What are SCADA Systems?
And What Can They Do for You?
What could a SCADA system do for you? For a Utah water utility, their new InfoScan SCADA system from Dorsett meant they could operate their most remote well all winter – a high-elevation well that they previously could only reach by snowshoes once the snow came.
Even in warmer weather, they previously had to make the trek to the well at least a couple of times a week for monitoring and adjustments. Now, they can manage the remote well from their main office – and manage it more energy-efficiently, too. The results? More water for their customers, plus time and cost savings. The water utility staff say that now they only have to visit their upper well “to clean the spiders out.”
What is a SCADA System?
SCADA stands for Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition. SCADA systems use hardware and software components to connect even far-flung industrial processes and facility operations into one network. SCADA systems collect real-time data from the entire network, so you can monitor and control everything securely from one location – from your office computers or even from your mobile screen.
Once you set the guidelines, the SCADA system also handles automatic monitoring and adjustments for greater efficiency and consistency.
No more running around a manufacturing plant, office complex, military base, or an entire municipality to make sure operations are running smoothly. SCADA systems show you what you need to know, right when you need to know it – and give you the power to analyze and act on that information right away. They’ll even generate reports for you.
How a SCADA System Helps You
SCADA Systems give you:
- Real-time monitoring of processes and equipment
- Visibility over an extended area: monitor an entire building, factory, or water control system from the SCADA system’s screens
- Alerts about issues before they escalate, for less downtime
- Easy data collection plus analytics
- Time and cost savings, due to the increased efficiency
- Remote control: adjust processes wherever you are, including via mobile device
- Seamless, more accurate, automatic reporting
What Do Dorsett SCADA Systems Do?
At Dorsett, we focus on SCADA systems for water, wastewater, and stormwater management, as well as intelligent building control (HVAC systems). We design computer hardware and software that can read sensors and adjust equipment. We build these into a network that gives you secure, centralized visibility and control. We can also enhance your existing control system.
SCADA systems automatically adjust processes to match ranges you set and alert you immediately to issues. For HVAC systems, that means better-regulated temperatures across entire buildings or military bases for greater energy efficiency.
Water SCADA systems monitor and control a whole municipality’s worth of wells, reservoirs, booster pump stations, the water treatment plant, and more. For instance, if a tank gets too low, a sensor alerts a controller, which automatically instructs a valve to fill the tank. The result? More consistent water flow for cleaner, more affordable water.
Integrated or Single- Source SCADA Systems: Take Your Pick
At Dorsett Controls, we have over 40 years of experience designing SCADA systems that make customers’ work easier, more efficient, and more effective. We offer both main types of SCADA systems: Single Source and Integrated. So, whatever your needs, we can custom-build a SCADA solution for you. And with all our systems, you get Dorsett’s industry-leading support, including 24/7 phone support.
InfoScan Single-Source SCADA System
- Dorsett designs and manufactures all components
- Software changes never make hardware obsolete, ensuring a low lifecycle cost
- Free lifetime upgrades and support
Integrated SCADA Systems
- We build your system with trusted components from leading manufacturers
- Our experts help you through every step of the process
- We offer all-size solutions, from single panel upgrades to complete, geographically dispersed networks