# Difference between DCS and SCADA **URL:** \ **Category:** DCS (Distributed Control Systems)\ **Created:** [October 16, 2017, 6:54pm UTC](https://forumautomation.com/t/difference-between-dcs-and-scada/2462 "2017-10-16T18:54:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![sivaranjith](https://forumautomation.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/s/ba9def/32.png) [@sivaranjith](https://forumautomation.com/u/sivaranjith)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2017, 6:54pm UTC](https://forumautomation.com/t/difference-between-dcs-and-scada/2462/1 "2017-10-16T18:54:54Z")
## DCS system: ![](https://cdn.forumautomation.com/original/1X/10a9dbe1899ab4565f681f816a0ae4f09f33618b.png) The DCS is usually used in factories and located within a more confined area. It uses a high-speed communications medium, such as local area network (LAN). _ **DCS is process oriented** _: it looks at the controlled process as the center of the universe, and it presents data to operators as part of its job In a DCS, the data acquisition and control functions are performed by a number of distributed microprocessor-based units situated near to the devices being controlled or the instrument from which data is being gathered. DCS systems have evolved into systems providing very sophisticated analog control capability. A closely integrated set of operator interfaces (or man-machine interfaces) is provided to allow for easy system configurations and operator control. ## SCADA system: ![](https://cdn.forumautomation.com/original/1X/b7fc836af66151044596604b2ca083f95ff0f854.png) The SCADA system covers larger geographical areas. It may rely on a variety of communication links such as Radio and Telephone Closed loop control is not a high priority in this system. _ **SCADA is data-gathering oriented** _: The control center and operators are the center of its universe. The remote equipment is merely there to collect the data-though it may also do, some very complex process control.