Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) & Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Meet Project Management

Sterling S. Rooke, Ph.D. Candidate

Introduction

• What is a Wireless Sensor Network– Various Topologies; Including Redundant Exchange

Wireless Links • Wireless Sensors and SCADA controls

– The internet of things• Application to Project Management

– PM domains of application– Facilities Management

• ERP Systems

– Case Study: Hydro Fracking

What is a Wireless Sensor Network?

What is a WSN?

• Wireless technology is common place– Various forms and protocols

• Most common is IEEE 802.11 (WiFi)• Zigbee 802.15.4 • Bluetooth 802.15.1

Zigbee

• Low power mesh networking• IEEE 802.15.4 Standard, based on Motorola’s

proposal• “Low power”, “Networked”, “Open standard”• Personal Operating Space (POS) of 10m radius, or

greater range; Often called a Personal Area Network (PAN)

• Mesh self-healing network

an.kaist.ac.kr/courses/2005/cs492/.../pptO9wPB7V7CA.ppt

Bluetooth

• Alternatives to cables• IEEE 802.15.1 standard (2002)• “Short range” and “Mobile products”• POS of 10m radius, with mobility• Ad-hoc connections between devices

Zigbee vs. Bluetooth

IEEE 802.11p

• By leveraging IEEE 802.11p, my research has proposed a concept called Redundant Exchange Wireless Links for data exchange between mobile facility assets

If we have time, I have a detailed discussion HERE

Comparison of Wireless Standardshttp://www.stg.com/wireless/ZigBee_comp.html

  ZigBee 802.11(Wi-Fi)

Bluetooth UWB (Ultra Wide Band)

Wireless USB IR Wireless

Data Rate 20, 40, and 250 Kbits/s

11 & 54 Mbits/sec 1 Mbits/s 100-500 Mbits/s 62.5 Kbits/s 20-40 Kbits/s115 Kbits/s

4 & 16 Mbits/s 

Range 10-100 meters 50-100 meters 10 meters <10 meters 10 meters <10 meters (line of sight)

 

Networking Topology Ad-hoc, peer to peer, star, or mesh

 

Point to hub Ad-hoc, very small networks

Point to point Point to point Point to point

Operating Frequency 868 MHz (Europe)900-928 MHz (NA),

2.4 GHz (worldwide) 

2.4 and 5 GHz 2.4 GHz 3.1-10.6 GHz 2.4 GHz 800-900 nm

Complexity (Device and application impact)

Low High High Medium Low Low

Power Consumption (Battery option and life)

Very low (low power is a design goal)

High Medium Low Low Low

Security 128 AES plus application layer

security 

  64 and 128 bit encyption

     

Other Information Devices can join an existing network in

under 30ms 

Device connection requires 3-5 seconds

Device connection requires up to 10

seconds

     

Typical Applications Industrial control and monitoring, sensor networks, building automation, home

control and automation, toys,

games

Wireless LAN connectivity,

broadband Internet access

Wireless connectivity between devices

such as phones, PDA, laptops, headsets

Streaming video, home entertainment

applications

PC peripheral connections

Remote controls, PC, PDA, phone, laptop

links

Network Topologies

Collaborative Wireless Sensors

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Hydro-fracking Operations

Basic WSN System

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The Sensors

• temperature, pressure, occupancy • Really anything that can be measured that is

of value to the project• The faster this information is injected into

systems such as ERP, the quicker project adjustments can be made– (This is where wireless helps)

Wireless Sensors and SCADA controls

What is SCADA?Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition

• SCADA usually refers to centralized systems which monitor and control entire sites, or complexes of systems spread out over large areas ( anything from an industrial plant to a nation).

SCADA Example

PointIs binary

Wireless SCADA and the Internet of Things

• The future is total device connectivity in our everyday lives

• However, this will start where financial return is maximized

• Project management and control are critical areas that will gain productivity through the deployment of WSN and SCADA technology

Wireless SCADA and the internet of things

• This give us the ability to control and monitor almost anything in a project environment

• This gives us a dynamic tactical view of a project thus facilitating rapid strategic decisions

• There is a direct impact on PM…

Application to Project Management

ERP Systems

• Enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems integrate internal and external management information across an entire organization—embracing finance/accounting, manufacturing, sales and service, customer relationship management, etc. ERP systems automate this activity with an integrated software application. The purpose of ERP is to facilitate the flow of information between all business functions inside the boundaries of the organization and manage the connections to outside stakeholders *

• ERP systems can run on a variety of computer hardware and network configurations, typically employing a database as a repository for information *** Bidgoli, Hossein, (2004). The Internet Encyclopedia, Volume 1, John Wiley & Sons, Inc. p. 707.** Khosrow–Puor, Mehdi. (2006). Emerging Trends and Challenges in Information Technology Management. Idea Group, Inc. p. 865.

Building Control and Energy Management Systems

• Facility planners and owners can benefit greatly from fully integrated buildings and facilities. Specifically, systems integration results in a financial benefit through energy savings and efficient maintenance through instant information and intelligent planned maintenance. Most EMS and Intelligent building providers have expressed this as an operational incentive for their corporate engagement as a provider of ESPCs (Energy Service Performance Contract). In fact, the value of precise control and intelligence across a wide array of facilities is a portion of the cost multiplier effect that makes ESPCs so profitable for the vendor and by reducing system cost and ultimately saving the client form escalating energy cost while locking in a know profit for the provider. This author contends that the cyber risk should be included in ROI calculations on a facility by facility basis.

– S. Rooke 2009

WSNs & SCADA Meet PM

ERP System

WSN Facility

SCADA

PM Domains of Application for WSNs and SCADA

Adapted from PMBOK

• Planning• Execution• Monitoring and Controlling• Closing the Project• Professional and Social Responsibility

Planning

• Pre-construction or pre-development sensor measurements play directly into the planning process.– Lower cost and risk– Some project decisions are very costly or

impossible to change– Aid in site selection, cost realism calculations,

timeline refinement

Execution & Monitoring and Controlling

• During project execution having real time information can greatly enhance project success

• WSNs are a tool to gain this information• Wireless SCADA systems can make automated

changes during project execution– Commands can instantly be sent out

Closing the Project

• Business systems including ERP are constantly enriched with historical data during project execution

• Closeout will benefit greatly from a secure and verifiable feed of project information– This information can be formed to follow legal

standards for integrity should a legal action be required following project closeout

Professional and Social Responsibility

• Depending on the project, WSNs and possibly SCADA systems can remain behind after project closeout– Environmental monitoring and compliance– Long term lessons learned

Application examples (case studies)

Facilities Management&

Hydro fracking

Focus

Large Scale Multiple Entry Point FacilitiesHigh-Security Facilities Who should be in the facility and where? Should they be reassigned to enhance logistics?

Solutions

Biometric access controls and tracking General site access and specific access to systems and locations Tracking of human capital

Situational awareness of visitors and workers Directly interface with Project Status Technologies

Where are my human assets? Who should have local access? Live allocation of human resources!

Automated reallocation

Leverage asset tracking technologies

Project Management Aspect

Enhanced security Lowers overall cost; efficient & reliable access

Situational awareness of human assets Efficient autonomous reallocation of team

members Lowers overall cost and keeps you on-

time and on-budget

The Balance

Total System “Cost” Top-line cost

Bottom-line cost Contribution analysis

Added value to operations? Enhanced security Efficient human resource reallocation

Detraction analysis Added inconvenience? Maintenance and training costs Is the system more trouble then it is worth?

Collaboration

Interface with site security and human logistician experts From project concept through site operation

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What is Hydrofracking?

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What is Hydrofracking?

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What is Hydrofracking?

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Gas intrusions? Contamination?

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WSNs and SCADA with a Project Management Prospective

• Reduce environmental risk with real-time telemetry• Reduce insurance costs (for operations)

• Continuously prove and log field environmentals for a historical and ongoing prospective

• Answer the “They contaminated my water!” concern once and for all

• If the EPA works with the API (American Petroleum Institute) to strengthen Hydro-fracking guidelines and regulations in the future, continuous and historical sensor data will be invaluable to operations.

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Redundant Exchange Wireless Links could be part of the solution

IEEE 802.11p is a draft amendment to the IEEE 802.11 standard to add wireless access in vehicular environments (WAVE).

Data exchange between high-speed vehicles and between the vehicles and the roadside infrastructure in the licensed ITS band of 5.9 GHz (5.85-5.925 GHz).

The ultimate vision is a nationwide network that enables communications between vehicles and roadside access points or other vehicles.

Emissions Trading – Transportation Redundant Exchange Wireless Links

41© 2009 Sterling S. Rooke

A

B

A,B

C

+B

+A

+C

+A,B

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Emissions Trading – Transportation Redundant Exchange Wireless Links

© 2009 Sterling S. Rooke

A,B,C

A,B,C

TR,CMDs

TR,CMDs

Comparison to Alternative Methods

© 2009 Sterling S. Rooke 43

Technology Cost Trade Time

User Dependence

Reliability Rural Operation

Underground Operation

Redundant Exchange Wireless Links

TBD TBD

3G Wireless Vehicle Integrated

Spotty Coverage

3G w/Blackberry Dual Use Device

User must carry device

Spotty Coverage

SATCOM Weather can be a

factor

With Footprint

Least Issues Most Issues

Redundant Exchange Wireless LinksTransportation

44© 2009 Sterling S. Rooke

Redundant Exchange Wireless LinksConstruction / Job Site

4545© 2009 Sterling S. Rooke

Redundant Exchange Wireless Links

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Construction, Industrial,

Mining

Long Haul Transportation

Short Haul Transpiration Farming

© 2009 Sterling S. Rooke

MODSIM

© 2009 Sterling S. Rooke 47

Modeling and Simulation

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• Utilize MATLAB• Introduce a notion of traffic, delivery density

and starting point• Consider wireless link budget and

performance• Actually simulate the passing of “Sandbox”

data• Consider distribution and location of

Government supported wireless internet access points.

• SCALABILITY? © 2009 Sterling S. Rooke

Data Needed for Model

© 2009 Sterling S. Rooke 49

• Wireless Link Budget

• Packet vs. Payload metrics

• Burden of encryption and security on throughput

• Amount of Hydrocarbons used by various vehicles

YX

Visit Density

Traffic Density

Modeling and SimulationInternet-linked Wireless APs

50© 2009 Sterling S. Rooke

Analysis of Outputs

© 2009 Sterling S. Rooke 51

Delivery Bias

Traffic Density

Signal Attenuation

Location of

Trading APs

Increasing

What will the model tell us?

• Average emission time-to-register with emissions trading authority

• Relationship between participating vehicles, land area and DOT-EPA approved “internet access points”

• How do “slow traffic” areas affect this?• What about urban areas with more delivery

points or heavy traffic?• Are Redundant Exchange Wireless Links feasible?

52© 2009 Sterling S. Rooke

Introduction of RF into the Model

53© 2009 Sterling S. Rooke

How much data can we Tx/Rx?Two trucks closing at highway speeds

• 65MPH is about 29 Meters/sec• I will assume a maximum range of 1Km at highway

speeds per ASTM E2213-03 (IEEE 802.11p) at 5.9GHz• If we assume a broadside omni directional antenna

and equal Tx and Rx gain than the data exchange time will simply be 34 seconds(1000 meters) / (29 meters/sec) = 34 seconds

• My industry and protocol survey will reveal other factors such as: discovery/hand-shake time, security and packet overhead

• 34 seconds is a lot of time!54© 2009 Sterling S. Rooke

RF Assumptions

• I will not include the effects of multi-path• I will include a notional affect of urban

attenuation and loss.• I hope to include atmospheric attenuation in

my model• Select a reasonable data Tx / Rx rate based on

a COTS survey• Assume Separate Tx and Rx channels

55© 2009 Sterling S. Rooke

Consideration of Link Budget

• We must make some link budget assumptions– RF Power coupled to antenna– Antenna type

• Actual Tx RF power (consideration of gain)• Rx antenna gain

– Beam shape

– Acceptable BER for a selected protocol

56© 2009 Sterling S. Rooke