LIVE DASH ReportDesigner supports different combinations of
Normal Cards and Color Cards so that information can be
presented clearly and effectively on report screens. Proper card placement allows different
levels of information to be presented together on the same screen and helps users recognize
critical information more quickly.
This page explains the supported card layout options and the fundamental chart types in
LIVE DASH, together with their intended uses, applications in energy and SCADA systems,
and the underlying design approach.
Card Combinations and Layout Options
LIVE DASH ReportDesigner provides a range of design options to meet different reporting needs,
from a single card to multi-card color matrices and mixed layouts in which Normal Cards and
Color Cards are used together.
When selecting a layout, it is important to consider not only how many cards are displayed on
the screen, but also the priority of the information, its relationship with other
information, and how quickly it needs to be perceived by the user.
Single Card Layout
A single card occupies the horizontal card area. It is particularly suitable for
detailed presentation of SCADA and ALARM data in graphical or tabular form.
Example: Unit active-power trend or detailed alarm list.
Two Cards Side by Side
Two cards are positioned side by side horizontally. This layout is suitable for
presenting two different data sets that need to be compared within the same field of view.
Example: Active power / Reactive power.
Two Color Cards Side by Side
Two Color Cards are displayed side by side. This provides simultaneous monitoring of
two different critical states or individual measurement values.
Example: Unit 1 status / Unit 2 status.
Three Color Cards Side by Side
Three Color Cards are arranged horizontally. This is suitable for monitoring the status
of subsystems or critical indicators at a glance.
Example: Boiler status / Turbine status / Generator status.
Four Color Cards Side by Side
Four Color Cards are displayed in a single row. This enables rapid comparison of
multiple critical status indicators.
Example: Electrical / Mechanical / Instrumentation / SCADA system status.
2×2 Matrix – 4 Color Cards
Four Color Cards are arranged in two rows and two columns. This creates a balanced
and symmetrical visual layout.
Example: Status monitoring screen for four different generating units.
3×2 Matrix – 6 Color Cards
Six Color Cards are displayed in two rows and three columns. This layout is suitable
for more detailed status monitoring in medium-scale systems.
Example: Cooling / Fuel / Steam / Water / Electrical / Emissions.
4×2 Matrix – 8 Color Cards
Eight Color Cards are displayed in a two-row, four-column layout. This is suitable for
presenting the status summary of many subsystems on the same screen in large facilities.
Example: Comprehensive status summary screen for plant subsystems.
Mixed layouts allow Normal Cards and Color Cards to be used
together at different sizes on the same screen. This structure is particularly effective in
reports where a detailed primary metric needs to be presented alongside critical summary indicators.
2 Normal/Color Cards on the Right, 1 Normal Card on the Left
A large Normal Card is placed on the left, while two cards—Normal or Color Cards
depending on the requirement—are placed on the right. This layout is suitable for
presenting a primary metric together with supporting status information.
Example: Left: Total production; Right: Alarm and efficiency status.
2 Normal/Color Cards on the Left, 1 Normal Card on the Right
A large Normal Card is placed on the right, while two Normal or Color Cards are placed
on the left. In this layout, operational status information has priority, while detailed
summary information plays a supporting role.
3 Color Cards on the Right, 1 Normal Card on the Left
A large Normal Card is placed on the left, while three Color Cards are positioned on
the right. This is suitable for highlighting critical KPI indicators alongside detailed analysis.
Example: Right: 3 KPI Color Cards; Left: 1 Alarm List Normal Card.
Design approach: When large Normal Cards are positioned to represent detailed
analysis and Color Cards are used for rapid status awareness, the information hierarchy of
the screen becomes easier to understand.
Design and Usage Recommendations
The purpose of a card layout is not simply to fit more information onto the same screen. A
well-designed LIVE DASH screen shows the user important information first, followed by
only as much detail as necessary.
Visual Simplicity
Using too many Color Cards on the same screen can create visual clutter. Critical
indicators should be selected carefully, while unnecessary color and indicator density
should be avoided.
Highlighting Critical Information
Color Cards should be preferred especially for conditions that require action or need
to be recognized quickly.
User-Oriented Design
Managerial reports may benefit from a simple layout with a limited number of cards,
while engineering reports may use more detailed layouts suited to comparison and analysis.
These combinations allow LIVE DASH to create flexible and scalable screens suitable for both
operational monitoring and management reporting requirements.
LIVE DASH is a web-based reporting platform designed to visualize information obtained from SCADA
and operational data sources in an understandable, comparable, and decision-supporting
manner.
Fundamental chart types form the visual backbone of reports and are used to
monitor changes over time, compare magnitudes, understand distributions, and analyze
relationships between variables.
Time-series charts focus on showing how a quantity changes over time. In LIVE DASH, they can be
used particularly for real-time monitoring, performance tracking, and trend analysis.
Line / Spline
Shows the time-dependent behavior of continuously changing values such as generation
power, flow rate, temperature, and pressure. Spline types provide a smoother and more
readable representation of change.
Area / Spline Area
Can be used to visually emphasize cumulative effects or total contribution over time.
It can be preferred for energy generation, consumption, and cumulative values.
Time-series charts help operators and engineers quickly identify
abnormal behavior, sudden changes, and long-term trends.
Comparison charts allow values belonging to different categories or periods to be compared with
one another.
Column / Bar
Suitable for comparing generation between units, alarm counts by system, or energy
values across different periods. Because of their high readability, they can also be
used effectively in management reports.
Logarithmic (Log) Column
Uses a logarithmic scale to make comparisons easier when there are very large
differences between values.
These charts are primarily intended to provide quick answers to questions such as
which value is larger, which unit is falling behind, or how large the difference between
periods is.
Distribution and Ratio Charts
Distribution charts are intended to visualize the subcomponents of a whole and the proportion
represented by each component within the total.
Pie
Used to show the proportions of categories within a total. It can be used in summary
analyses such as the distribution of generation sources or the proportions of alarm types.
Doughnut
Similar to a Pie chart, it shows proportions; the center area can be used for
additional information or visual emphasis.
These chart types are particularly suitable for reports requiring an
overview and management perspective.
Relationship and Distribution Analysis
Scatter
Visualizes the relationship between two variables. It can be used in engineering
analyses such as flow rate–power or temperature–efficiency relationships.
Scatter charts can help identify possible correlations between variables and points
that deviate from normal behavior.
Multidimensional and Analytical Charts
In addition to basic visualization, LIVE DASH supports chart types that provide more advanced
analytical perspectives. These types create visual models for evaluating multiple dimensions or
categories together.
Radar
A multidimensional visualization approach that enables several parameters to be
compared within the same visual field.
Pareto
An analytical visualization used to highlight the factors with the greatest impact
and associated with the 80/20 principle.
Sankey
Represents how values leaving a source are transferred to different destinations and
in what proportions through visual flow paths.
Timeline charts are a special chart type that visually represents the chronological
flow of events, state changes, and time-based processes.
In LIVE DASH, Timeline helps provide quick and clear answers to questions such as
what happened when, how long an event lasted, and how events were related to one another.
Timeline displays provide a meaningful visual summary, particularly in reports where alarm
and event records need to be examined along a time axis.
Tabulator is a chart/table type that presents data in an organized and detailed
row-and-column structure. It plays a complementary role for users who want to examine the
information summarized by charts at a raw, numerical, and detailed level.
Unlike charts and indicators, Tabulator does not merely visualize data; it transforms data into a
structure that is readable, sortable, and comparable. Therefore, it can be used
together with charts in detailed engineering and operational reports.
Alarm lists are fundamental monitoring components in SCADA and monitoring systems for listing
alarms that have occurred and their occurrence counts. They provide not only a graphical summary
of alarm data, but also a detailed list view when required.
Alarm-Focused Monitoring
Enables alarm records that have occurred to be examined directly and systematically
within a report.
Use Together with Alarm Analysis
Alarm lists can be used together with Pareto, Radar, Heatmap, Timeline, and similar
analytical visualizations to provide different perspectives.
Considerations When Selecting a Chart Type
The choice of chart type is as important as the data itself. The same data can communicate
different messages when presented using different chart types. Therefore, the first step in
selection should be to determine the question the report needs to answer.
| Analysis need |
Suitable chart approach |
| View changes over time | Line, Spline, Area |
| Compare categories or units | Column, Bar |
| View proportional distribution | Pie, Doughnut |
| Examine the relationship between two variables | Scatter |
| Compare multiple dimensions | Radar |
| Identify the most influential factors | Pareto |
| View source-to-destination flow relationships | Sankey |
| Examine the chronological flow of events | Timeline |
| Examine detailed numerical records | Tabulator |
| List alarm records | Alarm List |
The examples given while explaining the chart types below are provided to
illustrate potential areas of analysis in which the relevant chart types may be used.
Some of the analyses included in these examples may not currently be supported by
LIVE DASH.
Nevertheless, these analysis types may be developed and added to the capabilities of LIVE DASH
in the future.
LIVE DASH card combinations and chart options do more than simply display data: they help ensure
that data is perceived by the user at the right speed and in the right context.
Normal Cards provide a strong area for detailed analysis, while Color Cards highlight critical
individual information.
Likewise, charts such as Line, Spline, Area, Column, Bar, Pie, Doughnut, Scatter, Radar, Pareto,
Sankey, Timeline, and Tabulator address different analytical needs. Selecting the right card
layout together with the right chart type makes LIVE DASH reports more effective for operational
monitoring and management decision support.
