SCADA stands for Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition. It is a type of process control system architecture that uses computers, networked data communications and graphical Human Machine Interfaces (HMIs) to enable a high-level process supervisory management and control. SCADA systems are widely used in various industries, such as energy, oil and gas, water, power, transportation, manufacturing, etc., to monitor and control their processes and equipment.

Why Accessing & Analyzing SCADA Data Can Be Challenging

SCADA systems collect and store large amounts of data from various sources, such as sensors, actuators, controllers, meters, etc. This data can provide valuable insights into the performance, efficiency, quality, safety, and reliability of the processes and equipment. However, accessing and analyzing this data can be challenging and frustrating for SCADA operators or analysts due to several reasons, such as:

• Data silos: SCADA data can be scattered across different devices, systems, locations, or formats. This can make it difficult to access or integrate the data for a holistic view of the operations. For example, some SCADA systems may use proprietary or legacy protocols that are not compatible with other systems or platforms. Some SCADA data may be stored in local databases that are not accessible remotely or securely.

• Data quality: SCADA data can be incomplete, inaccurate, inconsistent, or outdated. This can affect the validity and reliability of the data analysis and decision making. As an example, legacy SCADA systems do not have the capability to time-stamp events, which is a valuable feature for SCADA analysts. Some SCADA systems may not have adequate data validation or verification mechanisms that can detect or correct errors or anomalies in the data.
• Data complexity: SCADA data can be complex, diverse, or voluminous. This can make it difficult to process or interpret the data for meaningful insights. For example, some SCADA systems may generate high-frequency or high-resolution data that can overwhelm the storage or computing capacity of the devices or systems. Some SCADA data may require advanced analytical techniques or tools that are not available or familiar to the operators or analysts.

Consequences of Inefficient SCADA Data Access Processes

These pain points of SCADA data access can cause various problems for the operators or analysts, such as:

• Loss of productivity: The operators or analysts may spend a lot of time and effort to access or integrate the data from different sources or formats. They may also encounter delays or errors in accessing or processing the data due to network congestion or system failures.
• Loss of efficiency: The operators or analysts may not be able to optimize their processes or equipment by using the available data. They may also miss opportunities to improve their performance or reduce their costs by using the potential insights from the data.
• Loss of security: The operators or analysts may expose their data to unauthorized access or manipulation by using insecure methods or channels to access or share the data. They may also compromise their compliance with the relevant regulations or standards by using improper methods or tools to handle the data.

How to Access SCADA Data Efficiently

To overcome these pain points of SCADA data access and solve these problems, the operators or analysts can use some solutions, such as:

• Data integration: The operators or analysts can use software tools that can connect and communicate with different devices, systems, protocols, or formats and integrate the data into a common platform or database. This can simplify and streamline the data access and management process. For example, some software tools can use open standards or protocols such as OPC UA or MQTT to enable interoperability and connectivity among different SCADA systems or devices.
• Data quality: The operators or analysts can use software tools that can enhance the quality and reliability of the data by providing features such as timestamping, sequence of events, data validation, verification, correction, etc. This can improve the accuracy and consistency of the data analysis and decision making. For example, some software tools can use advanced algorithms or artificial intelligence to detect or correct errors or anomalies in the data.
• Data complexity: The operators or analysts can use software tools that can handle the complexity and diversity of the data by providing features such as data compression, aggregation, filtering, visualization, etc. This can reduce the storage or computing requirements and improve the processing or interpretation of the data. For example, some software tools can use cloud computing or edge computing to store or process large amounts of data in a scalable and efficient manner.
• Data security: The operators or analysts can use software tools that can protect the data from unauthorized access or manipulation by providing features such as encryption, authentication, authorization, backup, recovery, etc. This can ensure the confidentiality and integrity of the data and comply with the relevant regulations or standards. For example, some software tools can use blockchain technology to secure and verify the data transactions among different parties.

eLynx Technologies Makes Data Access Easy & Secure

While many SCADA providers can often make accessing SCADA data difficult for their customers, eLynx makes it easy for users to utilize their SCADA data quickly and efficiently. With the eLynx SCADA system, oil and gas operators can leverage custom reporting tools, the Excel Add-In, and the eLynx API to access their data in a timely and efficient manner.

Create Custom Reports with eLynx SCADA.

The eLynx Report Builder empowers users to utilize canned reports or create custom reports. Users can display reports, download, and schedule distribution to applicable personnel. When additional analysis is required, users may export their data from almost any page in the application to Excel.

Access Data in Excel with the eLynx Add-In.

Using the Excel Add-In tool, operators may pull or extract data from canned reports and user configured reports directly into Excel. Without having to log into the eLynx system, operational SCADA data can be accessed through scheduled reports or the Excel Add-In tool.

Utilize the eLynx API - Software Integrations and BI Tools

Users can combine data sets from multiple systems and view the complete data set in the eLynx system. With a cohesive picture of a data set, users can identify, prioritize, and solve operational issues quickly with the necessary context. Additionally, users can share data with other software systems, like production accounting, reservoir engineering, and BI tools.

Using the eLynx API, users may integrate their data directly with popular BI tools like Spotfire, PowerBI, and Tableau. The eLynx API can connect to most public and third-party APIs, which eliminates the need to build custom data integrations or to write custom code. Native connection tools, like Spotfire and Tableau, can be leveraged to discover more meaningful data insights.

Accessing SCADA Data without Frustration

SCADA data is a valuable asset for operators or analysts to optimize their operations and performance. However, accessing and analyzing this data can be complicated and difficult due to various reasons. By using software tools that can address these pain points, operators or analysts can enhance their SCADA data access and management experience and achieve better results.

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