About
AVEVA PI System — originally developed by OSIsoft and now part of AVEVA — is one of the most widely deployed industrial data infrastructure platforms in the world. It collects high-frequency, time-series data from sensors, control systems, and operational technology (OT) equipment, then stores, contextualizes, and delivers that data across an organization in real time. At its core, PI System includes the PI Server for time-series data storage, PI Vision for web-based operational data visualization, PI Data Infrastructure for scalable data management, and PI Historian for long-term archival and retrieval. AVEVA also offers the Edge Data Store for collecting data closer to industrial assets, and PI Asset Framework for contextualizing raw data with equipment hierarchies. The platform serves a wide range of industries including oil, gas and energy, power and utilities, water and wastewater, chemicals, manufacturing, mining, and transportation. It integrates with enterprise applications (ERP, MES, APM) and advanced analytics environments, supporting both on-premises and cloud deployments. Key use cases include production optimization, asset performance management, predictive maintenance, SCADA data aggregation, operational reporting, and digital twin development. PI System is designed for engineers, operations teams, and data scientists who need reliable, high-resolution industrial data. It is an enterprise paid platform typically licensed by data volume or connection count.
Key Features
- Real-Time Time-Series Data Collection: PI Server captures high-frequency sensor and OT data from thousands of data points simultaneously, storing it in an optimized time-series database for instant retrieval.
- PI Vision — Web-Based Operational Dashboards: Drag-and-drop visualization tool that lets operations teams build live dashboards and trend displays from PI data without writing code.
- Asset Framework & Data Contextualization: Organizes raw tag data into equipment and process hierarchies, enabling teams to query data by asset rather than raw sensor tag names.
- Edge Data Store: Lightweight edge data collection component that buffers and forwards OT data from remote or constrained environments to the central PI infrastructure.
- Enterprise & Cloud Integration: Connects PI data to ERP, MES, APM, and cloud analytics platforms including Azure, enabling digital transformation and advanced AI/ML workflows on operational data.
Use Cases
- Collecting and archiving high-frequency sensor data from industrial equipment for long-term trend analysis and regulatory compliance reporting.
- Building real-time operational dashboards for plant operators and engineers to monitor process performance, equipment health, and KPIs.
- Feeding clean, contextualized time-series data into cloud-based AI/ML pipelines for predictive maintenance and production optimization models.
- Aggregating SCADA and DCS data from multiple remote sites into a centralized data infrastructure for enterprise-wide visibility.
- Supporting digital twin initiatives by providing the real-time operational data layer that drives asset simulation and performance benchmarking.
Pros
- Industry-Leading Industrial Data Reliability: PI System is trusted by thousands of industrial organizations globally for its proven ability to handle high-frequency, high-volume time-series data with minimal data loss.
- Deep Industrial Ecosystem Integration: Offers hundreds of native connectors to PLCs, DCS systems, SCADA platforms, and enterprise software, reducing integration effort significantly.
- Scalable from Edge to Cloud: Architecture supports deployments ranging from small on-premises installations to large cloud-connected enterprise environments with millions of data points.
Cons
- High Enterprise Cost: PI System is a premium enterprise product with licensing costs that can be prohibitive for smaller organizations or pilot projects.
- Complex Implementation: Initial deployment, configuration of Asset Framework hierarchies, and integration with existing OT systems typically requires specialized expertise and significant time investment.
- Legacy UI in Some Components: Some older PI client tools and interfaces (e.g., PI ProcessBook) feel dated compared to modern data analytics platforms, though newer tools like PI Vision address this partially.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between OSIsoft PI and AVEVA PI System?
AVEVA acquired OSIsoft in 2021. The PI System product line was rebranded under AVEVA but remains functionally the same platform. The core products (PI Server, PI Vision, PI Data Infrastructure) continue to be developed and supported under the AVEVA brand.
What industries use PI System?
PI System is used across oil, gas and energy, power generation and utilities, water and wastewater, chemicals, discrete and process manufacturing, mining, metals and minerals, marine, and transportation industries.
Does PI System support cloud deployment?
Yes. AVEVA PI System supports cloud deployment via AVEVA Connect, and integrates natively with Microsoft Azure. Organizations can run PI infrastructure on-premises, in the cloud, or in hybrid configurations.
Can PI System data be used for AI and machine learning?
Yes. PI System data can be exported or streamed to data science platforms and cloud ML services. AVEVA also offers AVEVA Predictive Analytics, which builds on PI data for asset health scoring and anomaly detection.
How is PI System licensed?
PI System is an enterprise paid platform. Licensing is typically based on the number of data connections (PI points/tags) and the specific product modules deployed. Pricing is obtained through AVEVA or an authorized partner.
