Visual, real-time monitoring system for remote operation of electrical substations

CTEEP - Transmissao Paulista actually operates 105 substations geographically distributed across Sao Paulo State. These substations are remotely operated by two Operating Centers - Transmission Operating Center (COT Centro de Operacao da Transmissao), Bom Jardim SP, and Back-end Operating Center (COR - Centro de Operacao Retaguarda), Cabreiiva SP. Through the years, CTEEP has been deploying its high reliability and throughput WAN/LAN to connect all of its key facilities. Based on such corporate network infrastructure, it was possible to provide remote operations with a visual, real time monitoring system. Its structure comprises cameras installed in substation strategic spots, local digital image recorder and devices to convert and regulate video streams and control cameras, and Ethernet network interfaces. The system allows visual checking of operating handling, physical status of substation yard, and perimeter integrity thus addressing many corporative areas' needs. Since there is a high reliability, high throughput corporative network infrastructure available to connect main facilities, it enable us to provide remote substation operations with support of a visual, real time monitoring system, which comprises camera movement control, tamper-proof recording, image transmission and viewing, both locally and remotely. SIM - Sistema Integrado de Monitoramento (Integrated Monitoring System) is a joint project among CTEEP's Enterprise Security, Information Technology, and Maintenance and Operations organizations. It aims to deploy a visual monitoring system for electrical substations providing camera movement control, tamper-proof recording, image transmission and viewing, both locally and remotely using existent corporative network ("browser-based"). It allows electrical system operations and enterprise security organizations to monitor substations and other CTEEP facilities through images transmitted via data channels (corporative network), which are enabled by heterogeneous technologies and throughput, from frame relay (64Kbs to 512Kbps) to fiber optic/digital radio links (2Mbps). By promoting integration of video, audio, and text information, and by associating it to company existing databases, SIM also meets CTEEP's strategic goals related to information system integration (technological convergence). In addition to align strategic information integration goals, SIM deployment will provide CTEEP Electrical Transmission System operators with environmental viewing of facilities in a real-time, strategic way, enabling an improvement of operating processes. SIM usage means lower costs related to staff displacement to remotely assisted substations, either for equipment handling checking, equipment current status checking or substation areas physical integrity checking. All of these intended to optimize access to substations risk areas. Also, note that such solution means lower operating and maintenance costs for entire company due to its standardization.