(116c) Collecting, Organizing, and Presenting Data from Small Scale Systems

Many operations and systems are awash in data.  The challenge faced by scientists, engineers, and executives is to formulate this data into actionable information.  These different stakeholders each have unique information needs and today’s pilot plant engineers need to deploy information tools to meet these needs.  The deployment of a successful data collection system requires a clearly defined set of user requirements followed by a solid automation plan.  Critical parameters, correlations, and key performance indicators need to be defined upfront.  Following these guidelines development teams can quickly and cost effectively turn seas of data into useful information that enables them to move the pilot plant effort forward.