The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) had a bold initiative to replace a failing, antiquated application and hardware Emergency Response Data System (ERDS). The integration of the OSIsoft PI data historian, ProcessBook, and PI WebParts systems met several challenges in providing a user-friendly front-end interface for multiple user types; and a secure, redundant, and stable back-end server system.
Microsoft Active Directory Rights Management, SharePoint (MOSS 2007) folder permissions and automatic document protection, and PI database configuration grant users access only to data that they are allowed to view. The user is provided with the same look and feel in both the ProcessBook application and through the ERDS Portal.
The PI System was customized to meet the high security demands and standardization for systems of the U.S. NRC including adhering to NIST and DISA security guidelines. This had to be accomplished while providing an expeditious implementation without affecting the nuclear plant licensees during the transition to the new production system. The project involved writing multiple scenario tests to validate the move from the legacy system to the new production system, and the move from modem communication to a VPN infrastructure.
The customizations were developed using .NET and ProcessBook, PI WebParts, PI Module Database configuration, and PI Point Database configuration. Multistate items were created to support the application both in ProcessBook and with SharePoint using PI WebParts.
The authors will share tips for creating PI Graphics (SVG files) for display on the SharePoint Portal. They will also touch on the challenges the U.S. NRC faced trying to meet more than 60 different remote facilities sending data to the PI system, and the development of the OSIsoft Interface to handle the requests.
Speaker
Patrick Murphy
Patrick Murphy is a Principle Analyst at the Project Performance Corporation. He is an application developer and systems analyst with over 25 years experience in the full software development life cycle. He specializes in Visual Basic Applications (including .NET) having used Visual Basic since version 2.0. He is also experienced in C#. Mr. Murphy has developed applications that are in use for the United States Department of Energy (DOE) as well as the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). He is also a former NRC Licensed Nuclear Power Plant Reactor Operator. He spent 8 years testing the simulator fidelity at a commercial nuclear power plant. This experience proved invaluable in the implementation of the new NRC's system testing and acceptance.
Speaker
Steve Sage
Steve Sage is a Senior Systems Analyst with Project performance Corporation and has over 20 years of IT experience, project management and network infrastructure. Mr. Sage serves various roles for PPC on multiple IT projects and has past experience within the federal government as well as the private sector. He has managed, coordinated and supported activities ranging from large-scale Program Management Office operations to full life-cycle system development projects. His responsibilities include system design and integration for the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and his assignments previously included the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Patent and Trademark Office (PTO), District of Columbia Department of Mental Health (DCDMH), 3M, United States Postal Service (USPS) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). He holds Microsoft and ITIL certifications.