Dashboards
Dashboards are invaluable for presenting multiple displays in a format that the viewer can best appreciate. Even with small systems, the collected data can become overwhelming and a clear view to the intended result is required. Larger systems create more data and more options, so Dashboards can help breakdown the complexity and customise displays for specific users and groups. Collected data can also be linked to external events, allowing a better understanding of usage and the relevance to the surroundings.
Essential to achieving minimum cost and best usage, we provide for multiple dashboards to be created and each customised to suit the purpose and the user. Each Dashboard can be a display of several system events, allowing related causes and effects to be highlighted.
Energy and costs can be displayed in periods/days/weeks etc., split into time zones, say related to opening and closing times. Targets can be set and superimposed on realtime usage, providing immediate feedback and initiating spot checks and reviews. Longer term views, over months to years, can provide the trends to show improvements and when initiatives have taken effect. As these can often be by engaging staff, for example through a saving campaign, then the continuation is reinforced by a suitable display rather than forgotten upon completion, then slipping back into the old routine.
Critical to presenting the right view to an audience is the way multiple Dashboards can be created by the administrator but viewed on different screens simultaneously. Individual physical locations can access previously created Dashboards to be displayed at that location. Changes can be made locally and stored for future access while sharing the data being collected and stored at a central
location. Since the data is shared over the network then each location can be anywhere that can be reached within the network or through the internet. This allows local and corporate access, site wide to international distribution of the data and results.
As Dashboards can be a mix of graphs and text, times and events, dials and targets, it can be kept interesting in a number of ways. Displays can be realtime, moving across the timeband that has been selected. A background image can be selected to make the information relevant or more easily recognisable. Several Dashboards can be sequenced in rotation with a selected time period thus displaying different information.
More engineering or control functions can be displayed to allow events to be tracked and actions taken to avoid costly usage or maintain preset targets. As we move more to a balance of generation from renewable and fossil fuels, our energy costs require users to more closely manage their usage over seasons, weeks and now across the hours of the day. The Dashboard can help display the actual, the target, the availability and the resultant actions of these short-term movements and the benefits in cost savings. With the ability to create calculated or ‘virtual’ meters, the information that is required and relevant to such a control
strategy is immediately available, allowing fine control and shared data across an organisation.
ECO Tools Additional Features
Upon entering the initial page of Eco
Tools, a summary of the selected period,
meters and data is clearly displayed
together with over 8 separate analysis
elements. Data can be displayed as
energy, volume, cost and carbon or it can
be customised to suit. These features
allow the manager and team or tenant to
see an overview of usage or drill down to
identify the exact point of interest.
Energy and cost can be displayed per
meter on a day, week and monthly basis
per half hour (the shortest recording
element of the utilities). Individual targets
can be created (part of the system) and
overlayed to easily identify exceptions.
A complete section allows the user to
analyse the highest, lowest and average
usage for any day, period, month and
season. Further analysis and reports are
available for totals, months, years and
maximum demands.
The data collector can be accessed and
interrogated for usage in realtime. Upto 8
meter profiles can be selected to be
displayed with updates every minute if
directly connected to the meter or as data
is received via a non-direct route e.g. via
radio.