Putting together a Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system or Distribution/Energy Management System (DMS/EMS) is a multifaceted mission and requires a unique mix of skills.  

Firstly, an understanding of the network or plant being monitored is critical, unless you understand the nature of what it is you are trying to control, there is little hope of controlling it properly. This is especially true with the evolution of the smart grid over the next decade, along with the changing patterns of electricity generation and consumption being driven by a rapidly evolving energy sector. 

The same can be said for the business environment in which the system must operate; without a good appreciation of what the business is all about, and what outcomes are desired from the SCADAS/DMS, from a management/operational point of view, there is little hope of delivering a system which will achieve  on the higher level business objectives. 

Secondly, understanding the business and the environment in which a SCADAS/DMS operates is important for change and transition management, which is a critical and often overlooked practical requirement when implementing a new system, particularly when the new system is consolidating the operations function from several legacy systems. 

Many of the senior management team at Opal Software have held operational management positions in industry during their careers. As a result, Opal Software has a demonstrated track record of providing solid advice and proven implementation strategies which address fundamental business requirements. Our experience has been put to the test on a range of SCADAS/DMS integration projects for the Water, Electricity and Gas industries, all of which have been outstanding successes. 

Finally, a good SCADAS/DMS systems integrator should have a "tool box" of data migration and testing tools which can be applied to different projects, without needing to re-invent the wheel for each project. Opal Software has a variety of data capture tools such as NMS inFusion, and methodologies which have been used successfully on very large scale data migration projects; as well as our simSCADA product, which provides a definitive whole of system test for the complete SCADAS/DMS. 

Beyond these fundamental requirements, SCADAS/DMS are increasingly required to interface with other corporate systems: such as Customer Information Systems (CIS), Works and Asset Management Systems and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). This trend will continue at an accelerated rate with the introduction of smart grid technologies. 

We recognise there are core functions which everyone agrees should be performed in one system or the other.  However the nature of IS systems, and the constantly evolving utilities sector is such that there are always "functional grey zones" where there are differences between one organisation and the next as to where a particular functional outcome should be implemented. For example, one organisation may implement its trouble call management and dispatch function within the GIS, while another may implement it within the DMS. 

We understand that different organisations have different IS frameworks, with different levels of investment in these occurring over time. The secret of a good systems integrator is to firstly understand that these differences exist, and then to be able to provide a clear set of alternatives, with cost and risk appraisals for different integration models. 

With interfacing SCADAS/DMS to corporate IT systems, there is increased exposure to malicious attack from external sources. It is important that this exposure is recognised and factored into the overall design of the system and the corporate wide security model to mitigate against this threat. Due to Opal Software’s expertise in this area we have been selected as one of a small number of consultants on the Australian Governments Critical Infrastructure Protection program. 

Opal Software also has a rich set of document templates and form work which can be used to quickly establish system and test specifications, action and issues logs and other such documentation outcomes. 

Opal Software has an enviable track record of delivering SCADAS/DMS projects on time and on budget and ensuring the deployed system will operate successfully under a range of equipment failure scenarios, and during periods of exceptional activity on the system. Opal Software's proven track record is second to none for helping organisations navigate the mine field of integration and data exchange issues inherent in any SCADAS/DMS integration project. 

Please refer to descriptions of some of our client sites for more specific project information.