High Performance HMI

A High Performance HMI:
Better Graphics for Operations Effectiveness

Bill Hollifield, PAS Principal Consultant

PAS
16055 Space Center Blvd, Suite 600
Houston, TX, USA 77062
(281) 286-6565
e-mail: bhollifield@pas.com

KEY WORDS
High Performance Human Machine Interface, HMI, Operator Effectiveness, Process Graphics

Hollifield, Page 2

Presented at the 2012 ISA Water & Wastewater and Automatic Controls Symposium
Holiday Inn Castle Resort, Orlando, Florida, USA Aug 7-9, 2012 www.isawwsymposium.com
ABSTRACT: A HIGH PERFORMANCE HMI: BETTER GRAPHICS FOR OPERATIONS EFFECTIVENESS
Almost all industrial processes are controlled by operators using dozens of graphic screens. The graphic designs
are typically little more than P&IDs covered in hundreds of numbers. This traditional, low performance Human
Machine Interface (HMI) paradigm is typical in all processes controlled by DCS and SCADA systems, including the
water and wastewater sector. It has been shown to be lacking in both providing operator situation awareness
and in facilitating proper response to upsets. In many industries, poor HMIs have contributed to major
accidents, including fatalities.

HMI improvement has become a hot topic. The knowledge and control capabilities now exist for creating High
Performance HMIs. These provide for much improved situation awareness, improved surveillance and control,
easier training, and verifiable cost savings.

This paper will cover:
HMIs Past and Present
Common but Poor HMI Practices
Justification for HMI Improvement What Can You Gain?
High Performance HMI Principles and Examples
Depicting Information Rather Than Raw Data
The Power of Analog
Proper and Improper Use of Color
Depicting Alarm Conditions
Trend Deficiencies and Improvements
Display Hierarchy and the Big Picture
The High Performance HMI Development Work Process
Obstacles and Resistance to Improvement
Cost-effective Ways to Make a Major Difference

Implementation of proper graphic principles can greatly enhance operator effectiveness. A High Performance
HMI is both practical and achievable.

Hollifield, Page 3

A High Performance HMI:
Better Graphics for Operations Effectiveness

Introduction
The human-machine interface (HMI) is the collection of screens, graphic displays, keyboards, switches, and
other technologies used by the operator to monitor and interact with the SCADA system. The design of the HMI
plays a critical role in determining the operators ability to effectively manage the operation, particularly in
response to abnormal situations.
For several reasons, the current design and capability of most HMIs are far from optimal for running complicated
operations. Most of these consist simply of schematic-style graphics accompanied by numbers. Such displays
provide large amounts of raw data and almost no real information. They provide inadequate situation
awareness to the operator.
This paper concentrates on proper and effective design of the graphics used in modern SCADA systems.

HMIs Past and Present
Before the advent of sophisticated digital control systems, the operators HMI usually consisted of a control wall
concept.
The control wall (see Figure 1) had the advantages of providing an overview of the entire operation, many
trends, and a limited number of well-defined alarms. A trained operator could see the entire operation almost
at-a-glance. Spatial and pattern recognition played a key role in the operators ability to detect burgeoning
abnormal situations.
The disadvantages of these systems were that they were very difficult to modify. The addition of incremental
capability was problematic, and the ability to extract and analyze data from them was almost non-existent. The
modern electronic control systems (SCADA & DCS) replaced them for such reasons.
When these systems were introduced, they included the capability to create and display graphics for aiding in
the control of the operation.

Hollifield, Page 4


Figure 1: Example of a Control Wall

However, there were no guidelines available as to how to actually create effective graphics. Early adopters
created graphics that mimicked schematic drawings, primarily because they were readily available.
Graphics such as Figures 2 and 3 were developed over 20 years ago and remain common throughout the
industry. Indeed, inertia, not cost, is the primary obstacle to the improvement of HMIs. Operators become
accustomed to this style of graphic and are resistant to change.
As a result, industries that use modern control systems are now running multi-million dollar operations from
primitive HMIs created decades ago, at a time that little knowledge of proper practices and principles was
available.

Hollifield, Page 5


Figure 3: A Typical Crowded, Schematic-Style Graphic
As SCADA and DCS system hardware progressed, graphics from the manufacturers began to adopt very flashy
design practices. The results were displays that are actually sub-optimal for operators, but operators began
deploying these as well.
Figure 4 is an example of flashy design taken from a power generation facility to illustrate the point. The graphic
dedicates 90% of the screen space to the depiction of 3-D equipment, vibrantly colored operation lines, cutaway
views, and similar elements. However, the information actually used by the operator consists of poorly depicted
numerical data which is scattered around the graphic, and only makes up 10% of the available screen area.

Hollifield, Page 6


Figure 2: An Early Graphic Exhibiting Many Problematic Practices

The limited color palette was used inconsistently and screens began to be little more than crowded displays of
numbers.

Figure 4: A Flashy Graphic Inappropriate for Actual Operational Control
Hollifield, Page 7


There are no trends, condition indicators, or key performance elements. You cannot easily tell from this graphic
whether the operation is running well or poorly. That situation is true for more than 90% of the graphics used
throughout the industry because they were not designed to incorporate such information. Instead, they simply
display dozens to hundreds of raw numbers without informative context.

Justification for HMI Improvement
Poorly performing HMIs have been cited time and again as significant contributing factors to major accidents.
Yet our industry has made no significant change in HMI design. There is another industry that learns from its
accidents and has made phenomenal advancement in HMI design based on new technology. That industry is
avionics. Lack of situation awareness is a common factor cited in aviation accident reports. Modern avionics
feature fully-integrated electronic displays (See Figure 5). These depict all of the important information, not just
raw data, needed by the operator (i.e., pilot). Position, course, route, engine diagnostics, communication
frequencies, and automated checklists are displayed on moving maps with built-in terrain proximity awareness.
Real-time weather from satellite is overlaid on the map. Detailed database information on airports is available
with just a click. Situation awareness and abnormal situation detection is far improved by these advances. This
capability impossible even a dozen years ago in multi-million dollar airliners is now standard on even the
smallest single engine aircraft.

Figure 5: Garmin G1000 Avionics Package in a Small Plane
Since safety is significantly improved with modern HMIs, it is only logical that we would want all operators to
have access to them. Yet most operators have done little to upgrade.
There have been tests involving actual operators running realistic simulations using traditional graphics vs. High
Performance ones. The author participated in a major test of these principles sponsored by the Electric Power
Research Institute (EPRI) at a large coal-fired power plant. The results were consistent with a similar test run by
the ASM (Abnormal Situation Management) Consortium on an ethylene plant. The test showed the high
performance graphics provided significant improvement in the detection of abnormal situations (even before
Hollifield, Page 8

alarms occurred), and significant improvement in the success rate for handling them. In the real world, this
translates into a savings of hundreds of thousands of dollars per year.

Proper Graphic Principles
Ineffectively designed graphics are very easy to find. Simply search the internet for images under the category
HMI. Problems with these graphics include:
Primarily a schematic representation
Lots of displayed numbers
Few trends
Spinning pumps/compressors, moving conveyors, animated flames, and similar distracting elements
Brightly colored 3-D vessels
Highly detailed equipment depictions
Attempts to color code piping with contents
Large measurement unit callouts
Bright color liquid levels displaying the full width of the vessel
Lots of crossing lines and inconsistent flow direction
Inconsistent color coding
Misuse of alarm-related colors
Limited, haphazard navigation
A lack of display hierarchy
Ineffective graphics encourage poor operating practices, such as operating by alarm.
By contrast, High Performance graphics have:
A generally non-schematic depiction except when functionally essential
Limited use of color, where color is used very specifically and consistently
Gray backgrounds to minimize glare
No animation except for specific alarm-related graphic behavior
Embedded, properly-formatted trends of important parameters
Analog representation of important measurements, indicating their value relative to normal, abnormal,
and alarm conditions
A proper hierarchy of display content providing for the progressive exposure of detailed information as
needed
Low-contrast depictions in 2-D, not 3D
Logical and consistent navigation methods
Consistent flow depiction and layout to minimize crossing lines
Techniques to minimize operator data entry mistakes
Validation and security measures

Hollifield, Page 9

Data or Information?
A primary difference of high performance graphics is the underlying principle that, wherever possible, operation
values are shown in an informational context and not simply as raw numbers scattered around the screen.
Information is data in context made useful.
As an example, consider this depiction of a compressor (see Figure 6). Much money has been spent on the
purchase of instrumentation. Yet, unless you are specifically trained and experienced with this compressor, you
cannot tell if it is running at peak efficiency or is about to fail.

Figure 6: All Data, No Information

The mental process of comparing each number to a memorized mental map of what is good is a difficult
cognitive process. Operators have hundreds of measurements to monitor. Thus the results vary by the
experience and memory of the operator, and how many abnormal situations they have experienced with this
particular compressor. Training new operators is difficult because the building of these mental maps is a slow
process.
Adding more numbers to a screen like this one does not aid in situation awareness; it actually detracts from it.
By contrast, these numbers can be represented in a bank of analog indicators, as in Figure 7. Analog is a very
powerful tool because humans intuitively understand analog depictions. We are hard-wired for pattern
recognition.
With a single glance at this bank of properly designed analog indicators, the operators can tell if any values are
outside of the normal range, by how much, and the proximity of the reading to both alarm ranges and the values
at which interlock actions occur.

West East
Drive: 232.2 amps
Cooler
W. Vibration: 2.77 E. Vibration: 3.07
2.77
MSCFH
155.2 F 108.2 F 166.1 F 55.7 psig
135.1
psig
190.5 psig
Oil 155.2 F
Oil 85.1 psi
65.1 F
Hollifield, Page 10


Figure 7: Analog Depiction of Information
In just a second or two of examination, the operator knows which readings, if any, need further attention. If
none do, the operator can continue to survey the other portions of the operation. In a series of short scans, the
operator can be fully aware of the current performance of their entire span of control.
The knowledge of what is normal is embedded into the HMI itself, making training easier and facilitating
abnormal situation detection even before alarms occur, which is highly desirable.

Color
Color must be used consistently. There are several types of common color-detection deficiency in people,
particularly males (red-green, white-cyan, green-yellow). For this reason, there is a well-known principle for the
use of color:
Color, by itself, is not used as the sole differentiator of an important condition or status.
Most graphics throughout the world violate this principle. Redundant coding of information using additional
methods other than color is desirable. A color palette must be developed, with a limited number of
distinguishable colors used consistently.
Bright colors are primarily used to bring or draw attention to abnormal situations, not normal ones. Screens
depicting the operation running normally should not be covered in brightly saturated colors, such as red or
green pumps, equipment, valves, etc.
Cool
gpm
RECYCLE COMPRESSOR K43
Alarm
Indicator
Desirable
Operating
Range
Alarm Range
Alarm Range
2
Suct
psig
Inter
psig
Dsch
psig
Suct
degF
Inter
degF
Dsch
degF
Motor
Amps
Oil
psig
Oil
degF
42.7
38.7
93.1
185
95
120
170
170
80
290
Hollifield, Page 11

When alarm colors are chosen, such as bright red and yellow, they are used solely for the depiction of an alarm-
related condition and functionality and for no other purpose. If color is used inconsistently, then it ceases to
have meaning.
So what about the paradigm of using bright green to depict on and bright red for off, or vice versa if you are
in the power industry? This is an improper use of color. The answer is a depiction such as Figure 8.

Figure 8: Depicting Status with Redundant Coding and Proper Color Usage

The relative brightness of the object shows its status, plus a WORD next to it. Things brighter than the
background are on (think of a light bulb inside them). Things darker than the background are off.

Hollifield, Page 12

Alarm Depiction
Proper alarm depiction should also be redundantly coded based upon alarm priority (color / shape / text). Alarm
colors should not be used for non-alarm related functionality.

Figure 9: Depiction of Alarms
When a value comes into alarm, the separate alarm indicator appears next to it (See Figure 9). The indicator
flashes while the alarm is unacknowledged (one of the very few proper uses of animation) and ceases flashing
after acknowledgement, but remains as long as the alarm condition is in effect. People do not detect color
change well in peripheral vision, but movement, such as flashing, is readily detected. Alarms thus readily stand
out on a graphic and are detectable at a glance.
It is highly beneficial to include access within the HMI to the alarm rationalization information contained in the
Master Alarm Database (See Figure 10). If these terms are unfamiliar, you are advised to become familiar with
the 2009 standard, ANSI/ISA18.22009, Management of Alarm Systems for the Process Industries. In the
pipeline industry, recent Control Room Management regulations issued by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials
Safety Administration (PHMSA) include an alarm management component. An American Petroleum Institute
(API) recommended practice on Pipeline Alarm Management (API RP-1167) was issued in December 2010 and is
expected to be incorporated into future PHMSA regulations.

Hollifield, Page 13


Figure 10: Linked Alarm Information

Trends
The most glaring deficiency in HMI today is the general lack of properly implemented trends. Every graphic
generally has one or two values on it that would be far better understood if presented as trends. However, the
graphics rarely incorporate them.
Instead, engineers and managers believe claims that their operators can easily trend any value in the control
system on demand with just a click. This is incorrect in practice; a properly scaled and ranged trend may take 10
to 20 clicks/selections to create, and usually disappears into the void if the screen is used for another purpose!
This deficiency is easily provable; simply walk into the control room and count how many trends are displayed.
Then pick a value at random and ask an operator to create a trend and watch. Our observations, made in
hundreds of control rooms, indicate that trends are vastly underutilized and situation awareness suffers due to
that omission.

TI-468-02 Column Overhead Temperature
Alarm: PVHI Setting: 120 deg C Priority: 3
Class: Minor Financial Response Time: <15 min
Alarm Consequences: Alarm Causes: Corrective Actions:
Off-spec Production Excess steam Adjust base steam rate
Lowered efficiency Pressure excursion Check pressure and feed
parameters vs. SOP 468-1
Insufficient reflux Adjust reflux per
computation; check controller
for cascade mode
Feed composition variance Check feed composition
120.1deg C
3
Hollifield, Page 14


Figure 11: Trend Depiction of Desirable Ranges

Trends should be embedded in the graphics and appear, showing proper history, whenever the graphic is called
up. This is generally possible, but is a capability often not utilized.
Trends should incorporate elements that depict both the normal and abnormal ranges for the trended value.
There are a variety of ways to accomplish this (See Figure 11).

Hollifield, Page 15


Level Indication
Vessel levels should not be shown as large blobs of saturated color. A simple strip depiction showing the
proximity to alarm limits is better. A combination of trend and analog indicator depictions is even better (See
Figure 12).

Figure 12: Vessel Levels

Bar Charts
Attention to detail is important. It is typical to use bar charts to show relative positions and values. While this
may be better than simply showing numbers, it is inferior to the use of moving pointer elements since as the
bars value gets low, the bar disappears. The human eye is better at detecting the presence of something than
its absence. The example in Figure 13 is superior in showing relative values, besides the color improvement.

Better
Vessel
Level
Indication
Very Poor
Vessel
Level
Indication
Crude
Feed
TK-21
Trend and
Analog
Level
Indication
2 Hrs
86.5%
2
0
100
Hollifield, Page 16


Figure 13: Bars vs. Pointers

Tables and Checklists
Even tables and checklists can incorporate proper principles (See Figure 14). Consistent colors and even status
indication can be integrated.
25% 50% 75%
Valve
V-1
V-2
V-3
X-1
X-2
X-3
X-4
S-1
S-2
K-1
K-2
100%
100%
95%
88%
100%
100%
75%
0%
55%
100%
100%
100% 0%
Analog Position - Better
25% 50% 75%
100%
100%
95%
88%
100%
100%
75%
0%
55%
100%
100%
100% 0%
Analog Position Poor Bar Graphs
Valve
V-1
V-2
V-3
X-1
X-2
X-3
X-4
S-1
S-2
K-1
K-2
Hollifield, Page 17


Figure 14: Tables and Checklists
There are dozens of additional principles like these. See the References section.

Breaker 15 Power
Oil Temp 16-33
Oil Pres Status
Level in TK-8776
Gen System Status
Comp 88 in Auto
Lineup Ready
Sys Status Checks
Bearing Readouts
Comm check
Outlet Temp < 250
Cooling Flow
Internal Circuit Check
Bypass Closed
AFS Function
OK
NOT OK
OK
OK
OK
NOT OK
OK
OK
OK
OK
OK
OK
OK
OK
Startup Permissives
NOT OK
Air
Comp
Status Mode Diag
C #1 RUNNING AUTO OK
C #2 STOPPED MAN OK
C #3 RUNNING AUTO OK
C #4 STOPPED AUTO FAULT
3
Hollifield, Page 18

Display Hierarchy
Displays should be designed in a hierarchy that provides progressive exposure of detail. Displays designed from a
stack of schematic designs will not have this; they will be flat like a computer hard disk with one folder for all
the files. This does not provide for optimum situation awareness and control. A four-level hierarchy is desired.
Level 1 Operation Overview
This is a single display showing the operators entire span of control, the big picture. It is an overall indicator as
to how the operation is running. It provides clear indication of the current performance of the operation by
tracking the Key Performance Indicators (See Figure 15).
Control interactions are not made from this screen.

Figure 15: Example Level 1 Display

Level 2 Unit Control
Every operation consists of smaller, sectional unit operations. A level 2 graphic exists for each separate major
unit operation. It is designed to contain all the information and controls required to perform most operator
tasks associated with that section, from a single graphic (See Figure 16).

Reactor 1
Thionite
Mid-Run
ON
CLEAR
Prod:
State:
Agit:
Locks:
Run Plan:
Actual:
IN OUT
Balance
Menus
Main
Menu
Feed
Sys
Aux
Sys
Reactor
1
L2
Trend
Control
Comp A Comp B
72.0
80.0
2 HR
Cool CPC CRM
Rate
Reactor 2
CRM-114
Mid-Run
ON
CLEAR
Prod:
State:
Agit:
Locks:
Run Plan:
Actual:
Balance
Comp A Comp B
60.0
68.0
2 HR
Cool CPC CRM
Rate
IN OUT
Hydrog A
Bed
A1
Bed
A2
Suct Dsch
OK
OK
OK
CLEAR
VIB:
BRG:
OIL:
Locks:
Cycle
Comp A
470
500
F
L
O
W
2 HR
Hydrog B
Bed
B1
Bed
B2
Suct Dsch
OK
OK
OK
CLEAR
VIB:
BRG:
OIL:
Locks:
Cycle
Comp B
470
500
F
L
O
W
2 HR
Alarms:
ACK
UNACK
Toggle
List /Summary
P1
0
0
P2
1
0
P3
2
1
P4
4
1
Reactor
2
Hydrog
A
Hydrog
B
L3 L4
70
80
%
12 HR
Key Performance Indicators
Conversion Efficiency
0.5
1.0
12 HR
Emissions Limit Ratio
Feed A Feed B Feed C SynG
Feed System Aux Systems
Atv 1 Atv 2 Pres %IP
Clr T-In T-Out Visc
CWT CWP S10
PWR VentP VentT
C57D Null-A Jup2
S200
MGA
Grok
2
2
071608 08:55:07 RX2 LOW CRM QUALITY EXC
LVL
LVL
Hollifield, Page 19


Figure 16: Example Level 2 Display of a Reactor

Level 3 Unit Detail
Level 3 graphics provide all of the detail about a single piece of equipment. These are used for a detailed
diagnosis of problems. They show all of the instruments, interlock status, and other details. A schematic type of
depiction is often desirable for a Level 3 displays (See Figure 17).
P
S
O
AUTO
76.8 MPH
76.0
88.5 %
Main Feed
Main Feed MPH
72.0
80.0
-60 -30 -90 2 Hours
P
S
O
AUTO
11.9 MPH
12.0
22.3 %
Additive 1
Additive 1 MPH
10.0
14.0
-60 -30 -90 2
Hours
P
S
O
AUTO
4.0 MPH
4.0
44.3 %
Additive 2
Additive 2 MPH
2.0
6.0
-60 -30 -90 2 Hours
VENT SYS
Analysis: Purity %
32.0
40.0
-60 -30 -90 2 Hours
Analysis: Inhibitor Concentration %
4.0
6.0
-60 -30 -90 2 Hours
Agitator
ON
Reactor M5
Pump 1
RUNNING
P
S
O
AUTO
95.0
44.3 %
M5 Pressure
98.0 psig
P
S
O
AUTO
70.0
54.3 %
M5 Level %
71.0 %
Thionite Product: Mid-Run
52.3 %
5.0 %
Coolant
Flow
Coolant
Temp
P
S
O
AUTO
45.0
54.3 %
M5 Temp
45.0 C
To Coils
COOLING SYS
92.0 MPH
PRODUCT
Temperature C
40.0
48.0
-60 -30 -90 2 Hours
Diagnostics
1-OK
Pumps
Needed 1
SHUT
DOWN
M5
Run Plan:
Actual:
FREEZE
M5
IN
Reset
OUT
Calc Diff:
-10%
+10%
Hours: 238.1
Since:
State:
19707 19301
Material Balance
2.1 %
06/02/07
14:00:00
ISOLATE
M5
Pump 2
STOPPED 2-BAD
M4
Main
Menu
- Level 3 -
M5
Interlocks
Feed
System
Product
Recovery
Level 1
Reaction
Overview
M5
Sequence
Overlay
Purge
Rate
Conversion
Efficiency
Cat.
Activity
Reserve
Capacity
M5
Startup
Overlay
M6
- Level 3 -
M5 Cooling
System
Feed Components: A - B - C
+/- 5 psi, 2hr
+/- 1 %, 2hr
Trend
Control
4
Hollifield, Page 20


Figure 17: Example Level 3 Display

Level 4 Support and Diagnostic Displays
Level 4 displays provide the most detail of subsystems, individual sensors, or components. They show the most
detailed possible diagnostic or miscellaneous information. The dividing line between Level 3 and Level 4 displays
can be somewhat gray.

Pipeline Network or Distribution Overview Displays
Pipeline networks are used in many industries, including water collection/distribution networks and in the
oil/gas sector. Most existing displays that purport to be Overviews of a pipeline network are simply geographical
layouts of the network covered in numbers. Figure 18 is a mock-up example of such a typical depiction. For a
pipeline network overview display, there are certainly important items related to the geography, but this detail
level is distracting and unhelpful to the operator.
Hollifield, Page 21


Figure 18: Typical Low-Performance Pipeline Network Overview
There exists a highly successful technique for depicting geographic networks in a way that strips out all of the
nonessential information, leaving what is important to the user and the task at hand. That technique is in the
depiction of subway systems.
Early versions of the depiction of the London subway system were confusing to the user (see figure 19.)

11.55
12.44
42.87
21.43
32.17
31.41
27.81
40.56
38.33
18.48
60.02
2.34
17.36
29.927
Hollifield, Page 22


Figure 19: Original 1908 Depiction of the London Subway System

In the 1930s, this depiction was modified and has since become a world-famous and universally adopted graphic
technique for subway depiction. The key is the depiction of topography, not geography.

Hollifield, Page 23


Figure 20: Topological London Subway Routing Diagram
In the Figure 20 depiction, all lines (including the Thames river) are horizontal, vertical, or at 45 degrees. The
outlying legs are shown as straight lines regardless of the actual routing. This is because the subway rider only
needs to know how many stops remain to the destination or terminal, and not the precise direction of travel at
any point. Enough geographical cues are shown to identify start points and destinations. While complex and
showing a lot of information, the actual use of this drawing for navigation is simple and intuitive. Along with the
announcements and labeling on the trains and at the stations, the diagram provides for good situation
awareness for the task at hand, even by newcomers to the subway system.
The kinds of geographic information that can be important for depiction of a distribution system (particularly for
pipelines carrying hazardous materials) include:
Jurisdictional or regulatory boundaries
Proximity to waterways, residential spaces, or similar areas significantly affected by potential releases
Proximity to response services
Important Status Conditions and Alarms
Significant highway or waterway crossings
A high performance display will incorporate such information along with:
Moving analog indicators indicating performance.
Direction and content indicators
Important trends
Important status and alarms
Translated to a pipeline network, a conceptual High Performance Overview display might resemble figure 21.
Hollifield, Page 24


Figure 21: Conceptual High-Performance Pipeline Network Overview

API-RP-1165: Recommended Practice for Pipeline SCADA Displays
In 2006, API issued a document on Pipeline SCADA HMI displays. There are some inconsistencies within that
document. This is significant because some parts of API-RP-1165 have been incorporated into federal
regulations issued by PHMSA.
Overall, the concepts incorporated in the text portion of the document are valid. It mentions several good
practices. The examples section, however, provides several depictions that are in direct violation of those very
text principles!
For example, Section 8.2.4 properly states that Color should not be the only indication for information. That is,
pertinent information should also be available from some other cue in addition to color such as a symbol or piece
of text.
Yet throughout the remainder of the document, examples are shown that routinely violate this principle. Figure
22 shows only a few of the recommended practice examples from API-RP-1165. In many of these examples,
Altair 4
A A A A M A A A
113
113
112
113
0
113
112
112
A B C D E F G H
A A A A M A A A
42
43
42
44
0
43
43
43
A B C D E F G H
A A A A M A A A
8.0
9.8
10.0
9.5
0.6
9.8
9.5
9.0
A B C D E F G H
ON
Station Status
G
E
C
A
B
D
H
F
ON
ON
ON
ON
ON
ON
Diag
H
TX LA Altair 4
Mesklin
Trantor
Minbari
Arrakis
River
Terminus
Mesklin Arrakis
75
74
78
77
78
45
75
74
51
50
50
50
75
65
55
51
A A A A M A A A
A B C D E F G H
H H
Trantor
ON
OFF
XFER
PULV A PULV B PULV C PULV D PULV E PULV F PULV G PULV H L1 OVERVIEW
08-15-2009 14:22:09
RUNBACK 1 RUNBACK 2 PULV OV
UNIT 2: RUNBACK Graphic 2
Gross MW
562
DECREASE
LOAD
TRICON
DEMAND:
ACS
DEMAND:
100.0%
100.0%
INCREASE
LOAD
Econ
O2 %
AUTO
5.0
50%
A2 BFP
KLB/HR
AUTO
1800
50%
B2 BFP
KLB/HR
AUTO
1800
50%
VALVE
FORCED
OPEN
VALVE
CONTROLLED
A2 BFP
Recirc
Selector
VALVE
FORCED
OPEN
VALVE
CONTROLLED
B2 BFP
Recirc
Selector
AUTO
2400
50.1%
BOILER
MASTER
MAN
5.0
1800 1800
AUTO
65.0
50.1%
FUEL
MASTER
MAN
2202 65.1
Input new ACS
DEMAND or
use buttons:
25% 50% 75%
Valve
SV-1
SV-2
SV-3
CV-1
CV-2
CV-3
CV-4
RHS-1
RHS-2
IV-1
IV-2
100%
100%
95%
88%
100%
100%
75%
0%
55%
100%
100%
100% 0%
Valve Position
90.0%
TRICON
LOAD RATE:
VERY
FAST
TURBINE
MASTER
MAN
TURBINE
FOLLOW
BOILER
FOLLOW
COORD
CONTROL
CONSTANT
PRESSURE
VARIABLE
PRESSURE
Gateway
Breaker 15 Power
Oil Temp 16-33
Oil Pres Status
Level in TK-8776
Gen System Status
Comp 88 in Auto
Lineup Ready
Sys Status Checks
Bearing Readouts
Comm check
Outlet Temp < 250
Cooling Flow
Internal Circuit Check
Bypass Closed
AFS Function
OK
NOT OK
OK
OK
OK
NOT OK
OK
OK
OK
OK
OK
OK
OK
OK
Pipeline Permissives
NOT OK
Hollifield, Page 25

only subtle color differences, not distinguishable by a substantial fraction of the operator population, are the
only means to distinguish a significant status difference.
In one table, API-1165 recommends color coding alarms by type. The well-known best practice is that they are
redundantly coded by priority, not type (see Figure 22.)
Users of API-1165 are therefore advised to pay more attention to the principles it contains than to the example
depictions.

Figure 22: Sub-optimal Examples from API-RP-1165

T1
V12
L
CLS
V5
T
T I
OPN
V1
T
T I
RUN
U1
T
T I
OPN
V9
T
T I
OPN
V8
T
T I
RUN
T1
T
T O
RUN
U2
T
T I
OPN
V11
T
T I
OPN
V10
T
T I
OPN
V2
T
T I
CLS
V4
T
T I
OPN
V3
T
T I
Station ABC
OPN
V6
T
T I
Tank Level
% 50.0
Suction
Psi 123.4
Case
Psi 123.4
Suction SP
Psi 123.4
DIscharge
Psi 123.4
Discharge SP
Psi 123.4
% Open
% 123.4

OPN
V17
T
T I
OPN
V16
T
T I
CLS
V15
T
T I
OPN
V14
T
T I

OPN
V7
T
T I
OPN
V13
T
T I
To Station BCD To Station DEF
STATE
BACKGROUND
COLOR
Color
FORE-
GROUND
COLOR
Color
EXAMPLE
Normal Black Green 1234
High-High Alarm Black Red 1234
High Alarm Black Yellow 1234
Low Alarm Black Yellow 1234
Low-Low Alarm Black Red 1234
Unknown/Error Black Blue 1234

4 Way Valve Symbols
Comm Failure
Off Scan
Alarm Inhibited
Offscan
Manual
Communication
Failure (Stale)
Alarm Inhibit
Tagged
RIGHT
ABC
T
T I
<- Device State
Data Attribute
<- Tag Field ID ->
RIGHT
RIGHT
ABC
T
T I
RIGHT
ABC
T
T O
RIGHT
ABC
T
T I
RIGHT
ABC
T
T S
RIGHT
ABC
T
T I
RIGHT
ABC
T
T M
RIGHT
RIGHT
ABC
T
T I
RIGHT
ABC
T
T O
RIGHT
ABC
T
T I
RIGHT
ABC
T
T S
RIGHT
ABC
T
T I
RIGHT
ABC
T
T M
STATIC LEFT
LEFT
ABC
T
T I
LEFT
ABC
T
T O
LEFT
ABC
T
T I
LEFT
ABC
T
T S
LEFT
ABC
T
T I
LEFT
ABC
T
T M
LEFT
LEFT
ABC
T
T I
LEFT
ABC
T
T O
LEFT
ABC
T
T I
LEFT
ABC
T
T S
LEFT
ABC
T
T I
LEFT
ABC
T
T M
TRANSIT
TRN
ABC
T
T I
TRN
ABC
T
T O
TRN
ABC
T
T I
TRN
ABC
T
T S
TRN
ABC
T
T I
TRN
ABC
T
T M
INVALID
INV
ABC
T
T I
INV
ABC
T
T O
INV
ABC
T
T I
INV
ABC
T
T S
INV
ABC
T
T I
INV
ABC
T
T M
Tagged
LEFT
ABC
T
T I
LEFT
ABC
T
T O
LEFT
ABC
T
T S
LEFT
ABC
T
T I
LEFT
ABC
T
T M
UNKNOWN/
ERROR
ERR
ABC
T
T I
ERR
ABC
T
T O
ERR
ABC
T
T I
ERR
ABC
T
T S
ERR
ABC
T
T I
ERR
ABC
T
T M
RUN
ABC
T
T I
Hollifield, Page 26

The Seven Step Work Process
There is a seven step methodology for the development of a high performance HMI.
Step 1: Adopt a high performance HMI philosophy and style guide. A written set of principles detailing the
proper way to construct and implement a high performance HMI is required.
Step 2: Assess and benchmark existing graphics against the HMI philosophy. It is necessary to know your starting
point and have a gap analysis.
Step 3: Determine specific performance and goal objectives for the control of the operation and for all modes of
operation. These are such factors as:
Safety parameters/limits
Production rate
Run length
Equipment health
Environmental (i.e. Emission control)
Production cost
Quality
Reliability
It is important to document these, along with their goals and targets. This is rarely done and is one reason for
the current state of most HMIs.
Step 4: Perform task analysis to determine the control manipulations needed to achieve the performance and
goal objectives. This is a simple step involving the determination of which specific controls and measurements
are needed to accomplish the operations goal objectives. The answer determines the content of each Level 2, 3,
and 4 graphic.
Step 5: Design high performance graphics, using the design principles in the HMI philosophy and elements from
the style guide to address the identified tasks.
Step 6: Install, commission, and provide training on the new HMI.
Step 7: Control, maintain, and periodically reassess the HMI performance.

Conclusion
Sophisticated, capable, computer-based control systems are currently operated via ineffective and problematic
HMIs, which were designed without adequate knowledge. In many cases, guidelines did not exist at the time of
graphic creation and the resistance to change has kept those graphics in commission for two or more decades.
The functionality and effectiveness of these systems can be greatly enhanced if redesigned in accordance with
proper principles. A High Performance HMI is practical and achievable.

References
Hollifield, B., Oliver, D., Habibi, E., & Nimmo, I. (2008). The High Performance HMI Handbook.
Hollifield,B., Perez, H., Crawford, W., (2009), Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), Operator HMI Case Study:
The Evaluation of Existing Traditional Operator Graphics vs. High Performance Graphics in a Coal Fired Power
Plant Simulator, Product ID 1017637, Note: currently available only to EPRI members
Hollifield, Page 27

About the Author
Bill Hollifield is the PAS Principal Alarm Management and HMI Consultant. He is a voting member of the ISA SP-
18 Alarm Management committee, the ISA-101 HMI committee, and the American Petroleum Institutes
committee for API-1167 Recommended Practices for Alarm Management of Pipeline Systems.
Bill is also the coauthor of The Alarm Management Handbook, The High-Performance HMI Handbook, and the
Electric Power Research Institutes Alarm Management and Annunicator Application Guidelines. Bill has
international, multi-company experience in all aspects of Alarm Management and HMI, along with many years of
chemical industry experience with focus in project management, chemical production, and control systems.
Bill has authored several papers on Alarm Management and HMI, and is a regular presenter on such topics in
such venues as API, ISA, and Electric Power symposiums. He has a BSME from Louisiana Tech University and an
MBA from the University of Houston. Hes a pilot, built his own aircraft (a Vans RV-12, with a High Performance
HMI!), and builds furniture (and the occasional log home in the Ozarks) as a hobby.

Bill and Sweetie
About PAS
PAS (www.pas.com) improves the automation and operational effectiveness of power and process plants
worldwide by aggregating, contextualizing, and simplifying relevant information and making it universally
accessible and useful. We provide software and services that ensure safe running operations, maximize situation
awareness, and reduce plant vulnerabilities. Our comprehensive portfolio includes solutions for Alarm
Management, Automation Genome Mapping, Control Loop Performance Optimization, and High-Performance
Human-Machine Interfaces. PAS solutions are installed in over 1,000 industrial plants worldwide.

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