Preparing Data Foundation

First build a model in UNS, then connect data through Source Flow to the model, forming a data foundation for subsequent use.

flowchart BT
  uns["UNS Model"]
  flow["Source Flow"]


  flow -->|"send data"| uns

  classDef t0accent fill:#EFFFD2,stroke:#8AC926,stroke-width:1px,color:#18230B
  classDef t0node fill:#F8FAFC,stroke:#CBD5E1,stroke-width:1px,color:#111827
  class uns t0accent
  class flow t0node

Note

The process can be done through conversations with the UNS agent. Check here for details.

Build a Data Model

Define the data hierarchy as a tree map according to:

• The physical location the data comes from (ISA-95);
• The business logic the data conforms to.

Build Models Manually

Use drafts to verify models first

Create or import models in Draft to verify whether the models conform to model principles and deploy them after validity.

1. Design the model structure, and add paths by order before adding the topic.
2. Set Topic Type among Metric, State and Action based on data features.
3. Select Mock Data to send simulated data to the model, and Enable History to store the data to database.
4. Add data fields to the topic with the correct data types by Auto Parsing or Pre-defined.

   • Auto Parsing: Convert fields automatically from JSON text in batches.

     {
       "temp":85.5
     }

     Caution

     Can only parse single layer JSON, and for multi-layer JSON, only the first layer will be parsed.

   • Pre-defined: Manually set fields for the topic one by one.

Import Models

Tip

Use LLMs like ChatGPT to help import models.

1. Send the template JSON from Import to AI, and use a similar prompt.

   Generate a UNS model used for xx in xx plant, including xx equipment and data sources based on the template.

2. Import the generated result in UNS.

Connect Data to UNS

Data Flow Features

• Based on Node-RED.
• Every flow ends with an mqtt out node. It works as an MQTT client to publish data to the UNS broker.
• The UNS broker is embedded in the mqtt out and mqtt in nodes with the same name as the flow.
• When a UNS model is used as the topic, data goes directly to the corresponding model in UNS.

Steps

1. Use nodes based on the data source type to build a flow, and end it with an mqtt out node.

   If you need nodes that are not there

   Install nodes from Node-RED community for your requirements. Official nodes often start with node-red-contrib.

2. Make sure the Server of the mqtt out node is set to the UNS broker, and topic is a model from UNS.

Flow Version Management

Save versions of the data flow, so you can either roll back to an earlier version or start a new flow with a history version.

Next

• Build Apps on UNS — Build industrial applications with UNS data.
• Analyze UNS Data — Analyze UNS data with Marimo Notebook and Python.