DMS - The integration solution for GIS/SCADA/OMS
Roger Langsdon
MITS Ltd
474 Flinders St
Melbourne Vic 3000
Australia
Introduction
Distribution Management Systems (DMS) are considered an integral step in the
systems integration puzzle that utilities strive to complete. The ability to access
and analyse real-time customer and network data from a standard user interface has
an overwhelming attraction to modern utilities that are searching for a competitive
advantage in a new and volatile competitive market place.
The major decisions facing the potential users of DMS are not the choices in
vendor but the choices regarding the fundamental architectural approach. A further
complication is the knowledge that the decisions made today, regarding the DMS
design, will set the path for an integration strategy that will ultimately benefit or
hinder future system and business growth opportunities.
This paper aims to highlight the major approaches to DMS architecture, discuss
relevant criteria to assist the decision making process and present and discuss a
potential solution to the question of DMS architectural design that will offer the
greatest flexibility and long term benefits.
The need to integrate
Utilities rely on a number of computer based systems such as GIS, SCADA,
Trouble Call, Customer Information and Works Management. While these systems
continue to faithfully serve it is their ability to communicate and interact with each
other that provide the maximum benefit to the business.
Many steps have already been taken towards integrating such systems and it is the
presence of an overall strategy that guides both short and long term decisions
towards a target solution.
In the early history of Distribution Management Systems the technology was seen
simply as an exercise in integrating GIS and SCADA technology. Since then the
picture has grown far more complicated but the need to merge real-time and spatial
data remains a core element. Early solutions to this challenge therefore centered on
two major alternatives.
Previous Options:
Option 1: Build the DMS within the SCADA system or,
Option 2: Build the DMS within the GIS system.
A suggested solution to this integration issue is:
Suggested Solution: Build the DMS as an integration platform.
DMS architectural options
Option 1:
Build the DMS within the SCADA system
In the early 1990's the importing of GIS data into a real-time SCADA system had
been achieved and deployed in isolated projects. What this approach tended to do
however, was force the SCADA system to deviate from its original design
characteristics. Fundamentally, SCADA systems are designed with a purposely
sized database, very high-speed data event processing, high reliability and rather
simple graphical display functionality. The data volume associated with GIS
systems was substantially higher than that of typical SCADA systems and the
spatial data display requirements were considerably different to the rather basic
single line diagrams SCADA systems were designed to display. As a consequence,
compromises had to be made to achieve this architecture and still today, SCADA
systems struggle to provide a powerful and responsive geographical data display
environment.
