Despite much of the argument that has persisted through the years, distributed control systems (DCSs) and programmable logic controllers (PLCs) are not mutually exclusive technologies. When the end-use application serves as the basis for making a sound decision, the selection process becomes more efficient, and a more effective outcome results. This white paper provides general…
DetailsWe are putting the finishing touches on a white paper that addresses the question of control system platform selection, PLC vs. DCS. It will provide an in-depth discussion of this subject and will hopefully clear up many misconceptions and provide some meaningful guidance on a question that many end users are faced with. As a…
DetailsUsing wireless systems for system control makes a lot of sense. Wireless systems allow customers to maintain and watch remote sites easily and cheaply. It alerts the owners of problems or failures immediately when they occur. The wireless option allows an entire system to be seen in one place even if the system is spread…
DetailsTBM cutting head face. Photo courtesy of Port of Miami Tunnel[/caption] Engineering News Record, the premier magazine serving the construction industry, made the Port of Miami Tunnel Project the cover story for its April 8, 2013 issue. This project, begun in 2010 and scheduled for completion in 2014, involves boring two 42.3-ft tunnels 4,200 feet long to…
DetailsOne interesting project our Industrial group has been working on recently is the control panels for a company that does lighting for recreational parks. Though this project may initially sound like an average lighting controls project, it actually has some unique features that make it more impressive than typical lighting jobs This particular project is specifically…
DetailsThere are few industrial hazards as scary as arc flash, the release of energy caused by an electrical arc. It results from electric current passing through air as the result of a failure or an accidental connection between voltage sources. It can cause severe injury or death. More and more businesses are becoming aware of the…
DetailsWe typically think of water and electricity as elements that don’t play well together. But in the real world of wastewater treatment, there is a significant intersection of water and energy, called the “water energy nexus.” It is this relationship that is described in an article written for WWEMA (Water & Wastewater Equipment Manufacturers Association)…
DetailsPhoto courtesy of Port of Miami Tunnel The $1 billion dollar tunnel project to provide direct access between the Port of Miami and I-395 and I-95 reached a major milestone as the TBM (tunnel boring machine) broke through a stone slab on Dodge Island, completing the first of two tunnels under Biscayne Bay. The project…
DetailsPhoto by MWH Constructors and McGraw-Hill Companies The July 30, 2012 issue of Engineering News Record contained an article about Arizona’s Pima County’s two wastewater projects aimed at improving levels of nitrogen in their effluent. On one of the two projects, Ina Road, Revere is the control system integrator. The article discusses several aspects of the project,…
DetailsTwo recent examples within our OEM group have demonstrated the immense value of Automation Alliance Group membership to us and our customers. In one case, our OEM customer asked us to provide a quote for project startup costs. The project location would have required two travel days per week for a Revere person, meaning only three days of actual…
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