Applied Technology Review : News

Indoor positioning systems (IPS) offer numerous potential applications for safety and security. GPS and indoor positioning systems are frequently mistaken. They offer comparable services but in varying capacities. GPS uses multiple satellite connections to identify the location of an object, generally outside. It aids in tracking the general positions and movements of assets such as cars, for which a location estimate within 5 to 10 meters is acceptable. IPS utilizes local sensors within a facility to find monitored things. These devices provide significantly more accurate positions and are designed to operate in inside conditions where GPS signals are poor. Each of the numerous wireless standards now utilized in IPS has advantages and disadvantages. Six of the most prevalent standards in use now are: Radio Frequency Identification (RFID): RFID is among the most widely used IPS standards. For interior positioning, both active and passive RFID variants can be employed. Active transmitters are powered by batteries and can enable long-range, real-time location tracking. Passive transmitters do not require power. In close proximity, they reflect a signal to the receivers. Since RFID tags broadcast using radio waves, they do not require a line of sight to function with receivers. Signals can also travel through numerous popular building materials. Metal surfaces, however, can interfere with RFID signals. Infrared (IR): Like TV remotes, IR transmitters use infrared light to communicate their position signal to receivers. IR positioning systems are affordable, but they require a clear line of sight to function. This solution is ideal for open environments and tracking applications with low priority. Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi internet antennas for enterprise networks can also provide indoor positioning services for linked devices. In business settings, laptops, tablets, and other devices ping many Wi-Fi beacons multiple times per second to determine which has the strongest signal. The Wi-Fi network control system can support the trilateral locations of these devices based on the time between pings. Wi-Fi IPS' primary advantage is that it utilizes current infrastructure. However, its locational precision is inferior to those of many competing standards. It is also restricted to areas with Wi-Fi coverage. Bluetooth: Bluetooth short-range wireless can also be used for interior locations. Bluetooth is typically used for wireless coupling devices, such as a headset with a smartphone, because it is low-power and relatively cost-effective. However, its range is significantly shorter than other standards such as active RFID. Ultra-Wideband (UWB): UWB provides precise indoor location. Beacons reflect a radio signal with a high frequency of tags within their coverage area. Signals travel well through building materials and return to beacons with an accuracy of one centimeter. However, this precision comes at a price. Ultra-wideband wireless systems are expensive and consume a great deal of energy. This level is appropriate for high-risk or mission-critical situations where additional tracking expenses are tolerable. Cellular: In addition to Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, cellular data towers may also provide indoor positioning serviceș. The benefit of cellular IPS is that mobile devices can function as receivers. Cellular signals penetrate buildings significantly better than GPS signals, yet they are still susceptible to interference within the building. Typically, accuracy is limited to 50 meters. In some specialized usage cases, cellular IPS may be an alternative. These are some of the most prevalent wireless positioning standards used indoors. Numerous others are employed for legacy applications or in exceptional circumstances. ...Read more

DCS and SCADA systems transform in tandem with broader digital transformation themes, such as the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). Industrial control systems have played a significant part in industrial automation for decades by enabling process manufacturers to gather, process, and act on production floor data. These systems are currently in transition. DCS and SCADA systems may now assist digital transformation due to ongoing technological and industry advancements. Typically, process manufacturers utilize DCS and SCADA technology to monitor and control facility operations. The DCS was created to replace analog and pneumatic loop controllers, which were troublesome for extensive processes in refineries. SCADA was initially developed to solve activities spanning vast geographical areas, such as pipelines and utilities. Later, a variation utilizing HMIs in conjunction with PLCs for industrial automation applications arose. Nevertheless, DCS and SCADA systems are no longer limited to monitoring and controlling. They are merging with extra intelligence at every level of the industrial automation architecture to support predictive asset lifecycle management and value chain optimization while also enhancing the experience of stakeholders and improving security and safety. Although this particular industrial control system change is already in progress, the bigger transformation of industrial automation systems has only begun. Check Out This: Utilities Business Review The differences go well beyond the fact that a typical SCADA system may work with a vast area network with significantly lesser capacity than a DCS local area network. A DCS uses dispersed workstations for operator HMI is a fundamental distinction. Each workstation can interface directly with DCS network controllers. All communications between HMI workstations and PLCs will be routed through a server in a SCADA system. Thus, the server is a single point of failure, which might render the entire process invisible to all users. While the architecture of a DCS and a SCADA system may appear identical at first glance, the DCS adds several, often subtle elements, such as redundant electronic circuits, which boost system availability and minimize downtime. All distant I/O electronics and communication networks between them and the DCS controllers are redundant or may be optionally redundant. While SCADA HMIs and servers are primarily commercially available off-the-shelf (COTS) PCs, a DCS employs non-COTS, task-optimized components. In addition, a DCS isolates the Windows operating system from the process, which improves security. A deterministic DCS LAN ensures that a vital message, such as a high-priority alarm will reach its intended recipient. Typically, the SCADA system relies on the high bandwidth of the LAN. Since a single DCS vendor supplies the entire system, controllers and workstations are more tightly linked in a DCS than in a SCADA system. Expected benefits include lower engineering costs and simplification. Still, a DCS will be more expensive than a SCADA system for a given process, but the price difference is justified for operations where unscheduled shutdowns are incredibly costly. Although SCADA suppliers could add redundant servers or high availability computing platforms to improve the reliability of these systems, their availability will be lower than that of a DCS. ...Read more

There will be a Digital Twin era in the construction industry. The Digital Twin is rapidly evolving, recognized, and used on construction projects. FREMONT, CA: Data has always been an important component in keeping projects on track during the design, bidding, and construction phases. Creating a Digital Twin from data provides a competitive advantage to project stakeholders by allowing them to make informed decisions based on real-time data accessible at any time and from any location. Digital Twins can be an important facilitator as the construction industry tries to keep up with the demand for new facilities and layouts after COVID-19. The application of such technology, which provides a digital representation of real-world systems and components, is critical for an industry that has been slow to adopt digital technology. The Construction Industry's Digital Twin Virtual depiction of a physical asset, process, or system that includes engineering data to help us understand, model, and analyze its performance is a digital twin. The value of the digital twin stems from its connection to the physical asset and its ability to reflect any changes instantly. Over the last 20 years, the construction industry has lagged in digitalization, specifically in utilizing data and analytics and artificial intelligence. This Digital Twin concept is new to the construction industry , but it has numerous uses and will set a new trend in managing building projects. A Digital Twin of a physical object can accelerate and automate traditional design, manufacturing, and operating processes. As a result, it can serve as the foundation for prefabrication and increase industrialized efficiency. A digital twin aggregates data into a single, verifiable environment that anyone can access. The idea is that there is a golden thread that binds the entire process, from the initial design to item selection, specification, production, delivery to site, installation, and operation. When used in conjunction with a cloud service, the digital twin allows all stakeholders to analyze a project from the beginning. The digital twin grows into a live model updated as the design and planning process progresses, allowing greater visibility. Users can visualize the project plan in its proposed surroundings when geospatial data is integrated with mixed or augmented reality tools. For large construction projects, details such as road slopes and drainage can be analyzed for any potential issues during the design stage, and fixes can be made and synced instantly. In addition, lighting, traffic flow, accessibility, and even wind speed and direction can be evaluated to gain insight and provide a detailed image of how the built model will look and behave. These insights allow project teams to make data-driven decisions that produce predictable key performance indicator outcomes. ...Read more