WP2: Architecture for Large-scale Distributed Control, Supervisory Control and
Data Acquisition Systems

Work Package 2 aims to design the architecture for building next generation of SOA-based process control systems utilizing latest technological advances and more specifically the emerging Service-Oriented Architecture standards in field devices, data and information integration, in order to achieve large-scale distributed dynamic systems. The process control systems went through different generations including “monolithic”, “distributed” and “networked” (McClanahan, 2003) stages reflecting technology developments allowing:

• to distribute computational capacities replacing a single Master Terminal Unit (MTU) and making it possible to add many different devices (e.g. MTUs, Operator stations),
• to avoid vendor specific solutions at the device level and cross-layer information level.

Open IP-based networks allow integration of heterogeneous devices and systems distributed geographically. The integration of the large number of devices becomes an important challenge, where attention should also be paid to the integration at the information level. This is a point where the definition of the next generation of process control systems is required. The devices of the next generation process control systems should become “self-manifesting” providing look-and-feel information to build up control
and monitoring solution in a short time. Apart from that, input can be provided in a timely fashion to the SCADA systems, thus blurring the borders between the actual monitored, controlled and auxiliary (data) information sources. Service Oriented and Event-driven The infrastructure and its services will be designed in order to enable flexibility and maintain the performance of next generation systems, especially taking into account large scale distributed systems. Advanced monitoring capabilities should extend the control possibilities to include the energy efficiency as a performance parameter of next generation systems. The approach will enable mash-ups of cross layer infrastructure services ranging from the shop-floor up to the enterprise systems such as the ERP. Many issues are to be addressed concerning the applications where thousands of devices (of many different types starting from simple sensors and actuators, through intelligent devices up to servers, tools and business applications) are dynamically interacting e.g. exchange info, collaborate, etc:

• Initial configuration requires handling in a scalable and manageable manner network configuration, device names and addressing assignment, (as well as access rights and authentications). IPv6 will be investigated as a good candidate to facilitate the end-to-end connectivity, network configuration and management.
• Dynamic deployment of software code, services and configuration in a large number of devices, while keeping the complete overview Dynamic orchestration/choreography of monitoring and control services, which can be exposed and consumed as services embedded into more complex systems.