Fundamentals of

SCADA
Submitted by: Ronald James Diaz
 SCADA
Supervisory Control & Data Acquisision

A computer that can control all Gives Access to data from PLC’s or RTU’s
connected devices via software
Devices / Components connected to
SCADA
• RTU – Remote Terminal Unit
• PLC – Programmable Logic Circuit
• IED – Intelligent Electronic Devices
• HMI – Human Machine Interface
• I/O – Input and Output Signals
Industrial Automation Pyramid

ER
P Enterprise Level

Management
MES
Level

Supervision
SCAD Level
A

PLC/
Control Level
RTU

Sensors,
Actuators Field Level
,
IED’s
Field Level
• Composed of sensors, actuators and IED’s.
• Serves as the input parameters of SCADA
• Measure the current status of apparatus and machineries
Control Level
• Evaluates the measured values given by the Field Level devices
• Checks the status if a parameter is normal / abnormal condition
• Evaluates appropriate response depending on the given parameters.
Supervision Level
• Monitors the current status of the system depending on the date
received from the lower levels (Control Level, Field Level)
Management Level
• Decision-making level based on the monitored parameters and
controlled action.
Enterprise Level
• In case of dire circumstances, the Emergency Response Program (ERP)
will act.
Importance of SCADA
• Real-Time information of the current states of different processes
being monitored
• It can send commands or manipulate processes remotely
• Logs and reports about the previous and current state of the system.
• User can be able to communicate with their machineries easily.
• Protects the system from unauthorized access.
Functionality of SCADA
• Records the changes to the system and the operators action /
commands.
• Stores the input data / process values.
• Calculate derived values
• Logs and reports
• HMI (Human Machine Interface)
• Operator Command Handling
 Waste Water
Water System
System

Gas Pipeline Electric Utility

SCADA
System
Applications

Manufacturing Transportation
Operations System

Chemical
Refineries
Plants
Evolution of SCADA
Evolution of SCADA
• Control system are all human force before the discovery of transistors
• They manually check the status of every analog dials as well as
pushing buttons and selector switch in every
machineries/apparatuses.
SCADA History
• In the 1950s, industries started utilizing computers.
• By the 1960s, automated communications via telemetry.
• 1970s, early introduction to the term “SCADA”
• Local Area Networking (LAN) and even PC-based HMI software in the
80s and 90s.
• 90s to 2000’s introduction of SQL (web-browser) based SCADA.
SCADA Systems by Technologic
Evolution
Monolithic
SCADA

• Implementation of WANs (Wide

Area Networks) for
communication with the RTUs
Distributed SCADA

• Distributed command
processing and SCADA
information.
• Real-time communication
between multiple stations.
Networked SCADA

• Open-based architecture
• Eliminates SCADA limitation
allows third party peripherals
such as monitors, printers
etc.
Web-Based SCADA
• Through web browser and the used of Internet SCADA can be viewed
via mobile device across the globe.
SCADA Major Components
 SCADA Server

Control Room
Building

Human Machine Interface

TelCom Link
Control Room
Building
Substation
Remote Terminal Unit (RTU)
• Monitoring geographically dispersed assets.
• Collects data from sensors and convert it into digital data.
Programmable Logic Circuit (PLC)
• Local process execution.
• Execute and control simple and logic operations/
• Also gathers info and capable of exchanging data with supervisory
controllers.
Control I/O Modules
Digital Input (DI)
• Binary Inputs (0 or 1)
• Check status of any devices (ON or OFF)
• Binary inputs varying from 5V to 230V.
Digital Output
• Binary outputs (0 or 1)
• Can be used to operate valves, relays and lamps or as a command on
any devices.
Analog Input (AI)
• Monitors analog inputs such as (0-1mA, 4-20mA, 0-10Vdc)
• Isolates quantities from RTU input levels.
• Translates raw data into appropriate units.
Analog Output (AO)
• Continuous output from the controller to the field devices.
• AO’s may be included to control devices that requires different
quantities (speed control, tap changers and tank heater)
Data Acquisition Server
• Allows access to data located in RTUs and PLCs
• Based on Client-Server Architecture
Supervisory Control
• SCADA headquarters
• A specific computer that contains the software which can control all
connected devices.
Human Machine Interface (HMI)
• A device that presents data from RTUs and PLCs to human operator
• HMI is GUI (Graphical User Interface) system which collects data and
process as reports, graphics, alarms, notifications, and trends.
Telemetry System
• Communication channels between stations and supervisory control
• Hardwired (LAN cables, Fiber Optics, Ethernet, Telephone Lines, Coaxial
Cables )
• Wireless (Point to point, Earth to satellite to user)
• Radio, Wi-FI, Microwave, Cellular, Satellite
 SCADA Common Protocols
• Modbus
• Distributed Network Protocol 3
• IEC 60870-5-101 [IEC101]
• IEC 61850
• Open Communication Platform Unified Architecture (OPC UA)
Modbus
• Used with programmable logic controllers (PLCs)
Distributed Network Protocol 3

• Used between components in process

automation systems.
• Main use is in utilities (electric and water)
IEC 60870-5-101 [IEC101]
• Standard for power monitoring systems, control & communication for
tele-protection, and tele-coms for electric power systems.
IEC 61850
• Standard communication protocol for intelligent electronic devices
(IEDs) at electrical substations
Open Communication Platform
Unified Architecture (OPC UA)
• Machine to machine communication protocol for industrial
automation