AWWA IMTECH54039

As information systems evolve, the focus of information technology is shiftingfrom having single function-specific business systems to enterprise-widesolutions. These solutions are not necessarily dependent on a single informationsystem or platform. On the one hand, data availability and information deploymentmethods have reached unsurpassed proportions. On the other hand, utilityinformation technology (IT) managers are faced with the challenge of making dataavailable to internal and external organizations as requested or regulated. Thiscreates a challenge for IT managers to collect and manage enormous amounts ofdata. IT managers face more complicated and bigger challenges if the informationsystems involved are not integrated. Information integration provides utility ITmanagers with the vehicle and tools to collect, manage, and deploy utility data.The value of enterprise applications is the integration they enforce onDepartments' information and processes. A utility's stored data will retain itsvalue well into the future. While technology changes and information systems willevolve, data will remain vital and become a long-term asset. The City of SanDiego, California, believes that in order to fully realize its data's value,systems must be integrated. The City of San Diego embarked upon a SupervisoryControl and Data Acquisition (SCADA) master station replacement project in 1996.The new SCADA master station, the BEACH project, was successfully installed in1999. The previous SCADA system reported operational data to City staff throughpaper and electronic reports. Water Department data managers, however, expressedinterest in obtaining online SCADA operational data to use in various systemfunctions. Therefore, the City of San Diego initiated the BEACH for SCADAproject. Includes figures.