SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) and DCS (Distributed Control System) are industrial control systems that are used to monitor and control industrial processes and infrastructure. This article will show the difference between SCADA and DCS (SCADA vs DCS).
SCADA vs DCS – Difference
The main difference between SCADA and DCS systems is the scale at which they are used and the level of control they provide. SCADA systems are used for large-scale, centralized control of industrial processes, while DCS systems are used for smaller-scale, distributed control of industrial processes.
SCADA systems are typically used to monitor and control large-scale industrial processes, such as those in the water and wastewater, oil and gas, power generation, and transportation industries. SCADA systems use remote sensors and control devices to collect data from various parts of an industrial process and then use that data to control and automate the process.
On the other hand, DCS systems are typically used in smaller-scale industrial processes, such as those in the manufacturing and process industries. DCS systems use distributed control devices, such as programmable logic controllers (PLCs), to control and automate processes at a local level.
