World's Largest Visualization Analytics Display

An anonymous reader writes "An 80-foot wide visualization screen at California ISO graphically displays sensor readings from thousands of smart meters as well as provides predictive analytics. By analyzing the grid and environmental inputs like where the wild fires are burning, Space-Time Insights claims its algorithms head off power outages before they can materialize, turning California ISO operators into forecasters instead of damage controllers. If it keeps the lights on and the air conditioners running, I'm all for it!"

Comments

Re:Very nice but

[MrOctogon]

Exactly. I can concede that yes, they do run some cool analytics that help them predict things and do their jobs. Does the giant screen help analyze data? No. Visualization is a result of data analysis, not a tool for it. Whats the story here?

Re:No budget for pictures?

[machine321]

Try this instead. Probably not hi-def, but at least larger photos. And a photo of the visualization they're talking about.

Re:world's largest collection of buzzwords

[Bob the Super Hamste]

As I work in this industry, let me explain. An ISO is an independent system operator. Typically they manage the long haul high voltage transmission lines going between local power providers. Their main function is to move power from where it is generated to where it is needed at the lowest cost. They run a market system where they predict the demand and then accept bids from generators. Once bids have been accepted then they have to solve the distribution problem to actually move the power to the final destinations. Now depending on the ISO they may have some additional control over the individual local power companies such as being able to control generating capacity, but not ISOs have this ability.

Mostly what these people do all day is monitor the grid. In looking at the display it looks like they have the following on the display:

1. 1. An alarm list
2. 2. weather map, or possibly a map board that would show line statuses and where issues are
3. 3. Some system machine statuses (this would be for the machines that are in their data center running the grid)
4. 4. A substation or region network map

Now what individual operators have up on their multitude of screens would be possibly be similar displays but showing information they care about, network model management, transmission network management displays, market system displays, and so on.

Re:Very nice but

[Bob the Super Hamste]

Actually the big board is something that is of use. It provides a nice general overview of the entire system to all of the operators. Individuals with the local displays can pull up further information on the areas that they are concerned with. Also in case of emergency where people need to react quickly to issues the big board already provides the basic information that everyone needs instead of everyone having to go and open the same stupid display. There is a movement towards a single pane of glass in the industry. As far blaming this on NASA or Hollywood, this has been around for a long time in the industry, the first time I went into a control room I was surprised that Hollywood had not lied to me. This control room was initially setup and build close to 20 years ago and they had multiple displays up at the front of the room. Granted it wasn't a single pane of glass, but it has been this way for a long time. Even talking to the old timers I work with who grew up in the power industry they would still have big displays up at the front of the room, now instead of a paper map with light bulbs in it we have a computer rendered map that can be updated and zoomed to show even more detail to everyone in real time.