BluePlant: SCADA software enhancing efficiency across key industrial sectors

Our SCADA supervisory software, BluePlant, is a cutting-edge solution for industrial process supervision, control, and data acquisition. Designed with a robust set of features, it supports a wide range of applications — from small human-machine interfaces (HMIs) to full-scale industrial plant management. Built on modern .NET technology, BluePlant stands out for its flexibility, scalability, and security, making it the ideal choice for industries that require strict control and high operational efficiency. 

Its applications span various sectors, including building automation, automotive, food and pharmaceutical industries, agribusiness, water and wastewater management, sugar and ethanol production, steelmaking, mining, and other key segments within Industry 4.0. 

In this article, we’ll explore some of the key features that position BluePlant as a state-of-the-art solution for industrial process supervision, control, and data acquisition. 

Real-time database 

BluePlant features a real-time database that streamlines information synchronization across processes, servers, and multiple client stations—without the need for additional programming. It supports various tag types, including digital, integer analog, double analog, decimal analog, text, timer, counter, and date/time variables. This functionality enhances data management speed and ensures reliable communication between industrial systems. 

See more details about the tag types available in BluePlant below: 

• Embedded data table tags: the real-time database in BluePlant supports embedded data table tags, enabling dynamic access to stored datasets within the standard .NET data table object. This allows for efficient queries and structured real-time data handling. 
  
  
• Reference tags: reference tags allow runtime switching of tag links, ensuring greater system adaptability to operational changes or integration needs. 
  
  
• Array tags: depending on the product version, users can define one- to three-dimensional structures, improving data organization and optimization for applications requiring structured storage and multi-value access. 
  
  
• User-defined types and structures: BluePlant allows users to create custom types and structures in real time, offering flexibility to tailor the database to specific industrial processes and user needs. 
  
  
• Advanced tag properties: a comprehensive set of tag properties is available in runtime configuration, allowing detailed adjustments to optimize performance and customize operations. 

Integration with .NET languages and scripting

BluePlant is fully compatible with the Microsoft .NET Framework, allowing users to write scripts in C# or VB.NET for enhanced customization and process automation within the platform. An integrated language converter enables dynamic switching between programming languages, making it easier to adapt code as project requirements evolve. 

See more details about the key programming features available in BluePlant below: 

• VB.NET functions and procedures: BluePlant allows direct access to platform objects through VB.NET functions and procedures, making it easier to customize and automate processes. 
  
  
• Event-driven scripting: the system enables dynamic execution of scripts linked to process events, ensuring seamless connectivity between tags and system events. 
  
  
• Script debugging: scripts come with debugging support, allowing users to insert breakpoints for detailed code analysis during execution. This feature simplifies error identification and correction. 
  
  
• Class library support: users can create custom classes, which can be accessed by other scripts and interface screens, enabling a modular code structure. 
  
  
• Integrated .NET editor with IntelliSense: the built-in .NET editor includes IntelliSense, assisting with tag name and object property selection, making coding more intuitive. 
  
  
• Exception handling and trace messages: BluePlant offers full .NET Framework support, enabling integration with external components and services, ensuring robust exception handling and detailed trace messages. 
  
  

Alarms and Security

Security and alarm management are key highlights of BluePlant. The system supports multiple alert levels (Hi, HiHi, Lo, LoLo), ensuring a quick response to critical events. It also provides event tracking with millisecond timestamping and redundant application support for enhanced reliability. 

See more details about BluePlant’s advanced security features below: 

• High-resolution timestamping: BluePlant operates with millisecond-level timestamps (when available) and utilizes remote I/O system time, ensuring precise data synchronization, regardless of the local computer’s time settings. 
  
  
• Integrated visualization objects: the system supports real-time and historical graphics, accessible both locally and via the Web, offering flexible access to critical information. 

• Alarm groups and object items: users can directly access alarm properties within the system, eliminating the need to manually create additional tags, streamlining alarm management. 

Historians and trend analysis