The normal day-to-day supervision of a plant is performed from the control room via supervisory computer systems which have hard-wired communications links to the physical instrumentation. The physical instrumentation tends to be located at various locations – possibly quite remote from the control room. This creates a conflict brought about by the distance between the two interfaces.

There is recognition that a number of wireless technologies now exist which it may be possible to utilise to provide a limited subset of control room facilities via a portable interface. This project would involve an investigation into the mechanisms & technologies that could be employed to achieve this.

Any solution would have to encompass the requirements of security & safety.