When measurement data becomes a challenge
The growing demands on industrial measurement technology call for integrated system architectures that combine data acquisition, data management, and visualization. In practice, specialized solutions are helpful.
The digitization of industrial plants is placing increasing demands on measurement and data acquisition systems. The goal is to make production processes more transparent, detect changes in plant conditions early on, and plan maintenance measures as proactively as possible. At the same time, the need for comprehensive data acquisition is growing in research and development - for example, on test stands where numerous process and status parameters must be monitored simultaneously.
In practice, however, it is often the case that measurement data comes from different sources and is generated in geographically dispersed locations. It is produced by various machines or plant components and must subsequently be consolidated, synchronized, and analyzed. This heterogeneous structure makes consistent data analysis difficult and places high demands on system integration and data management. Many existing measurement technology solutions have also evolved over time. Individual systems were expanded over the years without the development of a unified architecture. This results in siloed solutions with limited interoperability. This makes both communication between devices at the field level and integration into higher-level IT or cloud structures a complex undertaking. A modern measurement technology architecture must therefore meet several requirements simultaneously: flexible data acquisition, centralized data management, and location- and platform-independent visualization of the acquired information.
From the control room to mobile access
In many facilities, measurement data is still visualized using traditional control room systems. These are often locally installed SCADA solutions that run exclusively on a stationary computer. While these systems meet basic requirements for process monitoring and operation, they often offer only limited options for flexible use or location-independent access. However, as industrial plants become increasingly networked, the need for flexible visualization solutions is growing. Users want to be able to view measurement data not only at the control room but also via mobile devices or office workstations. At the same time, visualizations should be customized for different applications
A modern measurement technology architecture must meet several requirements simultaneously: flexible data acquisition, centralized data management, and visualization that is independent of location and platform
the information collected.
Image: Delphin Technology AG