SCADA: Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition

• SCADA stands for supervisory control and data acquisition. It is a type of software application program for process control.  SCADA is a central control system which consist of controllers network interfaces, input/output, communication equipments and software. SCADA systems are used to monitor and control the equipments in the industrial process which include manufacturing, production, development and fabrication. The infrastructural processes include gas and oil distribution, electrical power, water distribution.  Public utilities include bus traffic system, airport.  The SCADA system takes the reading of the meters and checks the status of sensors in regular interval so that it requires minimal interference of human.
• It is a type of software application program for process control. 
• SCADA is a central control system that consists of controllers network interfaces, input/output, communication equipment, and software. 
• SCADA systems are used to monitor and control the equipment in the industrial processes.

• Why it is Required?
• A large number of processes occur in large industrial establishments. To monitor every process is very complex because each machine gives different output. 
• The SCADA system used to gather data from sensors and instruments located on remote areas. The computer then processes this data and presents it in a timely manner. 
• The SCADA system gathers the information (like a leak in a pipeline occurred) and transfers the information back to the system while giving the alerts that leakage has occurred and displays the information in a logical and organized manner.
• Generally SCADA system is a centralized system which monitors and controls entire area. It is purely software package that is positioned on top of hardware. A supervisory system gathers data on the process and sends the commands control to the process. 
• The SCADA can communicate with RTU. Most control actions are automatically performed by RTUs or PLCs. The RTUs consist of programmable logic converter which can be set to specific requirement. For example, in the thermal power plant the water flow can be set to specific value or it can be changed according to the requirement.
  
•  The SCADA system allows operators to change the set point for the flow, and enable alarm conditions incase of loss of flow and high temperature and the condition is displayed and recorded. The SCADA system monitors the overall performance of the loop. 
• The SCADA system is a centralized system to communicate with both wire and wireless technology to Clint devices. The SCADA system controls can run completely all kinds of industrial process.
  
• The SCADA system performs the following functions:
• Data Acquisitions
• Data Communication
• Information/Data presentation
• Monitoring/Control