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SWCC Dispatch Centre

Engineering & Marketing International
Technology

Aveva

Industry

Water Treatment

Client

SWCC

Country

KSA

Goals

Centralized data from 23 desalination plants into a high-availability PI system. Implement secure, one-way data transfer to protect against cyber threats. Provide real-time analytics and operational KPIs for performance optimization. Integrate geospatial visualization of assets via ArcGIS.

Challenges

Ensuring consistent data acquisition from 23 geographically dispersed plants. Maintaining absolute data security with one-way data diode technology. Creating a unified asset hierarchy across varied plant configurations. Developing hundreds of customized dashboards for diverse user roles.

Solutions

Deployed 16 local PI Servers for edge data collection at plant locations. Used data diode technology for secure unidirectional data flow to headquarters. Designed and implemented a comprehensive PI Asset Framework model. Built 400 PI Vision dashboards and 100 Excel reports tailored to user needs.

Results

Seamless integration of 23 plants into a centralized, resilient PI System. Real-time operational visibility and control across national water infrastructure. Robust cybersecurity and data integrity ensured via data diode implementation. Enhanced decision-making with advanced analytics and GIS visualization.

SWCC Dispatch Centre
PI System Implementation

In 2018, EMI, in collaboration with local partners, undertook a landmark project to implement a centralized PI System for the Saline Water Conversion Corporation (SWCC), integrating data from 23 desalination plants spread across Saudi Arabia. The project aimed to enhance visibility and control by aggregating operational data into a highly available (HA) PI System located at SWCC’s Dispatch Centre. A secure, unidirectional data transfer method using data diodes was key to maintaining cybersecurity and preventing reverse data flow.

The solution extended beyond simple data collection to include advanced analytics targeting plant performance, energy efficiency, and operational KPIs. It incorporated a comprehensive PI Asset Framework (AF) to standardize asset hierarchy across multiple plants with differing configurations. Additionally, integration with ArcGIS provided geospatial visualization of SWCC’s extensive infrastructure, enabling enhanced spatial awareness and planning. EMI developed hundreds of dashboards and reports to serve users at all organizational levels, from field technicians requiring detailed operational metrics to executives needing summarized performance insights. The deployment of local PI Servers at plant sites and the use of Matrikon OPC Tunneller ensured reliable, consistent data acquisition across segmented networks. This comprehensive and scalable system became a model digital transformation project in the utilities sector, significantly boosting SWCC’s operational efficiency and decision-making capabilities.

The solution went beyond simple data collection by adding advanced analytics focused on plant performance, energy efficiency, and operational KPIs. It used a comprehensive PI Asset Framework (AF) to standardize asset hierarchies across multiple plants with varying setups. Integration with ArcGIS enabled geospatial visualization of SWCC’s infrastructure, improving spatial awareness and planning. EMI developed hundreds of dashboards and reports for users at all levels, from field technicians to executives.

Local PI Servers at plant sites and Matrikon OPC Tunneller ensured reliable data acquisition across segmented networks. This scalable system became a model digital transformation project in utilities, significantly enhancing SWCC’s operational efficiency and decision-making.