Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition Systems for Utilities in the Dawn of Industry 5.0

Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems are essential for the operation of distributed industrial processes owned/operated by utilities i.e. water systems or electrical grids. While the primary function of SCADA is to monitor and control physical processes, SCADA also performs secondary functions that are critical to continuous operation and improvement of the overarching physical processes. SCADA systems contextualize real-time data to inform decision-making, alert stakeholders to potential issues, and mitigate downtime via situational awareness. Beyond contextualization of process data, SCADA systems are a critical component of analysis and utilization of real-time process data for intelligence and optimization. When designed appropriately, SCADA system architecture facilitates comparison of real-time data to historical data and/or process models, enabling capability for dynamic process control changes to optimize system performance in real-time. Additionally, SCADA Systems are composed of many interconnected components commonly organized by geographical regions, process control areas, and/or digital zones. As industrial processes become more complex and technology advances, new challenges and opportunities emerge, necessitating that SCADA systems are designed not only to optimize performance but also to enhance resilience, and safeguard against physical and cyber threats. This paper examines the evolution of SCADA systems, explores current state and future trajectories, and applies a requirements-based system development lifecycle (SDLC) that ensures Verification, Validation, Testing, and Training activities are embedded throughout the SDLC.