Case Study: Minera San Cristobal achieves real-time expert system integration with Cogent DataHub

Using the DataHub at Minera San Cristobal to integrate video cameras and expert systems

Minera San Cristobal, a large silver-zinc-lead mining operation in Bolivia, needed a way to connect its DeltaV SCADA system with two SGS expert systems for grinding and flotation, while also incorporating real-time data from two banks of video cameras. The company had already used Cogent DataHub successfully to connect DeltaV to an SQL Server database, and wanted a reliable way to extend that integration across multiple servers and systems.

Cogent DataHub was deployed on the SGS expert system servers and camera system servers, then linked back to the main DataHub on the DeltaV server to tunnel and aggregate OPC data securely across the network. This enabled real-time bidirectional communication between DeltaV, the expert systems, and the camera feeds, avoiding DCOM issues and simplifying configuration. The result was a rock-solid, mission-critical control setup that allowed the plant to optimize grinding and flotation performance in real time.

Minera San Cristobal

Mario Mendizabal

Production Engineer