Building an Information Pipeline
“At project initiation, we set goals that centered on what would offer the most streamlined system for different users,” the supervisor said. “A single data repository needed to be in place, different users would need ease of access to data, and it would have to accommodate future expansion and upgrades.”
The department selected the FactoryTalk software suite from Rockwell Automation to gain access to production intelligence. This solution would allow employees to use one portal to request and pull fixed reports, or generate reports based on their specific needs.
The decision was encouraged by previous experience with Rockwell Automation ControlLogix and MicroLogix controllers, which were used at many of the pumps. The integrated control and information system would decrease time spent implementing new software and verify that incoming data was delivered correctly from the controller.
To calibrate and optimize the manufacturing intelligence solution, the department needed a collaborator that had expertise deploying information solutions for utility companies. It turned to Automated Control Concepts, Inc. (ACC), a Solution Partner within the Rockwell Automation PartnerNetwork program.
By implementing FactoryTalk Historian Site Edition software, ACC was able to provide meaningful structure and timestamps to the raw data coming from the pump stations. With storage procedures and indexes for larger data requests, the historian optimized the potential for reporting – even with an ever-growing number of organized I/O points.
To analyze and report all the incoming data, the department selected the FactoryTalk VantagePoint EMI software. Employees can use the software to dynamically select tags by station and receive automatically generated reports on water level, flow and quality.
“With new access to the information from our pumps, engineers and contractors can better model water flow, allowing us to verify operational data and develop new flow models,” the supervisor said.
Operating Data Now in Full Flow
With the new software solution in place, the public works department’s engineers and contractors have gained the reports they needed to create a flow model of the sewer system. This has helped them meet EPA requirements while saving time required to develop compliance reports.
Now, the department is now looking for ways to further leverage the software.
“We accomplished our goals set at the outset of this project, which has improved the ability to create flow model for the county that detailed what our wastewater infrastructure could realistically pump,” the supervisor said. “The current solution has prepared us for future growth; we’re going to virtualize the HMI and historian, and increase the data points in the manufacturing intelligence solution. We’ll soon teach county employees how to best use the software in order to have access to exactly what they need, when they need it.”
The results mentioned above are specific to this organization’s use of Rockwell Automation products and services in conjunction with other products. Specific results may vary for other customers.
ControlLogix, FactoryTalk, Historian, MicroLogix and VantagePoint are trademarks of Rockwell Automation Inc.
