HT3 SCADA Software

The HT3 SCADA Software, like its predecessor HyperTAC II, combines graphics and data with the power of the Internet. HT3 was developed specifically for use in the water and wastewater industry and benefits from Data Flow Systems' many years of in-the-field experience. Its features are driven by the needs of its users. Over the last two decades, DFS software engineers have learned from the successes and limitations of DFS' previous telemetry software, TAC II and HyperTAC II. The result is a state-of-the-art Graphical User Interface (GUI).

Although the Graphical User Interface is the feature that impresses users the most, it's the reporting and alarm notification capabilities of the system that are important in day-to-day operations. Here again, over two decades of experience have matured these features into the essential tools of the system's operator.

HT3 was designed to work with DFS hardware as well as hardware manufactured by others. This flexibility enables HT3 to operate in an array of water and wastewater environments. For example, HT3 has been successfully used for elevated storage tank automation, reclaimed water irrigation systems, and in-plant process and control applications at water and wastewater treatment plants.

Architecture

HT3 is a network-based telemetry system with a platform-independent graphical user interface. The user interface is accessed via a Java-Enabled Internet browser over a local TCP/IP network or via PPP dial-up connection. The graphical interface makes navigating through HT3 intuitive and follows the familiar look and feel of a typical website.

Behind the scenes we've moved to a new operating system. This up-to-date version of Linux provides HT3 with enhanced security that is especially valuable to customers who choose to access their system through the Internet.

As with previous versions of DFS's SCADA software, HT3's architecture is open and modular to make it easier for DFS to change and extend the system. This fact makes it possible for consulting engineers and users to customize HT3 to an extent greater than most other telemetry software packages available.

HT3's interface is implemented through HTML, Java, JavaScript and PHP. These languages are familiar to many engineers as well as end users familiar with the Internet. The use of these web technologies allows the interface to be changed with hyperlinks to other sites on the HT3 server, an intranet server, or to the Internet.

HT3 Mobile

New in HT3 is HT3 Mobile. HT3 Mobile is a streamlined version of HT3 optimized for today's smart phones. In HT3 Mobile, users will find all the essential tools needed for working in the field. The features provided in HT3 Mobile are:

• Alarms
• Screen
• Reports
• Trends
• Station Status
• Help
• Options

HT3 Mobile is an optional upgrade to HT3. Contact us for more information.

Download HT3 Mobile Features and Specifications

Symphony

In HT3, Data Flow Systems has introduced Symphony™ Harmonious Pump and Flow Management, a patent-pending technology, to their selection of SCADA features. Symphony™ uses SCADA to coordinate the activities of wastewater pump stations operating on a common force main. Symphony™ replaces pump stations' random controls with an elegant synchronization scheme that prevents pump stations from working against each other.

Symphony is an optional upgrade to HT3. Contact us for more information

Customizable

Virtually every facet of HT3 is customizable.

Custom graphical screens are the most obvious use of customization. An engineer or trained user can create custom screens to show telemetry data in any way imaginable.

Reports, trends and alarms are also highly customizable.

• Reports have user assigned keywords that link groups of telemetry points to one or several canned report types.
• Trends for any telemetry point in your system can be viewed singly or combined with other points. To help you analyze your data, trends can be zoomed in to display a time span of one (1) minute and zoomed out to show a span of 30 days. You can also pan backward and forward in time.
• Alarms have a user interface and individual alarms can be delayed or snoozed. Delaying an alarm can eliminate nuisance alarms and snoozing an alarm can allow time for the operator to correct the cause of the alarm without simply ignoring the problem.
• Controls can be automatic (perform a certain function when a specific event occurs) or scheduled (automatically occur on certain scheduled days and/or times).
• The "Virtual Point" is a tool in HT3 for formatting telemetry data for display on custom screens and for performing system-level logic. With HT3's graphical interface for virtual points, engineers have familiar ladder logic symbols to program virtual points.

All of this customizability means one thing: if the customer knows what he wants, HT3 can provide it.

System Features

Viewers

There are several status viewers packaged in HT3. These viewers enable you to instantly see what's going on in your system.

• Select text-based or graphical viewers. Or, view custom screens that you've created with Screen Builder.
• Create and view historical data trends. Save parameters for trends that you want to run on a regular basis.
• View and acknowledge alarms.
• View video from surveillance cameras that are installed on your network.

Reports

HT3 provides you with a variety of reports that allow you to monitor the activity and performance of your telemetry equipment. The reports gather and filter information, based on parameters you provide, and present the data in a meaningful and useful form.

System Configuration

HT3 provides a user-friendly method for configuring your system.

• Configure drivers, stations, modules, and points.
• Partition your system to reflect your operation's setup. For example, fresh water and wastewater.
• Set up alarms that will alert you to conditions that require attention.
• Configure auto controls and scheduled controls that can help you further automate your system.
• Create keywords to simplify the reporting process.
• Set up user accounts.
• Create telephone callout lists for critical alarms.
• Record voice messages to be used for alarm call out as well as local alarm announcements.
• Add feeds from surveilance cameras that monitor critical areas of your facility.

Auto and Scheduled Controls

Auto Controls

Auto Controls automate and facilitate the controlling of hardware in the field. Configuring an auto control instructs the system to perform a certain function when a specific event occurs. For example, when a well reaches a specified high level, a pump will be turned on to reduce the water level. This occurs automatically; the point doesn't need to be manually monitored. Each status point in your system can be used as the source of up to 64 auto controls.

Scheduled Controls

Scheduled Controls are used when you want an event to automatically occur on certain scheduled days and/or times, for example, a sprinkler system that turns on at 5:00 AM and turns off at 7:00 AM every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. You can configure a digital point to come on at a specific time and go off at a specific time. An analog point can be configured to reach a desired engineering value on certain days and/or times.

Ladder Logic

HT3's Logic Builder is a user-friendly application for constructing "ladder logic"-style programs that run on the HT3 central computer. Ladder logic is a graphical (symbols and text) language that is used to plan, maintain and control industrial systems. Each rung of the ladder is used to control a single output.

Modbus Emulation

Modbus emulation enables the Hyper SCADA Server (HSS) to respond as a Modbus TCP client by allowing DFS-type points to be queried as registers via the Modbus TCP protocol.

To accomplish this, the system assigns selected DFS points to available registers in the correct range for their I/O type.

This process creates a Modbus emulation map of DFS points and their assigned registers. HT3 uses this point-to-register map when it receives a Modbus TCP query. When the HT3 system receives such a query, it scans the Modbus emulation map to locate the register and its corresponding DFS-type point.

Nothing other than the Modbus emulation map is required to use this feature. As long as something has been mapped in the Modbus emulation map, the HSS will respond as a Modbus TCP slave on its IP address.

External Status Points

HT3 has built-in external status points that monitor the health of the system, including the HSU's AC power, voltage of the backup battery, and the occurrence of daily data and configuration backups. Many of these points are included in the System Statistics screen included with HT3.

Additionally, HT3 incorporates an SQL database backend that enables it to import status from third party software via an ODBC connection. With this feature, another piece of software can collect telemetry data and provide the status to HT3 via the rt_xstatus table.

Once external status has been collected, the data can be used in custom screens and virtual logic the same way local physical I/O points are used. All external status points can be configured to issue alarms. These alarms can be used in alarm reports and will appear in alarm logs. Because external points themselves are not logged, they cannot be used trends.

System Tools

HT3 features numerous tools for configuring, monitoring and controling your system.

System Building Tools

HT3's Building Tools enable you to:

Create visual, or graphical, representations of your telemetry system. (Screen Builder)

Remotely configure and update hardware set points. (PCU Editor and PLC Editor)

Develop ladder logic programs that use virtual I/O to monitor and control your system. (Virtual Logic Builder)

Screen Builder

Create a graphical representation of your telemetry system. By building a screen – using text, images, objects, and animation – and then linking the screen's components to actual telemetry points, you can get a quick, real-time view of your operation.

PCU Editor

Modify the operational set points of the Pump Control Unit (PCU), a microprocessor-based, solid-state, multi-pump controller, from the central computer or a networked workstation. The PCU provides all the functions necessary to monitor and control sewage lift stations and fresh-water tank filling operations.

PLC Editor

Transfer set point values to and from the non-volatile memory locations of a Programmable Logic Controller's (PLC) non-volatile memory locations. The PLC is a microprocessor-controlled module that is designed for implementing logical control at the remote terminal unit (RTU). PLC Editor uses telemetry to send and receive set point values to and from the specified PLC hardware, which allows the PLC to be updated remotely.

Virtual Logic Builder

Virtual Logic Builder is a user-friendly application that enables you to construct "ladder logic"-style programs that run on the Hyper SCADA Server. Ladder logic is a graphical (symbols and text) language that is used to plan, maintain and control industrial systems. Each rung of the "ladder" is used to control a single output.

System Troubleshooting and Maintenance Tools

HT3 includes tools to aid you in troubleshooting and maintaining your system. Although these tools are most effective in the hands of experienced DFS service technicians, system administrators and end users can benefit from their proper use.

HT3's troubleshooting and maintenance tools include.

Telemetry Traffic Tool

The Telemetry Traffic Tool is an applet that enables you to monitor radio and network communications between your radio- and network-telemetry drivers, and the field hardware. You can also control the value of digital and analog points, set polling priority, and create a communications log. The Inject feature allows DFS Technicians to troubleshoot communication and other system errors from a remote location.

Server Control Center

The Server Control Center allows users with "Shutdown System" permission to stop and start telemetry, reboot the Hyper Server Module (HSM), test the Hyper SCADA Server's (HSS) battery power, and reset hardware in the HSS. These actions are necessary, for example, when hardware or software changes are made or, possibly, when troubleshooting the system. Special care and consideration should be taken when initiating these commands. Server actions should only be initiated when absolutely necessary. When telemetry is stopped, or shutdown, no polling takes place, no alarms are announced, and there is no access to data.

File Upload Utility

HT3's easy-to-use file upload utility allows you to browse your Windows workstation or network, and upload one of the following file types to your Hyper Server Module: Custom screen image, HT3 update, HTML image, Custom HTML file.

File Download (and Delete) Utility

HT3's easy-to-use file download utility allows you to download the following files from the Hyper Server Module (HSM) to your local Windows workstation: report .csv files, report .txt files, driver log files. You can also use this utility to delete files (.csv and .txt report files) from the server.

Module Patching Utility

This utility allows you to update the firmware (ROM-based software that controls a device) on all of your remote modules from any computer that has been configured as an HT3 client. There is no need to visit the site to update the module's firmware.

Documentation

HT3 includes a comprehensive HTML-based online User Guide and a PDF "book-style" version. Both can be viewed from the Literature page of this web site.