Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition

Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition is a supervisory control system that integrates remote data acquisition systems with data transmission systems and Human-Machine Interface (HMI) software to provide a centralised monitoring and control system for numerous process inputs and outputs. SCADA systems are designed to collect field information, transfer it to a central computer facility, and display the information to the operator graphically or textually, there by allowing the operator to monitor or control an entire system from a central location in near real time. SCADA systems and Distributed Control Systems (DCS) are often networked together. This is the case for electric power control, although the electric power generation facility is controlled by a DCS, the DCS must communicate with the SCADA system to coordinate production output with transmission and distribution demands.

Definitions

According to the CyBOK (version 1),

Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition. A supervisory control system that integrates remote data acquisition systems with data transmission systems and Human-Machine Interface (HMI) software to provide a centralised monitoring and control system for numerous process inputs and outputs. SCADA systems are designed to collect field information, transfer it to a central computer facility, and display the information to the operator graphically or textually, there by allowing the operator to monitor or control an entire system from a central location in near real time. SCADA systems and Distributed Control Systems (DCS) are often networked together. This is the case for electric power control, although the electric power generation facility is controlled by a DCS, the DCS must communicate with the SCADA system to coordinate production output with transmission and distribution demands.