Dean’s 25+ yr career has involved automation systems engineering and consulting. He serves as the Managing Principal Engineer at Luminary Automation, Cybersecurity, and Engineering, LLC. He develops and leads a dedicated and passionate staff of automation professionals. He is a licensed Control Systems Engineer in 24 states and a Certified Automation Professional. As a Senior Member of ISA, he participates in many standards committees. He is a member of AWWA, WEF, SWAN. He is passionate about educating the public and policymakers about the critical role automation plays in the future.

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Trey Finch is the SCADA Analyst for the entire control system. He is responsible for the improvement, maintenance, and general operation of the DCS, PLC's, Radios, and HMI's that make up the overall control system.

This presentation is the first in a multiyear journey for a water utility in Alabama.  Birmingham Water Works Board (BWWB) is the largest water system in Alabama and provides water service to more than 655,000 residents of Jefferson, Shelby, Blount, St. Clair, and Walker counties. This service area includes the City of Birmingham and 22 other communities.  In 2020, a vulnerability was identified in the SCADA system that needed to be corrected.  BWWB engaged Luminary Automation, Cybersecurity, and Engineering to collaborate and solve the issue.  As the teams collaborated on the problem, it became clear that a larger opportunity existed to solve many current and future issues.  The leading opportunity was to break down the walls between the IT and OT departments and develop an open and mutually beneficial relationship.  However, to accomplish this, a lot of work needed to be done.  One of the first things that needed to be done was to consolidate the hardware and software between the two departments and share the expertise.  In addition, the existing Foxboro system had grown and been upgraded since being installed in 1995.  Several homegrown and consultant-written standalone proprietary apps were in use and running on obsolete platforms such as Windows 2000, and 2003.  For a variety of reasons, it was determined that the HMI portion of the Foxboro system would be replaced with the AVEVA System Platform, AVEVA Historian, and AVEVA Reports for Operations.

This presentation outlines the first steps of convergence and the steps taken to get various teams and stakeholders to buy in, shift the culture, and develop the new architecture and collaboration moving forward.