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SCADA stands for Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition, these systems are used in many businesses. SCADA systems are utilized in numerous things that we come across in everyday life for example traffic lights . Civil engineering frequently use SCADA systems.
How does Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition system work?

SCADA systems often control several pumps and switches in whichever application they may be controlling and this is referred to as the RTU – otherwise known as a Remote Telemetry Unit. Data is provided to humans by the RTU. Often the human operators will simply make use of this information to perform pre defined protocols that have been put in place from the beginning of the application. The human operator can often be alerted to any actions they have to perform by an alarm – ensuring that the whole operation is run smoothly in a mixture of SCADA and human interaction.
Where can you see the application of SCADA in everyday life?

You won’t often see where it is used but it is regularly used in a number of industries that individuals experience every day. SCADA can be used for numerous applications including:
• Waste water treatment

• Traffic lights

• Chemical industry

• Automotive industry
• Paper and mill industries
• Food processing
Many large industries use Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition systems, such as:

• Oil
• Gas
• Mining
• Power Plants
How has SCADA moved with technical advances like the Internet?
In the last twenty years SCADA systems have transformed considerably enabling them to perform more tasks by themselves with much less human intervention. This has come about with new technology like DCS (Distributed Control System) and intelligent RTUs (Remote Telemetry Unit) and PLCs (Programmable Logic Controllers). Now, instead of depending on human operators RTUs can perform safety related tasks based on data from the master station.

Until recently plenty of SCADA or Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition systems have used radio and direct serial and modem connections although as today’s technology moves forward a lot of communication requirements are increasingly being met through the use of Ethernet.
Good SCADA engineering wouldn’t normally connect with the Internet in order to reduce security risks. This tends to cut down
the threat of cyber terrorism from illegal access to the SCADA system.

This article was written on behalf of Lee Dickens Ltd. Lee Dickens are experts in Process Monitoring and SCADA. For more detials, please visit www.leedickens.biz