Trend analysis and reporting in SCADA systems - Practice Problems & Coding Challenges

Challenge - 5 Problems

💻 Command Output

intermediate

Identify the output of a trend data query command

You run the command to fetch temperature trends for the last hour in a SCADA system:

scada-cli get-trend --tag temperature --duration 1h --format json

What is the expected output format?

SCADA systems

scada-cli get-trend --tag temperature --duration 1h --format json

A Error: Unknown command 'get-trend'

B temperature=22.5;22.7;22.9

C [{"timestamp": "2024-06-01T10:00:00Z", "value": 22.5}, {"timestamp": "2024-06-01T10:05:00Z", "value": 22.7}]

D <trend><point time="10:00">22.5</point></trend>

💡 Hint

The command requests JSON format output for trend data.

The command uses --format json, so the output is a JSON array of timestamped values.

🧠 Conceptual

intermediate

Understanding trend data aggregation intervals

In SCADA trend reporting, what does setting an aggregation interval to 15 minutes mean?

A The system collects data only once every 15 minutes.

B Data points are averaged or summarized every 15 minutes before reporting.

C The trend report shows exactly 15 data points regardless of duration.

D Data older than 15 minutes is automatically deleted.

💡 Hint

Aggregation means combining data over time periods.

Aggregation interval defines how raw data is grouped and summarized for reports.

🔀 Workflow

advanced

Order the steps to configure a new trend report in a SCADA system

Arrange these steps in the correct order to create a new trend report for pressure data:

A 3,1,2,4

B 2,1,3,4

C 1,3,2,4

D 1,2,3,4

💡 Hint

Start by selecting the data, then set time and aggregation before saving.

First select the tag, then time range, then aggregation, finally save and generate.

❓ Troubleshoot

advanced

Diagnose why a trend report shows no data

A trend report for flow rate shows no data for the last 24 hours. Which is the most likely cause?

A The flow rate tag is not configured to record historical data.

B The aggregation interval is set too low (e.g., 1 second).

C The report time range is set to future dates.

D The SCADA system is offline but still shows old data.

💡 Hint

Check if data is being recorded before reporting.

If the tag does not record history, no trend data will be available.

✅ Best Practice

expert

Choose the best practice for trend data retention policy

What is the best practice for setting a trend data retention policy in a SCADA system?

A Keep detailed raw data for a short period and aggregated summaries for longer periods.

B Store all raw data indefinitely without aggregation.

C Delete all trend data after 7 days to save storage.

D Only keep aggregated data and discard raw data immediately.

💡 Hint

Balance storage use and data detail over time.

Keeping raw data short-term and summaries long-term balances detail and storage.