This document provides an overview of a fastrack distribution management system (DMS) pilot implementation approach for utilities. The approach involves four phases: Build, where a subset of the utility's network is modeled; Learn, where the model is evaluated; Plan, where future goals and strategies are identified; and Execute, where the DMS software is deployed. The pilot helps utilities demonstrate DMS benefits, better understand their data needs, and build support for further smart grid projects.
The Cloud Computing model is replacing the traditional IT model for many organizations that have not been able to keep up with the tremendous rate at which technology is changing, the challenges of disparate IT systems inherited through acquisitions and mergers, and decreasing internal resources available for IT commitment.
Cloud Computing models range from public cloud services that bill companies for access to IT infrastructure; the private cloud provider that hosts resources for the sole use of its own organization; dedicated external hosting to non-shared resources; and hybrid hosting, a mixed solution of cloud computing and dedicated hosting.
Schneider Electric consulting experts use their Cloud Assessment Checklist to help potential clients identify the computer services needs that best meet their IT challenges. It is not uncommon to find that an organization would optimize operation with a hybrid hosting solution in which a secure, single-tenant database would be stored with a dedicated host and the front-end would be hosted in the public cloud. Similarly, cloud bursting functionality enables the organization to automatically deploy new applications within the public cloud as needed. Such hybrid hosting models allow scaling capability to accommodate an increase in the number of users in the organization and meet peak traffic demand.
Careful examination of business and security characteristics can determine the proper cloud and hosting model that meets the needs of any particular enterprise and, as a result, help increase the organization’s IT capabilities and productivity while adding value to the business.
Field Data Gathering Services — A Cloud-Based ApproachSchneider Electric
Utilities today wish to facilitate the capture of asset information in the field in a way that is not only scalable but cost effective. They need a system that is simple to use, inexpensive to implement, flexible enough to meet ever-changing needs, yet also powerful enough to cover a majority of their needs with immediacy. This paper describes Schneider Electric's powerful cloud-based solution to optimize the inspection and gathering of field information.
The Mine Central Control Room: From Concept to Reality Schneider Electric
Presented at the 2013 Society of Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration Annual Meeting (SME 2013). The main concept of a central control room is the ability to gather and automatically transform information from different sources and mines into business decisions, centralizing and monitoring them from a single location. This central control room also acts as a complete repository of all business operations including mine planning, metrics, asset management, quality and process control, surveillance, sustainability data, emissions, energy efficiency projects, weather and more.
When it comes to designing, building, and operating mission critical data centers, simple is better. Prefabricated data center building blocks comprised of Power, Cooling and/or IT White Space can be connected to provide a semi or fully prefabricated data center solution. Prefabricated data center solutions provide multiple advantages to include predictable performance, faster deployment and, flexibility and scalability versus traditional build data centers. This presentation will show you how a pre-fabricated modular data center architecture can dramatically simplify your design and build process and lower your total cost of operation.
With DTN Guardian3 for ethanol terminal automation, you can optimize inventory and demand, manage volumetric and weighed products, and ensure safety and security.
Download the file now to learn it al about DTN Guardian3.
The Cloud Computing model is replacing the traditional IT model for many organizations that have not been able to keep up with the tremendous rate at which technology is changing, the challenges of disparate IT systems inherited through acquisitions and mergers, and decreasing internal resources available for IT commitment.
Cloud Computing models range from public cloud services that bill companies for access to IT infrastructure; the private cloud provider that hosts resources for the sole use of its own organization; dedicated external hosting to non-shared resources; and hybrid hosting, a mixed solution of cloud computing and dedicated hosting.
Schneider Electric consulting experts use their Cloud Assessment Checklist to help potential clients identify the computer services needs that best meet their IT challenges. It is not uncommon to find that an organization would optimize operation with a hybrid hosting solution in which a secure, single-tenant database would be stored with a dedicated host and the front-end would be hosted in the public cloud. Similarly, cloud bursting functionality enables the organization to automatically deploy new applications within the public cloud as needed. Such hybrid hosting models allow scaling capability to accommodate an increase in the number of users in the organization and meet peak traffic demand.
Careful examination of business and security characteristics can determine the proper cloud and hosting model that meets the needs of any particular enterprise and, as a result, help increase the organization’s IT capabilities and productivity while adding value to the business.
Field Data Gathering Services — A Cloud-Based ApproachSchneider Electric
Utilities today wish to facilitate the capture of asset information in the field in a way that is not only scalable but cost effective. They need a system that is simple to use, inexpensive to implement, flexible enough to meet ever-changing needs, yet also powerful enough to cover a majority of their needs with immediacy. This paper describes Schneider Electric's powerful cloud-based solution to optimize the inspection and gathering of field information.
The Mine Central Control Room: From Concept to Reality Schneider Electric
Presented at the 2013 Society of Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration Annual Meeting (SME 2013). The main concept of a central control room is the ability to gather and automatically transform information from different sources and mines into business decisions, centralizing and monitoring them from a single location. This central control room also acts as a complete repository of all business operations including mine planning, metrics, asset management, quality and process control, surveillance, sustainability data, emissions, energy efficiency projects, weather and more.
When it comes to designing, building, and operating mission critical data centers, simple is better. Prefabricated data center building blocks comprised of Power, Cooling and/or IT White Space can be connected to provide a semi or fully prefabricated data center solution. Prefabricated data center solutions provide multiple advantages to include predictable performance, faster deployment and, flexibility and scalability versus traditional build data centers. This presentation will show you how a pre-fabricated modular data center architecture can dramatically simplify your design and build process and lower your total cost of operation.
With DTN Guardian3 for ethanol terminal automation, you can optimize inventory and demand, manage volumetric and weighed products, and ensure safety and security.
Download the file now to learn it al about DTN Guardian3.
Preparing for the Future: How Asset Management Will Evolve in the Age of Smar...Schneider Electric
Most utilities struggle to organize information about their distribution network assets. Operations, engineering, accounting, and other business functions all use different tools and systems, forcing grid operators to synchronize separate databases. This paper presents an improved approach to managing grid assets by establishing a ‘single source of the truth,’ eliminating special-purpose databases, utilizing spatial databases, and incorporating a workflow management tool to support database updates.
For many companies, Cyber Security is achieved solely through the application of technological solutions to software and hardware challenges. Schneider-Electric takes a more holistic approach with a program built around complete product lifecycles and encompassing safety, maintenance and security. Discover Schneider-Electric's cyber security vision, from understanding how secure functionality is engineered into products through the tools and support available to manage updates and patches, plus specific procedures for handling potential vulnerabilities. A software and hardware ecosystem is only as strong as its weakest component, and Schneider-Electric is working to strengthen this through StruXureware and the evolution of platforms.
[Oil & Gas White Paper] Control Room Management - Alarm Management Schneider Electric
Industry best practices call for pipeline operators to define a clear alarm management plan that helps avoid controller overload and ensures alarms are accurate and support safe pipeline operation. Review of controller workload is key in this program, as it can provide the most critical information on how to improve the performance of an alarm system and the controllers monitoring it. Controller performance can be impaired when deluged with too many SCADA alarms, a significant increase in the number of points being monitored and alarms related to communications, which all add to other attention-demanding activities not directly related to alarms.
Developing a program to analyze and continually improve the alarm system includes identification of the operator’s Alarm Philosophy: identifying what constitutes an alarm, who manages it, how it is managed and how training and change of management are carried out. Other best practices of an alarm management program include benchmark and performance audits; rationalisation to determine which SCADA alarms warrant response; and implementation, in an auditable manner, of actions defined.
When implementing an alarm management improvement program, the highest benefit is realised through strategies that involve little advanced technology. These high benefit strategies include alarm storm reviews, tuning alarm settings on nuisance alarms and fixing known issues; adjusting deadbands of repeating alarms; and eliminating alarms with no defined response. Strategies of medium benefit include suppression of alarms from ‘out of service’ stations; replacing absolute alarms with deviation alarms; and filtering, de-bouncing, or suppressing repeater alarms. Other advanced alarm improvement strategies that can provide additional benefit after initial strategies have been implemented include use of dynamic alarm thresholds, operator-set alarms and operational mode suppression. Tracking improvement in the alarm program after modifications are made is important, especially as operations bring in larger point counts.
Schneider Electric actively participates in industry alarm management programs to assure its advanced-technology Control Room Management solution targets best practices and meets new regulations for improved alarm management in the pipeline sector and other control implementations.
The electric power grid has changed significantly over the past decade and continues to change as technology evolves. More and more, new-generation substation control systems are based on open standards and commercial technology, including Ethernet and TCP/IP based communication protocols such as IEC 60870-5-104, DNP 3.0 or IEC 61850. While this change in technology has brought about huge operational benefits, it has introduced cyber security concerns and a potential challenge to network reliability. Electronic intrusion into a substation can misdirect or terminate service, and this intrusion can be from internal individuals or external hackers or organizations.
Many substation control and diagnostic systems in deployment were not designed for real-time security functionality and centralized system administration with robust access control. Utilities must implement policies to protect their substation systems against intrusion from within and from outside the corporate network. Further, they must be able to detect intrusion when it does occur to eliminate future untoward effects. Finally, they need to be prepared with planned response and restoration that not only returns targeted functionality but can improve system security.
The global power industry has stepped up its focus on cyber security for control and automation systems, and standards are in place identifying the functionalities required for secure substation operation. Utilities looking to protect against cyber attack on their substation automation systems must implement the SCADA, RTU and IED solutions that incorporate proven-technology and the security mechanisms meeting these standards.
Download the file now to know it all about DTN ProphetX.
In today’s turbulent energy markets, you require versatile, robust, accurate and intuitive tools to effectively manage your market data, so you can make better trading decisions. The industry’s best value — DTN ProphetX Energy Edition — brings together a balance of powerful technical analytic tools with broad fundamental content and unmatched data quality, performance and reliability, so you can make faster, smarter trades.
Now your team can stay on top of every aspect of the energy market; while reducing overall costs on market data and associated tools with a virtually seamless and painless transition.
Get with the system - Rogerio Martins, Schneider Electric disucsses the advantages of modern distributed control systems in coal handling preparation plants.
Panduit Physical Infrastructure Manager™ (PIM™) Software Platform and PViQ Intelligent Hardware combine for a comprehensive data center infrastructure management (DCIM) solution. This intelligent software and hardware provides data center professionals greater staff productivity and visibility of all data center assets along with their connectivity, locations, and relationships. PIM™ solutions allow you to discover, visualize, model, control, report, predict and manage all physical data center assets including the ability to simply deploy new assets and plan capacity for future growth. PIM™ solutions can also help control energy costs, reduce risks and increase operational efficiency.
Cybersecurity for Industrial Plants: Threats and Defense Approach - Dave Hreha Schneider Electric
As presented at AIST 2014: The proliferation of cyber threats and recent facts have prompted asset owners in industrial environments to search for security solutions that can protect plant assets and prevent potentially significant monetary loss and safety issues
While some industries have made progress in reducing the risk of cyber attacks, the barriers to improving cybersecurity remain high. More open architectures and different networks exchanging data among different levels have made systems more vulnerable to attack.
With the increased use of commercial off-the-shelf IT solutions in industrial environments, control system integrity started to be vulnerable to malware originally targeted for commercial applications and already opened a new world of new threats dedicated for control systems.
The objective of this presentation is to describe a multi-layered Defense-in-Depth approach through a holistic, step-by-step plan to mitigate risk.
Effect on Substation Engineering Costs of IEC61850 & System Configuration ToolsSchneider Electric
Change management, software configuration training, and human error all impact the cost associated with substation automation engineering. Object-oriented engineering approaches as defined in the IEC 61850 standard represent significant cost savings when compared to traditional methods using hardwire and Distributed Network Protocol (DNP3). New multivendor system configuration tools are described that further reduce substation automation engineering costs.
An accurate, up-to-date model of a utility’s distribution network is the backbone of Smart Grid technologies. But a Schneider Electric survey shows that 74% of utilities are concerned about the readiness of their network model to support Smart Grid applications. This paper presents a quantitative comparison of a Geographic Information System (GIS)–based graphic work design system vs. a CAD-based tool, demonstrating how the GIS-based design approach is better able to keep up with the continuous changes in a dynamic electrical distribution network.
70% of data center outages are directly attributable to human error according to the Uptime Institute’s analysis of their “abnormal incident” reporting (AIR) database1. This figure highlights the critical importance of having an effective operations and maintenance (O&M) program. This paper describes unique management principles and provides a comprehensive, high-level overview of the necessary program elements for operating a mission critical facility efficiently and reliably throughout its life cycle. Practical management tips and advice are also given.
Containerized Power and Cooling Modules for Data CentersSchneider Electric
Standardized, pre-assembled and integrated data center facility power and cooling modules are at least 60% faster to deploy, and provide a first cost savings of 13% or more compared to traditional data center power and cooling infrastructure. Prefabricated modules, also referred to in the data center industry as containerized power and cooling plants, allow data center designers to shift their thinking from a customized “construction” mentality to a standardized “site integration” mentality.
This presentation compares the cost of both scenarios, presents the advantages and disadvantages of each, and identifies which environments can best leverage the facility module approach.
NERC Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) and Security for Field DevicesSchneider Electric
The North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) maintains a set of Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) guidelines that address a broad range of critical cyber asset and cyber security issues. These guidelines describe the security-focused procedures that, in combination with compliant technology, enable secure electric grid operations. The CIP guidelines do not specify the technologies that must be deployed. Instead, they describe the technology design necessary to build an information management architecture that complies with security goals.
These goals include the minimizing of administrative authorization needed for operational functions. Rights and privileges are to be assigned to a functional role, not a named individual. Audit trails of field data device and substation activity, similar to control room auditability, must be maintained to assure comprehensive confidence in data and controls.
The six CIP guidelines summarized in the paper speak to the procedures and policies that are vital to critical cyber asset security – personnel authorizations; personnel training; security of the information management system’s electronic perimeter; security of the information management system’s physical assets; operational security; and incident reporting and response planning.
The utility builds its CIP-compliant program with defined procedures addressing these guidelines, coupled with the hardware and software that enable full implementation of these procedures. Training of all personnel is necessary for effective and efficient compliance.
Asset Management - what are some of your top priorties?Schneider Electric
Asset Managment...how to avoid costly impact of downtime; maintain multiple tools, devices and protocols; manage the risk of working remotely with the Foxboro Evo system.
Electric utilities are preparing for the multitude of challenges facing the industry — limited generation to supply increasing energy demand, growing regulatory and customer pressure for increased reliability and reduced carbon emissions, adoption of distributed renewable generation and energy storage, and the inevitability of both an aging workforce and infrastructure.
In a rather short period of time, these challenges have converged, and in doing so, have exposed the need for a comprehensive distribution network monitoring, analysis, and control system.
Utilities that are proactive — building business cases and deploying scalable solutions now — will be best prepared to meet the challenges of today and the future. To assist the industry in achieving their strategic Smart Grid goals, Schneider Electric proudly offers its Advanced Distribution Management
System (ADMS).
How Test Labs Reduce Cyber Security Threats to Industrial Control Systemse cy...Schneider Electric
Federal agencies are moving their industrial control systems (ICS) from operational business networks to separate, dedicated networks in order to enhance security. However, without a system to test the new equipment and software coming into these separate networks, security risks will persist. This paper explores the impact on security of instituting a sanctioned ICS test lab and recommends best practices for setting up and operating these labs.
Preparing for the Future: How Asset Management Will Evolve in the Age of Smar...Schneider Electric
Most utilities struggle to organize information about their distribution network assets. Operations, engineering, accounting, and other business functions all use different tools and systems, forcing grid operators to synchronize separate databases. This paper presents an improved approach to managing grid assets by establishing a ‘single source of the truth,’ eliminating special-purpose databases, utilizing spatial databases, and incorporating a workflow management tool to support database updates.
For many companies, Cyber Security is achieved solely through the application of technological solutions to software and hardware challenges. Schneider-Electric takes a more holistic approach with a program built around complete product lifecycles and encompassing safety, maintenance and security. Discover Schneider-Electric's cyber security vision, from understanding how secure functionality is engineered into products through the tools and support available to manage updates and patches, plus specific procedures for handling potential vulnerabilities. A software and hardware ecosystem is only as strong as its weakest component, and Schneider-Electric is working to strengthen this through StruXureware and the evolution of platforms.
[Oil & Gas White Paper] Control Room Management - Alarm Management Schneider Electric
Industry best practices call for pipeline operators to define a clear alarm management plan that helps avoid controller overload and ensures alarms are accurate and support safe pipeline operation. Review of controller workload is key in this program, as it can provide the most critical information on how to improve the performance of an alarm system and the controllers monitoring it. Controller performance can be impaired when deluged with too many SCADA alarms, a significant increase in the number of points being monitored and alarms related to communications, which all add to other attention-demanding activities not directly related to alarms.
Developing a program to analyze and continually improve the alarm system includes identification of the operator’s Alarm Philosophy: identifying what constitutes an alarm, who manages it, how it is managed and how training and change of management are carried out. Other best practices of an alarm management program include benchmark and performance audits; rationalisation to determine which SCADA alarms warrant response; and implementation, in an auditable manner, of actions defined.
When implementing an alarm management improvement program, the highest benefit is realised through strategies that involve little advanced technology. These high benefit strategies include alarm storm reviews, tuning alarm settings on nuisance alarms and fixing known issues; adjusting deadbands of repeating alarms; and eliminating alarms with no defined response. Strategies of medium benefit include suppression of alarms from ‘out of service’ stations; replacing absolute alarms with deviation alarms; and filtering, de-bouncing, or suppressing repeater alarms. Other advanced alarm improvement strategies that can provide additional benefit after initial strategies have been implemented include use of dynamic alarm thresholds, operator-set alarms and operational mode suppression. Tracking improvement in the alarm program after modifications are made is important, especially as operations bring in larger point counts.
Schneider Electric actively participates in industry alarm management programs to assure its advanced-technology Control Room Management solution targets best practices and meets new regulations for improved alarm management in the pipeline sector and other control implementations.
The electric power grid has changed significantly over the past decade and continues to change as technology evolves. More and more, new-generation substation control systems are based on open standards and commercial technology, including Ethernet and TCP/IP based communication protocols such as IEC 60870-5-104, DNP 3.0 or IEC 61850. While this change in technology has brought about huge operational benefits, it has introduced cyber security concerns and a potential challenge to network reliability. Electronic intrusion into a substation can misdirect or terminate service, and this intrusion can be from internal individuals or external hackers or organizations.
Many substation control and diagnostic systems in deployment were not designed for real-time security functionality and centralized system administration with robust access control. Utilities must implement policies to protect their substation systems against intrusion from within and from outside the corporate network. Further, they must be able to detect intrusion when it does occur to eliminate future untoward effects. Finally, they need to be prepared with planned response and restoration that not only returns targeted functionality but can improve system security.
The global power industry has stepped up its focus on cyber security for control and automation systems, and standards are in place identifying the functionalities required for secure substation operation. Utilities looking to protect against cyber attack on their substation automation systems must implement the SCADA, RTU and IED solutions that incorporate proven-technology and the security mechanisms meeting these standards.
Download the file now to know it all about DTN ProphetX.
In today’s turbulent energy markets, you require versatile, robust, accurate and intuitive tools to effectively manage your market data, so you can make better trading decisions. The industry’s best value — DTN ProphetX Energy Edition — brings together a balance of powerful technical analytic tools with broad fundamental content and unmatched data quality, performance and reliability, so you can make faster, smarter trades.
Now your team can stay on top of every aspect of the energy market; while reducing overall costs on market data and associated tools with a virtually seamless and painless transition.
Get with the system - Rogerio Martins, Schneider Electric disucsses the advantages of modern distributed control systems in coal handling preparation plants.
Panduit Physical Infrastructure Manager™ (PIM™) Software Platform and PViQ Intelligent Hardware combine for a comprehensive data center infrastructure management (DCIM) solution. This intelligent software and hardware provides data center professionals greater staff productivity and visibility of all data center assets along with their connectivity, locations, and relationships. PIM™ solutions allow you to discover, visualize, model, control, report, predict and manage all physical data center assets including the ability to simply deploy new assets and plan capacity for future growth. PIM™ solutions can also help control energy costs, reduce risks and increase operational efficiency.
Cybersecurity for Industrial Plants: Threats and Defense Approach - Dave Hreha Schneider Electric
As presented at AIST 2014: The proliferation of cyber threats and recent facts have prompted asset owners in industrial environments to search for security solutions that can protect plant assets and prevent potentially significant monetary loss and safety issues
While some industries have made progress in reducing the risk of cyber attacks, the barriers to improving cybersecurity remain high. More open architectures and different networks exchanging data among different levels have made systems more vulnerable to attack.
With the increased use of commercial off-the-shelf IT solutions in industrial environments, control system integrity started to be vulnerable to malware originally targeted for commercial applications and already opened a new world of new threats dedicated for control systems.
The objective of this presentation is to describe a multi-layered Defense-in-Depth approach through a holistic, step-by-step plan to mitigate risk.
Effect on Substation Engineering Costs of IEC61850 & System Configuration ToolsSchneider Electric
Change management, software configuration training, and human error all impact the cost associated with substation automation engineering. Object-oriented engineering approaches as defined in the IEC 61850 standard represent significant cost savings when compared to traditional methods using hardwire and Distributed Network Protocol (DNP3). New multivendor system configuration tools are described that further reduce substation automation engineering costs.
An accurate, up-to-date model of a utility’s distribution network is the backbone of Smart Grid technologies. But a Schneider Electric survey shows that 74% of utilities are concerned about the readiness of their network model to support Smart Grid applications. This paper presents a quantitative comparison of a Geographic Information System (GIS)–based graphic work design system vs. a CAD-based tool, demonstrating how the GIS-based design approach is better able to keep up with the continuous changes in a dynamic electrical distribution network.
70% of data center outages are directly attributable to human error according to the Uptime Institute’s analysis of their “abnormal incident” reporting (AIR) database1. This figure highlights the critical importance of having an effective operations and maintenance (O&M) program. This paper describes unique management principles and provides a comprehensive, high-level overview of the necessary program elements for operating a mission critical facility efficiently and reliably throughout its life cycle. Practical management tips and advice are also given.
Containerized Power and Cooling Modules for Data CentersSchneider Electric
Standardized, pre-assembled and integrated data center facility power and cooling modules are at least 60% faster to deploy, and provide a first cost savings of 13% or more compared to traditional data center power and cooling infrastructure. Prefabricated modules, also referred to in the data center industry as containerized power and cooling plants, allow data center designers to shift their thinking from a customized “construction” mentality to a standardized “site integration” mentality.
This presentation compares the cost of both scenarios, presents the advantages and disadvantages of each, and identifies which environments can best leverage the facility module approach.
NERC Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) and Security for Field DevicesSchneider Electric
The North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) maintains a set of Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) guidelines that address a broad range of critical cyber asset and cyber security issues. These guidelines describe the security-focused procedures that, in combination with compliant technology, enable secure electric grid operations. The CIP guidelines do not specify the technologies that must be deployed. Instead, they describe the technology design necessary to build an information management architecture that complies with security goals.
These goals include the minimizing of administrative authorization needed for operational functions. Rights and privileges are to be assigned to a functional role, not a named individual. Audit trails of field data device and substation activity, similar to control room auditability, must be maintained to assure comprehensive confidence in data and controls.
The six CIP guidelines summarized in the paper speak to the procedures and policies that are vital to critical cyber asset security – personnel authorizations; personnel training; security of the information management system’s electronic perimeter; security of the information management system’s physical assets; operational security; and incident reporting and response planning.
The utility builds its CIP-compliant program with defined procedures addressing these guidelines, coupled with the hardware and software that enable full implementation of these procedures. Training of all personnel is necessary for effective and efficient compliance.
Asset Management - what are some of your top priorties?Schneider Electric
Asset Managment...how to avoid costly impact of downtime; maintain multiple tools, devices and protocols; manage the risk of working remotely with the Foxboro Evo system.
Electric utilities are preparing for the multitude of challenges facing the industry — limited generation to supply increasing energy demand, growing regulatory and customer pressure for increased reliability and reduced carbon emissions, adoption of distributed renewable generation and energy storage, and the inevitability of both an aging workforce and infrastructure.
In a rather short period of time, these challenges have converged, and in doing so, have exposed the need for a comprehensive distribution network monitoring, analysis, and control system.
Utilities that are proactive — building business cases and deploying scalable solutions now — will be best prepared to meet the challenges of today and the future. To assist the industry in achieving their strategic Smart Grid goals, Schneider Electric proudly offers its Advanced Distribution Management
System (ADMS).
How Test Labs Reduce Cyber Security Threats to Industrial Control Systemse cy...Schneider Electric
Federal agencies are moving their industrial control systems (ICS) from operational business networks to separate, dedicated networks in order to enhance security. However, without a system to test the new equipment and software coming into these separate networks, security risks will persist. This paper explores the impact on security of instituting a sanctioned ICS test lab and recommends best practices for setting up and operating these labs.
SDDC – a term that still dwells in the futuristic sense of things, is perhaps the next major milestone in a cloud-centric world that can entirely change the way data is stored and managed.
As the Vice President, Datacenter Architecture at Presidio, William Turner, PhD has more than 20 years of hands-on, full-project-cycle experience in strategizing, designing and deploying large-scale Fortune 500 networks and security solutions. His extensive background in banking, security,
and government has yielded several well regarded industry standards and noted reference models.
Dr. Turner envisions and drives a future in which sophisticated software provisions and de-provisions IT infrastructure automatically in response to business needs. The specialized appliances enterprises traditionally rely upon will be replaced by industry-standard hardware playing necessary roles on demand.
EAPJ conducted this interview from the perspective of an infrastructure architect considering a software-defined future for the networking, hosting and storage underlying a major upcoming application investment.
Thought Leader Interview: Dr. William Turner on the Software-Defined Future ...Iver Band
As the Vice President, Datacenter Architecture at Presidio,
William Turner, PhD has more than 20 years of hand-son,
full-project-cycle experience in strategizing, designing and
deploying large-scale Fortune 500 networks and security
solutions. His extensive background in banking, security,
and government has yielded several well regarded industry
standards and noted reference models.
Dr. Turner envisions and drives a future in which sophisticated software provisions and de-provisions IT infrastructure automatically in response to business needs. The specialized appliances enterprises traditionally rely upon will be replaced by industry-standard hardware playing necessary roles on demand.
EAPJ conducted this interview from the perspective of an infrastructure architect considering a software-defined future for the networking, hosting and storage underlying a
major upcoming application investment.
Platforming the Major Analytic Use Cases for Modern EngineeringDATAVERSITY
We’ll describe some use cases as examples of a broad range of modern use cases that need a platform. We will describe some popular valid technology stacks that enterprises use in accomplishing these modern use cases of customer churn, predictive analytics, fraud detection, and supply chain management.
In many industries, to achieve top-line growth, it is imperative that companies get the most out of existing customer relationships. Customer churn use cases are about generating high levels of profitable customer satisfaction through the use of knowledge generated from corporate and external data to help drive a more positive customer experience (CX).
Many organizations are turning to predictive analytics to increase their bottom line and efficiency and, therefore, competitive advantage. It can make the difference between business success or failure.
Fraudulent activity detection is exponentially more effective when risk actions are taken immediately (i.e., stop the fraudulent transaction), instead of after the fact. Fast digestion of a wide network of risk exposures across the network is required in order to minimize adverse outcomes.
Supply chain leaders are under constant pressure to reduce overall supply chain management (SCM) costs while maintaining a flexible and diverse supplier ecosystem. They will leverage IoT, sensors, cameras, and blockchain. Major investments in advanced analytics, warehouse relocation, and automation, both in distribution centers and stores, will be essential for survival.
The wide range of processes within the successful business, from planning to strategic implementation, requires accurate and ready information throughout. The cast of personnel involved across the business operation requires widely varying types of information to perform their assignments. In all, the successful business requires a powerful Business Intelligence technology.
Discussion covers the constitution and requirements of the effective Corporate Information Factory (CIF) Architecture. The Data Warehouse component of the CIF Architecture must be a flexible and reliable store of company information that allows a high degree of differentiation in data selection, modeling and analysis.
Next, the ETL processes — extract, transform and load — are responsible for accurately populating the Data Warehouse with information and enabling the use of this data. Again, differentiating methodologies, along with validating performance testing, must be accommodated.
Third, Business Intelligence tools for multi-dimensional analysis, budgeting and forecasting, efficient reporting, and data mining for enhanced insight assure the proper information is accessed for each specific business process. Developing and implementing the CIF Architecture involves definition of short-, medium-, and long-term objectives for the system as well as definition of the elements involved.
When a company implements a Business Intelligence technology, it is important that risk factors be identified and evaluated, including the scope and degree of difficulty of information integration, speed and adaptability, utility and practicality for the employee, and long-term effectiveness.
Schneider Electric Business Intelligence services are based on the company’s vast experience in helping organizations define their BI policies and develop their BI Architecture. It offers a productive competence center for consulting support, a proven product portfolio that allows efficient and effective development of specific BI solutions, and highly reliable technical assistance for specific needs or longer term. Several successful Business Intelligence technology solutions implemented by Schneider Electric are described.
Similar to Getting Started with Advanced Network Operations (20)
More Electric:
Our world is becoming More Electric. Almost everything we interact with today is either already electric or becoming electric. Think about it. From the time you start your day in the morning to the time you finish your day – your home, your car, your work, your devices, your entertainment – almost everything is electric. Imagine the energy needed to power this. Electricity consumption will increase by 80% in next 25 years
More Connected: Our lives are also becoming more connected. The Internet has already transformed the way we live, work and play. Now the Connected Things is going to take this to a brand new level. 50 billion things connected in the next 5 years.
More Distributed: With such a widespread electrification and connectivity, energy models need rethinking as well. Which is why the generation of power needs to be closer to users. Distributed Energy is rapidly evolving globally. This is positive energy – renewable. In 2014 , Renewables overtook fossil fuels in investment value, with $295bn invested in renewables compared to $289bn invested in fossil fuels. And it is getting cheaper to do this.
More Efficient: When our world is more electric, more connected and more distributed, new opportunities emerge and allows us to tap into even more efficiency – in industrial processes, in the energy value chain, in buildings, in transportation, in the global supply chain and even in the comfort and peace-of-mind of our homes.
With more than $18 billion in M&A activity in the first half of last year alone, the colocation industry is riding the bubble of rapid growth. Colocation data center providers are being evaluated by a wide range of investors, with varying experience and perspectives. Understanding the evaluation criteria is a critical competency for attracting the right type of investor and financial commitment for your colocation business and this is why we have invited today’s speaker to present.
Steve Wallage Steve Wallage is Managing Director of BroadGroup Consulting. Steve brings 25 years of industry experience, holding senior roles at Gartner Group, IDC, CGI and IBM before joining BroadGroup 10 years ago. In his responsibilities at BroadGroup Steve has led many due diligence projects for investors evaluating colocation companies.
In this briefing we explore the Phaseo power supplies and transformers offer presentation and application samples.
For more details:
Industrial%20Automation%20and%20Control&parent-category-id=4500&parent-subcategory-id=4510
We’ve all been hearing about how robust the market for data center space is, but a presentation by an investment banker who has his finger on the pulse on the market day in and day out gave me a new appreciation for how great the opportunity really is.
Herb May is a partner and managing director with DH Capital, an investment bank founded 15 years ago in New York that is focused on the Internet infrastructure space. His company has been involved in close to 100 deals, representing almost $20 billion in value. Most of DH Capital’s work is as a mergers and acquisitions advisor, but raising capital is a growing percentage of its business. The point is, the company understands the financials behind data centers and colocation companies inside and out.
At Schneider Electric, in the IT Division, our core business has always been focused on delivering the highest level of availability to critical technologies, systems and processes. We’ve done this through our award winning, industry-leading and highest quality products and solutions, including UPS, Cooling, Rack Systems, DCIM and Services.
In this new digital era, we see a world that is always-on.
Always on to meet the needs of the highest notion of “access” to goods and services
Always on to be the solid, reliable foundation of digital transformation for businesses
Our mission is: To empower the digital transformation of our customers by ensuring their critical network, systems and processes are highly available and resilient.
In this briefing we explore the Magelis Basic HMI offer presentation and application samples.
For more details:
https://www.schneider-electric.com/en/product-range/61054-magelis#search
In this briefing, we explore the Zelio time relay offer presentation and application samples.
For more details:
http://www.schneider-electric.com/en/product-range/529-zelio-time?parent-category-id=2800&parent-subcategory-id=2810&filter=business-1-industrial-automation-and-control
Spacial, Thalassa, ClimaSys Universal enclosures BriefingSchneider Electric
Discover more about Universal Enclosures and how to select the one you need.
For more information:
http://www.schneider-electric.com/en/product-category/5800-enclosures-and-accessories/?filter=business-1-industrial-automation-and-control
Learn more about "what is a solid state relay", key features and targeted applications.
For more details:
http://www.schneider-electric.com/en/product-range/60278-zelio-relays?parent-category-id=2800&filter=business-1-Industrial%20Automation%20and%20Control
Learn more about what an HMI does and the main components and a look at a typical HMI.
Further details:
http://www.schneider-electric.com/en/product-category/2100-HMI%20(Terminals%20and%20Industrial%20PC)?filter=business-1-Industrial%20Automation%20and%20Control
Where will the next 80% improvement in data center performance come from?Schneider Electric
Rick Puskar, Head of Marketing for Schneider Electric's IT Division presents at the Gartner Symposium in Barcelona November 8th, 2017. In this presentation Rick discusses where the next 80% improvement in data center performance will come from with a focus on the speed, availability and reliability of data. Learn how a cloud-based data center infrastructure management as a service architecture like Schneider Electric's EcoStruxure IT can drive such aggressive goals around data center performance.
Learn how EcoStruxure is digitizing industry with IIoT to increase end-to-end operational efficiency with more dynamic control for better business results.
Learn more about our System Integrator Alliance Program - A global partnership transforming industry and infrastructure by helping them make the most of their processes, the most of their assets and the most of their energy.
EcoStruxure, IIoT-enabled architecture, delivering value in key segments.Schneider Electric
As presented during the Alliance 2017 event, learn how to deliver integrated solutions based on EcoStruxure, our IIoT-enabled architecture for Wastewater, Food and Beverage and Mining, Minerals and Metals.
A Practical Guide to Ensuring Business Continuity and High Performance in Hea...Schneider Electric
Within healthcare facilities, high availability of systems is a key influencer of revenue and patient safety and satisfaction. Three important critical success factors need to be addressed in order to achieve safety and availability goals. These include exceeding the facility’s level of regulatory compliance, a linking of business benefits to the maintenance of a safe and an “always on” power and ventilation environment, and a sensible approach to technology upgrades that includes new strategies for “selling” technological improvements to executives. This reference guide offers recommendations for identifying and addressing each of these issues.
Connected Services Study – Facility Managers Respond to IoTSchneider Electric
According to a new 2017 study commissioned by Schneider Electric, facility managers are increasingly looking to leverage the Internet of Things (IoT) by implementing new digital technologies like intelligent analytics to improve maintenance decisions and operations. Explore the full results on how facility managers are reacting to IoT when it comes to facility maintenance.
Learn more about cabling and accessories and the complete ranges available featuring 3 types of cable to suit the envirionment. For more details: http://www.schneider-electric.com/en/product-subcategory/88035-cordset-and-connectors/?filter=business-1-industrial-automation-and-control&parent-category-id=4900
This briefing will look at the general purpose of Photoelectric sensors and Photoelectric fork and frame sensors. For more details: http://www.tesensors.com/global/en/product/photoelectric/xu/?filter=business-1-automation-and-control&parent-category-id=4900/
A world-class global brand offering a comprehensive line of Limit Switches complying with international standards: IEC, UL, CSA, CCC, GOST. For more details: http://www.tesensors.com/global/en/product/limit-switches/xc-standard/?cat_id=BU_AUT_520_L4&conf=sensors&el_typ=node&nod_id=0000000002&prev_nod_id=0000000001&scp_id=Z000
GraphRAG is All You need? LLM & Knowledge GraphGuy Korland
Guy Korland, CEO and Co-founder of FalkorDB, will review two articles on the integration of language models with knowledge graphs.
1. Unifying Large Language Models and Knowledge Graphs: A Roadmap.
https://arxiv.org/abs/2306.08302
2. Microsoft Research's GraphRAG paper and a review paper on various uses of knowledge graphs:
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/research/blog/graphrag-unlocking-llm-discovery-on-narrative-private-data/
Kubernetes & AI - Beauty and the Beast !?! @KCD Istanbul 2024Tobias Schneck
As AI technology is pushing into IT I was wondering myself, as an “infrastructure container kubernetes guy”, how get this fancy AI technology get managed from an infrastructure operational view? Is it possible to apply our lovely cloud native principals as well? What benefit’s both technologies could bring to each other?
Let me take this questions and provide you a short journey through existing deployment models and use cases for AI software. On practical examples, we discuss what cloud/on-premise strategy we may need for applying it to our own infrastructure to get it to work from an enterprise perspective. I want to give an overview about infrastructure requirements and technologies, what could be beneficial or limiting your AI use cases in an enterprise environment. An interactive Demo will give you some insides, what approaches I got already working for real.
LF Energy Webinar: Electrical Grid Modelling and Simulation Through PowSyBl -...DanBrown980551
Do you want to learn how to model and simulate an electrical network from scratch in under an hour?
Then welcome to this PowSyBl workshop, hosted by Rte, the French Transmission System Operator (TSO)!
During the webinar, you will discover the PowSyBl ecosystem as well as handle and study an electrical network through an interactive Python notebook.
PowSyBl is an open source project hosted by LF Energy, which offers a comprehensive set of features for electrical grid modelling and simulation. Among other advanced features, PowSyBl provides:
- A fully editable and extendable library for grid component modelling;
- Visualization tools to display your network;
- Grid simulation tools, such as power flows, security analyses (with or without remedial actions) and sensitivity analyses;
The framework is mostly written in Java, with a Python binding so that Python developers can access PowSyBl functionalities as well.
What you will learn during the webinar:
- For beginners: discover PowSyBl's functionalities through a quick general presentation and the notebook, without needing any expert coding skills;
- For advanced developers: master the skills to efficiently apply PowSyBl functionalities to your real-world scenarios.
Slack (or Teams) Automation for Bonterra Impact Management (fka Social Soluti...Jeffrey Haguewood
Sidekick Solutions uses Bonterra Impact Management (fka Social Solutions Apricot) and automation solutions to integrate data for business workflows.
We believe integration and automation are essential to user experience and the promise of efficient work through technology. Automation is the critical ingredient to realizing that full vision. We develop integration products and services for Bonterra Case Management software to support the deployment of automations for a variety of use cases.
This video focuses on the notifications, alerts, and approval requests using Slack for Bonterra Impact Management. The solutions covered in this webinar can also be deployed for Microsoft Teams.
Interested in deploying notification automations for Bonterra Impact Management? Contact us at sales@sidekicksolutionsllc.com to discuss next steps.
Connector Corner: Automate dynamic content and events by pushing a buttonDianaGray10
Here is something new! In our next Connector Corner webinar, we will demonstrate how you can use a single workflow to:
Create a campaign using Mailchimp with merge tags/fields
Send an interactive Slack channel message (using buttons)
Have the message received by managers and peers along with a test email for review
But there’s more:
In a second workflow supporting the same use case, you’ll see:
Your campaign sent to target colleagues for approval
If the “Approve” button is clicked, a Jira/Zendesk ticket is created for the marketing design team
But—if the “Reject” button is pushed, colleagues will be alerted via Slack message
Join us to learn more about this new, human-in-the-loop capability, brought to you by Integration Service connectors.
And...
Speakers:
Akshay Agnihotri, Product Manager
Charlie Greenberg, Host
Smart TV Buyer Insights Survey 2024 by 91mobiles.pdf91mobiles
91mobiles recently conducted a Smart TV Buyer Insights Survey in which we asked over 3,000 respondents about the TV they own, aspects they look at on a new TV, and their TV buying preferences.
Accelerate your Kubernetes clusters with Varnish CachingThijs Feryn
A presentation about the usage and availability of Varnish on Kubernetes. This talk explores the capabilities of Varnish caching and shows how to use the Varnish Helm chart to deploy it to Kubernetes.
This presentation was delivered at K8SUG Singapore. See https://feryn.eu/presentations/accelerate-your-kubernetes-clusters-with-varnish-caching-k8sug-singapore-28-2024 for more details.
UiPath Test Automation using UiPath Test Suite series, part 3DianaGray10
Welcome to UiPath Test Automation using UiPath Test Suite series part 3. In this session, we will cover desktop automation along with UI automation.
Topics covered:
UI automation Introduction,
UI automation Sample
Desktop automation flow
Pradeep Chinnala, Senior Consultant Automation Developer @WonderBotz and UiPath MVP
Deepak Rai, Automation Practice Lead, Boundaryless Group and UiPath MVP
JMeter webinar - integration with InfluxDB and GrafanaRTTS
Watch this recorded webinar about real-time monitoring of application performance. See how to integrate Apache JMeter, the open-source leader in performance testing, with InfluxDB, the open-source time-series database, and Grafana, the open-source analytics and visualization application.
In this webinar, we will review the benefits of leveraging InfluxDB and Grafana when executing load tests and demonstrate how these tools are used to visualize performance metrics.
Length: 30 minutes
Session Overview
-------------------------------------------
During this webinar, we will cover the following topics while demonstrating the integrations of JMeter, InfluxDB and Grafana:
- What out-of-the-box solutions are available for real-time monitoring JMeter tests?
- What are the benefits of integrating InfluxDB and Grafana into the load testing stack?
- Which features are provided by Grafana?
- Demonstration of InfluxDB and Grafana using a practice web application
To view the webinar recording, go to:
https://www.rttsweb.com/jmeter-integration-webinar
From Daily Decisions to Bottom Line: Connecting Product Work to Revenue by VP...
Getting Started with Advanced Network Operations
1. Getting Started with Advanced
Network Operations
A fastrack DMS solution for distribution management
Make the most of your energy SM
2. Summary
Executive Summary . ................................................................................... p 1
Introduction ................................................................................................. p 2
Why a fastrack DMS?................................................................................... p 4
Build . .......................................................................................................... p 6
Learn . ......................................................................................................... p 7
Plan . ........................................................................................................... p 8
Execute........................................................................................................ p 9
Move at the ‘speed of value’ ........................................................................ p 10
Conclusion................................................................................................... p 11
3. Getting Started with Advanced Network Operations
Executive summary
While many utilities look forward to the benefits of deploying smart grid
technology, they need help on where and how to start. A manageable distribution
management system (DMS) pilot implementation is a good kickoff toward the
smart grid goal, because it successfully demonstrates the possibilities while it
builds support from stakeholders across the enterprise. Schneider Electric helps
the utility implement the DMS pilot, using a phased Build — Learn — Plan —
Execute approach.
In such a DMS pilot project, the company works with a small team of utility
personnel knowledgeable of the organization’s network data stores and analytical
functions. They build a fully operational load flow model that represents a subset
of the network and reflects circuit data from the GIS database or other sources
and includes two HV/MV substations and four to eight feeders, ideally with the
switches and enough load profile data to support some switching and basic
optimization functionality.
In the Learn phase of the DMS pilot, team members evaluate functionality of the
model and completeness and accuracy of the data used. Tuning the model builds
team confidence in its understanding of the data needed and the accuracy of the
basic DMS algorithms.
In the Plan phase, the utility identifies current business plan and internal and
external drivers toward grid automation, considering throughout the political and
regulatory environments. A strategy is designed to remove obstacles and achieve
identified goals.
In the final Execute phase, the utility will contract for software and services; train
core team; develop system configuration and convert data; and finally deploy the
system with site acceptance testing and rollout.
This fastrack DMS implementation gets the utility started and moving at the ‘speed
of value’ as it builds confidence in DMS technology. It offers a proof-of-concept of
DMS benefits across the organization — more reliable service, reduction of peak
demand, utility cost savings and more.
White paper | 01
4. Getting Started with Advanced Network Operations
Introduction
Smart Grid technology offers a large and often confusing array of components
and solutions that promise potential benefits for stakeholders. Making the right
choices in this environment isn’t easy. Focusing on critical areas for improving
grid performance is one key to achieving the best results. One emerging trend in
the industry is to develop strategies that better control and optimize distribution
network operations with advanced distribution management systems (DMS) and
to start with a “proof of concept” (POC) approach.
‘Pilot’ projects can pose challenges for many utilities. How to start? How to
avoid the perception of yet another small-scale Smart Grid effort that won’t lead
to tangible benefits? This paper will address the benefits, issues, and internal
buy-ins necessary to start a pilot project, and will provide a project approach
to achieve success and position the utility organization for a full solution
evaluation.
White paper | 02
6. Getting Started with Advanced Network Operations
Why a fastrack DMS?
Many utilities are stymied by the enormity of
implementing a full Smart Grid with the issues of
network reinforcement, device assessment, algorithm
investigation, production or project software,
integration within OT and IT environments, and many
more issues that need to be addressed. To gain
the benefits that are associated with implementing
Smart Grid initiatives, “you have to start somewhere”.
Implementing a manageable pilot can not only
successfully demonstrate the possibilities, but
provide enormous support for building internal
utility momentum with stake holders, managers,
employees, and regulators.
At Schneider Electric, we often work with customers
to implement a DMS pilot over a three to four month
period through a four phase approach (Build — - ssess steps that will be necessary to maintain a
A
Learn — Plan — Execute): “timely and accurate” network model to support
an operational DMS
• Build —
- nvestigate what can be achieved through
I
- Install DMS software on a laptop systems integration and what can be acquired
through bulk import or manual data loads
- uild the network model utilizing the utility’s GIS
B
or engineering analysis data • Plan —
- dd missing electrical data (typical consumer load
A - evelop a ranking of analytic functions and their
D
profiles, standard transformer characteristics, benefit to the utility (i.e. switching orders, FLISR,
other typical equipment data) VVO, Voltage Reduction, Load Shedding, etc.)
• Learn — - evelop a plan for identifying data sources and
D
methods for accurately maintaining those sources
- earn just what specific data is missing in the
L
currently available network model - evelop an organizational communications
D
plan utilizing the POC laptop for “show and tell”
- nvestigate the location and quality of the missing
I meetings
data within the current utility data stores
White paper | 04
7. Getting Started with Advanced Network Operations
• Execute — To successfully achieve the benefits of a DMS POC,
we recommend putting together a small team of key
- ontract for software and services
C personnel within the organization that can address
the three main areas of emphasis; assessing data,
pecify requirements
S evaluating engineering analytics, and gaining internal
management support. To assess the data needs, we
Identify delivery and support services recommend a high energy, self-starter individual that
can diligently dig deep into the internal data stores
- esign
D of the utility and find those “nuggets” of information.
An innovative engineer thoroughly schooled in
Train core team distribution planning and operations should be able
to analyze the appropriateness of various analytical
Review requirements functions and their benefit to the organization. And of
course, there is the need to have a mid-level or higher
- evelop
D
manager that can champion the project to upper
management, various stake holder organizations, and
Data conversion
the regulators.
System configuration
- eploy
D Build
Site acceptance testing
Design roll out
Production
Learn
Develop
Deploy Plan
Execute
White paper | 05
8. Getting Started with Advanced Network Operations
Build
At the heart of all DMS implementations is a
sufficiently accurate load flow model. To achieve this
goal, data must not only be complete, but “timely
and accurate.” Electrical network data for distribution
planning and analysis is usually updated only yearly
and includes only peak load information. To properly
build an operational DMS model, the “current”
state of the distribution network must be accurately
modeled. In an operational DMS, the network
model is usually imported from the GIS (keeper of
the “as-built” model) into the DMS (keeper of the Figure above. Typical Consumer Load Profile Curves
“as-operated” model. Electrical catalog information
not maintained within the GIS is added from other
• Build phase
data sources to complete the DMS electrical network
model. Typical consumer load curves are usually
- raw substation 1-line connectivity model
D
obtained from regulator rate filing information;
however, with the advent of AMI/MDM systems, finer - mport feeders from electrical connectivity model
I
granularity of consumer load profile data may be data source
available.
- dd several typical consumer load profiles (i.e.
A
For the POC, it is not possible to obtain all of the residential, small commercial, large commercial,
aforementioned data; therefore, a subset of the industrial)
network is used with typical electrical catalog and
typical consumer data added. • Data Sources
• POC Scope - ubstations — CAR files, SCADA 1-lines, paper
S
drawings, equipment records
- wo HV/MV substations
T
- eeders — GIS, SynerGEE, CYME, WindMill,
F
- our to eight feeders
F paper maps, equipment records
- deally sum of the feeders connect with tie
I - oad profiles — AMI/MDM histories, load survey
L
switches data, engineering judgment
- oes not have to be “end state” data sources (i.e.
D
no automated integration)
White paper | 06
9. Getting Started with Advanced Network Operations
Learn
The purpose this phase is to capture the lessons
learned during the Build phase. With the DMS
installed on a laptop and the small portion of the
network verified and now a working electrical model,
the team can begin to compare load flow results
against field measurements. Where distribution
SCADA exists, the team can input telemetered values
from the SCADA 1-line displays and compare the
load flow results. Immediate verification of model
accuracy will become evident. If an electrical element
Figure above. Geographic and Schematic Views of Network
is modeled in error, load flow results will not match.
bring the utility. Learn what it takes to construct a
This is where the electrical engineering and utility
useful DMS model and:
experience comes into play. Since the DMS provides
all electrical quantities (i.e. volts, amps, real/reactive
• Identify data deficiencies
power, etc.) for every element in the network, it
should be fairly easy to investigate the circuit and
• erform DMS functions and rank analytic
P
find the offending element. If errors exist, there is one
functions
of two possible problems — bad field measurements,
or bad modeling. Tuning the model will build
• Topology/Connectivity Analysis
confidence within the team of their understanding of
the data required and the accuracy of the basic DMS
• State Estimation
algorithms. Accumulating results of this investigative
effort will be useful input to any planning for
• Voltage Reduction (VVO/VVC)
implementing an operational network model.
• Improve efficiency of the distribution network
After the model is producing good results, the DMS
analytical functions can be used to demonstrate the • Define requirements and validate business needs
positive effects that implementation of the DMS could
• Build organization confidence and consensus
White paper | 07
10. Getting Started with Advanced Network Operations
Plan
The key to any successful Smart Grid implementation current targets, but are inadequate for future
project is having a well thought out and tested utility operations. One particular area of emphasis
plan. Using the lessons learned from the previous should be on having a robust, secure, and scalable
phase as a micro implementation, areas needing distribution SCADA infrastructure. Current utility
further investigation can be identified. Stake holder SCADA systems can adequately handle present
feedback from taking the POC laptop throughout telemetry needs for several hundred substation
the organization should provide valuable insight into RTUs, but they cannot handle the demands of a
obstacles that will need to be overcome before any fully automated and telemetered smart distribution
project implementation can begin. network with tens of thousands of field devices (i.e.
switches, controllers, and sensors).
Analyzing the current business situation is a must.
Internal and external drivers toward a Smart Grid “As-is” and “to-be” processes should also
along with the political and regulatory environment be mapped out at a very high level to identify
must be considered. A good plan will identify all of opportunities for improvement. A gap analysis of
these elements and provide a strategy for removing current state versus future state will reveal areas
obstacles and achieving goals. that need further investigation. Business process
re-engineering will be critical to ensuring all of the
One key item often overlooked is developing a identified benefits are achieved and the return on
strategic vision of utility operations in the next five investment maximized. Also of consideration is the
to 10 years. Forgetting to plan long range can development of a strategy to ensure the organization
result in solutions being implemented that meet can achieve future goals.
Plan for executing Smart Grid projects
• ssess internal and external drivers for grid
A
automation
- Balance of supply and load
- System efficiency
- Operations reliability
• Evaluate internal resources
• Develop business case metrics for a DMS system
• lan for complete DMS deployment, including
P
change management
White paper | 08
11. Getting Started with Advanced Network Operations
Execute
The last stage is Execute. At this point the Utility is
now positioned to act on the information gathered
from the Build - Learn - Plan phases. Typically an
Execution plan looks like the following:
• Contract for software and services
- Specify requirements
- Identify delivery and support services
• Design
- Train core team Design
- Review requirements
• Develop
Develop
- Data conversion
Deploy
- System configuration
• Deploy
- Site acceptance testing
- Production roll out
White paper | 09
12. Getting Started with Advanced Network Operations
Move at the ‘speed of value’
Schneider Electric is an industry leader in open-
architecture solutions that allow full integration
with existing and future standardized information
systems, ‘future-proofing’ its deliverables. Utilizing
the existing GIS connectivity model, the fastrack
DMS can leverage existing investments and help
validate network model accuracy. The more accurate
the network model, the better your utility identifies
operational and economic goals and develops a
realistic and effective Smart Grid strategy to realize
those goals.
White paper | 10
13. Getting Started with Advanced Network Operations
Conclusion
Utilities can take the first step toward achieving the benefits of DMS by
implementing a proof-of-concept DMS pilot project. This pilot will help the
utility identify data requirements and resources needed, as well as demonstrate
operational and economic benefits and build ‘buy-in’ from stakeholders.
A four-phased approach to carrying out this pilot — including creation of an ‘as
operated’ model of a subset of the network — has shown to help utilities put
network data and analysis functions to work to realize automated control and
performance optimization. Schneider Electric has helped utilities worldwide get
started with DMS technology to deliver better service to their customers and
improve overall operations efficiency and reliability.
White paper | 11