Understanding the Basics

Owned by Paul Ogle (Unlicensed)
Last updated: Nov 28, 2017 by Charles Patton Jr (Unlicensed)Version comment
3 min read

Hosting Platforms

JACE®

JACE controllers are embedded computers running the Niagara Framework® software. JACEs are distributed throughout the customer’s network and they provide connectivity to the many different physical devices and systems within a building. JACEs connect to common building automation systems, metering, lighting and other smart devices using protocols such as LonWorks, BACnet, Modbus, or various proprietary protocols. The JACE provides control logic, trending, scheduling and alarming and allows real-time point data to be brought into Periscope.

Web Supervisor™

The Web Supervisor is a desktop server or PC running the Niagara Framework. The Supervisor is designed to manage a network of JACEs or to monitor points from third party servers. It reduces the costs of managing and controlling multiple buildings and allows centralized engineering, alarming, scheduling and trending of remote equipment. The Web Supervisor supports multiple client workstations, and has an extensive security/password model to protect user information. A Web Supervisor is often the best location for Periscope software because historical data trends from networks of JACEs and points from third party servers are generally stored here. Live data points must also be mapped to the Supervisor if displayed in Periscope.

SkySpark®

SkySpark by SkyFoundry is an open platform that will run on almost any computer from a laptop to a cloud hosting provider. SkySpark is an analytics platform that automatically analyzes data from automation systems, meters, sensors, and other smart devices in order to identify issues, faults, trends, correlations, and opportunities for operational improvements and cost reduction.

 

Dashboard Terminology

Views

The core user interface components of Periscope are "views".  Views are chosen from an ever-expanding library and contain things such as a Dashboard View, Alarming View, IFrame View, Map View and more.  Views are unique per user, and each user can add their own views and configure them as they choose.  Views can be assigned to a specific level of the hierarchy, which means that some views appear only at the top-level or perhaps only when viewing sites. Views appear as a vertical list of icons on the left-hand side of Periscope's UI.   

Viewlets

Sometimes referred to as a widget or pod, viewlets are the data windows used to populate a user’s “Dashboard View”, which refers to the Periscope user’s layout of their information. Viewlets can work with live point data and/or historical data, or they may display analytical information such as alarms or analytics results.  Each viewlet has different capabilities and configuration options which are covered later in the documentation.

Dashboard Basics

Setup

The user can modify their dashboard and its viewlets in a variety of ways. Viewlets can be added, moved and resized to fill user's Views with useful information.  The “plus” button allows users to choose to add new viewlets to their dashboard from the viewlet library.  Viewlet configuration options are accessible through a menu (wrench icon) in each viewlet. Site colors will remain consistent across multiple viewlets automatically for ease of identification.

Points

”Points” refer to data within the Niagara network that consists of live, real-time values or setpoints. Viewlets which rely on point data have the ability to update in seconds, and provide immediate indication of a change of status or value. The Point Table Viewlet is an example of a viewlet that uses points.

“Trends” refer to data sets that contain historic information. Trends can consist of data points plotted for time periods reaching as far back as data is available. Certain viewlets rely on trend data to give users a detailed view of energy usage for a user-selected time range. This can be useful in identifying areas of concern or opportunities to reduce energy consumption.