SNOLAB
SNOLAB centralizes its scientific data with AVEVA PI System
SNOLAB is one of the deepest laboratories in the world, located 2 km underground in Vale's Creighton Mine in the Sudbury Basin, Canada, where scientists conduct groundbreaking astroparticle physics experiments to unlock the mysteries of dark matter. The laboratory had to contend with a lack of visibility into its operational data, multiple data lakes that prevented proactive identification of maintenance needs, and the requirement for uninterrupted power for extremely sensitive experiments. Deploying AVEVA PI System, complemented by AVEVA PI Vision and AVEVA Predictive Analytics, unified the data lakes and structured the millions of data points generated by the infrastructure. The benefits are considerable: a 66% reduction in infrastructure costs, robust tools for conducting root cause investigations, and the ability for scientists to monitor their experiments autonomously and remotely, ensuring research continuity in this unique underground environment.
FAQ
How does AVEVA PI System support dark matter research in an underground laboratory?
SNOLAB is one of the deepest laboratories in the world, located 2 km underground in Vale's Creighton Mine in Canada. AVEVA PI System, PI Vision and Predictive Analytics supervise the infrastructure essential to extremely sensitive astroparticle physics experiments. Any power outage or environmental disturbance can compromise months of measurements. The platform continuously monitors millions of data points to ensure stable conditions, supporting the scientific quest for dark matter and the understanding of the universe.
How can a scientific laboratory cut its infrastructure costs by 66%?
SNOLAB cut its infrastructure costs by 66% by unifying several fragmented data lakes with AVEVA PI System. Before deployment, operational data was scattered across application silos that multiplied storage, maintenance and licensing costs. The centralized platform streamlines the architecture and simplifies administration. For a research laboratory with a precious budget, these massive savings free up financial resources that go directly to scientific programs.
How does AVEVA Predictive Analytics help prevent failures in a critical underground environment?
In a laboratory 2 km underground, an equipment failure can require hours of intervention and compromise ongoing experiments. AVEVA Predictive Analytics allows SNOLAB to detect anomalies early on critical systems (power, ventilation, climate control, safety). Teams intervene in a planned way, protecting both researchers and experiments. This foresight is even more strategic in an environment where physical access is complex, slow and costly, fully justifying the investment in predictive maintenance.
Why is remote monitoring strategic for SNOLAB scientists?
AVEVA PI Vision allows SNOLAB scientists to monitor their experiments independently and remotely, without descending 2 km underground for every check. This autonomy is revolutionary for physics research: researchers access the critical parameters of their detectors in real time from their university offices anywhere in the world. The platform speeds up the scientific cycle, democratizes access to rare facilities and supports international collaboration around the fundamental quest to study dark matter.
How does AVEVA contribute to root cause investigations in scientific research?
AVEVA PI System gives SNOLAB robust tools to investigate the root causes of experimental disruptions. The platform automatically correlates operational events with measurement anomalies, identifies temporal patterns and reveals hidden causal factors. In scientific research, where measurement quality determines the validity of discoveries, this analytical capability is invaluable. It ensures that experiments continue to run properly and that systems are designed as efficiently as possible.