Selection criteria for TransGas SCADA host architecture

In 1990 TransGas Limited approved the purchase and installation of a minicomputer-based SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition) system which will provide centralized control and monitoring of the natural gas pipeline system. Advances in workstation and network technology led to an evaluation of available computer networks and resulted in the selection of a state-of-the-art SCADA host architecture. The criteria used in selecting the architecture of the TransGas SCADA host computer network are discussed. Attention is given to fault-tolerant design, local area networks and distributed processing and modular software and standards