For over 10 years, Network Systems Engineering Corp. (NSEC) has been engaged in assisting its clients with the implementation and use of OSIsoft’s Real-Time Performance Management (RtPM™) Platform.

NSEC has assisted clients with the implementation of PI Servers, including interfaces to data sources such as Remote Terminal Units (RTU), Plant Digital Control Systems (DCS), and Energy Management Systems (EMS). In addition, NSEC has had extensive experience with developing information displays utilizing PI-ProcessBook®, implementing analytical calculations using the PI Advanced Computing Engine (PI ACE™), and developing sophisticated performance reports using DataLink™ and RtReports™.

Not only can NSEC provide services related to the implementation and use of the OSIsoft Platform, but it also has developed some unique applications designed to facilitate and enhance the use and maintainability of OSIsoft’s applications. The following highlights some of these products:

• Virtual-EMS™ – a browser-based system that works with ActiveView™ and allows a user to access real-time and historical displays, as well as On-Demand and Scheduled reports via the Internet.
• Virtual-Reports – a stand-alone application that allows users to run On-Demand reports or access Scheduled reports, which work with DataLink™ or PI ACE™ and are maintained on a remote server, without requiring user connection to the PI Server. Because access to each report can be limited to a list of “authorized users”, access to data can be controlled while restricting access to the PI System™.
• Archive Management Tool (AMT™) – a Server Synchronization Program – allows a PI System™ administrator to automatically re-synchronize primary and backup PI servers. AMT allows a user to specify the PI System with good data, the PI System with a “data gap”, and the approximate time for the missing data. The program then utilizes special PI tags to determine the exact “data gap” and then performs all the tasks necessary to manipulate the data archives and recreate the missing data in the PI System with the data gap.
• ISO Data Link – This application program acquires information from an Independent System Operator (ISO) website and writes it to an OSIsoft™ PI Server or an ODBC database. ISO Data Link utilizes a point-and-click menu to select the ISO data being acquired as well as a tag-search routine to select the PI Tags or ODBC Fields where the data is to be stored. The scan rate at which the data is to be acquired is also configurable, in increments of one minute.
• Use of the Module Database™ – NSEC has extensive experience creating hierarchical data trees that fit specific information needs by implementing the Module Database. The Module Database identifies specific PI tags by referencing actual pieces of equipment and processes across an entire system, plant, or facility.