Download Example towards RFI - The Alliance for Telecommunications

IP-Transition of Public Safety Related Applications Task Force (PSRA-TF) Committee
November 12, 2014
Contribution
TITLE:
RFI Boiler Plate – SCADA Example for Utility and Energy Sector
SOURCE:
VERIZON
ISSUE NUMBER:
ABSTRACT
This contribution provides a format for further development by the task force in an effort to
establish a template that can be used for each of the public safety related applications
identified by the task force to solicit input via a Request For Information (RFI).
This example uses the SCADA application and the content and questions included in this
contribution require further development.
PSRA TF RFI Boiler Plate – November 12 Draft
Utility and Energy Sector Related Applications
General Information
Description
This sector includes the Gas, Power, Energy, Water, Waste and Oil Refining industries. The applications
of interest include wired and wireless telemetry communications hardware providing the
communication channels necessary to transport digital data between a control center, data warehouse
or enterprise and Remote Terminal Units (RTUs) and Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs). Examples
of applications which collect data from the processes being supervised and controlled include fixed
point sensors in remote/isolated locations to determine status or position of valves, switches, or
measurement of pressure, flow, voltage or current.
Characteristics of Legacy Technology
Legacy telemetry using copper-based communications equipment typically provides low speed data
capabilities over Digital Data Services (DDS). Other communications methods include devices that
transmit tones over DS0 Voice Grade circuits, and contact closure alarms over Metallic circuits. Some
devices have their own telemetry capabilities to send digital data to the supervisory system like RTUs,
whereas some have separate communications equipment located adjacent to the sensor/control device
since they do not provide their own telemetry (e.g., PLCs). Unique requirements include reliability,
security, latency, electrical isolation, and ruggedized equipment needs.
Purpose and Scope
Of special interest is the identification and description of communications solutions for SCADA telemetry
which accomplishes the following objectives: replaces communications equipment that employs legacy
copper circuits; can be implemented by telecommunications providers seeking to modernize their
networks and; are commercially available and in-use today for SCADA telemetry / connectivity
applications.
The continued migration of legacy copper-based circuits can be enhanced by the availability of new and
innovative solutions that will speed the adoption of IP-based technology and contribute to network
modernization plans in the long term. Identifying these solutions can assist the industry in delivering
highly robust and reliable solutions that meet the requirements of the public safety sector.
Application Specific Descriptions
The following sections each address an application for which information is requested:
 Section 1 - Protective Relaying
 Section 2 - Special Protection Schemes
 Section 3 - Synchrophasor Data
 Section 4 - Radio Control and Dispatch
 Section 5 - Telephone Lines

Section 6 - Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA)
Section 1 - Protective Relaying
Section 2 - Special Protection Schemes
Section 3 - Synchrophasor Data
Section 4 - Radio Control and Dispatch
Section 5 - Telephone Lines
Section 6 - Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA)
SCADA Description (Is it OK to use this diagram?)
Below is an example of a SCADA telemetry circuit employing legacy technology and traversing multiple
telephone company central offices. Affected technologies include Frame Relay and DSO / DS1 circuits
used for SCADA telemetry and/or telematics. Copper based DSO analog private line SCADA circuits are
largely delivered on a “best effort” basis with no true 21st century SLAs.
SCADA Key Performance Indicators (KPI)
In general, SCADA solutions require high availability, secure and low latency solutions. Network designs
which are 100% private, capable of real-time automatic restoration, and can be switched between
primary and alternate Control Center locations are expected. Furthermore, remote real-time network
monitoring end-to-end, no access from the public internet, and data encryption to mitigate
unauthorized access is necessary.
Typical communications performance requirements for DS0-based circuits are shown below.
Transmission of SCADA:
Bandwidth
19.2 kbps
Latency
Jitter
Reliability
Distribution of SCADA:
Bandwidth
Latency
Jitter
Reliability
2 seconds
N/A
99%
9.6 kbps
5 seconds
N/A
95%
SCADA RFI Response Format and Content
To facilitate the collection and aggregation of solutions, it is requested that the respondent answer the
following questions providing the information requested. Respondents are free to provide additional
text and/or details (i.e., product brochures, white papers, etc.) in the appendix. Answers to the following
questions are expected to provide a profile of the solution and ensure the suggested solutions fall within
the scope and criteria expected for the application.
Solution Questionnaire (Examples – Sub-team SMEs will craft appropriate questions)
Note that respondents should answer all the questions for each of the solutions described. For example,
if you are describing three solutions, you would prepare three separate set of answers, each having a
different Solution Name.
U&E SCADA Q1: What is the Name of this Solution for identification purposes?
U&E SCADA Q2: Is the solution being used today to upgrade/replace legacy copper-based
communications equipment used for SCADA telemetry circuits? (Yes/No)
U&E SCADA Q3: Which of the following legacy copper-based circuits types is this solution designed to
replace? (List: Digital Data Service (DDS) o, Voice grade, Metallic, Automatic Ringdown circuit, Other.)
U&E SCADA Q4: What type of physical facility does this solution employ? (List: Twisted pair, direct fiber,
WDM fiber, COAX cable, wireless, satellite, other).
U&E SCADA Q5: What type of carrier technologies can this solution be used with? (List: T1, Carrier
Ethernet, frame relay, SONET, 3G, 4G, Other).
U&E SCADA Q6: What is the User Network Interface (UNI) for this solution at the SCADA head end and
the remote (physical plant) location? (List: …..Other)
U&E SCADA Q7: Does equipment typically need to be replaced at the customer location to implement
this solution (Yes/No)?
U&E SCADA Q8: Does this solution provide TDM circuit emulation services? (Yes/No)
U&E SCADA Q9: What type of physical topologies does this solution support? (Point-to-Point, Point-toMultipoint, Mesh, Star, Ring, Other)
U&E SCADA Q10: Is connectivity using this solution usually include the use of a network operator (e.g.,
telephone, cable company) wireline services or leased circuits? (Yes, No)
U&E SCADA Q11: Is connectivity using this solution usually include the use of a network operator
wireless services or leased circuits (Yes/No)?
U&E SCADA Q12: Which standards, practices or certifications does this solution comply with?
U&E SCADA Q13: Please provide a diagram showing the architecture with the network and user
interfaces, transmission media and the communications equipment required at end-point and
intermediate locations.
U&E SCADA Q14: Does your solution support diversity or backup or multiple control sites (Yes/No)?
U&E SCADA Q15: Please describe the performance, reliability, resiliency and other performance
specifications for your solution applicable to the SCADA application detailed above.
U&E SCADA Q16: Please identify if your solution has been deployed in any commercial deployments
that support the SCADA application detailed above.
Nothing Follows