Visualization
Calgary OSIsoft PI Experts and Calgary OSIsoft AF Experts. Data visualization is one of the chief ways in which value from organizational data is realized. There are a variety of visualization tools available for businesses to use in order to consume their data. Tools can be broadly classified into two groups based on the type of data and purpose.
Real-time data visualization tools, and historical data visualization tools. Real-time data visualization tools are meant to view up-to-date data that is being streamed from data sources within the organization. They educate key operational decisions, and the timeliness of data is a value factor for these tools. Historical data visualization tools often show data over a broader time period, often classified according to several dimensions. The types of visualizations are varied, and the data consumed may have been received via batch or streaming methods initially but then is often refined for presentation. Business intelligence tools also fall into this category. Check out some of the more popular tools below and contact us today to see how we can help you with your needs today. Note that the list below is by no means exhaustive so don't hesitate to contact us even if you don't see your system listed below.
Real-Time Visualization Tools
Below are some of the common real-time visualization tools in use today. The following is not an exhaustive list but contains a list of the most popular visualization packages that we see customers using. Note that the three tools below are enterprise tools that are part of a suite of tools sold by the vendor.
PI Vision
PI Vision is a thin-client visualization tool that delivers data stored in the OSIsoft PI ecosystem. It is sold by OSIsoft (now part of AVEVA). PI Vision is one of the most popular tools in use and is used by most customers of OSIsoft PI. Through extensibility and data references, it can also be configured to show data from other data sources.
Capstone ParcView
ParcView is an advanced data visualization and trending application from Capstone Technology. It is often paired with the DataParc historian, but in general can connect to other data sources as well as long as they support OPC-based access. ParcView has several powerful features for real-time data visualization and statistical analysis.
Canary Axiom
Like PI Vision and ParcView, Axiom is another enterprise application that empowers data visualization for its vendor Canary Labs. Axiom is Canary’s premier visualization and trending tool. As a thin-client, it is used to view trends, compare and view tag data, and view process graphics.
Historical Data Visualization Tools
These tools are used to view historical data within an organization, often empowering analytics involving business intelligence themes such as slicing and dicing of data across different dimensions.
Google Data Studio
Google Data Studio is a free tool for creating interactive and responsive dashboards. It allows connectivity from a number of Google data sources as well as popular on-premises and cloud databases.
SQL Server Reporting Services
Microsoft's SSRS is a server-based report software, which is part of the company's suite of BI tools including SSAS (Analytics Services) and SSIS (Integration Services) . It can be used to prepare and deliver a variety of interactive and printed reports.
Tableau
Tableau is a visual analytics platform that specializes in business intelligence. Tableau can connect to numerous relational databases, online analytical processing cubes, cloud databases, and spreadsheets to generate its data visualizations.
Hybrid Data Visualization Tools
This category of tools can show both real-time and historical data.
Microsoft Power BI
Power BI is one of the most popular visualization tools today. It supports numerous data sources and visualization types. Through its streaming data tiles and push APIs, Power BI can also show streaming data.
Grafana
Grafana is one of the most popular open-source packages today and allows data visualization of both real-time and historical data from a number of data sources. Grafana is available as both a fully open-source solution or a SaaS application.
Tibco Spotfire
Spotfire is Tibco's visualization tool, and it contains a number of powerful visualization features for both real-time and historical data. This is available in both on-premises and cloud / SaaS flavours.
How Can We Help?
Here are some ways in which we can help. This is not an exhaustive list - contact us today to discuss your needs to see how we can help!
System Upgrades
We can help with enterprise-wide system updates, including hardware and software upgrades and in-place updates. We also help with training to educate your users about recent system features.
Implementation
This includes the initial design and implementation of the system. Additionally, we can build out reports and graphics for your organization.
Graphics Conversion
We will help you convert your graphics from one platform or toolset to another. This is required for customers who wish to change their software or if there are breaking changes between versions of the same software.
Custom Widget Development
We can help build custom widgets and components to extend your visualization tool capabilities. To name a few examples, we can build custom PI Vision symbols, custom Power BI visuals, custom SSRS components and Grafana plugins as well to help extend the functionality of existing toolsets.
Managed Support
We provide managed support and staff augmentation services for your historian system. We provide flexible support packages including business hours support, 24x7 support, or weekend support. We have a large pool of skilled resources who can help support your systems.
Optimization
We can help optimize your content in both performance and maintenance by adopting best practices, leveraging advanced software features, and simplifying data ingestion patterns. We can also help implement visual standards across your organization's graphics and displays.