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Transcription

August/September 2009
www.RemoteMagazine.com
A Webcom Publication
ITC Holdings Focuses on Protecting its Physical and Cyber Assets
SCADA
...on page 4
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Vandalism, theft and the potential for sabotage or acts of terrorism have motivated the electric generation and transmission
industry to seek viable security solutions. In doing so, they face
unique challenges because of the way the industry is structured.
Companies must secure their facilities and protect their physical and electronic assets
while managing access to
their properties state-tostate over geographically
widespread regions.
ITC Holdings, Inc. has
taken extraordinary steps to
protect its physical and
cyber assets in order to
maintain the integrity of
their bulk electric system.
Headquartered in Novi,
Mich., ITC builds, maintains, and operates 15,000
circuit miles of overhead
and underground transmission lines that carry electric
power to more than 13 million people, serving an area of
nearly 80,000 square miles.
Recognizing the serious impact to the local and national
economy and to people’s lives when the power goes off, ITC
makes it a priority to protect the transmission grid and provide
efficient, reliable energy to its customers. ITC’s vision is to
have highly effective processes and procedures in place that
meet and exceed the new government security standards.
Robert Blickensdorf, ITC Security Manager, is responsible
for project management as it relates to the installation, maintenance and operation of physical security at ITC facilities. He
serves as the liaison between ITC and local law enforcement
and other security organizations within the industry.
“ITC leaders realized the
importance of protecting our
physical and electronic assets
and have been very supportive of our security initiatives,” said Blickensdorf.
Facing an
array of
choices and costs, ITC
developed a risk-based
methodology for pursuing
an approach to accomplishing their security goals. ITC
had to determine the type of
physical security that would
best serve each particular
location, install and integrate the necessary security
devices, and then maintain
and monitor the system.
Facing threats of vandalism and theft due to the high price
of copper and other metals on the open market, ITC adopted
measures to prevent someone from accessing one of their sites
with the intent of stealing metal and, in the process, causing
damage that affects the reliability of the system or the safety
of employees and contractors.
Please see ITC continued on page 25
Westermo Teleindustri Debuts Industrial Ethernet
Routing Switch for Extreme Environments
...on page 13
The “Smart Planet”
Revolution: Using Smart
Services, Smart Operations
and Smart Products to
Transform Your Business
Compression Monitoring:
Applying Technology for a
Safer, Lower Cost Operation
Remote Site & Equipment
Management 2009
Resource Guide
...on page 10
...on page 16
...on page 20
CONTENTS
Editor’s Note
Volume 9, Issue 5
Editor & Publisher
David Webster
Director of Content
Shannon Given
Associate Editor
Nick Depperschmidt
Assistant Editors
Heather Krier
Joanna Larez
Welcome to the August/September 2009
issue of Remote Site & Equipment
Management Magazine. This latest issue is
jam packed with new products, information on the newest applications of remote
technology, new products and technical
feature articles.
Inside you’ll find pieces covering software
interoperability standards, information on
compression monitoring for the oil & gas
industry, a case study covering how a co-op
extended IP to its substations and an article
on remote smart services. We hope you find
them insightful.
Additionally, this issue features the
Remote 2009 Resource Guide. Look
between pages 16 and 17 for this once a
year publication. This year-round resource
contains company profiles and listings, as
well as industry specific/market research articles. Keep it on your desk till we publish the
next issue in 2010!
Readers will also find updated information
about the Remote 2009 Conference and
Expo on pages 16 and 17. Flip there, or visit
www.RemoteExpo.com, to see the latest sessions and exhibitors, register for our DNP3/IEC
workshop or download the show brochure.
Nick Depperschmidt
Editor, Remote Magazine
[email protected]
News Editors
Jessi Albers, Jeremy Fleming,
Sue Hannebrink, Laura Mayo
Table of Contents
Finance & Administration
Marsha Grillo, Director
Julie Williams, Office Manager
Advertising, Sales and Marketing
Jessi Albers, Account Executive
Jennifer Graham
Production Manager
Julie Hammond
Customer Service/Circulation
Database/Directories
Marc Vang, Circulation Manager
Ross Webster
SCADA
IntelliCom Launches True Plug-n-Play GPRS Based
M2M System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Control Microsystems Releases New Complete
Pump Control Solution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
page 4
Networking
Carlson Wireless Launches IEC 61850 and Smart
Grid Ready SwiftGrid Radio Platform . . . . . . . . . .12
Opto 22 Breaks Ground in Wireless Networking . .15
REMOTE SITE & EQUIPMENT MANAGEMENT magazine (ISSN #
1535-0347) is a publication of Webcom Communications Corp.
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Reprints: For reprint requests contact Jessi Albers at Webcom
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x.124
or
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© Copyright 2009 Webcom Communications Corp. Material in
this publication may not be reproduced in any form without
written permission. Requests for permission should be directed
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Webcom Communications Corp.
Phone: 800-803-9488 / 720-528-3770
www.infowebcom.com
Security
iSee Video Single Channel Gateway Turns Analog
Cameras to IP Based Units . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22
page 12
Alarm Lock’s A-Series Provides Single Point
Access Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24
Onsite Power
Server Technology’s Sentry PDU’s Expand Remote
Power Management Capabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . .26
page 26
Features
Remote Communications Enhanced by New
Software Interoperability Standards . . . . . . . . . . . .8
Compression Monitoring: Applying Technology for a
Safer, Lower Cost Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
Extended IP to Substations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
The “Smart Planet” Revolution - Using Smart Services,
Smart Operations, and Smart Products to Transform
Your Business . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
page 8
Departments
Remote 2009 Conference & Expo Update . . . . .16
Remote Magazine 2009 Resource Guide . . . . . .16
Industry News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28
Marketplace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28
Calendar of Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31
Advertiser Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31
Oct. 29th - 30th, 2009
San Antonio, Texas
www.RemoteExpo.com
page 16
Visit us Online at: www.RemoteMagazine.com
Remote Site & Equipment Management 3
SCADA
New Product Family from
Rockwell Automation Designed
For Extreme Environments
Rockwell Automation has introduced the Logix-XT
product family for applications requiring increased reliability in high-temperature and corrosive environments,
such as those found in oil and gas and wind turbines.
The Logix-XT product family includes the Logix-XT
controller, Allen-Bradley FLEX I/O-XT products and
ProSoft Technology communication modules. All products are conformally-coated and designed using hardened components suited for rugged environments, without the additional installation and energy costs associated with auxiliary heating and cooling systems.
“As companies apply automation to support their
sustainability efforts, they need products that require
less auxiliary heating and cooling equipment in order
to lower energy usage and carbon emissions,” said
Mike Burrows, market development director,
Rockwell Automation. “The Logix-XT product family
supports these reductions, as well as reduced panel
costs while offering demonstrable value to alternative
energy applications.”
As part of the Rockwell Automation Integrated
Architecture system, the Logix-XT product family uses
the same programming software, network protocol and
information capabilities as all of the system products,
which helps end users reduce overall integration costs.
Additionally, this product family operates in a broad
temperature spectrum, -20ºC to 70ºC, and meets
ANSI/ISA-S71.04-1985 Class G1, G2 and G3, as well
as cULus, Class 1 Div 2, C-Tick, CE, ATEX Zone 2
and SIL 2 requirements for increased protection
against salts, corrosives, moisture/condensation,
humidity and fungal growth. The active controller
components are separated on the backplane by vented
faceplate segments that provide increased air flow,
offer a thermal cushion and help lower the need for airconditioning panels.
To support the Logix-XT product family, ProSoft
Technology has developed communication modules for
its Modbus master/slave and Modbus TCP/IP networks.
Products & Services
The XT communication modules emulate an
input/output module on the Logix-XT controller backplane, making Modbus data appear as I/O data to the
processor. These modules also conform to the EN600790 and EN60079-15 standards for caustic and extremeenvironment applications.
“As industrial applications reach further into remote
locations of the world, the market requires specially
designed control equipment to survive extreme environments,” said Ken Roslan, strategic product manager,
ProSoft Technology. “Because of ProSoft Technology’s
experience in providing tightly integrated network interface solutions for Rockwell Automation controllers, we
are able to offer communication solutions for the LogixXT product family as well.”
New Electromagnetic FlowMeter
Designed for Process Applications
ABB Instrumentation has launched a new range of
electromagnetic flow meters targeted at the chemical,
power, oil & gas, pulp
and paper and mining
markets. Part of the
FlowMaster portfolio of
meters, ProcessMaster is
packed with features and
functionality that will
bring
measurement
capabilities and enable
users to operate more
efficiently, reduce costs
and increase profitably.
ProcessMaster is available in a range of sizes
1/10 inch to 80 inches.
The modular design offers a wide range of liners and
electrodes to meet the needs of the most demanding
applications. Whether an integral, remote or pipe mounted installation is required, a configurable common electronics platform provides a tailor-made solution.
ProcessMaster incorporates self-cleaning and double
sealed electrodes, enhancing reliability and performance. By using a higher excitation frequency combined
with advanced filtering, ProcessMaster improves measurement accuracy by reducing the impact of fluid and
electrode noise.
The high temperature design in combination with a
reinforced PFA liner improves vacuum stability, prevents potential liner deformation and makes
ProcessMaster well suited for all hot-fluid applications.
Industry optimized linings such as hard rubber, soft rubber, PTFE, ETFE and PFA ensure resistance to abrasion
and chemicals. Additionally ProcessMaster offers a
NEMA 4X optimized sensor design.
The backlit, graphical display can be easily rotated
through 270° without the need for any tools, allowing
field teams to customize the display that best fits their
needs. Through-the-glass control allows local operator
interface to input short, quick data for all user specific
parameters. The universal ABB human machine interface (HMI) simplifies operation, maintenance and training, thereby reducing cost of ownership and providing
one common user experience.
All product versions utilize a common electronics
cartridge to simplify installation and lower spare part
costs and inventory. This same cartridge can be
deployed in integral and remote installations, including
hazardous area locations, and features active/passive
current and pulsed outputs. Standard HART protocol
enables online modification and monitoring of parameters. Advanced data storage inside the sensor eliminates
the need to match sensor and transmitter in the field. On
initial installation, the self-configuration sequence automatically replicates all data into the transmitter, eliminating the opportunity for errors and leading to
increased speed of start up.
Redundant storage of data in both the sensor and the
transmitter memory is continually updated during all
operations to ensure total integrity of the measurement.
The on-board sensor memory eliminates the possible
problems associated with pluggable data memory modules. ProcessMaster is proven to be robust and reliable,
with unmatched diagnostic capabilities providing the
right information to keep the process up and running.
Alarms and warnings are classified in accordance with
NAMUR NE107.
IntelliCom Launches True Plug-nPlay GPRS Based M2M System
IntelliCom has launched
NetBiter EasyConnect, a
new product concept for
plug and play remote monitoring and control. The
NetBiter
EasyConnect
product family is designed
to be plug-n-play and easy
to install, configure and
maintain. It solves common challenges to use wireless
GPRS based communication. Its design makes it possi-
SixNet Introduces Device that Saves Users More Than 80
Percent of Remote Monitoring and Control Costs
SixNet has introduced a new rugged real-time cellular remote monitoring and control solution. Known as R.A.M. (Remote Access and
Monitoring), it allows data logging and SCADA operations to be monitored and controlled from remote locations anywhere in the world via
existing secure cellular networks.
By leveraging existing secure cellular networks and carrier data rate
plans, R.A.M. can save customers up to 80 percent of the cost of a truck
roll to a remote site, or 60 percent of the cost of a traditional phone landline, required to access the data at the remote site.
"Customers are looking for ways to reduce the cost of their operations," said Ed Lewis, partner at Belden Partners, a wireless industry consultant. "Remote monitoring and control is growing at 30 percent per
year, driven by the benefits of real-time remote monitoring and control,
including automation of manual operations, increased frequency of data
collection, improved response to emergencies and reduced maintenance
and operating costs."
The R.A.M. is an industrial-grade solution that provides secure cellular data connectivity, as well as programmable remote terminal unit (RTU)
functionally. Its Open Source Linux operating system makes it simple for the user to
4 Remote Site & Equipment Management
customize the software and integrate applications. The unit includes
application tools for alarming, data logging and programmable control.
For many users, the hassle free integration with a variety of North
American cellular carrier services will be a welcome change from their
previous experiences, same hassle free integration soon available worldwide. After setup of the R.A.M. is accomplished by running a simple wizard, the user will realize all the benefits of real-time remote monitoring
and control.
The R.A.M. solution has up to 26 I/O points, five Ethernet, two RS232
and 1RS485 ports. Optional 2G and 3G cellular technologies are available (EDGE, HSPA and EVDO) on a variety of carriers. The power input
ranges from 120 to 240 VAC. It is packaged in a rugged wall-mount
NEMA 4X enclosure. Its operating temperature range is -40ºC to 65ºC.
The panel and its components are designed to meet UL (1604), Class I,
Div 2 and other industrial standards.
Typical applications for R.A.M. are oil and gas (automate remote
processes), water and wastewater management (remote control of operations), chemical plants (automate data logging), power utilities (monitor
status and receive alerts) and energy companies (remote monitoring and control).
SCADA
Products & Services
ble to do large scale installations quickly and without
being an IT/GPRS expert.
The automatic integration with the www.netbiter.net
online server offers secure bi-directional communication to monitor the health, readiness and geographical
position of remote devices 24 hours a day, 365 days a
year. NetBiter.net is completely web based and
becomes a single place to manage all remote sites.
The NetBiter EasyConnect product family is designed
to be easy to install, configure and maintain. EasyConnect
products solve common challenges to use GPRS based
communication in an easy and cost efficient way.
The NetBiter EC220 is a small remote unit with a
range of common discrete and analog I/O’s to integrate
with I/O based installations. It includes a built-in
GSM/GPRS modem that automatically communicates
with the online management portal at power up. It automatically starts to show the latest I/O data from the
EC220. An optional SIM card can be included at shipment that makes installation true plug-n-play.
Semaphore Releases DLMS
Protocol for Open Meter
Applications in SCADA RTU Line
Semaphore, a CSE Global company, has introduced the
IEC 62056-21 Device Language Message Specification
(DLMS) protocol for its T-Box line of SCADA system
products. This protocol is now available with a T-Box MS
modular system when equipped with a 32-bit CPU.
DLMS is the suite of standards developed and maintained by the DLMS User Association and has been coopted by the IEC TC13 WG14 into the IEC 62056 series
of standards. IEC 62056-21 was formerly known as IEC
61107. Companion
Specification
for
Energy Metering
(COSEM) includes
a set of specifications that defines the
transport and application layers of the
DLMS protocol.
DLMS has been adopted by the OPEN Meter
Consortium, a European effort to standardize a protocol
for automated meter reading (AMR). The OPEN meter
project is expected to contribute to the European Union
energy efficiency targets and help reduce carbon emissions by 20 percent by 2020.
The combination of T-BOX and the IEC 62056-21 protocol is particularly applicable to open metering communications in systems such as smart grids. A T-Box RTU
performs alarm management and logging of information,
including energy readings and diagnostic data. The RTU
uses push technology to keep multiple recipients fully
informed of the status of all meters. Push messaging
includes IP forwarding, e-mail with attached files and
SMS text. Via an integral web server, T-Box serves live
and historical information on the Internet or an intranet.
T-Box is a IP-based telemetry solution that enables the
complete integration of SCADA control and communications functionality in one rugged package. It leverages
easy-to-use Web technologies and inexpensive public
networks for decentralized monitoring and control systems. T-Box products offer up to 50 percent less total
installed cost per point versus traditional SCADA/PLC
systems and permit greater organizational access to data
through automated reporting and browser software.
TI’s MSP430 MCU Offers Secure,
Accurate Energy Monitoring for
e-Metering Applications
In order to meet growing
energy demands, utilities are
turning to accurate and robust
poly-phase electricity metering solutions to monitor energy consumption. Supporting
three-phase e-metering applications, Texas Instruments,
Inc. (TI) has release the ultralow power MSP430F471xx microcontroller (MCU)
series. The F471xx system-on-chip metering solution
achieves high accuracy results, and offers simultaneous
sampling of voltage and current as well as tamper-detection for efficient and reliable energy measurement.
The MCU solution features dedicated 16-bit sigma data
converters for three-phase e-metering. Energy measurements can be made with better than 0.1 percent accuracy,
making the unit well suited for power-line monitoring with
simultaneous sampling of all channels. Additional support
includes tamper detection and precision measurements for
temperature and humidity with 7th sigma delta converter
for measurement of current and voltage signals.
Ultra-low power consumption is achieved when the
LCD, real-time clock and other peripherals are in use,
which helps maintain data when back-up battery is used
during power outage. Development is made easy with
code examples, evaluation module and application notes
that deliver faster calibration to jump-start design. An
additional feature is flexible memory options with up to
120 kB Flash and 8 kB RAM units.
SCADA
Products & Services
New AutoLog Radio and GSM RTU from FF-Automation
FF-Automation has released its new AutoLog
RTU for remote monitoring and control. Suitable
applications are oil & gas pipelines, cathodic protection, tanks, pumping stations, buildings, water
treatment plants, environmental supervision, etc. In
principle it can be used for any small to medium I/O
quantity applications.
RTU has all the PLC features, PID controllers,
clock/calendar controls, data logging, Modbus
interface, etc. so users will not need additional
automation controllers. AutoLog RTU allows many
communication possibilities including radio
modem, GSM, GPRS, WLAN, Internet, Intranet,
RS-485 and TETRA. RTU’s application programs
and configuration parameters can be changed
remotely without expensive on-site visits.
Operators can use traditional control room interface or web browser based interface
or the combination of both. GSM phone can be also used as interface. FF-automation’s
own ControlMan Internet service gives very flexible and cost effective operator interface for GSM-RTUs. Customer doesn’t need to invest on own server PCs, server room
or maintenance personnel. Authorized users can just log in to the service using Internet
browser from any PC.
New Modbus Interface Added to the IntelliLogger
Data Acquisition and Reporting System
Logic Beach, Inc. has added a Modbus/RTU Master
feature to its IntelliLogger data logging and alarming
instrument, which enables data acquisition from
Modbus slave instruments, controls, smart transducers
and other Modbus enabled devices. The IntelliLogger is
a line of rugged, network enabled, stand-alone data logging, reporting and alarming instruments.
Register values can be read from connected Modbus
slave transducers, power meters, controls, flow meters,
etc. Scanned Modbus register values can then be
processed, logged to memory, used to trigger alarms,
and incorporated into FTP, email and Web pages served by the IntelliLogger. The connection to slave devices via Modbus complements the existing hard-wired analog and
digital signal and sensor I/O capability of the IntelliLogger.
The IntelliLogger is a low-power, stand-alone instrument that samples connected
analog, digital and now, Modbus inputs, processes these signals and stores the results to
internal or CF Card memory for reporting over the Internet and/or later download for
analysis. Logging, alarm conditions can be detected and appropriate action initiated,
whether it be turning on an integral output relay or emailing or texting an alert message.
The IntelliLogger is simply programmed via the included HyperWare-II software,
which features intuitive drag and drop icon-based programming. With HyperWare-II,
simple to complex logging and alarming scenarios can be implemented from math to
inter-channel calculations to conditional logging to statistical reduction and more. The
IntelliLogger also features a network stack, facilitating direct connection to a LAN and
the Internet. Automated data downloads via FTP are supported as well as email and
SMS for status and alarms. The IntelliLogger also has an integral Web page server
allowing users to check the IntelliLogger current status, download data and even
change program parameters via browser access over the Web.
ICP DAS USA Introduces G-4500, a Mini PAC GPRS
With Optional GPS
ICP DAS has released the G-4500, a compact programmable automation controller
equipped with an antenna and built in GPRS/GSM. Inside
the G-4500 runs a high-performance CPU, while the exterior bears the standard interface of an antenna, an Ethernet
port, three digital inputs, three digital outputs, eight analog
inputs, two RS-232 COM ports and one RS-485 COM port.
GPS is optional.
The G-4500D comes with a 128 mm by 64 mm display for
direct data presentation. It has a built in self tuner, supports
modbus protocol and is well suited for many different applications such as remote control and general monitoring, automobile monitoring, global positioning systems, global information systems, vehicle management systems and redundant
communication. It has 512 KB of flash memory and supports
a TCP server, TCP client and UDP client connection from
GPRS. The GPS option has 16 channels and ICP DAS provides free easy-to-use software development toolkits. It can
even send text messages.
The G-4500 monitors and sends out data in real time. It
can send data to control centers and provides real time status
with live data, and as an optional accessory there's GPS. With
GPS, G-4500 becomes a tracking system. The GPS option provides 16 channels with All-In-View tracking. The software development toolkits help
get applications established quickly saving time and development costs.
LMS Introduces the LMS SCADAS Durability Recorder
For Mobile Data Acquisition in Tough Environments
LMS has introduced its new mobile durability
data acquisition solution, the LMS SCADAS
Durability Recorder. The system is designed for
rugged data acquisition in extreme conditions,
making it fully resistant to water, dust, dirt, shock,
vibrations and jolts. It offers a combination of
strain-based, vibration and displacement measurements in one system.
The LMS SCADAS Durability Recorder is a
compact and rugged instrument with true MILSTD-810F compliancy. Its robust design can stand
up to extreme climate, shock and vibration conditions. The MIL-STD-810F certified LEMO connectors on the LMS SCADAS Durability
Recorder ensure vibration-resistant cable connections. The system is available in a sealed version to
resists dust and water according ingress protection
code IP54.
No PC is required during measurement and all the acquired data and the conversation formats are saved on high-performance, solid-state CompactFlash memory cards.
The system also includes the LMS SCADAS Smart Control, a Windows Mobile PDA
solution to monitor and validate data in real-time during and directly after measurements. This allows users to efficiently guarantee data quality before the end of the test
campaign and to eliminate needless test reruns. The LMS SCADAS Durability
Recorder can also be equipped with a range of universal modules..
“Durability data acquisition is an expensive and time-consuming process, with
stressful deadlines and difficult working conditions. The LMS SCADAS Durability
Recorder offers a solution for these challenging tests, combining a compact design
with full measurement power and flexibility,” said Bruno Massa, vice president,
LMS Test division. “The new SCADAS system adds on to the complete LMS portfolio of products and services covering the entire durability process, from realistic
design and validation with accurate loads, to accelerated durability testing and simulation techniques.”
SCADA
Products & Services
ADLINK Provides Turnkey Software Solution for Data
Acquisition Applications
ADLINK Technology, Inc. has released the ADLogger, a ready-to-run data capture application
that offers a simple configuration-based means to
log data. AD-Logger can be used with any one of
hundreds of ADLINK data acquisition or digitizer
cards to log data from a variety of sensors, including thermocouples, RTDs, thermistors, strain
gages and accelerometers.
AD-Logger is specifically designed to provide
extensive data logging features without the need for
complex programming. Users simply configure
ADLINK data acquisition or digitizer card functionality via AD-Logger through the use
of intuitive and interactive configuration dialogs.
AD-Logger also provides a real-time viewer
with basic FFT power spectrum analysis and a historical view. Logged data can additionally be
exported to external applications such as NI
LabVIEW, NI DIAdem and MathWorks MATLAB for post-analysis.
“AD-Logger is a tool for reducing the development time of data acquisition applications.
This non-programming, configuration-based software meets all common data-logging needs.
Combined with ADLINK data acquisition and
digitizer cards, AD-Logger offers the best timeto-measurement of any data logging solution,”
said James Gau, director of the Measurement and
Automation group at ADLINK.
well as minimizing energy consumption during peak demand periods through the use
of up to three alternate set-point groups.
FlowStation provides the tools to extend its features beyond the out-of-the-box functions to support options such as Modbus connection to motor protection relays, control
of vent fans, backup generators, oxygen injection and additional pump interlocks.
These and other custom features can be implemented using optional TelePACE Ladder
Logic or C++ programming.
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Control Microsystems
Releases New Complete
Pump Control Solution
Control Microsystems has launched the
FlowStation 110, a complete out-of-the-box
pump station controller
package
designed for use in
storm and waste
water lift stations
and common pumpup
applications.
With its built-in
web server and
user-friendly configuration interface,
FlowStation can be
set up locally by field technicians or remotely by
system engineers, and as such is well suited for
stand-alone installations or as part of a greater
SCADA network. The FlowStation components
consist of a dedicated pump controller, a color
touch-screen local operator interface, a GPRS
modem for remote web browser, SMS, and
email alarming or a serial or Ethernet radio for
SCADA connectivity.
One of the many features of the FlowStation
110 is the integrated BlackBerry interface for
central viewing and alarm acknowledgement.
Local configuration and operation is handled
with connections to laptop computers and
optional touch-screen interface via industrystandard Modbus/USB, serial Modbus RTU and
Modbus/TCP protocols. For larger water control systems, FlowStation provides interface
tools that exploit the product’s integrated web
server and Ethernet capabilities, making the
product accessible wherever the Internet or
WAN/LAN is available.
To efficiently manage power use and related
costs, FlowStation 110 supports the monitoring,
calibration and alarming of pump current draw, as
SCADA
Feature
Remote Communications Enhanced by New
Software Interoperability Standards
Roy Kok, VP of Marketing and Sales
Kepware Technologies
The petrochemical industry, along with others involving remote operations, have
requirements for communications that go above and beyond those with in-plant only
communications. While today’s interoperability standards can address many of communication requirements effectively,
improvements are needed to deliver a
broader level of support. These needs
are being met by the latest OPC interoperability standard, OPC-UA.
But first, what are the critical to quality needs for this industry? They fall
into several categories: security, data
architectures and performance.
Security, with respect to interoperability, requires that application conversations (the communications between
desperate software solutions) can happen in a secure, encrypted manner.
The applications need to know that
they will be communicating and there
needs to be a security certificate in
place ensuring that two applications
have been given the permission to
communicate. Security also applies to
the computers and operating systems
taking part in the communications. The
communication interfaces, typically Ethernet connections, must be well defined and
controllable. Often, operating system technology assumes this burden and security at
this level is removed from the hands of IT and engineers. Greater control than is typically included in the Operating System is needed and a secure interface must clearly
define the “Ports” through which applications will communicate. The communication
paths must be under the control of IT and engineers responsible for maintaining the system, so that proper security protocols and firewall maintenance functions can occur.
Data architectures are becoming increasingly important as software vendors attempt to
improve the artificial intelligence of their solutions. In the past, software vendors
focused on the development of infinitely flexible automation systems, ensuring that an
engineer could use their product with the flexibility of a Swiss Army knife, and accomplish any task they choose to undertake. But today, engineering resources are at a premium and greater value is placed on the end result with the least effort. To achieve this,
raw data must be turned into information as quickly as possible.
Information can mean many different
things, but in its most basic form, data
is turned into information by applying
context to it. A value has context when
you know the time, process conditions
and quality at the time the data was
sampled. In the past, a single value
was passed in the request for a Tag
(name representing the value). Today,
complete arrays of information need
to be passed to represent date, time,
quality, equipment status and product
information such as customer ID (raw
material genealogy) and operator in
charge, to facilitate more intelligent
use of the information for analysis,
trending and reporting.
And of course, this entire process
must be delivered with greater performance than was available in the
past. Computers are faster, the network
infrastructure is faster, but with this additional “Context”, the transfer of results must
be at least as fast or if not faster, even though there is more information. That requires
compression and schemes for passing communication architectural information independent of the data and contextual information. Applications must be able to access the
data model information separately from the actual data, which enables the data to be
passed more efficiently.
All this has been taken into consideration with an enhanced interoperability specification called OPC-UA. OPC is far from new, having been introduced back in 1995.
Today, OPC is the most widely adopted standard for interoperability between industrial software applications. Building upon that success, OPC-UA starts by unifying
the multiple specifications of the past, and redefines the acronym of OPC (formerly
OLE for Process Control, a purposeful implementation of certain Microsoft technology) to OPC-UA (now standing for Open Connectivity – Unified Architecture). Like
everything the second time around, the latest generation delivers solutions to problems of the past, delivers new capabilities and is a foundation to build on well into
the future.
The first generation of OPC primarily developed into three distinct specifications.
They were OPC-DA (designed for real-time data access), OPC-A&E (designed for
alarm and event message access) and OPC-HDA (designed for historian data access).
As three separate specifications, developers of product could pick and choose from
these specifications and implement what was most suitable to them. Since most of the
automation world revolves around real-time data access, it was only natural that OPCDA would become the most widely supported specification followed by OPC-A&E and
finally OPC-HDA. One of the first goals of OPC-UA was to drive broad and consistent
implementation for all data access when possible. For example, while communication
drivers may be focused on real-time communications, they also generate status and
error messages. A built-in support for the alarm and event portion of the specifications
would allow access to not only data, but all related status messages as well, through one
interface. The same can be said for historic data access. While few real-time communication devices need HDA support, there is a class of device, widely used in the oil
and gas markets, the RTU (remote terminal unit), that typically offers all three forms of
data, real-time datal access, alarm and event messages and historic data access. Again,
reliance on OPC-UA will facilitate one interface for these various data types where
three were required in the past.
The OPC of 1995 was very Microsoft centric, leveraging OLE (Object Linking and
Embedding), a technology enabling applications to applications communications in
SCADA
Feature
Microsoft operating systems. This also involved a technology called COM
(Component Object Model) and, when talking from one computer to another over a
network, was referred to as DCOM (Distributed Component Object Model.) OPC-UA
leverages TCP communications and Web services and is not reliant on a Microsoft
infrastructure. While it is true that Microsoft dominates most of the machines we see
on the plant floor, there is another layer of technology that is deeply embedded. This
is the layer of devices and control systems, typically running an RTOS (real-time operating system). These are designed for performance and compactness and generally
have internal mechanisms very different from a Microsoft operating system. OPCUA, unlike its predecessor, is designed for portability and is intended to be used in all
manner of devices, potentially from a remote sensor all the way to an enterprise dashboard application. And, it is intended to give the IT and engineers responsible for the
communications, complete control over the infrastructure, for example the ports to
secure the communications.
Whereas the first generation OPC leveraged
Microsoft standards, OPC-UA is purposely
designed to meet all the needs of the automation
industry, both (local/on-site) and remote. This
makes it a very effective solution in terms of both
performance and security. Finally, OPC-UA
builds on earlier concepts of the OPC Data specifications, while extending them with new complex data, the ability to have clients access structures of information to maintain context and data
relevance from the process, right through enterprise intelligence applications. Overall, OPC-UA
is a much richer and more robust implementation
over its predecessor.
Developing a solution to perfectly fulfill a need is
far better than leveraging general purpose technology to address a niche application. Expect the
first OPC-UA implementations to come in the
form of complete solutions. Interoperability is
always the greatest challenge in leveraging a new
communications standard. Hence, the most reliable solutions will come in the form of a suite of
products, delivering the new technology (OPCUA) designed and tested as a complete solution.
This can come as products from one vendor, or
through partnerships, where vendors work closely to deliver the latest technology in a beneficial
and reliable manner.
Roy Kok is the vice president of Marketing and
Sales for Kepware Technologies, joining Kepware
in July of 2007, Roy is focused on driving
Kepware’s marketing, and in delivering Kepware
products to the marketplace through Direct, OEM
and Channel relationships.
Roy has a Bachelor's degree in Electrical
Engineering from Northeastern University in
Boston Massachusetts. He can be reached at
[email protected] www.kepware.com
Kepware provides communication software for
automation and offers a unique experience in
both OPC and embedded device communications. Since 1995, Kepware has focused on the
development of communication drivers to
automation controllers, I/O and field devices.
Applications include M2M (machine to
machine) and M2E (machine to enterprise)
communications. Operating system support
includes: Microsoft Windows Desktop,
Windows Server and Windows Embedded
(Windows CE and Windows Embedded NT/XP).
Today, Kepware delivers connectivity to thousands of devices through over 130 communication protocols, and through the efforts of our
direct sales, distribution and embedded partners. Kepware is a provider of communications
with annual shipments exceeding 100,000
units. Visit www.kepware.com.
SCADA
Feature
Compression Monitoring: Applying Technology for a
Safer, Lower Cost Operation
Jim Fererro, Vice President, Business Development
GlobaLogix
The efficiency and economic outlook of upstream oil
and gas operations have never been more critical issues
for oil and gas operators. As the industry continues to
grapple with economic pressures, reductions in staff and
a volatile market, operators realize that now is the time to
seek out technologies that will help them lower costs and
improve productivity.
Less than 30 percent of the oil and gas industry’s US
field sites are remotely monitored. The assets on these
sites include: wellheads, tank batteries, production equipment, measurement facilities, pumps and compressors.
Out of all of these assets, compressors can often seem
like a small contributor, but in fact, they are an asset that
stands to generate significant return on investment. The
potential benefits of optimizing compressors make this
field asset a prime target for remote monitoring.
the unit and no alarm or shutdown.
What the milk run field technician may not know is
that the discharge temperature at that location should
only be 235°F, and he definitely doesn’t know that the
temperature has been rising for the past few hours. This
is where a dispatch mode field operation model has a
clear advantage. Under the dispatch mode, this same
compressor would be monitored constantly and in real
time from a central control room. The control room operator assigned to monitor that area would be well aware of
the increasing discharge temperature because of the
trending capabilities of the SCADA system, and could
dispatch a field technician as soon as he noticed the
change. This technician would arrive at the scene with
full knowledge of the current issue before the unit goes
down on a high temperature shut down. Most likely, he
would have already surmised that the cause was a failing
compressor valve, and he would have a replacement
valve with him to quickly remedy the situation.
Moving from Milk Runs to Proactive
Problem Solving
Most oil and gas fields are traditionally operated in
what can be called a milk run mode. Under this model, a
field technician visits the sites in his field based on a
schedule, a daily milk run. He begins his day at the field
office and then heads out to visit his sites in rotation. If a
compressor shuts down after his site visit, there is the
potential for it to go unnoticed until the next scheduled
visit. This can mean up to 24 hours of downtime, resulting in lost production and revenue.
For example, take a compressor at a site that has been
set up with the discharge temperature shutdown at 300°F.
A milk run field technician has his scheduled visit of this
site near the end of his shift, around 4:00 pm A quick
look at the compressor’s panel shows a discharge temperature of 265°F, which is well below the alarm threshold. The technician moves on since he has an hour drive
back to the office and there appears to be no issue with
team already has access to the data in real time. Time previously spent reviewing and analyzing operating reports
can now be better spent developing an action plan based
on the data. These improvements in operational efficiency save dollars and improve production reliability.
Making a Safer Operation and Addressing
Environmental Concerns
For operators working in environmentally sensitive
areas, dispatching field operators based on need, rather
than following a set schedule, means that their operations will be run with fewer employees driving fewer
miles than under the milk run model. From an HSE perspective, this allows operators to decrease their foot
print on an area by eliminating unnecessary travel. A
SCADA-based dispatch model also reduces chances for
injury because it reduces safety incidents as a function
of drive time.
In the Rocky Mountains, for example, many sites are
under the regulatory oversight of the Bureau of Land
Management (BLM). Reducing the amount of operating
vehicle traffic on the service and lease roads leading to
these sites is a key concern of the BLM. A dispatched
mode of operation reduces this traffic significantly. Also,
in sites where there are higher concentrations of H2S, a
dispatched mode of operation reduces unnecessary site
visits. When a field technician is dispatched, he knows
what he is getting into based on the monitored gas detection units. This has a huge safety benefit to an operator.
Lower Costs with Preventive Maintenance
Less than 30 percent of the oil and gas industry's US field sites are
remotely monitored. However, installing these capabilities in just one
piece of filed equipment, such as a gas compressor like this one, can yield
significant ROI and increases in operational productivity and efficiency.
This ability to proactively address field problems and
avoid shutdowns saves hours of time and significant
expenses. The most likely ending to this scenario for
the technician in the milk run example is that the compressor reaches its discharge temperature shutdown
level hours after he has left. If he does get an alarm call
out it will be much later when he is at home and offduty. In the best-case scenario he responds that night.
But, it is possible he may not know about the situation
until the next day. Regardless, without information
other than the fact that a shutdown occurred, he may
not have the parts necessary to resolve the issue in one
trip to the field.
Dispatching technicians from a control center has a
number of benefits for operators. In this example, dispatching the field technician while the temperature is
still climbing, before the unit shuts down, results in the
minimum overall downtime. A field technician who
addresses the shutdown after the fact results in the
maximum downtime.
Increase Productivity Through Smarter
Time Management
This dispatch model also allows field technicians
and engineers to work more efficiently. Instead of
making the same daily rounds week after week, as
they do in a milk run operation, employees are sent to
a specific site only when an issue arises. The field
technician can cover more assets and the amount of
drive time is reduced.
Additionally, regular meetings to share operating
data are no longer necessary when everyone on the
Each hour of downtime costs oil and gas operators
thousands of dollars in lost production. For example, if a
field compressor produces five million standard cubic
feet of gas per day (MMSCFD) and the volume of that
gas is worth $3.50 per thousand cubic feet (MCF), each
hour of downtime is worth $730. Also assume the site
averages 20 hours of downtime in a month. This equates
to $14,600 in lost production. Reducing that downtime
by just 10 percent (two hours) will bring increased revenue of almost $1,500. Achieving a reduction of 20 percent results in an additional $3,000 a month. In general it
is reasonable to expect to achieve reductions in downtime of as much as 25 percent.
Each hour that a compressor like this one is down can cost an operator
thousands of dollars in lost production. Implementing remote compression monitoring at one field site can result in a reduction in downtime of
up to 25 percent.
Operators will achieve these reductions in downtime
and increases in production and revenue by adopting the
proactive dispatch-based field operation model. As seen
in the earlier example, the dispatch model enables a
proactive approach. In turn, this also allows operators to
implement condition-based maintenance and root cause
failure analysis to increase equipment efficiencies and
SCADA
Feature
lower costs.
Condition-based maintenance is a scheduled maintenance program based on reviewing trends in certain operating conditions, such as vibration readings, discharge
temperatures and the results of regular oil analysis.
Maintenance is scheduled and planned based upon the
indicated need, rather than based on the calendar or run
hours. The result is a proactive and truly preventive
maintenance program that lowers costs and increases the
mechanical availability of the compression equipment.
Mechanical availability is the amount of time in a
period that the equipment is ready and able to compress
gas. This differs from the run time or down time metrics
most commonly tracked by oil and gas operators in that
sometimes a compressor is able to compress gas, but is
shut down for process or pipeline reasons that have nothing to do with the maintenance of the compressor. By
watching the trends in operating conditions, mechanical
failures can often be averted with scheduled maintenance. Scheduling the replacement of a failing valve or
even a major overhaul to coincide with the scheduled
shut down of the system or pipeline maximizes the
throughput of the equipment.
An operation that does not use some form of preventive or condition-based maintenance relies upon a calendar or possibly the number of run hours to drive
scheduled maintenance activities. Condition-based
maintenance keeps a finger on the pulse of the equipment, watching its health to determine when an overhaul is actually needed. This always results in lower
operating costs. Sometimes condition-based maintenance will indicate that a costly overhaul can be pushed
to the next budget period. Sometimes it indicates the
overhaul may be needed sooner to avoid a major catastrophic failure which would result in higher costs and
significant lost production.
The data provided by remote compression monitoring
also makes root cause failure analysis (RCFA) possible.
It is proven that operations that apply RCFA have lower
unplanned maintenance costs over time because the dispatch model drives proactive and preventive maintenance, moving the operation away from the reactive
repair. RCFA builds the library of experience necessary
to spot the trends that cause downtime and costly failure.
All too often the most commonly followed metric for
compression operation is run time. This measure is
somewhat meaningless without more information. By
identifying the causes for downtime future incidents will
be prevented. In other words, by categorizing the various
reasons that cause a compressor to shut down into as few
as five categories, the patterns for downtime can be analyzed and their root causes addressed.
time for a compressor can be automated into a SCADA
system based on alarm reporting. This guides the control
room operator and the local operation management in the
pursuit of the real causes for downtime.
Managing the Compression Asset
Basically, all downtime on a compressor can be placed
into one of these five buckets. And only the third on in
the list, mechanical shutdowns and unplanned downtime,
points to a compressor problem. Categorizing the down-
Managing the compression assets in an operation
employing proactive compression monitoring allows
operators to more efficiently use their available compressor horsepower. Gas compressors are a major capital
expense that may have a usable life of about 30 years.
However, due to reduced volumes and suction pressures
over time, the average well head compressor is only ideally suited for a specific location and application for less
than three years before its cylinder sizes, staging and
BHP make the compressor package no longer an ideal fit
for the site. At that point, volumes decline and the field
operator is left with underutilized equipment and wasted
resources. If it is a leased piece of equipment, they end up
paying for horsepower they can not use.
Currently, most operators will check that a compressor
unit is operating within acceptable ranges, but rarely will
they report on a unit’s BHP efficiency, a measure of the
utilization of the available horsepower. There are advantages to reviewing equipment efficiency as part of the
ongoing monitoring process. Monitoring allows operators to check the efficiency of their compression equipment and rotate or downsize operations to optimize the
complete fleet of equipment over an entire region.
For example, assume a compressor is installed at well
A. The suction and discharge pressures and projected volumes indicate a 1,200 BHP two-staged compressor is required. Over the next
few years, the suction pressure
lowers and the produced-gas volumes decrease. A new well is
drilled in the same operating area.
Well B has the same suction pressure and discharge pressure and
volume design basis as the original well A. A field that is managing its compression assets by monitoring BHP efficiency of each
unit would note that the well A site
is now using 750 BHP and the
lower suction pressures are starting to indicate a three stage compressor is a good idea. The management of this field would seriously consider relocating the well
A compressor to the well B site
and installing a lower cost 750
BHP compressor package at well
A. The determining factors, of
course, would include the relocation costs for the 1,200 BHP compressor. A traditional operation
that does not track BHP efficiency
by the unit would not necessarily
consider the well A unit in its decision process, and would possibly
order a second 1,200 BHP unit for
well B. The savings in capital
costs for a purchased compressor
or in operating costs for a leased
unit are significant. This one incident could easily result in cost
savings that cover the cost to conduct an asset management effort
that monitors BHP efficiencies
and tracks field wide trends.
The capital expense of compression is significant. However,
over time that cost is dwarfed by
The five buckets into which all downtime hours can
be gathered:
• Causes based on events up-stream of the compressor
(low suction pressure shutdowns or high liquid level
shutdowns in the first stage scrubber)
• Causes based on events downstream of the
compressor (high discharge pressure)
• Causes attributed to mechanical shutdowns or
unplanned downtime (this is the critical list of items
for preventive maintenance plan using condition
based maintenance)
• Causes attributed to scheduled shutdowns (these
should be minimal, and if they are not, it points to
scheduling issues)
• Causes attributed to operational requests (shut ins at
the request of the line operator or due to well work or
due to contractual issues)
the operating expense of that same piece of equipment.
Compression monitoring addresses both costs.
Monitoring BHP loading and driving a proactive fleet
management approach to compression reduces capital
expenditures. Moving toward a dispatch mode reduces
operating expenses. Furthermore, the savings in dollars,
and potentially lives, resulting from creating a safer operation more than justify a remote monitoring approach.
All of which, indicates that now is exactly the right time
to pursue the proven technology and cost saving benefits
of remote monitoring.
The ability to learn from the past and apply it to the
future is at the heart of compression monitoring, dispatched operations, condition-based maintenance and
RCFA. These approaches result in safer operations,
improved efficiencies and lower costs.
Jim Fererro is a vice president
with GlobaLogix, a Houston-based
oilfield services company that
helps oil and gas companies
achieve greater efficiency, productivity and accuracy in their oilfield
operations by providing access not
just to data, but to the right information at the right time. For more
information, visit www.globlx.com.
Did You Find This Article Insightful?
If so find more like it at www.RemoteMagazine.com
NETWORKING
Microchip Technology Expands
Wireless Products with ISM Band,
Sub-GHz Transceiver Radio
Microchip Technology,
Inc. has expanded its RF
Products Division wireless
portfolio with the new
MRF49XA Sub-GHz transceiver
radio.
The
MRF49XA covers the
434/868/915 MHz unlicensed industrial, scientific and medical (ISM) radio frequency (RF) band, which is well suited for low data-rate,
low-power embedded wireless applications. By retaining compatibility with its existing suite of development
tools, Microchip makes it easy to integrate this new SubGHz transceiver with any eight, 16 or 32-bit PIC microcontroller, enabling cost-effective designs for a wide
range of bi-directional, short-range wireless applications, such as remote controls, remote meter reading and
home security/alarms.
The MRF49XA transceiver radio is available on a
PICtail/PICtail Plus daughter board for integration with
the 8-bit PIC18 Explorer and 16/32-bit Explorer 16
modular microcontroller development boards. These
come in a 434 MHz daughter board and a 868/915 MHz
daughter board.
Microchip’s suite of development tools further
enables easy integration of the MRF49XA transceiver
radio with more than 550 PIC microcontrollers.
Available tools include the free MPLAB IDE integrated
development environment, the MPLAB REAL ICE
emulation system, the MPLAB ICD 3 in-circuit debugger, the PICkit 3 low-cost debugger/programmer and
Microchip’s free C compilers.
backhaul radio as well
as point-to-multipoint
configurations for facility wide LAN coverage.
Real time communication with decisive and
reliable timing is critical
to
vital
switching
requirements that protect substation and distributed
generation
infrastructure such as
wind farms. SwiftGrid
is a synchronous radio
platform that provides
ultra-low and fixed latency of less than 4 milliseconds
making it completely transparent and compatible with
all legacy TDM and future IP protocols.
Multiple OFDM modulation rates, channel sizes and
1 MHz channel center tuning allow for added spectrum
flexibility and non-line-of-sight operation providing up
to 24 Mbps (full duplex) throughput at distances beyond
100 km. First generation SwiftGrid is currently available
in unlicensed 900 MHz, 2.4 GHz, 5.2 GHz, 5.4 GHz and
5.8 GHz, and public safety licensed 4.9 GHz frequency
bands. Due to the flexible nature of the radio platform,
180 MHz to 280 MHz and 700 MHz as well as 6 GHz
frequency bands will soon be available.
“Synchronous low latency microwave has been our
niche for over a decade. With the emerging Smart Grid
market in need of a fast, cost effective solution,” said
Jim Carlson CEO of Carlson Wireless. “We’ve designed
these units for standard configurations; however, we’re
seeing increased interest in OEM partnerships. It’s an
exciting time for us.”
Learn About Smart Grid Standards at Remote
2009’s IEC 61850, IEC 61400-25, DNP3
Conference Workshop
Visit www.RemoteExpo.com for more information
Carlson Wireless Launches IEC
61850 and Smart Grid Ready
SwiftGrid Radio Platform
Carlson Wireless Technologies, Inc. has launched its
next generation SwiftGrid radio platform. Designed to
meet or exceed emerging Smart Grid and IEC 61850
standards, SwiftGrid will be available as a point-to-point
Products & Services
Digi’s New Cellular Router Enables
High-Bandwidth Applications in
Remote Industrial Environments
Digi International has
introduced
the
Digi
Connect WAN 3G IA, a
third generation (3G) wireless WAN router for secure
primary and backup connectivity to remote devices
in severe environments. It
supports industrial protocols and features 3G connectivity enabling highbandwidth applications like
remote video surveillance
in harsh environments. It is
designed
for
utility,
pipeline, traffic, industrial
automation and other industrial applications.
The Digi Connect WAN 3G IA provides support for
both HSDPA (GSM) and EVDO (CDMA) connections
and features Class 1 Division 2 industrial certification.
It also includes Modbus TCP support for easy connectivity to programmable logic controllers (PLCs),
Remote Terminal Units (RTUs) and other industrial
devices. Additionally, the Digi Connect WAN 3G IA
includes both Ethernet and serial ports, a terminal block
for 9 to 30 VDC power, a din rail kit for mounting in
industrial environments, and an industrial temperature
rating of 13°F to 167°F for GSM models and -22°F to
167°F for CDMA models.
The Digi Connect WAN 3G IA features built-in
VPN with IPSec for creating secure connections over
public networks. It also features Digi SureLink for
persistent connections over wireless networks and
Digi Connectware manager for easy setup, configuration and maintenance of large installations. It also supports Python, an object based, free, open-source programming language for developing customized controlling applications.
Advantech’s Launches Industrial
Ethernet Switch Designed for
Grid Automation
The Industrial Automation Group of Advantech has
introduced the EKI-4654R, an IEC61850-3 compliant
managed Ethernet switch for grid automation applications. IEC61850-3 certification ensures environmental and EMI immunity of network devices used in substations and allows the EKI-4564R to be interconnected with a myriad of devices, providing reliable consistency in power and energy applications.
The EKI-4654R features 24 10/100Base-T Ethernet
ports and two 1000Base-T SFP slots and has a wide
range of redundant power inputs (2x 100 to 240
VAC/100 to 240 VDC) allowing connection to two
separate power supplies, guaranteeing operation in the
event of sources going offline. In addition, the dual
connections can be used to connect multiple managed
switches in a self-healing ring configuration, which
provides a secondary communication path in the even
that the primary is interrupted.
In addition to an open standard Spanning Tree Protocol
(SFP) and Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol (RSTP), the
EKI-4654R also supports Advantech’s ultra-fast X-Ring,
which guarantees recovery in less than 10 ms.
Furthermore, the EKI-4654R features the Dual X-Ring
technology, allowing it to be a hub for an existing X-Ring,
so that users need only one switch to link redundant rings.
FreeWave Technologies LRS455
Licensed Radio Offers Improved
Transmission Performance in
Rough Terrain
FreeWave Technologies has released the LRS455.
The newest licensed radio from FreeWave offers the low
power consumption, improved transmission range and
added receiver sensitivity. Due to extended RF propagation characteristics (430 to 470 MHz at 2 watts), the
LRS455 is well suited for rugged and heavily treed terrain applications in oil and gas, water/wastewater, electric and municipality markets.
The LRS455 complements FreeWave's other licensed
radios, the LRS-760 and LRS-140. It offers fast data rate
and more noise, making it well suited for long-distance
SCADA applications located within rough terrain or
heavy tree coverage. The propagation characteristics at
430 to 470 MHz at 2 watts are significantly better than
higher frequencies at 1 watt, making the LRS455 radio
usable in areas with heavy interference.
The LRS455 provides new system and network management capabilities through the recently introduced
NETWORKING
Products & Services
FreeWave Tool Suite, an integrated software platform for all aspects of radio and network configuration and diagnostics.
Some of the additional key technical specs of the LRS455 include a 19,200 bps
throughput on a 12.5 kHz channel and a 70 mile range with clear line of sight and the
ability to extend through a repeater.
Hear Freewave Speak at the Remote 2009 Conference & Expo
TC Communications Adds G.703-Over-IP Gateway
to JumboSwitch Product Family
A new gateway that extends 64 kpbs G.703 co-directional circuits over Ethernet/IP
networks has been added to the TC Communication’s JumboSwitch product family.
The TC3846-1 G.703-over-IP gateway
features minimal end-to-end processing delay (latency) of less than 5
msec. because of its high-performance adaptive clock recovery, buffering and forwarding technology. It
also supports point-to-point and
point-to-multi point topologies.
Typical applications include extending Power Utility Teleprotection relays with
G.703/64K interfaces over Layer 2/3 IP networks. It is available as an interface card
for any JumboSwitch industrial gigabit modular Ethernet switch chassis option.
The TC3846-1 is fully manageable, supports VLAN and QoS to insure reliable communications and offers an industrial hardened version (-40°C to 80°C) as an option.
Some of its unique features include remote firmware upgrade, temperature and power
consumption monitoring, traffic monitoring and statistics reporting and a network time
server (NTS).
The JumboSwitch offers all popular features and capabilities of standard industrial
switches, but differs in that it integrates Ethernet/IP, VoIP and TDM-over-IP over a
redundant Gigabit Ethernet fiber optic backbone. It provides backward compatibility
with legacy devices and forward compatibility with developing Ethernet standards.
The JumboSwitch provides hot-swappable universal interface card slots for modular
interfaces to convert Voice, T1/E1 or Primary ISDN circuits and serial data, with IP
PBX, near Stratum II clock precision and demanding teleprotection speeds. G.703 is an
International Telecommunications Union (ITU) standard for transmitting voice or data
over digital carriers such as T1 and E1.
Westermo Teleindustri Debuts Industrial Ethernet
Routing Switch for Extreme Environments
Initially developed for bespoke mission critical applications in the defense,
rail, aerospace and sub-sea markets, the
new off-the-shelf version of RedFox
from Westermo Teleindustri is based on
a design that exceeds normal industrial
requirements. This robust DIN rail
mountable unit has a heavy duty aluminium enclosure for maximum
strength, heat dissipation and resilience
to extreme levels of electromagnetic
interference (300 A/m).
Manufactured from industrial grade
components and able to operate in temperatures between -40 to 70°C (with no internal
fans) RedFox has a mean time between failure of 600,000 hours. The new switch provides the highest levels of standard compliance for EMC, railway applications, vibration, humidity, shock and altitude.
The range offers a number of Ethernet interface combinations, ranging from ten to 18
10/100/BaseTX ports, plus the option of four SPF Gigabit and four 1000BaseTX ports.
To ensure the network resilience RedFox supports STP (Spanning Tree Protocol) and
RSTP (Rapid STP), and also features Westermo´s FRNT (Fast Recovery of Network
Topology redundant ring functionality. This protocol can reconfigure a large network in
the event of any line or hardware failure. FRNT is able to reconfigure a redundant ring
network consisting of up to 200 switches within 20 ms, regardless of network load. This
functionality enables RedFox switches to be used in safety critical applications.
RedFox also supports the IGMP (Internet Group Management Protocol) snooping,
which provides filtering techniques to manage the flow of data around the ring in such
a way as to optimize the bandwidth. IGMP snooping has also been integrated into
FRNT to ensure optimum performance even during a network failure.
Routing is becoming an essential function for the merging infrastructure and factory
automation networks. The RedFox´s static routing and firewall functions can provide
simple segregation to ensure dataflow is controlled between networks. Comprehensive
VLAN (Virtual LAN) support allows the physical switched network to be subdivided
increasing security and network bandwidth and improving manageability. VLANs can
also be allocated to particular switch ports and centrally configured.
Several layers of security are available, vital to prevent both malicious and accidental network failures including an inbuilt firewall and 256 bit AES encryption on IPSEC
VPN tunnels. When using NAT (Network Address Translation) the IP address of protected devices can be hidden in a local secure network. Web configuration pages and
SNMP can be disabled and the Command Line Interface (CLI) is secured using SSH
(Secure Shell Protocol).
Redfox is easy to use, needing no configuration out of the box to allow a simple network to be created. An auto-discovery IP-Configuration tool allows the IP address, subnet mask and gateway address to be set up. A Web interface allows configurations such
as FRNT ring, VLANs or a basic firewall to be set up.
Advanced configuration and monitoring can be achieved using SNMP. Fine tuning
for rigorous applications using the intuitive CLI enables running changes to be made
without the need for a reboot. The units´ isolated power supply has an operating voltage range spanning from 16 VDC to 60 VDC and can be fed from two separate supplies of differing voltages.
MACTek Develops Bullet WirelessHART Adapter
MACTek Corp. has completed the development of its
wireless adapter for use with HART-enabled devices. The
newest member to the family of MACTek HART products, the Bullet, provides a cost-effective means of access
to real-time information from installed intelligent HARTenabled field devices. The Bullet is an addition to the
VIATOR PC line of modems. The Bullet WirelessHART
Adapter will come in two models, one a general purpose,
non-certified unit for non-hazardous applications and
another certified to IS and EX-proof.
The Bullet enables existing wired HART field devices
to communicate with host applications by means of
WirelessHART technology. It is installed permanently by
screwing it directly into an available spare port on HART
field device, or connecting anywhere on the 4 to 20 mA
current loop. A wired HART field device retrofitted with the Bullet communicates its
process variable (PV) over the existing wiring to the existing DCS and simultaneously
communicates diagnostic and device information over the WirelessHART network to
process and asset management applications.
The Bullet has options for power scavenging or local/direct power. When powered
by the current loop, the device saves users the long term cost of battery maintenance,
replacement and disposal programs. The Bullet local/direct power option can be used
when the field device is powered either by a power supply or an external battery/solar
system. In the case of external battery power, the Bullet provides battery power management by cycling the field device power and taking periodic readings.
NETWORKING
K-TEK's Wireless Transmitter and
Receiver Provides Secure, Low
Cost Transmission of Level Data
K-TEK has released
the DX80 wireless transmitter and receiver, a low
cost method for transmitting
data
between
process sensors and higher level systems, such as
DCS or SCADA systems. Designed for
robust, secure communication,
the
DX80
includes two devices, a
node that resides in the
field and interfaces to K-TEK's measurement devices,
and a gateway that resides in the main control panel and
interfaces to a PC or PLC. Each node accepts up to two
analog and two discrete switch inputs. Each Gateway
accepts up to 55 nodes.
The DX80 wireless transmitter and receiver communicate via a frequency hopping spread spectrum (FHSS)
radio system that ensures the message is delivered and is
secure. By hopping from channel to channel, multiple
radio networks can use the same frequency range without
creating interference. Wireless communication can be
established between any of K-TEK's 4 to 20 mA level
transmitters and switches: the LM80 laser, the KSONIK
I ultrasonic, the KCAP300 3-element probe or the GP50
vibrating fork.
The DX80 is available in two different models: the
900 MHz frequency (US, Canada and Australia) or the
2.4 GHz (rest of world) ISM (Instrumentation, Scientific
& Medical) band. It penetrates walls and objects, and
bends around obstacles better than higher frequencies.
The signal range is three miles, line of sight and especially suited for tank farms; plastic pellet, cement and
aggregated silos and hydrocarbon tanks.
The K-TEK node can input two digital and two analog
signals. The K-TEK gateway can output two digital and
two analog signals, and it includes a Modbus RTU for
connection to higher level control systems. The DX80
can also be connected directly to the K-TEK HMI color
display for a standalone, wireless system.
The DX80 wireless network includes an embedded
site survey tool to ensure optimal performance. This
function analyzes the strength of the radio signal between
the gateway and a specified node. Signal results (the
number of data packets received or missed) are displayed
in a green (excellent), yellow (good), red (marginal) or
missed format.
The DX80 Wireless Transmitter & Receiver are each
housed in IEC IP67, NEMA 6 rated enclosures for longlasting performance in rugged environments.
They operate using 10 to 30 VDC input power (10 to
24 VDC for European applications).
PhihongUSA Develops Single-Port
High Power Midspan with
SNMP Management
Phihong has developed a high-power, 75 W singleport midspan that is Simple Network Management
Protocol (SNMP) capable.
Designated the POE75U1UPN, the Gigabit-compatible
midspan
is
designed to meet Ultra
PoE
requirements.
Because the SNMP capability enables remote
monitoring and reset without onsite service personnel, this midspan is well suited
for applications such as wireless network access points,
kiosks and security cameras.
"The success of next-generation PoE is still based on
lowering implementation costs by reducing the labor
required to install equipment, as well as to maintain the
network," said Keith Hopwood, vice president of
Marketing for PhihongUSA. "This ultra high-power
midspan lets the user easily install security cameras or
remote workstations without requiring an electrician, and
then lets them maintain its functionality without the need
for on-site staff."
The POE75-1UPN has an AC input voltage range of
90 to 264 VA. The unit's total output power is 75 W, and
it operates in a temperature range of 0°C to 40° C. The
single-port Ultra PoE midspan has safety and protection
systems designed to meet the IEEE 802.3af standards,
including detection, disconnect and overload control.
Over-temperature protection allows the midspan to
automatically shut down without being damaged and
the outputs are equipped with short-circuit protection.
Also, in case of over-voltage, the outputs will shut
down without any permanent damage to the midspan.
Proxicast Introduces a Portable,
Self-Powered 3G + Wi-Fi Wireless
HotSpot in a Box
Designed to provide mission-critical wireless communications, Proxicast’s new Cell-PAK 3G + Wi-Fi
HotSpot in a box is a
wireless grab and go
solution that provides
mobile wide-area cellular Internet connectivity (WWAN) and
local 802.11 a/b/g WiFi access (WLAN) in a
portable form-factor.
The Cell-Pak features
Proxicast’s commercial-grade LAN-Cell 2
mobile 3G cellular router.
The Cell-PAK is a rugged, self-contained, batterypowered, portable Wi-Fi HotSpot with built-in 3G
Products & Services
cellular Internet access. Its impact and water-resistant
MIL-spec rated case and on-board power pack are
designed for prolonged operation in harsh environments. The Cell-PAK can connect to any available
Internet service including DSL, cable or other Ethernetbased networks, to any serial modem-based service
including POTS lines and satellites or the LAN-Cell’s
PC-Card slot can accept a 3G modem from any cellular
carrier worldwide. The Cell-PAK automatically switches to the best available service.
The Cell-PAK platform features an intelligent power
management system that provides at least 12 hours of
continuous battery operation on a charge. It operates on
12 VDC and can be powered by AC, DC, vehicle, generator or solar power and recharges while in operation.
External antenna jacks and the included high-gain antennas provide additional flexibility for maximizing both
cellular and Wi-Fi signal reception.
Much more than just a SOHO 3G router and a battery
in a suitcase, the Cell-PAK is specifically designed for
the Proxicast LAN-Cell 2 mobile 3G cellular router and
delivers flexibility and enterprise-class security for wireless communications. It is engineered for both maximum
performance and ease-of-use. The Cell PAK is available
with an integrated LAN Cell 2 3G cellular router or as an
accessory for existing LAN-Cell 2 3G routers.
The LAN-Cell 2 mobile 3G cellular router is a commercial-grade 3G cellular router with enterprise-class
routing, security and VPN features that allows multiple
PC's, laptops, webcams, controllers, PLCs, VoIP phones
and other Ethernet-based devices to simultaneously share
a single cellular data account for primary or backup connectivity. Every LAN-Cell 2 includes four LAN, one
WAN and one serial port along with an integrated 802.11
a/b/g Wi-Fi access point, full VPN end-point capabilities,
military-grade encryption ( 3DES / AES ) and X.509 PKI
certificate support.
Based on an open and upgradable PC-Card (PCMCIA)
modem architecture, the LAN-Cell 2 is compatible with
all major worldwide cellular (wireless) carriers and standards including (CDMA) EVDO Rev A, EVDO Rev 0,
1xRTT (1x) and (GSM) HSUPA, HSDPA, UMTS,
WCDMA, EDGE and GPRS. The LAN-Cell 2 supports
high speed PC-Card modems from most major manufacturers and network operators.
Trapeze Networks Awarded Two
Patents for Intellectual Property
Cover Nonstop Wireless
Networking, Energy Conservation
The US Patent Office
has awarded Trapeze
Networks two wireless
networking
patents.
The patents advance the
company's position in
nonstop wireless networking and cover technologies that allow
organizations to deploy
and manage access
points more easily and
at lower costs.
The "System and Method for Distributing Keys in a
Wireless Network" (US Patent 7,529,925) is a foundational patent that relates to improvements in roaming performance. This invention covers the fundamental operations of pairwise master key (PMK) caching, the way to
maintain security when clients roam from one access
point to another. The invention allows the distribution of
key information about client devices between access
points such that clients can avoid re-negotiation of new
keys with new access points as they physically move in a
NETWORKING
Products & Services
wireless network. This results in uninterrupted wireless service and superior quality of
connection. Most of today's enterprise class wireless LANs that support high-quality
voice over IP services require PMK caching features in order to provide rapid roaming
between access points and eliminating dropped calls.
"Power-Aware Multi-Circuit System and Method" (US Patent 7,525,215) is an
invention that allows access points to use one or more types of power sources (IEEE
802.1at, IEEE 802.3af, or proprietary PoE) and adjust the functionality of the access
point based on the level of power available to it. This invention simplifies installation
and operation of access points on existing networks and allows businesses to entirely
avoid installing expensive additional power mains, new PoE sourcing devices and
upgrading their wiring closets to support the wireless network.
Nonstop wireless brings painless, fully automated dynamic redundancy and scaling
to wireless LANs. NonStop Wireless technology allows for non-stop operation, in-service upgrades, and hitless failover while dramatically simplifying redundancy configuration. Trapeze's NonStop Wireless dramatically reduces capital equipment and ongoing IT operational costs associated with building, maintaining and growing high-availability resilient wireless LANs.
Nonstop wireless is delivered through Trapeze Mobility System Software (MSS).
MSS is the distributed wireless operating system that runs on Trapeze's wireless LAN
equipment and delivers the benefits of Trapeze's Smart Mobile architecture. MSS runs
on all Trapeze equipment, from access points to controllers and is backwards compatible across the company's entire product line.
Newest Addition to HART Test System Supports
Testing for Interoperability of WirelessHART Devices
The new Wireless Test System recently
released by the HART Communication
Foundation is the latest update to the HART Test
System. The HART Test System is a set of testing
tools that play a key role in ensuring device interoperability of both wired and wireless HARTenabled devices. The new Wireless Test System
supports testing of a WirelessHART device’s
TDMA Data Link Layer and is now available to
all Foundation members.
“The HART Test System is an integral part in the HART Device Registration
Program. The system helps to assure the interoperability of wired or wireless devices
produced to the HART standard regardless of the device manufacturer,” said Ed Ladd,
HCF director of Technology Programs. “Users can buy with confidence a device that
has been HART Registered, knowing it will work with the devices and systems already
installed in their plant.”
The HART Test System is a complete testing tool produced on the Linux operating
system that works with wired HART devices or through WirelessHART gateways that
support the standardized HART UDP interface. With the addition of the Wireless Test
System the tools now include automated testing of the application layer, token passing
data link layer, TDMA data link layer and analysis software for the verification of a
device’s conformance to the HART Protocol specification.
“The design of the test system allows the Foundation to control the evolution of the
tool and to add components, such as the new Wireless Test System, as they are made
available,” said Ladd. “The HART Test System allows member companies designing
wired and/or WirelessHART devices to fully test them for compliance to all revisions
of the HART Protocol standard.
Hear the Hart Communications Foundation Speak at the
Remote 2009 Conference & Expo
Opto 22 Breaks New Ground in Wireless Networking
Opto 22 has developed a unique offering
for the automation industry by providing
both wireless and wired Ethernet networking options on its standard SNAP PAC
programmable automation controllers
(PACs) and I/O systems. Now using wireless for programmable automation controllers and I/O is as easy as it is for PCs
and laptop computers, rather than the
hodgepodge of proprietary and incompatible technologies sometimes found in the
industrial automation industry.
Wireless local area networking (WLAN) capabilities have been added to all of Opto
22's Ethernet-based SNAP PAC System components, including its full line of intelligent SNAP I/O processors (brains) and all standalone and rack-mounted programmable
automation controllers (SNAP PACs). Control system designers can now architect systems with traditional Ethernet wiring, Wi-Fi, or any combination of the two.
"Similar to the way you use your laptop, our SNAP PAC controllers and I/O
allow you to choose wired and wireless networking based on your environment
and other factors," said Nick Riley, design engineer, Opto 22. "Engineers now
have an effective, lower-cost way to provide proof-of-concept for their projectsbefore investing in costly permanent wiring or building a wireless infrastructure
throughout their factory or facility. It also gives them flexible options for segmenting their network."
Opto 22's new wireless technology in the SNAP PAC devices is based upon the
industry-standard IEEE-802.11 specification with support for a, b, and g networks
operating in the license-free 5 GHz (802.11a) and 2.4 GHz (802.11b/g) frequency
bands. In this way the controllers and I/O brains can be used in the most common
wireless infrastructures deployed in the world today. Wireless access points, wireless
routers, and wireless repeaters from nearly any vendor can co-exist with SNAP PAC
wireless technology. The 5 GHz (802.11a)
option is particularly significant-and unique in
industrial I/O systems-because it allows users
to deploy SNAP PAC wireless in a frequency
other than the typically crowded 2.4 GHz
band, where interference from other 2.4 GHz
devices, such as microwave ovens, could
reduce performance.
Security is provided via secure transmission
algorithms including WPA (TKIP) and WPA2
(802.11i/AES) to help build the robust and
secure wireless communications system typically required for any wireless implementation
today. In addition, SNAP PAC wireless supports
either infrastructure mode, where communication among devices is routed through an access
point, or ad hoc mode, where each device can
detect and communicate with any other similarly configured network device within range.
These wireless capabilities provide numerous benefits to users, beginning with the significant savings achieved through the reduction in
wiring and termination costs. Wireless networking also makes it possible to deploy I/O
and controllers in remote areas, areas that are
inaccessible, or areas where network wiring is
difficult or impossible to install.
Opto 22's SNAP PAC controllers and I/O
brains give users both wired and wireless at any
time. They can network their components via
standard wired Ethernet, use 802.11a/b/g for
wireless networking or use a combination of
both. More importantly, Opto 22's line of
SNAP analog, digital and serial I/O modules is
fully supported in both wired and wireless
mode-simplifying the specifying of I/O and
reducing spares. Also, all the standard industrial protocols currently supported by the existing
Ethernet interface are fully supported over
wireless as well, including OptoMMP,
Modbus/TCP, ODVA's EtherNet/IP, FTP,
SNMP, SMTP and more.
BlueTree Releases IPSec VPN
Client Software for Cellular
Modem Portfolio
BlueTree Wireless Data, Inc. has released
embedded IPSec VPN software, which offers
customers a simple to deploy and easy to use
VPN solution. As more and more devices leverage the "public" Internet for M2M communication, strong security becomes crucial. IPSec is a
suite of protocols specified by the Internet
Engineering Task Force (IETF) which add
security to the IP layer of internet traffic.
Adding security at the IP layer allows IPSec to
secure all common internet traffic. IPSec has
become the industry standard mechanism for
securing internet communications.
REMOTE 2009
Show Update
October 29th - 30th 2009 • San Antonio, Texas
The eighth annual conference and expo will be held October 29-30, 2009 in San Antonio, Texas. This technology-driven and solution oriented
event brings together the innovators and users from multiple industries, including utilities, power, oil & gas, telecom, industrial, water and public
utilities, agriculture and facilities management.
Remote 2009 Conference and Expo will focus on the leading advancements for the monitoring and management of distributed equipment and
facilities, remote assets, automated process & system controls and device networks. Large-scale users and industry experts will speak on
SCADA, remote networking technology, security (cyber and physical), control, automation, onsite and back-up power, M2M, emerging wireless
technology, telemetry and condition monitoring.
This year's event will offer managers of distributed equipment and remote facilities the most informative conference on these mission critical
technologies. Technical speaker presentations will provide focused sessions the latest technologies and market trends, multiple case applications
from users in many industries and integrators, and how-to sessions for the engineers and managers of remote sites. This year attendees will
receive certificates of attendance and can earn continuing education credits through some sessions and pre-event workshops.
The two-day international conference will serve equipment and facility managers, communications system operators, designers, developers and
integrators interested in learning the latest capabilities and best practices in these rapidly advancing fields. This will provide an opportunity to
network with peers, professionals and potential business partners involved in technology solutions serving a variety of applications. See the latest products, services and systems available and discover what's coming next.
Current Exhibitors
ProSoft Technology, Inc.
FreeWave Technologies
SkyMira LLC
Semphore, Inc.
iGLASS Networks
Noran Tel
BS&B Pressure Safety Management
Trident Micro Systems
Vizimax
MultiTech Systems
CalAmp
CSE Semaphore
Spacenet, Inc.
SolarCraft, Inc.
Supporting Organizations
Utilimetrics
Profibus & Profinet North America
ISA
Automation Federation
OMAC
Fuel Cells 2000
Visit: www.RemoteExpo.com to Register
Hotel Information
Stay Where the Conference Is!
Grand Hyatt San Antonio
600 E. Market Street,
San Antonio, Texas, USA 78205
Tel: +1 210 224 1234
Fax: +1 210 271 8019
http://grandsanantonio.hyatt.com
A special room rate of $229 is available for attendees. Be sure to reserve
your room by October 7, 2009, to receive this special rate. Be sure to mention Webcom Communications when reserving. Save an additional $200
off of your full conference registration when you book your stay at
the Grand Hyatt San Antonio by September 7th. In order to receive this discount you must enter this Code upon check out: “Remote2009_Hotel”. Note: in order to
receive this discount you must supply Webcom Communications with a hotel confirmation
number. Please email confirmation to Marsha Grillo at [email protected].
Enhance your visit to the Alamo City with a stay at the dynamic Grand Hyatt
San Antonio. With a dramatic design that exemplifies this unique city, our
new hotel on San Antonio Riverwalk is an exciting blend of modernism and
the Latin culture. Warm hospitality, bold colors and exceptional touches create a San Antonio luxury hotel that is perfect for every guest, whether traveling for work or vacation. Take advantage of our premier setting – adjacent
to the convention center, HemisFair Park and on the Riverwalk – outstanding
amenities and unprecedented service levels to make your experience at our
luxurious San Antonio Texas Riverwalk hotel extraordinary.
Visit http://grandsanantonio.hyatt.com for more information.
REMOTE 2009
Show Update
Preliminary Conference PRogram
More sessions to be announced
Remote Monitoring Sessions
Low Power WiFi Sensor Networks – Leveraging the 802.11 Standards
Enabling the Smart Grid with Cutting Edge Electrical Load
Measurement
Macro Scale Mesh Networking
Dan Piroli, Senior Vice President • Point Six Wireless
Al Hamilton, President • SignalFire Telemetry, Inc.
Andy James, Director of Sales - Mobile & M2M Group • Sierra Wireless
IEC 61850: A Protocol with Powerful Potential
Andreas Somogyi, Director of Global Engineering & Marketing • Prosoft Technology, Inc.
Wallace Gastreich, Strategic Product Marketing Manager • Prosoft Technology, Inc.
Telecom Company Uses Monitoring Tool for Customers Services’s
Quality Assurance
Fabio Pizzuti • Telecom Italia Spa
The Evolution of Remote Service and Device Management
Satellite-Terrestrial Networks: Next-Generation of Wireless
Communication
Susan Miller, Senior VP of Satellite Services • SkyTerra Communications
Using Low Power WiFi in Battery Powered or Energy Harvesting
Sensor & Control Applications
Bernard Aboussouan, VP of marketing • Gainspan
Frequency Hopping, Wi-Fi, Cellular, WiMax – Which Technology
Should I Use for my SCADA project?
Kevin Zamzow, Strategic Product Marketing Manager – Wireless Products • ProSoft Technology, Inc.
Sumair Dutta • Aberdeen Group
Reaping the Benefits of Intelligent Data: How Effective Energy
Monitoring Can Reduce Costs
Marcus Maxwell, Product Manager, Software and Meter Products • Eaton Corp.
Security Sessions
Wireless Protection - When Landlines are not an Option
Vice President, Marketing & Business Development • Telular
Intelligent Wireless Remote Control and Monitoring in 3 Easy Steps
Rod Montrose, President/CEO • AVIDwireless
How M2M Communications Drives Green Results Through Efficiency Gains
Alex Brisbourne, President & COO • KORE Telematics
Emerging SCADA Technology
Speaker TBA • Uplogix, Inc.
Achieving Greater Process Efficiencies While Protecting Industrial Plant
Systems Through Remote Wireless and Data Driven Process Technology
Securing Remote Site Access: A Defense-in-Depth Approach
Todd Nicholson, Chief Marketing Officer • Industrial Defender, Inc.
A Practical Approach to Securing your Remote Site
Kevin Finnan, Vice President of Marketing • CSE-Semaphore
So You Think You are Secure? You Might Not Be
Jim Libersky, VP of Sales/Marketing • The Barrier Group
Remote Video Security Unplugged - Cheaper, Faster, Better
Keith Jentoft , President • RSI Video Technologies
Geof Brazier, President • Industrial Protection Devices
Remote Networking Sessions
Onsite Power Sessions
Compressco Cuts Remote Work Order Processing Time in Half
Portable Fuel Cell Solution: Grid-like Power for Off-Grid
Deployments of Remote Sensing Devices
Robert F. Landsfield, Chief Executive Officer • Skymira
Stretching Wireless IO throughout Your Infrastructure
Brent McAdams, Director of Accounts & Product Development Manager of Wireless IO Systems •
FreeWave Technologies, Inc.
Reliable Wireless Sensor Network Performance for Substation
Monitoring Applications
Steve Toteda, Vice President of Marketing • Dust Networks, Inc.
Atul Chawla, Director of Marketing • UltraCell Corp.
Solar Electric Systems - Power Reliability for 24/7 Operation
John F. DeBoever, Director of Industrial Power Systems • SunWize Technologies
Green Battery Power Monitoring
David Barnes, Dir of IPS Sales • C&D Technologies
Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Systems for Remote Primary & Back up Power
Jon Rice, Director of Field Operations • Adaptive Materials, Inc.
Remote 2009 Conference and Expo 2-Day Workshop
Two-Day Special Course on IEC 61850, IEC 61400-25, DNP3
The reality of the world-wide retiring process of the most valuable assets (the senior engineers in the utilities) the aging systems, the companies tightening budgets
and lowering sales expectations could bring some great opportunities for everyone involved in information management of local and remote devices and processes.
Less people means less proprietary solutions could be supported. This is the time for a single, internationally standardized and accepted solution: IEC 61850.
The international standard series IEC 61850 “Communication networks and systems for power utility automation” and the specific extensions for wind turbines, hydro power plants and distributed energy resources provide a unique solution comprising information models (e.g., for measurements, statuses, configuration, equipment name plate and health, and processes), information exchange services (real-time and client/server) and a system configuration language
for a wide range of applications: automation, protection and monitoring in generation, transport and distribution utilities.
The first 14 parts of the standard were published between 2003 and 2006, with several extensions published recently. Vendors like ABB, AREVA, GE, SEL,
Siemens, Toshiba (to name a few) have already applied the standard in thousands of plants. IEC 61850 is supported by market leading utilities (like AEP,
Hydro Quebec, Terna, TVA, RWE, EON, Vattenfall) and industrial users (like Petrobras, Solvay, VW).
In this comprehensive 2-day workshop students learn the fundamental concepts and vision of the IEC 61850 standard series. Students compare traditional
solutions like DNP3 and the new OPC UA to IEC 61850 and discuss the strength each method offers. All the IEC 61850 standards, their extensions, and
many application domains are briefly discussed and the class delves into IEC 61850 real-time and client/server solutions.
When: Oct. 29th, 9am - 5pm / Oct. 30th 9am - 5pm
Presenter: Karlheinz Schwarz, NettedAutomation GmbH
Registration: $1,350 - www.RemoteExpo.com
Attendees will also receive access to Remote 2009 Conference & Expo networking breaks, lunches, cocktail reception, and the show’s expo hall with registration.
NETWORKING
Feature
Extended IP to Substations
South Central Indiana REMC Uses Wireless to Support AMI and Other Services
The Project:
South Central Indiana REMC (SCI) is the largest distribution cooperative in Indiana
covering seven counties and comprising 3,440 miles of line. Upon the expiration of the
contract with their metering company, SCI chose to add an AMR system with data concentration nodes located at many of their substations. Concurrent with the AMR implementation, SCI began designing and deploying an IP-based wireless system to support
the AMR’s frequent meter reads and to provide a multi-protocol platform for future
applications such as SCADA, VOIP, video surveillance, DA and LMR.
From the outset and throughout the development process, SCI has worked with
Power System Engineering (PSE) to develop a comprehensive plan for implementing
the new systems. A statement in PSE’s
RFP summarized the intent of the entire
wireless project that by, “…supplying an
IP network of some sort from the office to
the substation and between all major data
concentration points of SCI’s area and perhaps all the way to the mobile user, a ‘universal pipe’ for any type of data, video,
voice, and computer, and a connection for
all the applications is supplied.”
Since building a “universal pipe” with
fiber or leased lines was not possible, the
design was based on a microwave system.
As it has been constructed, the new
microwave system consists of two segments: the backbone and the substation
last mile. For both the backbone and the
last mile, SCI turned to MapleNet Wireless
for construction and implementation services. The resulting network combines a
number of wireless hardware platforms on
a cohesive IP network that is centrally monitored and managed. Legacy serial data is
also transported seamlessly over the network.
The Backbone
The SCI backbone is designed as a ring for fault tolerance and robust re-routing of
data in the event of the failure of any one point in the network. MapleNet constructed five new self-supporting towers for SCI to complete the backbone, structurally reinforced one existing tower and co-located equipment on two existing towers owned by
SCI’ electricity generation and transmission provider, Hoosier Energy. Using Ceragon
wireless solutions, MapleNet Wireless constructed an eight hop ring in excess of 60
miles, with link distances ranging from five miles to 17 miles. Each tower site also
serves as a connection point for substations and metering points, which “spur” off of
the backbone with Redline or Motorola wireless links.
Ceragon’s FibeAir IP solutions are utilized to carry 5 0Mbps + 8xT1 over 18 Ghz,
11 Ghz and 6 Ghz frequency bands. Each link has a software-based upgrade capacity
of 200 Mbps (for 11 Ghz and 6 Ghz) and 400 Mbps (for 18 Ghz). The mix of IP and
TDM on one transport device allows for SCI to aggregate all of its metering and control data while providing future expansion capabilities for ROIP, VOIP, video surveillance, nomadic data services. The FCC
licensed microwave equipment is well
suited for a backbone application due to its
low latency, immunity to interference and
carrier grade hardware platform.
SCI made the choice to deploy the
Ceragon radios in a “split mount” configuration, meaning that the RF units are
mounted on the tower on or near the antenna. Traditional microwave designs typically use all indoor arrangements with waveguide to the antenna. Choosing an all
indoor or split mount configuration is a
choice that any organization needs to consider carefully, because each will impact
budget, performance and maintenance in
different ways. For SCI’s VP of
Operations, Phil Mattison, “Ceragon’s
split-mount configuration saved us an estimated $100,000 in costs for waveguide,
pressurizers and accessories.”
MapleNet
Wireless
also
used
Garrettcom 6K managed switches at each
tower with Garrettcom’s proprietary “S-ring” spanning tree software to support rapid
fault sensing for long distance rings. The 6 K switches include MNS-6K-SECURE management software for cyber security. MapleNet’s National Sales Manager, Steve
Carender, points to GarrettCom’s modularity as an important part of the equation,
because as the co-op continues to move away from RS-232 and serial connectivity,
MapleNet can plug in port modules to meet the new requirements rather than replace
switches. Compact design and environmental hardening were also important. “There
were some pretty constrained spaces where we needed to deploy switches, and
GarrettCom had a selection of switches with the right degree of hardening and the right
sizes to meet our needs,” said Carender.
The Last Mile
Once the microwave backbone was in place
MapleNet and SCI turned to the project of
extending connectivity to each of the utility’s
substations.
PSE had already developed a
specification for the “IP to the Substations”
project, and MapleNet Wireless engaged in the
field work to determine the final requirements.
MapleNet’s field work started with spectrum
analysis from the towers at the main concentration nodes.
Noise floor readings in one segment of the network in particular indicated to
MapleNet that an FCC unlicensed wireless
solution would be problematic at best.
Technicians analyzed the 900 Mhz, 2.4 Ghz and
5 Ghz bands, and all had high noise floors in
both vertical and horizontal polarities. Further
investigation led to the identification of four
separate wireless providers in the area using
those frequencies for Internet access as well as
tower backhauls.
Not only were SCI and MapleNet concerned
about the viability of an unlicensed solution in
this network segment, SCI wanted to be a good
neighbor to these local businesses and not cause
interference or occupy what little spectrum there
was left.
NETWORKING
Feature
SCI’s dilemma was quickly solved with a Redline RedMAX solution. As MapleNet’s
CEO, Gene Crusie, remembers it, “At first, we were just trying to solve an RF issue,
and then we realized that we were introducing so many benefits on the IP side as well.”
The Role of WiMAX
Unlicensed wireless solutions have their place in the network, but the RedMax
equipment allows SCI to insure interference-free performance both now and in the
future. The FCC has made the licensing process for 3.65 Ghz simple and affordable,
and the FCC’s coordination provides a level of oversight far beyond its regular Part15 rules.
With the spectrum availability issue solved, SCI soon realized that it had additional
bandwidth, QOS features and extremely low latency on its RedMax-connected substations. Time sensitive metering and control data can be transported alongside large video
and data packets. Each packet stream can be managed and prioritized by SCI staff, and
the RedMax units are integrated into a centralized NMS.
“The RedMax-connected substations will be able to transport all kinds of services,”
Crusie remarks. “We feel as though we have implemented a solution with long-term
viability and usefulness.”
The Flexibility of Unlicensed Wireless
MapleNet was able to identify open RF spectrum within most of the network. Even
then, careful coordination with other wireless providers within SCI’s service area was
the key to not causing, or suffering from, interference. Each substation has its own geographic characteristics and spectrum requirements, which led MapleNet to deploy
Motorola wireless broadband solutions.
The Motorola wireless solution offer:
1.) Full range of frequency choices- MapleNet used 900 Mhz, 2.4 Ghz, 5.2 Ghz,
5.4 Ghz, 5.7 Ghz as the noise floor and terrain dictated
2.) Unified management platform
3.) GPS synchronization
4.) Intuitive management & troubleshooting
5.) POE, reduced loading and cable costs
6.) Wide range of antenna and accessory options: LENS, Stinger, reflector,
integrated, sectors
7.) Fraction of the cost of a licensed solution
By using varying polarities, deploying sector or directional antennas where needed,
synchronizing transmissions with GPS, and coordinating channel plans and frequencies
with other providers in the area, MapleNet has minimized the chances of interference
while taking advantage of the cost benefits of unlicensed spectrum.
Serial-to-IP
Once the “universal pipe” was in place, the remaining project was to aggregate the
various serial devices onto the IP wireless links and route them back to SCI’s head end.
As it did with its backbone switches, MapleNet once again turned to Garrettcom. At
each substation, a Magnum 6K8 Managed Field
Switch is connected via Ethernet into a Motorola
cluster management module (CMM), and from
there the CMM connects to a Motorola wireless
subscriber device (of varying frequencies). A
fiber link then interconnects the 6K8 switch with
a Magnum DX800 Terminal Server, which also
provides a serial link into the existing SCADA.
The DX800 also offers other serial copper connections into serial media converters. A serial
fiber link then connects to other serial media converters and out to 220MHz radios and Automated
Meter Reading (AMR) equipment. In some situations, a Magnum CS14 Converter Switch was
used to connect directly to the wireless radios.
From the edge of the network to the head end,
that is a very simplified version of how SCI, PSE
an MapleNet built a wireless network to support
advanced metering infrastructure.
3.) When using unlicensed solutions, always:
a. Conduct spectrum analysis before selecting equipment
b. Use narrow beam width antennas
c. Identify other unlicensed wireless users (Internet providers, local government,
schools, businesses) and coordinate frequencies and channels with them
d. Consider equipment that uses GPS synchronization
e. Remember that power outputs are much lower and signal thresholds are
more stringent.
4.) Towers & structures that are suitable for 220Mhz or 450Mhz antennas might not
be structurally capable of accommodating IP wireless equipment with solid panels
and/or tight beam widths.
5.) Spectrum is always an issue
6.) One single hardware platform will not serve the entire system
Another rule of thumb might sound contradictory coming from a wireless vendor,
but as Steve Carender of MapleNet puts it, “When you can connect with fiber, go with
fiber.” As most wireless vendors know, the wireless solution is a fit when fiber connectivity is out of reach financially, or deployment time frames are excessive. Even
when fiber is a primary connectivity method, a wireless connection can provide a physically separate layer of redundancy.
Current and Future Operations:
MapleNet provided staff training and still provides field and phone support when
needed. Day-to-day operations of the network, however, are carried out by SCI staff.
The entire network is centrally managed and monitored via an SNMP server, and SCI
has stocked the cabling, accessories and spare equipment necessary to service the network when needed.
In the near future SCI will be adding security systems, such as video, to its substations. The IP connectivity at each of the substations and the eight backbone towers in
the ring allow SCI to expand its services to include remote/nomadic network connectivity for workers in the field, VOIP, Radio over IP (ROIP), DA, DNP3, Direct connect
to IED’s The capacity of the wireless connections allows more intensive metering as
well, which provides SCI the granularity it needs to support time-of-use rate pricing,
the ultimate aim of the system as a whole.
MapleNet Wireless is a turn-key fixed wireless integrator. The company offers a
range of services included tower construction, wireless WAN integration, network optimization and emergency service work. On average, the company installs one new per
week for its customers. MapleNet Wireless regularly dispatches crews for installation
and repair work in Chicago, Detroit, Indianapolis, and throughout the Midwest. Some
highlight projects for company include a wireless WAN in the U.S. Virgin Islands, consulting work for a wireless deployment Chad, and a Homeland Security project in
Washington, D.C. For more information, please visit www.maplenetwireless.com.
Rules of Thumb and Lessons Learned:
While every implementation is different, there
are several key points that organizations beginning such a venture need to keep in mind:
1.) Licensed solutions, wherever financially and
spectrally possible, are the best option.
2.) Unlicensed solutions offer flexibility and
excellent throughput (10 Mbps+) at an
affordable cost.
SMART SERVICES
Feature
The “Smart Planet” Revolution: Using Smart Services, Smart
Operations and Smart Products to Transform Your Business
Brian Anderson, Vice President
Axeda
Billions of wired and wireless intelligent assets around
the globe can be connected and managed to extract business value. These intelligent assets will create a surge of
smart business processes that will transform the world in
which we live and work, as we become smaller, flatter
and more interconnected, in short a “smart
planet” revolution.
This revolution is already underway in
three ways: smart services, smart products
and smart operation.
Smart services that fundamentally
change how field service teams to increase
product uptime, lower cost of service delivery, and improve customer satisfaction.
Smart products that allow product manufacturers to push value-added content and revenue-generating services to customers.
Smart operations, by which asset owners
connect to fixed and mobile capital expenditure assets, tapping into intelligence that
improves internal business operations and
optimizes the supply chain.
The technology to make assets digitally
aware and networked is available today.
However, disparate point technologies all
come with the same inherent problems: solutions
focused on niche business cases, an inability to scale
across the enterprise, and support for a single hardware
or communications vendor. As a result, companies cannot harness the full power of their intelligent assets to
drive change, improve efficiency and ultimately
achieve new levels of competitive advantage.
To achieve these benefits by connecting to and managing any wired or wireless asset anywhere in the world,
companies need a scalable, and secure intelligent asset
management platform. The platform must be delivered
on-demand with enterprise-class capabilities and integration, out-of-the-box applications, as well as Web Services
to accelerate the development of custom applications to
easily manage, service, and track assets. Finally, the platform must be communications and hardware neutral, providing manufacturers, systems integrators, developers,
and ISVs with the flexibility to choose the right mix of
underlying technologies to build and deploy solutions for
smart services, smart operations and smart products,
regardless of market or industry.
Smart Service Solutions
With smart services, manufacturers can proactively
service and support products, driving optimal uptime at
the lowest possible cost. Benefits include:
• Reduce Cost - Increase margins without sacrificing
customer satisfaction. Meet the needs of a growing customer base without adding headcount. Support increasingly complicated products with less expensive and less
skilled resources.
• Increase Revenue - Revenue and margins from
product sales are increasingly under pressure from global competition. Product manufacturers can no longer rely
solely on product innovation to increase market share,
improve gross margins, and grow revenue.
• Manage Risk & Compliance - Regulations, such
as HIPAA in healthcare and Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) in
finance, require special attention, and the introduction
of Smart Services themselves can create new security
challenges if not handled properly.
• Improve Customer Satisfaction - In today’s
competitive environment, retaining customers is vital
for product companies to grow. Acquiring new customers is much more expensive than keeping current
ones, so keeping customers satisfied directly affects
company revenue.
Smart Services Examples
Smart Service Delivery – Varian Medical Systems is
a leading manufacturer of integrated cancer therapy systems. Traditionally, system and product problems have
required one or more service technicians to diagnose and
resolve issues at the hospital site, resulting in higher
costs and lost patient time. The loss of one day’s treatment time for a typical treatment device can result in 35
patients missing their treatments.
To manage these issues, Varian has deployed a smart
service solution, marketed as SmartConnect, to 10,000
devices at more than 3,000 treatment centers, where they
are used an average of 17,000 hours per month. Today,
Varian resolves 700 calls in the US per month remotely
by their help desk, resulting in four hours of travel time
saved per call. Since an average customer service call is
approximately two hours, the company is realizing a 50
percent reduction in mean time to repair.
Moreover, an average response time of four hours can
also be reduced to two hours on SmartConnect-enabled
systems. Additionally, the company reports that the product’s smart service capabilities have helped grow software service contracts, which are currently captured at a
rate of 17 percent higher than hardware service contracts.
Optimized Software Management and
Distribution – Another leading developer,
manufacturer and distributor of innovative
products and programs that serve the global
sleep and respiratory markets has reaped the
benefits of a smart service solution. Like so
many other manufacturers under pressure to
differentiate their products, the company sought
new ways to deliver new value-added services,
lower customers’ total cost of ownership, and
deliver superior service at lower costs.
By deploying a smart service solution, they
can deliver remote software updates, feature
options, and offer proactive maintenance and
service support of its mission-critical patient
ventilators. With more than 6,500 connected
ventilators , the company has earned overwhelming customer acceptance, largely due to
the ability to install software updates at the
customer’s convenience, without interrupting
patient care.
The ROI of this smart service initiative has been
impressive with $1.2 million in annual savings from the
optimized software upgrade process and 12 percent
increase in service contract renewals. On the cost reduction side, the company has reduced field service visits by
20 percent and overall service costs by 15 percent.
Smart Products Solutions
Product manufacturers, ISVs and systems integrators
can build connectivity into products to create new smart
products. Manufacturers and ISVs are gaining market
share and promoting customer intimacy by implementing
market-changing features that generate new sources of
revenue. By creating smart products, manufacturers and
ISV’s can:
• Create New Sources of Revenue - With a connection
built into your smart products, you can establish pay-per-use
models and/or deliver value-added services and content.
• Establish a Competitive Advantage - Differentiate
your product offerings or create entirely new markets that
foster a loyal, growing community of users.
• Connect with Your Customers - Use the smart connection to your products to learn more about customer
behavior, so that you can deliver content and services that
suits their needs.
Smart Products Examples
Theft Detection - A leading provider of patient safety
solutions in more than 1,600 healthcare facilities, developed and sells a medical surveillance application to pharmacists to detect drug theft from their cabinets. Upon login, the Medical Surveillance Service application lists suspicious transactions, including drugs issued to discharged or
“dummy” patients as well as in large quantity, medication
overrides, discrepancy patterns, and more. Nurses and doctors also receive emails with a listing of suspicious findings
as well as an action button to drill-down reports covering
inventory levels, inactive inventory, lost charges, and more.
By exposing the information gathered from their Intelligent
Asset Management solution, the company has created a
new smart product for which pharmacists will pay.
Feature
Regulatory Services - Another manufacturer of invitro diagnostic (IVD) test instruments and assays
(chemicals) has medical lab customers who are,
required by the FDA to run a quality control (QC) cycle
per instrument, per shift, and per type of test performed.
All QC results go to a lab supervisor who looks for
trends indicating a bad assay lot or an instrument operating off spec. Tests performed on off-spec instruments
must be re-run, which is costly, time-consuming, and
embarrassing to the lab. In high-volume labs, effective
QC analysis is a matter of data management; problems
can take weeks to spot.
The company leveraged its intelligent asset management solution by building Online Reports, a Web-based
QC application. Now the system collects QC results
from each instrument in real time and submits them electronically to the lab supervisor and to the manufacturer
who consolidates the data. Lab supervisors log into
Online Reports and compare test results for their lab(s),
other labs, or batches of assays. The result has been
increased customer satisfaction and retention. This smart
product has elevated the company to being a partner in
quality results, not just a product vendor.
Intelligence and Reporting – Xeronics is a provider
of solutions for operational data collection, performance,
reliability monitoring, and related business intelligence
solutions for the life science lab automation industry. By
working with the world’s most renowned medical and
life science manufacturers, Xeronics identified a market
need for more diversified data collection and more intelligent data analysis in increasing system performance
and subsequently helping manufacturers to engineer
more sophisticated products.
By adopting an intelligent asset management solution,
Xeronics created a smart product suite called ODIS.IBM
that securely connects manufacturers’ instruments to the
Internet and automates the previous manual data collection tasks. With ODIS.IBM Xeronics goes beyond monitoring instruments and capturing data values and creating charts. Their approach involves a more complex form
of data collection and storing the data with all key
process parameters in creating business intelligence
reports through statistical analysis.
Other popular examples demonstrate the growing
prevalence of smart products :
Location Services – OnStar is the in-vehicle
safety and security system to help protect drivers and passengers on the road. With its threebutton system, OnStar offers 24-hour access to
expertly trained advisors, a connection to emergency assistance, and access to hands-free calling. OnStar makes GM cars Smart Products,
enabling them to charge for a variety of services, such as automatic crash response, emergency services, roadside assistance, vehicle
diagnostics and more.
Mobile E-Commerce - Apple iPod is a
portable digital audio player device that stores
and indexes thousands of songs. iPod enables
music fans to store and access an entire collection
of songs within a few clicks. iTunes, the digital
media player application, enables users to play
and organize digital music and video files as well
as connect to the iTunes Store to download music,
music videos, games, television shows, and more.
With this connection, Apple has turned this
portable digital audio player into a commerce
engine as the most popular content delivery
method in portable electronics.
Content Delivery - Amazon Kindle is a
portable device for reading electronic books. The
Amazon Kindle enables readers, especially students, to store and read all their favorite books
from one single display. With its wireless connection, the Amazon Kindle enables readers to pur-
SMART SERVICES
chase and download all their favorite books and subscriptions. As a result, Amazon has extended its e-commerce business to these portable devices and opens up a
world of opportunities for additional value-added services, such as subscriptions, advertising, online teaching,
and more.
Smart Operation Solutions
Asset owners and systems integrators can build smart
Operation solutions that enable large enterprises to connect, manage, and track their fixed and mobile assets.
Smart operations solutions allow asset owners to manage and track their intelligent assets anywhere in the
world to:
• Reduce Cost - Lower the cost of ownership of wired
and wireless assets by improving their operation and efficiency. Support more complicated products with less
expensive and less skilled resources.
• Reduce Theft or Loss -Track the location and condition of wireless assets at every point in the supply chain
process, preventing theft and loss and ensuring the delivery of high-quality goods.
• Optimize Asset and Business Process Performance Provide personnel with real-time performance and condition of intelligent assets to optimize operations. Feed
asset information into all areas of the organization by
integrating with CRM/ERP systems.
• Improve Efficiency - Maximize the efficiency of
your assets by remotely monitoring power consumption,
for example. Provide operations and logistics with more
valuable data to accurately track and monitor assets during daily operations.
Smart Operations Examples
Intelligent Supply Chain – Applications can enable
perishable producers/distributors to track the location of
their equipment during transport (trucks and ships carrying fruit to various parts of the world), understand
what is happening inside the equipment (temperature of
the fruit inside the boxes as well as their movement during transportation), and, finally, control what is happening inside the equipment/containers (increasing or
decreasing the temperature). As a result, perishable producers/distributors can save millions of dollars in
reducing transport costs, cutting cycle time of contain-
ers and detecting transport deviations. These companies
can also increase revenue by increasing the pricing
potential of liners and other accessories used in the safe
transportation of the perishables. Finally, with an optimized supply chain, perishable producers/distributors
can increase operating margins by reducing qualityrelated rejected loads and labor costs, while increasing
customer satisfaction.
Mission-Critical Asset Monitoring – Petroleum
companies with drilling equipment, well heads, and platforms in the most remote areas of the world can use
applications to remotely collect information on flow
rates, pressures, temperatures, tank levels, and equipment
status. As a result, these companies can ensure the proper operation of their assets, continue the uninterrupted
drilling and processing of petroleum, while reducing the
cost of dispatching personnel to the far reaches of the
world to collect information manually.
Smart Retail Vending – Producers of consumer
goods, such as soda, can use applications to track the
soda shipments to distribution centers as well as to vending machines. For soda offered in vending machines,
vendors can remotely track the usage levels by product
line and even increase the prices of those product lines
that are in higher demand. The solution also enables
machines to report back to their operations center with
their current stock and any malfunctions. As a result, vendors can track sales from each machine in real time for
improved forecasting and reporting and suppliers can
ensure maximum uptime of the machines.
Summary
The world will continue to become smaller, flatter and
smarter. We are moving into the age of the globally integrated and intelligent assets. The question is, how will
you leverage this new smarter network to improve your
business? The opportunities are unlimited and companies
that build smart processes will emerge as tomorrow’s
market leaders by changing the game today.
Brian Anderson is vice president of Axeda, the company that makes it possible to connect, manage, service and track any asset, anywhere. He can be reached
at [email protected].
SECURITY
iSee Video Single Channel
Gateway Turns Analog Cameras
To IP Based Units
Napco’s Single Channel Gateway marks a new era in
remote video surveillance security. The ISEE-SCHGW
works by converting any brand of analog CCTV cameras into Internet ready IP cameras. Plug-in Ethernet
Over Power (EOP) modules simply plug into AC outlets
and the unit instantly begins to send video data wirelessly. ISEE-SCHGW automatically configures to a network
regardless of service and modem type.
With MPEG compression, ISEE-SCHGW provides
video images with a maximum of 704 by 480 lines of
resolution. Secure video can be viewed anywhere in the
world through the iSee Video VideoAlert server on any
computer or web-enabled device at up to 30 FPS. Our
server’s main page (VideoAlert.net) can be customized
with a company logo and contact info allowing endusers to associate a brand with their accounts. Strict
security measures such as password-protection and scalability allow users to offer accounts with video clip storage flexibility (50 MB per camera).
Pixel-based motion detection coupled with advanced
alarm integration give peace of mind in the event of an
emergency. The Gateway module provides an input
trigger that when activated can prompt the transmission
of video clips to the Napco server. The Gateway also
comes with a video output for optional local TV viewing that provides a local video signal for connection to
a monitor or for local distribution using a video modulator. Single Channel Gateway provides dynamic IP
support through the iSeeVideo DNS server checking in
every 16 seconds with its server to insure that the
DHCP IP address is kept current.
Products & Services
All of the single channel gateway camera kits include
12 months of secure iSee Video network service and are
available for purchase. SCHGW-EOPKT/12 basic camera kit, SCHGW-EOP/12 additional camera kit and
ISEE-SCHGW/12 camera provides installation companies the opportunity to generate recurring monthly revenue (RMR) into their business.
Industrial-Rated Security Devices
Provide All-in-One Firewall, Router
And VPN Capability
Phoenix Contact has introduced the FL mGuard series
of industrial-rated
security devices. The
FL mGuard products
provide stateful firewall, router and VPN
functionalities in a
single,
rugged
device. The line is
available in two
hardware styles for
industrial Ethernet:
the FL mGuard RS DIN rail-mount devices and PCI card
versions for integration into industrial PCs.
The FL mGuard solution has dedicated hardware providing security functions, which allows higher data
throughput rates than software-based solutions. There
are no limitations to the operating system or the type of
devices connected to the FL mGuard. It can protect PCs
running all versions of Windows, as well as PLCs, I/O
units, bus couplers and other industrial Ethernet devices.
The PCI version of the FL mGuard is currently the
only PCI form factor security device that combines firewall, routing and VPN in a single device. It integrates
quickly and easily, without modifications to the system
settings or driver installation.
The FL mGuard RS is designed for applications that
currently need a modem but might migrate to an
Internet-based VPN connection in the future. It includes
an optional integrated modem that can serve as a backup
connection. This makes connections to the remote site
future-proof.
New NVR Brings Toshiba
Versatility, Quality to Megapixel
Camera Recording
Toshiba Surveillance & IP Network Video has
released its next generation of Internet-based network
video recorders (NVR). With a feature-set highlighted
by a space-saving 3U chassis and support for 32 IP
cameras, the Toshiba IPS series makes it easy to create a networked video surveillance environment.
Toshiba IPS series NVRs are fully compatible with
Toshiba IP network cameras and those of other manufacturers including AXIS, Sony and Panasonic.
Cameras are recorded at their encoded resolution,
including high-resolution megapixel cameras, without
degradation in video quality. On-board software provides security administrators with simultaneous
recording, playback and remote streaming of live
video images retrievable on their remote or local PC,
along with search capabilities of archives. Microsoft
Windows XP is embedded as the operating system.
To save space for other peripherals, Toshiba IPS
series NVRs feature a 3U chassis (5.8 by 17.25 by 19.5
inches) that mounts into any standard rack. In addition to
a 32-channel version, IPR series NVRs are available in
16 and 8-channel versions with optional 500 GB, 1TB or
2TB hard-drive storage. Equipped with the Intel Core 2
Quad 2 GHz processor, IPS NVRs efficiently handle
multiple megapixel cameras simultaneously, enabling
the crystal-clear recording of these bandwidth-demanding devices.
The IPS lets users define settings on a per camera
basis including their resolution, motion detection, alarm
recording and frames-per-second (fps) up to 30 fps per
camera. Video can be recorded from both local and global cameras via the Internet, and is stored using efficient
MJPEG compression to optimize video storage space. In
addition, cameras featuring PTZ can be remotely controllable by the IPS, bringing added versatility throughout the surveillance operation.
"With simplified user setup, the ability to coexist with
a variety of other network devices, and powerful processing speeds, our new IPS delivers a real-time solution
that makes it possible for diverse locations to receive the
benefits of network video surveillance," said Sergio
Collazo, director of Sales and Marketing, Toshiba
Surveillance & IP Network Video. "IPS technology is a
natural complement to our networking cameras for capturing, recording and distributing IP surveillance video."
CyberLock Electronic Access
Control for Remote Antenna Sites
CyberLock, manufactured by Videx, provides
an access control solution for remote cell
tower sites and rooftop
antenna-site equipment
rooms. The CyberLock
system is unique in that
it uses the mechanical
lock hardware and padlocks that are already present at
telecom sites. Simply replace each lock's mechanical
core with a CyberLock electronic cylinder to gain key
control and auditing. All this is done without hardwiring.
CyberLock gives management the ability to track contractors and employees in situations where multiple wireless carriers are sharing the different subdivisions within
a rooftop antenna-site equipment room. With CyberLock,
owners know when vendors visit their cell tower sites
because the CyberLock electronic lock cylinders and
keys record openings and exceptions such as unauthorized attempts to gain access. It's this detailed audit
reporting that makes the CyberLock system so powerful.
Each electronic key can be programmed to open
selected locks and padlocks on specific days and only
during certain times on those days. The key contains the
access privileges each employee needs to do their particular job. Keys can be set with a date to begin operation as well as an expiration date. The CyberLock system eliminates worries about lost keys because the electronic key cannot be duplicated and a missing key can be
quickly deactivated.
Wurldtech’s Achilles Helps Make
Industrial Wireless Safe and Secure
Wurldtech Security Technologies has expanded the
capabilities of the Achilles Network Testing Platform to
include test suites for emerging industrial wireless protocols. Wurldtech also expanded Achilles certification
program to include test specification and conformance
criteria for wireless devices.
Wireless sensor networks and communications are
beginning to change the way data is gathered in industrial plants and utilities. The advantages for industrial
SECURITY
Products & Services
facilities in using inexpensive wireless sensors to gather
data from critical assets are being seen across the entire
spectrum of critical infrastructure industries. Wireless
technologies are a critically important element of Smart
Grid projects for the electrical utilities, as well. There
are numerous wireless protocols, among them
WirelessHART, Zigbee and ISA100.11a, that have been
developed specifically for these sensor networks and
that are being rolled out by many vendors and adopted
by many end users. Among the many issues facing users
of these wireless sensor networks is the lack of cyber
security benchmarks or standards to which these networks and their sensors can be held accountable.
"While these protocols have testing organizations that
certify compliance to their specifications, these testing
organizations do not generally have the cyber security
knowledge or the tools that make assuring cyber security for these networks and devices practical,” said
Wurldtech president and CEO Tyler Williams.
The Achilles technology is widely adopted among
control system vendors for wired networking infrastructure, and the use of Achilles technology has made
improvements in the safety and security of the SCADA
and process control systems that operate global critical
infrastructure. Now the same improvements are available for wireless networking infrastructure as well. The
Achilles Wireless Test Suite has added additional physical layers to the Achilles platform to enable robustness
testing over IEEE 802.15.4, the most common radio
hardware standard for these wireless sensor networks.
Obviously, the security and reliability of Smart Grid
infrastructure in the world’s electric utilities’ transmission and distribution systems is critical to the success of
providing reliable electricity from many disparate
sources like wind, solar and tidal systems, geothermal
power plants and cogeneration systems. Many of these
systems will be connected wirelessly, as will Demand
Response systems centered on both residential and
industrial consumers.
Smarter Security Systems
Introduces Biometric
Authentication Solution
Smarter Security Systems has released its FastScan
Vascular Reader
(VR), a biometric reader for
access control.
FastScan VR,
which
reads
unique
hand
vascular
patterns, provides
speedy identity
verification, is
highly accurate
and overcomes
many of the weaknesses inherent in biometric technologies.
“FastScan VR is the biometric technology we’ve all been waiting for – one
that is extremely fast and easy to use by
the masses, affordable, and virtually
foolproof,” said Jeff Brown, president of
Smarter Security Systems. “This technology should accelerate the adoption of
biometric access control, which has long
been perceived as more secure, but has
been held back by operational issues,
privacy concerns and cost objections.
FastScan VR provides the ultimate combination of accuracy and speed and is a
compelling product that should be
looked at by anyone charged with secur-
ing access to critical or highly sensitive areas.”
FastScan VR uses passive infrared technology to scan
the vascular data in the blood vessels on the back of a
hand. Hand vascular patterns are highly unique and are
the only biometric that is inside the body and can’t be
duplicated. For additional certainty, the system requires
a live vein pattern with a flowing vascular stream. This
results in unsurpassed accuracy, as demonstrated by
FastScan VR’s low false acceptance rate (FAR) of
0.0001 percent. In live authentication, hand scans are
compared to vascular pattern templates stored on a smart
card or on the network, which the user accesses with
either a PIN or proximity card. This two-stage verification further increases security.
Identity verification with FastScan VR is very quick
(0.4/seconds per person). Combined with the simple
user engagement, this increases user adoption and helps
avoid lines that could queue in accessing high traffic
areas. Nearly all people can use FastScan VR and it performs with skin conditions such as scars or dirt. This
makes it well suited for industrial applications where
fingerprint readers often fail. Unlike iris readers,
FastScan VR works in any lighting conditions, and it
avoids the privacy concerns associated with other biometric modalities.
New ComNet Product Increases
CCTV System Reliability
J-Systems New DDC-1 Joystick
Communication Networks, doing business as
ComNet has introduced a new fiber optic video product
line that can seamlessly restore a CCTV network. The
ComNet SHR line consists of the FVTFVR1010SHR
single channel with data series, the FVT/FVR4014SHR
series four video channels with four data channels and
FVT/FVR8018SHR series eight video channels with
eight data channels.
All models are digital fiber optic video transmitters
and receivers with bi-directional data that incorporate a
self-healing feature. In the event of a broken fiber connection the video and data transmission is seamlessly rerouted when the system is configured in a ring topology.
This network can consist of up to eight video inputs and
each must be inserted by an individual FVT1010SHR, or
by two FVT4014SHR models or a single FVT8018SHR
on the ring network. The ring network can have an unlim-
ited number of FVRSHR receiver units
located on it and monitoring of each of the
eight video inputs can
be received and
viewed from any
receiver location or
combination of receiver locations. In addition, the bidirectional data transmission allows for the camera PTZ
function be controlled from any monitoring location.
“This product is unique in that it can mirror the video
functionality that IP video Ethernet networks offer without the inherent complexity,” said Vic Milani, ComNet
vice president of Product Development, ComNet. “In
comparison to Ethernet drop and insert video networks,
the ComNet FVT/FVR SHR products are simpler to
integrate and can be installed without trained IT personnel. They also are a more cost-effective alternative due
to eliminating the need for video encoding, as well as the
Ethernet network traffic management equipment.”
The video quality of the ComNet FVT/FVR SHR
product line is very high quality, meeting RS-250C
Short Haul parameters. It is true real-time 30FPS broadcast quality and not subject to the compromises encountered with current IP-video compression schemes.
J-Systems has made a unique addition to its line of pantilt products, the Direct DC joystick (DDC-1). This joystick controller is a rugged solution for fixed or mobile
security control applications. Operating from a 12 VDC
power source (optional) it directly controls the hardened
JPTH-13 pan-tilt positioner without the need for any communication protocol or microprocessor controller.
The joystick offers a compact design with smooth left,
right, up, down and diagonal movements using up to 100
feet of cable. This makes the unit well suited for a remote
guard shack using a spotting camera and IR light.
DC power and pan-tilt positioner connections are
made via industrial grade, pluggable terminal blocks
(with screw locks) located on the rear of the joystick
enclosure. The enclosure is crafted from a polymer and
is resistant to dirt, moisture, shocks and vibration.
SECURITY
Intergraph and SightLogix Deliver
Integrated Geospatial
Surveillance Solutions
Intergraph and SightLogix have seamlessly integrated
SightLogix’ GPS-based video analytic sensors with
Intergraph’s scalable decision-support system for comprehensive detection, assessment and response to security incidents.
The SightLogix Enterprise security system is designed to
detect, track and zoom in on intrusions using the SightLogix
SightSensor and SightTracker over large perimeters and
outdoor areas. When linked with the Intergraph system,
GIS-registered target data regarding the size, velocity and
exact bearings of a detected target are combined into an
easy-to-assimilate, common operational picture.
“Security agencies around the world rely on
Intergraph’s solutions to transform vast amounts of data
into actionable intelligence,” said John K. Graham, president, Intergraph Security, Government and
Infrastructure. “By integrating SightLogix’ video sensors
into Intergraph’s scalable decision-support system, security personnel have an even greater ability to assess,
detect and respond to threats and incidents as they work
to protect people and critical infrastructure.”
Capable of long-range detection in the harshest outdoor environment, SightLogix’ automated, GPS video
analytics are well suited for locking down perimeters
and buffer zones, while the Intergraph system displays
and fuses multiple sensor activities into a single interface. The combination of GPS-enabled intelligence
within a single, easy to understand interface provides the
critical domain awareness necessary for a proactive
security implementation.
“SightLogix’ geo-registered detection capabilities are
Products & Services
best leveraged by a GIS-capable command and control
system,” said John Romanowich, president and CEO,
SightLogix. “Knowing the precise location and nature of
a security intrusion is essential for areas under the
responsibility of a large community of responders. Our
partnership with Intergraph is a natural and logical extension, and proves the efficacy of a standards-based, open
system security design.”
The SightLogix/Intergraph integration is well suited
for organizations that must coordinate various sensor
technologies among multiple security teams for a unified
and appropriate response. Security personnel at airports,
transportation centers, utilities, petroleum refineries,
nuclear plants and other organizations with large outdoor
areas can all benefit from the actionable intelligence
derived from this integrated solution.
Industrial Video & Control Co.
Introduces New IR Illuminators
Industrial Video & Control Co. (IVC) has introduced
a new line of infrared illuminators for use with its IP
camera line. The
initial
product
offering from IVC
includes
short,
medium and long
range options providing 850 nm illumination up to 180
meters.
Units
include
built-in
photo sensor.
“All of our outdoor cameras are sensitive to infrared
light,” said Norm Fast, IVC’s president. “Our new
infrared illuminators offer an inexpensive way to extend
the viewing range of our cameras in situations where
there is little or no ambient light. They are a component
well suited for remote site surveillance systems.”
IVC camera offering includes pan-tilt zoom, fixed,
zoom-only and varifocal (manual zoom) cameras. IVC
manufactures cameras that are suitable for the harshest
weather and environmental conditions. Their cameras
have been certified for use in Class I Div 1 and Class I
Div 2 (inherently dangerous) environments.
Alarm Lock’s A-Series Provides
Single Point Access Control
Alarm Lock’s new
A-series allows users
to choose from three
highly
stylized
durable, single point
access control 12/24
VAC/DC
keypads.
They provide dependable keyless security to
the entrances of buildings at all times. A stainless steel
enclosure provides the A-Series keypads with vandal
resistant protection so it can perform optimally under
high levels of stress.
Each keypad grants up to 150 ( three to six digit) usercodes and comes with audible feedback verifying when
keys are pressed. All programming is executed from the
keypads, eliminating the need for additional software.
Two of the three A-series keypads are weatherproof making them well suited for all outdoor applications. Nonvolatile EEPROM memory retains all programmed entry
codes and authorized door open times can be programmed for any duration between one to 99 seconds.
Outputs one and two are Form C relay contacts, while
output three is an open collector transistor.
Alarm Lock’s A-100 self-contained stainless steel
keypad is designed for indoor applications and its faceplate is designed to mount on a standard single-gang
electrical box. It operates up to three outputs (two relays
and one open-collector) and can be used to trigger a door
strike, an electromagnetic door lock or any other relayactivated device. A-100IMWP’s self-contained access
control mullion is designed for narrow stile applications.
Heavy stainless surface mount enclosure, illuminated
numerals and weatherproof (–13˚F to 131˚F) attributes
makes it suitable keypad for all outdoor applications.
Det-Tronics Enhances Safety
Surveillance System
Detector Electronics Corporation (Det-Tronics) has
announced enhancements to its xWatch camera and surveillance system. Options include viewing hazards over
an internet connection and recording activities
before, during and after hazardous events.
The
new
options
fortify
surveillance systems by enabling
users to immediately view industrial
hazards
remotely via a
configurable IP
address, integrate
surveillance into a
safety
system,
accurately detect hazards by integrating the
explosion-proof camera, and record and review
incidents for event analysis.
With Class I, Div. 1 and NEMA 4X approvals
from third-party approval agencies such as FM,
CSA, CE and ATEX, the xWatch camera, combined with a Det-Tronics flame detector, is well
suited for remote and hard-to-access areas. The
camera and detector view the same expanse.
Continuous, real-time video provides the operator
with surveillance capabilities during normal operation. If a fire is detected, the operator can quickly view a control-room monitor to assess the risk
and initiate the appropriate response. Moreover,
the DVR option allows users to evaluate the conditions leading up to and following the event.
SECURITY
Application Feature
“Janna Access came on site and worked very close- are tasked with maintaining the electric power grid. They
Vulnerability is heightened at ITC’s remote sites ly with our IT people. Janna gave us the IT support we require access to the substations in order complete their
because of their isolation. In an effort to address these required to integrate the system and provided the train- tasks. ITC programs each authorized person’s electronic
concerns, they installed security equipment to prevent ing our staff needed to operate the system,” said key with the access privileges they need to do their parBlickensdorf.
ticular job.
vandalism or theft at these sites.
The use of the electronic key has eliminated issues that
“We do not want to give any individual or organization
ITC experienced in the past with their mechanical keys.
the opportunity to sabotage the system because the
Keys were being copied and shared, former employees
impact is too far reaching,” said Blickensdorf.
had keys and keys were missing and unaccounted for.
Blickensdorf oversees the operations of ITC’s Security
“With the new restrictive electronic key in the field,
Command Center which is staffed with personnel, 24
we have accountability and an electronic record of where
hours per day, seven days per week. The Security
the key has been used, how it has been used and by
Command Center monitors live cameras and alarm syswhom,” said Blickensdorf. “Each electronic key is set
tems throughout their sites. Video verified intrusion
with an automatic expiration to reduce the risks associatalarms have become more practical as the costs of CCTV
ed with lost keys. If a key is missing, ITC can quickly
(closed circuit television cameras) have been declining,
deactivate the key or let the key automatically expire.”
making it a capable solution for enhancing their security.
“Everyone in the industry is working towards CIP
To date, ITC has installed at least 300 live cameras
compliance,” said Blickensdorf. “The electronic lock
along with an integrated alarm system at 30 of their sites.
system assists us with compliance to CIP standards by
With their sophisticated security system in place,
tracking individuals that go into locations that contain
Security Command Center personnel can quickly detercritical cyber assets.” Through the placement of an elecmine whether an intrusion is non-threatening or sometronic lock, they can at any point download information
thing more serious.
from that lock and determine who recently accessed that
ITC’s physical security projects encompass ITC headparticular location. Each authorized user’s key is proquarters, substations and warehouses. In addition to the
grammed to access selected locks at specific locations
live cameras and alarm system, they have installed perimeand only during certain times of the day. The electronic
ter fence intrusion monitors, photo-beam towers, infrared
locks and keys audit openings and unauthorized attempts
illumination devices, motion detection towers and other
to enter areas that protect electronic data and the equipphysical security equipment at strategic locations. They
ment it’s housed in.
also have an integrated online access card system installed
“The electronic lock system provides a two-pronged
throughout their facilities. If there is any unauthorized
approach to controlling physical access to our electronaccess or other alarm, this information is quickly transmitic assets. First, we can control who we issue a key to
ted to the Security Command Center for action.
CCTV Camera Mounted on a Pole by Perimeter Fence
and how the key is to be used by that person. Second,
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)
ITC replaced the cylinders in their mechanical locks with we can track that person’s activity at the different sites,”
and the North American Electric Reliability Corporation
(NERC) have established enforceable security standards electronic cylinders. They have installed electronic locks on said Blickensdorf.
ITC’s vision to have the best security measures in
to prevent electronic and physical attacks that could crip- their RTU and NetShelter cabinets and control-house doors.
ple the energy industry, which is a critical part of our Electronic padlocks are protecting their TMedic boxes and place to protect the reliability of their grid continues to
perimeter fence gates. “The physical cyber assets we are grow. By partnering with a capable access control sysnation’s infrastructure.
In January, 2008, Critical Infrastructure Protection protecting with the electronic locks are critical under the tem integrator and taking advantage of today’s advances
in security technology, they have implemented integrat(CIP) Reliability Standards were approved for the purpose CIP Reliability Standards,” said Blickensdorf.
ITC has issued electronic keys to their contractors and ed security systems that will continue to provide the
of protecting the physical security of critical cyber assets.
CIP Standard 006-1 “requires a responsible entity to cre- employees in the field that need access to substations and physical security and accountability they require. As
ate and maintain a physical security plan that ensures that other sensitive areas. ITC primarily utilizes a contract government standards evolve and new security threats
all cyber assets within an electronic security perimeter work force for their field work. These alliance partner emerge, ITC is in a strong position to respond quickly
contractors typically work full-time on ITC projects and and decisively.
also reside within an identified physical security
perimeter. The physical security plan must contain
processes for identifying, controlling and monitoring all access points and authorization requests.
The Reliability Standard also requires that the logging of physical access must occur at all times,
Complete form and fax to 720-528-3771 or submit online at www.RemoteMagazine.com
and the information logged must be sufficient to
uniquely identify individuals.”
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There were logistic challenges that confronted
Please select your desired format (check only one): Electronic Copy Hard Copy
ITC in developing a strategy for meeting the CIP
X Signature (required) __________________________________ Date ________________________________________________
Reliability Standards. As they began to tackle these
issues, they looked for a secure access control sysPrint Name ________________________________________________________________________________________________
tem that would provide the flexibility they needed.
Title ______________________________________________________________________________________________________
Most importantly, they needed a system that could
Company ________________________________________________________________________________________________
bring key control and an audit trail to their remote
sites without requiring power at the lock.
Address __________________________________________________________________________________________________
“We required a system that could eliminate the
City __________________________________ State ____________________________ ZIP ____________________________
risks associated with the duplication of keys, and
assist us with CIP compliance by tracking conBusiness Phone ______________________________ Business Fax ________________________________________________
tractors and employees that go into locations that
E-mail (required for electronic format) __________________________________________________________________________
contain critical cyber assets,” said Blickensdorf
They were looking for a product that could be
You may receive renewal reminders via email. If you do not want to receive other business related, third party email offers, please check here. integrated with the sophisticated security equip-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------A. What is your
4 Sales/Marketing
1 Executive/Corporate Management
ment and systems they already had in place.
2 General/Operations Management
principle job function?
5 Administration/Finance
After thorough research, the organization
3 Engineering/Technical
(Check one)
chose to implement CyberLock and proceeded
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------B. Company’s primary business
6 Owner/manager of remote sites/equipment
10 Regulatory Agency
to integrate the electronic lock system into their
activity?
7 Contract operator of remote sites/equipment owned by others
11 Education
(Check one)
8 Provide products/services for remote sites/equipment
12 Association/Event/Publication
existing systems. ITC solicited the help of Janna
9 Consulting engineer or other consulting services
Access LLC, an access control integration company located in Columbia Station, Ohio.
ITC continued from Cover
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ONSITE POWER
Server Technology’s Sentry PDU’s
Expand Remote Power
Management Capabilities
Server Technology has integrated the Sentry Cabinet
power distribution unit (PDU)
Switched product
family and the
Minicom remote
access management solution,
AccessIT. Access
to the Server
Technology
Sentry PDU remote reboot features are made directly
through the AccessIT interface without a separate login
and password. IT administrators now have centralized
access to servers via KVM and remote access services,
as well as the power controls of the PDU through one
intuitive interface.
As a result of this integration, if a user is accessing a
server through AccessIT and a reboot is required, a click
on the power icon next to the server name performs the
function. No longer does an administrator require multiple
spreadsheet, IP addresses, passwords and user names to do
their jobs. All access is managed from a single point,
increasing efficiency and reducing downtime.
“The integration of the AccessIT management platform and Server Technology’s PDU Switched product
family greatly expands power management accessibility
within the evolving data center environment,” said
Brandon Ewing, president of Server Technology. “Power
access, management and control within the data center
are critical.”
AccessIT consolidates all in/out-of-band services
thus providing highly secure, web based, on-demand
remote access at all times. Its open architecture prevents
the dreaded vendor lock-in by supporting the seamless
integration of third party serial, power and KVM
switches and devices. Other supported access services
are VMware, RDP, VNC, SSH, Telnet, HP iLO, Web
access and custom applications. AccessIT continues
Minicom’s “real needs” approach of repurposing
installed analog KVM systems by simply adding a layer
of KVM IP devices.
Sentry Switched PDU’s provide per outlet control for
on, off and reboot functions of the devices within the data
center cabinet. Grouping of outlets across A and B power
in-feeds via a single IP address allows users to reboot
specific devices or groups of devices to minimize the
effect of locked up or unresponsive equipment. Other
features include email and SNMP alerts, local and remote
input current monitoring, secure IP and serial access,
LDAP/LDAPS, Syslog, Telnet, Radius, TACACS+ and
environmental monitoring.
Eaton’s 9390IT UPS DoubleConversion Design Brings
Flexibility, Scalability and Power
Density to IT Resellers
Eaton Corp. has introduced the 9390IT uninterruptible
power system (UPS) with
double-conversion technology that protects information
technology (IT) equipment
from common utility power
problems. As the latest addition to Eaton’s three-phase
product family, the 9390IT
offers a small footprint at 40
kVA, up to 61 percent smaller than competitive units.
This helps to save valuable
data center space, and the 40
kVA modular building block
concept provides a costeffective solution for growth.
The 9390IT’s compact
footprint is attributed to its
transformer-less design and
standard internal batteries,
which eliminate the need for external battery cabinets.
With Eaton’s Energy Saver mode, the 9390IT delivers an
efficiency of 99 percent with double-conversion protection. In addition to the cost savings, this added efficiency
extends battery run time and produces cooler UPS operating temperatures, extending component life and
Products & Services
increasing reliability and performance.
“With shrinking IT budgets, data center managers are
seeking a backup power solution that gives them the
most for their investment. The 9390IT comes well-configured with many standard features,” said Dave Pisano,
Eaton 9390IT product manager. “With the 9390IT, the
Eaton 9390 UPS platform is available to all Eaton sales
channels with several notable enhancements, including
internal batteries, built-in maintenance bypass, high efficiency and a modular scalability that allows the 9390IT
to grow as needed, without costly wiring and other facilities expenses.”
As a pre-wired, integrated module, the 9390IT saves
time, installation cost and cabling expenses because of its
standard top or bottom entry design. Also, at the heart of
its design is the on-board, pre-wired and fully integrated
maintenance bypass, or parallel tie side-car, which makes
it convenient to service the UPS without disruption to
critical loads.
Eaton’s use of sustainable materials and efficient manufacturing technology results in a carbon footprint reduction compared to competitive UPS products. In an environment of higher energy costs, rising emissions concerns
and rapid global growth, Eaton’s innovative technologies
help customers use power more efficiently.
Caterpillar Introduces Cat Reman
Generator Ends
Caterpillar, Inc. has introduced a family of remanufactured generator ends
for standby, prime
and
continuous
power applications
using C32 and 3500
series Caterpillar
engines. The first
wave of remanufactured generator
ends include 34 part
numbers, which are available world-wide in 60 Hz and
50 Hz packages with ratings up to 2.5 MW.
The Cat Reman generator end was designed with the
customers’ needs in mind. An affordable product support option, the remanufactured generator ends come
with a factory warranty and same-as-new quality. All critical engineering updates get incorporated in a controlled manufacturing environment. This allows customers to reduce overall
operating costs by taking advantage of the multiple lifecycles built into every Caterpillar product. In addition, Cat Reman generator ends are
priced lower than the price of new because
affordability and serviceability are two main
drivers for the new product launch.
The C32 and 3500 series engines have been
used for applications ranging from distributed
generation to prime power for remote communities, industrial processing plants and rock crushing applications. The advantage of investing in a
remanufactured generator end will allow for the
most diversity in product coverage while at the
same time offering reliable power at the right
time and the right place
"Our customers wanted an economical solution for their prime power application needs,"
said Doug Hampton, commercial manager, Cat
Reman. "In today's economy, customers expect
Caterpillar to deliver products that offer improved
performance, low fuel consumption, serviceability and systems integration that not only meets
their unique set of priorities, but also comes with
a price tag that doesn’t pinch their pocketbook.”
Products & Services
Tadiran Introduces High Energy
TLM Military Grade Lithium Batteries
Tadiran has introduced
TLM military grade batteries, a family of rugged,
high energy lithium metal
oxide batteries developed
specifically for military
and aerospace applications.
TLM military grade cylindrical batteries feature an
open circuit voltage of 4 V,
with a discharge capacity
of 500 mAh (20 mA at 2.8
V RT), capable of handling 5
A continuous pulses and 15 A maximum high
current pulses.
These batteries are constructed with a carbonbased anode, multi metal oxide cathode, organic
electrolyte and shut-down separator for enhanced
safety. TLM military grade batteries also feature
low self-discharge and a operating temperature
range of -40°C to 85°C. These batteries comply
with MIL-STD 810G specs for vibration, shock,
temperature shock, salt fog, altitude, acceleration
(50,000 gn) and spinning (30,000 rpm) and conform to UN 1642 and IEC 60086 standards for
crush, impact, nail penetration, heat, over-charge
and short circuit and can be shipped as non-hazardous goods.
TLM Military Grade batteries meet the
demanding requirements of single use applications such as avionics, navigation systems, ordinance fuses, missile systems, telemetry, electronic warfare systems, GPS tracking and emergency/safety devices, shipboard and oceanographic devices. These batteries come in a variety cylindrical configurations and can be assembled into custom battery packs to meet virtually
any requirement.
In addition to TLM Military Grade batteries,
Tadiran manufactures a complete line of lithium
thionyl chloride batteries, including a variety of
primary cylindrical batteries, coin-sized cells and
packs and Pulses Plus batteries for high current
pulse applications. Tadiran products are available
in a variety of terminations and assemblies. High
temperature models are also available.
ONSITE POWER
engineers developed the 12HX505-FR and 12HX540-FR
within the existing container size of the DataSafe 12 V
12HX500-FR batteries. So while the battery size and
weight are essentially the same, the new models deliver
comparable or improved performance ratings.
The DataSafe HX505-FR produces 506 WPC for 15
minutes to 1.67 volts per cell at 77ºF. Its physical dimensions are similar to the 12HX500-FR, weighing 110 lbs.
and measuring 13.4 by 6.8 by 10.8 inches. Compared to
the 12HX500 model, the 12HX505-FR delivers
improved performance ratings for run times up to 15
minutes and has similar performance ratings for time
periods greater than 15 minutes. Additionally, the
DataSafe 12HX540-FR provides 540 WPC for 15 min-
utes to 1.67 volts per cell at 77ºF. Although the cube
sizes are similar, the 12HX540-FR produces 8 percent
more power than the 12HX505-FR.
DataSafe HX batteries are compatible with other similar products. The batteries feature high conductivity
recessed brass terminals, high integrity, long life terminal
seals, corrosion resistant lead-calcium-tin alloy positive
and negative grids for efficient recharge and long life.
They have flame retardant cases and covers to meet
UL1778 specifications for UPS systems. The HX series
also meets industry standards, including UL, IATA certification for air transport and US DOT requirements for
non-spillable batteries.
EnerSys Delivers More Power
In Less Space with DataSafe
12 V UPS Batteries
EnerSys has added two new 12 V batteries to
its DataSafe line of UPS valve-regulated lead acid
(VRLA) batteries, the12HX505-FR and
12HX540-FR.
“Developing
innovative products translates into
better productivity
and stronger bottom lines for our
customers.
The
addition of the 12HX505-FR and 12HX540-FR
models to our DataSafe line is another way we
can provide more power in less space and cost
benefits to our customers,” said Steve Vechy,
director of UPS and Utility Marketing, EnerSys.
DataSafe batteries are designed to back-up the
primary power systems for UPS applications, typically supplying power for 15 minutes until the
backup generator is fully operational. By optimizing the electromechanical design, EnerSys
INDUSTRY NEWS
Shelby County Tennessee
Enhances Communications
Interoperability Via SkyTerra
SkyTerra and the Memphis/Shelby county, Tennessee
Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) are deploying
push-to-talk satellite services via SkyTerra to provide a
network for interoperable contingency communications
for emergency operations throughout their six county
Homeland Security region.
The Memphis/Shelby County UASI is using a portion
of its UASI grants funding designated for one of its
Interoperable Communications Projects to purchase
more than 250 MSAT-G2 satellite radios and service subscriptions. UASI grants provide funding support for
emergency response agencies in areas that are considered
high-risk for events, either natural or man-made, and are
located within one of the specific Department of
Homeland Security (DHS) designated urban areas, such
as Memphis. The Memphis/Shelby County UASI
includes Shelby, Tipton, Fayette and Lauderdale counties
in Tennessee, Crittenden County in Arkansas and Desoto
County in Mississippi.
SkyTerra and its local service provider, Central
Communications, worked with the Shelby County
Office of Preparedness to develop the required documentation for grant funding approval. Once the funds
were approved, the county commissioners approved
the purchase and the UASI-wide distribution plan for
the MSAT-G2s.
"This is an excellent illustration where the public and
private sectors have come together and worked in unison to develop a solution for a public safety requirement,” said Bob Nations Jr., director, Shelby County
Office of Preparedness HLS/EMA. "This is an example
that other businesses and agencies around the nation
can model to craft solutions for their local security and
public service needs.”
According to county planners, more than 230 mobile
units in hardened travel cases with power adapters will
be placed with emergency response agencies throughout
the Memphis/Shelby UASI region where they can be
readily deployed during emergencies. The rest of the
satellite devices will be deployed in critical command
and control facilities including the county Emergency
Operations Center, the Memphis Police and Fire
Department headquarters, and other UASI emergency
management locations.
Hear SkyTerra Speak at the Remote 2009
Conference & Expo
Air Products Installs GE’s Wireless
Monitoring Water Solution
Air Products has recently completed installation of a
new wireless remote monitoring solution powered by GE
Enterprise Solutions and distributed through GE Water, a
business unit of GE Energy. The new system, implemented at the company’s Calvert City, Ky., location, is
helping improve operational efficiency and productivity
by providing a way to reliably monitor, diagnose and
maintain water equipment and processes.
The GE Wireless Monitoring Solution combines an
exclusive blend of technologies from across the GE
Enterprise Solutions portfolio to create an all-encompassing remote monitoring system that offers application
expertise, wireless technology, sensor technology, software hosting, alarm notification and installation services
in an end-to-end solution.
“GE’s new Wireless Monitoring Solution is truly innovative,” said Butch Marshall, site manager, Air Products.
“The system helps us to be proactive as we monitor chemical tank levels that support our water operations, and we
can access it at any time from anywhere in the world.”
The new solution connects Air Products’ water treatment data and provides enhanced visibility to relevant
information, improved data accuracy, increased cost savings and higher staff productivity. The GE Wireless
Monitoring Solution installed at Air Products features
liquid level monitoring of the company’s large tank operations, which eliminates manual tracking and improves
productivity by providing timely information on chemi-
Market Information
cal inventories.
A submersible level probe sensor from GE Sensing &
Inspection Technologies is dropped into each tank to collect measurements. Using GE Digital Energy’s wireless
MDS technology, the raw data is sent to a Trinity
Gateway, which serves as the field data collection point
for each application. The gateway sends the collected
data to secure hosting servers managed by GE Fanuc
Intelligent Platforms, where it is translated into online
diagrams showing liquid levels and consumption rates.
In addition, experts from GE Water are on call in the support center to help analyze information, resolve issues
and drive continuous optimization for the business.
Although Air Products currently only uses the Wireless
Monitoring Solution for tank monitoring purposes, the
company may additionally begin using the solution for
cooling system optimization, which improves the onstream of valuable water treatment and processes.
Rockwell Collins Completes
Acquisition of DataPath, Inc.
Rockwell Collins, Inc. has completed the acquisition
of DataPath, Inc., a provider of satellite-based communication networks. Under the terms of the agreement,
Rockwell Collins has acquired all outstanding shares of
DataPath in a cash transaction worth approximately $130
million. DataPath, which includes SWE-DISH Satellite
Solutions AB, will operate under the Rockwell Collins
brand, with financial results reported as part of the company’s Government Systems business. In 2008, DataPath
reported revenues of $243 million. The acquisition is
expected to be neutral to Rockwell Collins’ fiscal year
2009 earnings.
“DataPath’s mobile multi-band satellite terminals, network integration expertise, strong customer relationships
and highly regarded field personnel provide complementary capabilities to Rockwell Collins’ existing networked
communication offerings,” said Al Caslavka, vice president and general manager, C3I Solutions for Rockwell
Collins. “The result is a comprehensive portfolio that
addresses the entire communications spectrum.”
MARKETPLACE
Market Information
SCADA Solutions and Landis+Gyr
Partner to Provide SCADA
Applications for the Renewable
Energy Wind Industry
SCADA Solutions, Inc. and Landis+Gyr have formed
a strategic distribution partnership to provide a data communication solution for renewable energy through a
SCADA application for wind turbine generators. This
new application combines SCADA Solutions’
WindCapture SCADA software technology with the
Landis+Gyr Gridstream RF network to deliver two-way
monitoring, control and reporting functions for windpowered electric generation.
“We’re excited about our growing relationship with
Landis+Gyr, and the opportunity for SSI to incorporate
advanced communication technology into the expanding
wind industry,” said Mark Merhab, president, SCADA
Solutions. “Reliable, fast and accurate data transmission
for monitoring, control and reporting functions has
become increasingly critical and this partnership is committed to providing end-to-end, advanced communications solutions that will empower the next generation of
smart grid wind farms.”
SCADA Solutions and Landis+Gyr recently finalized
a Software License and Reseller Agreement to support
this partnership. SCADA Solutions’ WindCapture is a
SCADA system used for monitoring and controlling,
along with data collection and reporting for wind turbine
generators. Landis+Gyr’s Gridstream RF network utilizes a peer-to-peer mesh technology
Machine Vision Looks Ahead to a
Bright Future
Revenues for machine vision hardware are projected
to grow faster than the average for industrial automation,
according to the latest report on this market by IMS
Research. The world machine-vision hardware market
was estimated to be worth more than $1.6 billion in 2008
and forecast to grow to more than $2.1 billion by 2012.
The average annual growth in revenues was projected
to be 7.2 percent, and in unit shipments 9.0 percent.
INDUSTRY NEWS
Fierce competition, particularly from manufacturers in
the Far East, is driving average prices down. However,
there are substantial differences between the market
growth expected in different regions. Two thirds of revenue growth to 2012 will come from Asia. The report
analyzes these regional differences, by being split into
three sections: EMEA, Americas and Asia Pacific; as
well providing a summary of the world market.
Sensus Acquires Telemetric Corp.
Sensus has acquired the assets and business of
Telemetric Corp. With more than ten years of experience
in distribution automation technology, Telemetric has
provided utilities with intelligent, reliable and secure
end-to-end solutions for distribution automation systems
utilizing commercial cellular networks and PowerVista, a
web-based software application.
Coupled with Sensus’ activities in demand response
and home automation, this acquisition gives Sensus an
established presence in the distribution automation portion of the utility landscape. Through the integration of
Sensus’ FlexNet smart grid communication technology,
Telemetric extends Sensus’ reach and solutions to all
parts of the smart grid.
“I am very pleased to complete the acquisition of
Telemetric, which was a significant strategic objective for
Sensus. This acquisition brings with it a team of talented
and dedicated employees, a broad proven product and
software offering and many strong customer and business
relationships,” said Peter Mainz, CEO and president,
Sensus. “Integration of Telemetric’s assets and engineering capability into Sensus brings a key solution set that
electric utilities want from their smart grid applications,
distribution automation and asset management solutions.”
Telemetric offers a complete line of communication
solutions specific to electric distribution system monitoring and control, including applications like capacitor control, voltage regulation, medium and low voltage sensors,
reclosers, remote substations and other distribution assets.
Telemetric enabled equipment can be monitored and controlled through distribution SCADA or DMS systems
using PowerVista’s optional SCADA-Xchange module.
SMUD Selects Silver Spring
Networks for Smart Grid Rollout
Silver Spring Networks has been selected by the
Sacramento Municipal Utility District to provide the network infrastructure for their Smart Capital initiative,
which will network approximately 600,000 homes and
businesses in Sacramento County. Silver Spring
Networks will provide field-proven, open-standardsbased, secure, wireless network communications, software and services in support of SMUD’s efforts.
In partnership with Silver Spring Networks, SMUD
intends to implement a number of advanced Smart Grid
applications, including distribution automation and home
area networking. The new, networked grid will enable
SMUD to provide its customers with actionable information about their energy use, as well as enhance system
efficiency and reliability by giving the utility complete
visibility across its service area. The Sacramento
Municipal Utility District is the sixth largest communityowned electric utility in the country, serving approximately 600,000 residential and commercial customers.
“SMUD has been committed to providing our customers with reliable, low-cost energy, while maintaining a
commitment to our environment,” said John DiStasio,
general manager and CEO. “Building the Smart Grid with
a partner like Silver Spring Networks is an important step
in keeping that promise to our customers and our planet.”
Digi-Key Corp. Expands
Distribution Agreement with GE
Sensing & Inspection Technologies
Electronic components distributor Digi-Key Corp. has
expanded of its distribution contract with GE Sensing &
Inspection Technologies from a North American agreement to a global agreement. GE Sensing & Inspection
Technologies is a provider of advanced measurement,
sensor-based and inspection solutions that delivery accuracy, productivity and safety. The company designs and
manufactures sensing instruments that measure temperature, pressure, moisture, gas and flow rate for demanding
applications in a wide range of industries.
INDUSTRY NEWS
Landis+Gyr and Oncor Reach
Milestone in Smart Texas
Advanced Meter Deployment
Landis+Gyr and Oncor, the owner and operator of the
largest distribution and transmission system in Texas, has
reached a milestone in its advanced meter system rollout
with the deployment of nearly 250,000 smart meters.
By year-end, Oncor anticipates nearly 700,000
advanced meters and communications systems to be in
place. Together, the companies have installed close to a
quarter million advanced service connect meters, the
related networking infrastructure equipment and supporting software, as part of Oncor’s Smart Texas initiative. In
connection with the large-scale Gridstream solution
deployment in the Dallas metro area, Oncor is currently
collecting and transmitting electricity usage data in 15minute intervals for each of its deployed advanced
meters, making Oncor’s program one of the largest, and
most quickly installed advanced meter efforts in the US.
By 2012, Oncor anticipates replacing every residential
and small commercial meter in its system, 3.4 million,
with an advanced meter system.
“Oncor is proud of its leadership role in smart grid
development. Smart Texas, Oncor’s smart grid initiative, is good for consumers, the Texas economy and the
environment. Our advanced meter system deployment
is a key component of our plan to transform the electric
grid in Texas,” said Jim Greer, Oncor senior vice president of Asset Management and Engineering. “We are
gathering information from the advanced meters right
on schedule as we roll out this next generation smart
meter solution that will help Texans better manage
their energy use.”
The effort is part of a major four-year, end-to-end
advanced metering deployment announced last May.
Oncor will deploy Landis+Gyr’s Gridstream RF platform to 3.4 million points of delivery, empowering 7
million Texas consumers to independently manage their
energy consumption, cut their energy bills and protect
the environment.
“National demand for electricity is growing three
times faster than power resources are being added,
making energy conservation more critical than ever,”
said Richard Mora, CEO of Landis+Gyr North
America. “With our Gridstream offering, Oncor offers
Texas consumers a practical way to manage their energy use and cut their electricity bills in this challenging
economic environment.”
ICONICS Partners with Kepware for
Embedded Market
Kepware Technologies has formed a working relationship to deliver Windows CE communications solution for
use with ICONICS embedded SCADA and visualization
products for machine builders and Panel OEMs. This will
team ICONICS and Kepware in joint efforts to deliver a
cost effective and integrated OEM visualization solution
for use with Windows CE based industrial HMI panels.
Kepware’s range of connectivity is available supporting desktop (workstation and server) operating systems
as well as embedded (Windows CE) operating systems.
Many Kepware OEMs leverage both platforms, as application files are portable from one to the other, enabling
desktop development and commissioning, and then offering a download to an embedded device for runtime.
ICONICS is a user of Kepware Protocols on desktop
platforms, and, with this initiative, will partner with
Kepware to jointly support Windows CE based embedded platforms.
“Equipment OEMs and HMI Panel Manufacturers are
being asked to provide market leading solutions. In many
cases, this can be achieved through the integration of
COTS technologies as offered by ICONICS and Kepware
Technologies. This partnership delivers an integrated
software solution, combining ICONICS visualization and
control technology with Kepware’s communication technology providing hardware manufacturers with an alternative to internal software development” said Craig
Resnick, Research director, ARC Advisory Group.
“Embedded communication and visualization solutions,
including those based on platforms such as Embedded XP
and Windows CE, best fulfill the balance that OEMs have
to achieve of offering the greatest capabilities for the lowest costs. With Kepware as a proven major player in the
embedded protocol and device connectivity space, and
ICONICS as a proven major player in the industrial
automation software space, OEMs should be in a position
to benefit from the results of this partnership.”
Market Information
Wyless and Enfora Partner to
Provide Pre-Provisioned Wireless
Devices for Asset Management
Wyless and Enfora have formed a partnership that will
permit Enfora's Spider devices to be pre-enabled with
Wyless' global connectivity and managed services for
ease of installation and deployment of new applications
for ASPs and larger enterprises worldwide.
Enfora specializes in providing wireless networking
solutions for location-based monitoring, tracking and
asset management applications. Consisting of wireless
devices and middleware software that permits users to
directly connect, manage and provision wireless devices
from existing applications, Enfora helps connect remote
unpowered assets to the enterprise network. The Spider
Asset Tag (AT), a battery-powered wireless monitoring
device, is one of Enfora's newest products, and enables
the monitoring and management of high value assets.
Enfora's partnership with Wyless means that it can
offer its Spider platforms as a pre-packaged system with
Wyless connectivity pre-enabled, to allow easy installation, provisioning, deployment and monitoring with
Wyless' global intelligent network capabilities and managed services. This partnership of wireless systems and
network management will give customers and partners a
"one-stop-shop" that enables online management and
automated provision of assets quickly and easily, removing the complexities of system configuration and substantially improving time-to-market for the customer.
Trimble UtilityCenter Software
Selected by Two Electric Utilities
For Enterprise GIS Solution
Two more electric utilities have selected Trimble’s
UtilityCenter software as their enterprise Geographic
Information System (GIS) solution. Trimble
UtilityCenter software tools allow electric, gas, water
and wastewater utilities to automate their workflow
and business processes to increase efficiency and
improve productivity.
Farmers' Electric Cooperative (FEC) located in
Clovis, NM. FEC will be implementing Trimble’s
UtilityCenter uaField module to put the utility's GIS at
field workers' fingertips, the uaFM module to
provide core GIS and asset management functionality in the office, uaMaintenance to extend
the uaField functionality to include computerized
maintenance management of utility assets, eProducts module for Intranet-based GIS access as
well as a product interface to the utility’s work
management system (WMS) and a two-way interface to the customer information system (CIS).
FEC also selected Trimble to develop a data
model for field collection to support their future
needs for staking, modeling and outage management. Trimble GPS data collectors will be used to
provide the source map information for the project. The solution will include a two-way
MultiSpeak 3 interface.
Oregon Trail Electric Consumers Cooperative
(OTECC) of Baker City, Ore. selected Trimble
UtilityCenter as its Enterprise GIS solution. The
solution will support OTECC’s needs for staking,
which include two-way integration to its CIS,
joint use and mobile mapping, maintenance management as well as an Intranet-based map viewer
to assist with the distribution of information
throughout the organization. Radius Technologies
will be using the UtilityCenter uaField module
with Trimble ProXRT receivers to collect field
asset location and attributes.
CALENDAR
Conferences/Training
CALENDAR
August 2009
4-6, 4th ISA Water/Wastewater Automatic Controls Division Symposium
(WWAC), Orlando, Fla. Contact www.isa.org/wwac
14-15, Power Switching Safety and Reliability, Boston, Mass. Contact www.epri.org
20-26, APCO, Las Vegas, Nev. Contact www.apco2009.org
15-16, Field Service 2009 East, Atlanta, Ga. Contact www.FieldServiceEast.com
September 2009
1-2, Antenna Systems 2009, Philadelphia, Pa. Contact www.antennasonline.com
20-24, BICSI Fall, Las Vegas, NV. Contact www.BICSI.org
14-21, GridWeek 2009, Washington DC, Contact www.GridWeek.com
21-24, 2009 Wireless Infrastructure Show, Nashville, Tn. Contact www.pcia.com
13-15, Infobatt Conference, Ontario, Canada, Contact www.infobatt.com
13-15, EGSA Fall Technical Conference, Colorado Springs, Co. Contact www.egsa.org
October 2009
29-30, Remote 2009 Conference and Expo, San Antonio, Texas Contact
www.remotemagazine.com
13-16, Autovation 2009, Denver, Co. Contact www.utilimetrics.org
ADVERTISER INDEX
ACR Systems, Inc.
www.acrsystems.com
28
Campbell Scientific, Inc.
13
www.campbell.com/m2m
Eaton/Pulizzi Engineering Inc.
32
www.powerware.com/ePDU
GarrettCom, Inc.
www.garrettcom.com
15
ICP DAS USA
www.icpdas-usa.com
5
Integra Enclosures
14
www.integraenclosures.com
LEM
28
www.lem.com
Lemos International
www.lemosint.com
28
Logic Beach, Inc.
www.logicbeach.com
12
Newmar
29
www.newmartelecom.com
PCTEL, Inc.
www.pctel.com
6
ProSoft Technology
11
www.prosoft-technology.com
SEL Schweitzer Engineering
2
www.selinc.com/8remote
Systems Engineering Intl (SEI)
www.seipower.com
10
LEM
28
www.lem.com
Sensaphone
8
www.sensaphone.com
SunWize
7
www.sunwize.com
Tadiran Batteries
www.tadiranbat.com
9
For more information about advertising
please contact Jessi Albers at
[email protected]
or 800-803-9488 x.124

REM Aug09:REM oct-nov07.qxd.qxd

Transcription

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