Describe, “What is SCADA?”

Describe the history of SCADA.

Describe the importance of communications.

Describe “Real-Time” control.

Describe the various types of communication (Radio, landline, telephone, and microwave).

Describe the role of remote terminal units.

Describe the role of master terminal units.

Describe various sensors and actuators.

Describe the operator interface, alarms, trends, and report generation.

Describe how SCADA is likely to develop in the future.

The course is aimed at the instrument technician or production staff either just starting a career in the industry or need of further training. It will be particularly useful for those who are qualified in the field of electronics and looking for an overall picture of the mysteries of automation. The course should be viewed as one of a series of courses rather than as a standalone course.

• What is SCADA
• Definition of SCADA
• Applicable Processes
• Elements of a SCADA system
• A two-way system
• A brief history of SCADA
• Development from telemetry
• Dependence on communications and computers
• Real-time systems
• What is “real-time?”
• Communications and the “master/slave” principle
• Determining the scan interval
• Where to compute
• Remote control – What not to SCADA
• Remote control
• Safety systems
• Regulatory requirements
• Communications
• Conversion from analog to digital
• Serial communication for long-distance purposes
• A communications system
• What is a protocol?
• Modems
• Synchronous or asynchronous?
• Telephone, cable, or radio?

Day 2:

• Remote terminal units RTUs
• What is an RTU?
• Communications interface
• Discrete control and analog control
• Pulse control
• Serial control
• Master Terminal Units
• Communications interface
• Configuring a picture of the process
• Some simple applications
• Data storage

Day3:

• Sensors, actuators and wiring
• Special considerations
• Standardization
• Maintenance
• The operator interface
• Security considerations
• Alarming
• Control change screens
• Status screens
• Graphics and trending
• Reports

Day 4:

• SCADA economics
• Costs versus benefits
• The time value of money
• Capital costs
• Training and maintenance costs
• SCADA operating costs
• Benefits: reduced capital costs

• Benefits: reduced process operating costs
• Benefits: improved facility effectiveness
• Tax implications

Day 5:

• What’s next?
• Better communications
• Smarter RTUs
• Smarter MTUs

Certification that all the attendees will get BTS certification upon successful completion of the exam assessment