Real-time video for distributed control systems

Automation based on distributed control systems (DCS) technology enormously increases the plant supervision capability of a single human. For example, DCSs over broadband networking makes possible the integration and operatio n of a country-wide electricity generation and distribution system. Out-of- plant supervision is, however, more risky due to the impossibility of direc t plant observation and exclusive reliance on digital data systems for deci sion making. This paper describes a distributed system based on CORBA techn ology to provide real-time visual feedback to operators of such a large sup ervision system. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.