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Question 1: Could you tell us a little about how you came to use the Topkapi solution?
In 2016, VNF's Seine Basin Territorial Division (DTBS) issued an invitation to tender for the acquisition of a solution for supervising the water level and hydraulic management of the structures it manages (navigation dams and water intakes). The Topkapi software platform, proposed by AREAL, was chosen from three possible solutions because it was the most cost-effective and best suited to our business.
We then developed the water level supervision application (called OSLEau) using Topkapi version 5.1. It enables the maintenance and operating teams to monitor the condition of structures and the hydraulic status of the network in real time.
Question 2: What were your reasons for choosing version 6.2 of Topkapi straight away?
Since the start of our collaboration, the AREAL teams have been working with us under a telephone technical support and update contract, so that we can benefit from the functional enhancements brought by each new version of Topkapi. So we've been through all the versions of Topkapi, starting with version 5.1, then going through versions 6.0 and 6.1 before reaching v6.2.
We quickly took the decision to upgrade to v6.2, as soon as AREAL announced the new version, because of the functional improvements it brings. In addition to our desire to keep Topkapi up to date at all times, we were particularly impressed by the new features that simplify application configuration and access to operational data.
Question 3: What new 6.2 features are being used? How have they met your needs?
In our view, Topkapi v6.2 has lived up to its promise, as it has enabled VNF's developers to enhance the operating interfaces with very little effort and in full compatibility with web viewing. Note that we use the application almost exclusively on the move via a web browser, thanks to Topkapi's Webserv module.
The version 6.2 offers simplified, web-compatible access to sampled data, with very few application parameters. This makes it easy to access the data table or curve for a particular variable. This used to be possible, but you had to develop a script to do it. Now, when you hover over an summary object in operations and double-click, you can open the table and/or curve corresponding to the animated data. This is made possible by the new freely customisable curve model. The same interactivity is available using the spreadsheet. All in all, it's a real time-saver for us in terms of configuration and it's really convenient for the operators.
We also liked the developments linked to the Reports module (new multi-user configuration and viewing interface), as well as those linked to the OPC UA communication standard (time-stamped data acquisition at source and data server). We are working with this standard on a nationwide project to modernise the structures. This OPC UA protocol has been chosen for all communications from the Central Control Stations to the remote structures.
So, technically and ergonomically, Topkapi v6.2 meets many of the expectations we had of our decision-support supervision application.
