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SMEC provides comprehensive consulting
and project management services nationally and
internationally to meet customers’ specific
control, communications and information
processing needs. These services include
business-case definitions, feasibility studies,
cost-benefit analyses, system planning, design,
specification, tendering, and project management.
In the past, upgrades to an
organisation’s control, communications and
information systems were often specified in terms
of the technical features required or type of
technology to be used. Often the end benefits, in
terms of improved business performance or
service delivery, were not
fully considered or were poorly articulated.
Today, organisations are
seeking to improve operational efficiency, market
competitiveness, customer service
and maintenance of emergency services by the appropriate
application of control, communications and
information systems. This requires a new
approach, with solutions not driven by technical
preference but by market demand and business
opportunity and operational protocols.
The methodologies used by SMEC
ensure that organisational, operational and business needs
form the key imperatives of the solutions
developed, thereby maximising long term
commercial benefits to customers. Typical
customer benefits include:
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Reduced capital expenditure - control
networks can be operated with confidence
at lower levels of contingency,
offsetting or deferring expensive capital
works. |
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| Reduced operating costs and improved
reliability - operational staffing
levels can be reduced without any loss of
plant and system security. |
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| Better customer service - real time
information on asset status means faults
can be quickly identified and restorative
action taken to minimise service
disruptions. |
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| More cost effective maintenance -
accurate records of asset locations,
service history and frequency of
use/loading, allows recommended
maintenance schedules to be properly
applied. |
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| Improved job control - job tasks and
assignments can be accessed at remote
terminals, or by service personnel from
their vehicles. |
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Increased operator confidence in
communications and data acquisition networks during
routine and emergency operations. |
SCOPE OF SERVICES
- Project planning
- Project implementation
- Organisational support
- Information technology
- SCADA and EMS systems
- Instrumentation and control systems
- Communications networks
- Control and communications infrastructure
SMEC’s capability in communications and control has been developed and
refined through more than 25 years of continuous provision of consulting,
training and institutional strengthening services, and covers all system
hardware, software and infrastructure required to effectively manage the
delivery of total information solutions to customers in the electricity, water,
marine, aviation, oil and gas, and industrial sectors.
SMEC’s thorough understanding of customers’ business needs and operational
environment ensures that solutions developed are appropriate for their intended
application.
The control and communication services offered by SMEC are extensive and
include:
Project Planning
- user-driven requirements surveys
- technical investigations and reports
- feasibility studies and cost-benefit
economic analyses
- business-case definition.
Project implementation
- concept design strategies
- design, specification and tender
documentation
- tender evaluation, contract
administration and design compliance
review
- factory inspection and acceptance testing
- supervision of installation, site testing
and commissioning
- project management and configuration
control
- quality assurance and handover certification
- monitoring of defects liability period.
Organisational support
- industry technical development strategies
- operational planning, including the
preparation of operations and maintenance
manuals
- asset assessment and facilities
management
- maintenance planning and management
- training and technology transfer
- organisational restructuring for
deregulated environments
- specification and implementation of
management information systems.
Information technology
- integration of operational control and
management information systems through
the application of open systems
interconnection standards
- power distribution management systems
(DMS), including transformer management,
ripple control systems, demand side
management, customer response systems,
load scheduling, and maintenance
scheduling
- software configuration management
- metering and customer information systems
- advanced distributed database management
systems.
SCADA and EMS systems
- supervisory control and data acquisition
(SCADA) systems for power, water, oil and
gas, and transport industries
- energy management systems (EMS) for power
generation and transmission, covering
state estimation, economic load despatch,
network stability management, transaction
management and interconnected power pool
operation
- integrated transmission system protection
schemes
- hydromet telemetry and control systems
for water management or flood
forecast/warning
- control centre planning and
infrastructure design.
Instrumentation and
control systems
- thermal power station instrumentation and
control systems, including unit and plant
control computers
- hydroelectric power station automation
and plant control
- oil and gas pipeline instrumentation and
control systems
- distributed control systems (DCS) and
programmable logic controllers (PLCs) for
plant automation
- operator training simulators.
Communications
- frequency planning, interference studies,
radio path selection and survey, and
network planning (including trunk and
channel multiplex configuration)
- voice/data local and wide area networks
(analogue, digital and cellular)
- mobile and fixed radio systems
(HF/VHF/UHF)
- mobile trunked radio
- microwave and satellite radio systems
- power line carrier systems (analogue and digital)
- optical fibre based transmission and signaling systems
- repeater station design and
infrastructure
- EPAX digital telephone exchanges and
networked telephone switches
- navigational aids
- AM and FM broadcast systems.
Control and
communications infrastructure
- towers, masts and associated infrastructure
- control buildings, repeater station
buildings and associated civil works
- antenna systems and radio RF cables
- earthing systems and lightning protection
- power supply and reticulation, including:
- switchboards and distribution
boards
- motor control centres
- power conditioning facilities
- battery chargers and batteries
- solar panel ‘green’
energy
- UPS ‘no-break’ backup
power systems
- diesel generator set
standby power
- cabling
- fire detection, security and alarm systems
- control centre and equipment room
facilitation (ergonomics, lighting and
climate control systems)
- heating, ventilation and air conditioning
systems
- service facilities.
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