Turning configuration into automation. This application example shows how one JSON file can automatically configure southbound drivers, datapoints, publishing to northbound, subscribing to northbound, and creating dashboards in WinCC OA --- reducing engineering effort and errors.
Figure 1 – Architecture Overview
The IT/OT layer application example provides a ready-to-use automation layer that drives a complete WinCC OA project from a single JSON file. This approach eliminates manual setup and enables:
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Automatic creation of southbound drivers and datapoints
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Publishing and subscribing to/from Northbound layer through OPC UA and MQTT
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Unified Namespace (UNS) support during publishing to Northbound layer
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Auto-generated dashboards with ready-to-use widgets linked to the needed datapoints
This ensures faster engineering, consistency, and scalability for IT/OT integration projects.
Version: WinCC OA 3.20
Operating System: Linux
Single JSON Configuration
All connections, datapoints, and dashboards are described in one file.
Video 01 – JSON Structure
Auto Creation of Southbound WinCC OA Managers
WinCC OA driver managers (S7, Sinumerik, BACnet, IEC61850…) are created directly based on the JSON’s Southbound Section
Video 02 – Southbound Manager Creation
Southbound Datapoint Auto Creation
Datapoints are automatically generated with PLC addresses, archiving settings, and engineering ranges based on the JSON file entries, as well as the drivers’ connections and the associated IPs/ports
Video 03 – Southbound Datapoints creation
Northbound Publishing
Southbound data will be published via OPC UA and MQTT. The data will be made available either per southbound driver or as part of a Unified Namespace (UNS), based on entries in the JSON file. Both the data to be exposed and its target OPC UA or MQTT endpoint are defined in the JSON entries.
Video 04 – Northbound Publishing
Northbound Subscribing
Datapoints from external OPC UA servers or MQTT brokers are automatically created and configured inside WinCC OA based on the JSON file.
Video 05 – Northbound Subscribing
Automatic Dashboards Creation
Dashboards with gauges, labels, trends, and pie charts are instantly created linked to the needed datapoints and ready for visualization.
Video 06 – Dashboard creation
The IT/OT layer application example is a blueprint for fast, error-free IT/OT integration. By driving everything from a single JSON file, it brings speed, consistency, and flexibility to engineering industrial projects with WinCC OA.
This repository includes the project folder, documentation, and the legal information of the application example, organized as following:
- IT_OT_Demo: The application example project
- IT_OT_Demo_Datasheet_V1.0.pdf: HowTo of Implementation, Installation and Usage of the application example
- LEGAL_INFO.md: Legal Information
- LICENSE.md: License Information
- README.md: this file
