified for each case. Computer programming creates the interface and the architecture of the supervisory. Set the PLC, programmable logic controller I/O points variables or IIOT addresses on the tags spreadsheet at the bottom of the main screen. These variables may be generic or physical equipment data variables. Automation of distributed control system obtain data acquisition using supervisory. Their values are numeric, text, or digital. Data that come from equipment are transmitted using several types of communication protocols according to specific systems. The supervisory uses the information collected through the automation of computer programming. They are customizable according to each SCADA process. Some variables are defined by formula, association, and script. Limits are also specified to control alarms.

The PLC tags spreadsheet contains properties to control what will be read or written on the equipment by the SCADA system. These properties are also customizable. Some of the main properties are: Name, Title, Value, Unit, Driver / PLC, Database, Param1, Param2, Status, Formula, Limits, Alarm, custom, etc .... Each property can be a column in this PLC variables spreadsheet. Some columns are customized and added according to the application system. Each column is used on the computer from the script in the programming to the automation settings. Choose the equipment driver to be used, for the acquisition, in the SCADA software in the Driver / PLC column. The driver can be set by dragging the mouse pointer with the left button on the Driver / PLC column, or by clicking on the Driver / PLC column title to select all tags desired at the group. The driver is the library that performs the communications with the equipment / PLC or specific function. Some of them are timers, clocks, scripts, sine functions, etc...

The data acquisition from the PLC tags may be recorded in a file (database). This database is a flexible and customizable set of fields and records of the process. Each field can be a tag or generic value of the process. Data types are float, integer, text, byte, datetime, etc... Supervisory automation can also record the acquisition information. The database may be proprietary binary files, dbf, or text. Click on the database column. The SCADA database can be set by dragging the mouse pointer with the left mouse button on the database column (like it was done with the driver), or by clicking on the title of the database column to select all tags desired at the group. Data recorded from the SCADA software are used in reports through the button Report. They are designed using a spreadsheet with functions and scripts oriented to the database. The database is stored in the supervisory software. The information in the database comes from data acquisition or computer programming. A visual objects panel is located on top of the main SCADA screen. On this panel, objects and visual controls are designed and can be used as the interface for the user. These objects can be displays, pictures, animations, controls, etc... They are associated with the tags. They can be designed in the SCADA software through vector drawings, script, or imported from pictures. These objects are placed on the panel.

The user interface is important for the automation in the supervisory system. The panel is divided into pages/windows. Each page is selected according to each case. Vector object drawings also can be controlled by tags. Executable applications present to the user the designed HMI interface system. Specific applications can be also developed through scripts for several kinds of SCADA systems. They are executed within the available events in the software. Each object and process has events. Scripts are placed inside these events. Clicks, scanning, alarms, tags, etc... Scripts are sequences of instructions or programs used to customize the application's actions to control the process. This language is compiled in real time. Data from the PLC tags are accessed and controlled through scripts. The commands are oriented to industrial automation processes.
Example:
If Tag1 > Limit Then
Tag2 = 1
End If

Various software in parallel can be installed on the computer to run the system. The development of specific applications, using the same software, can be used on several computers at the same time in real time. It is possible to access and control every tag and its properties through a script with security.
There are also specific controls in the security area, an important issue for the SCADA software.
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