Augmented Reality Applications for Substation Management by Utilizing Standards-Compliant SCADA Communication

Miro Antonijević, Stjepan Sučić and Hrvoje Keserica
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Miro Antonijević: Končar-Power Plant and Electric Traction Engineering Inc., Fallerovo 22, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Stjepan Sučić: Končar-Power Plant and Electric Traction Engineering Inc., Fallerovo 22, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Hrvoje Keserica: Končar-Power Plant and Electric Traction Engineering Inc., Fallerovo 22, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia

Energies, 2018, vol. 11, issue 3, 1-17

Abstract: Most electrical substations are remotely monitored and controlled by using Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) applications. Current SCADA systems have been significantly enhanced by utilizing standardized communication protocols and the most prominent is the IEC 61850 international standard. These enhancements enable improvements in different domains of SCADA systems such as communication engineering, data management and visualization of automation process data in SCADA applications. Process data visualization is usually achieved through Human Machine Interface (HMI) screens in substation control centres. However, this visualization method sometimes makes supervision, control and maintenance procedures executed by engineers slow and error-prone because it separates equipment from its automation data. Augmented reality (AR) and mixed reality (MR) visualization techniques have matured enough to provide new possibilities of displaying relevant data wherever needed. This paper presents a novel methodology for visualizing process related SCADA data to enhance and facilitate human-centric activities in substations such as regular equipment maintenance. The proposed solution utilizes AR visualization techniques together with standards-based communication protocols used in substations. The developed proof-of-concept AR application that enables displaying SCADA data on the corresponding substation equipment with the help of AR markers demonstrates originality and benefits of the proposed visualization method. Additionally, the application enables displaying widgets and 3D models of substation equipment to make the visualization more user-friendly and intuitive. The visualized SCADA data needs to be refreshed considering soft real-time data delivery restrictions. Therefore, the proposed solution is thoroughly tested to demonstrate the applicability of proposed methodology in real substations.

Keywords: SCADA; augmented reality; IEC 61850; substation management (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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