Platform Dashboards Overview

Platform Dashboards enable you to visualize your IoT data in real-time and historical views. Create customizable dashboards to monitor device variables, track asset performance, and gain insights from your connected infrastructure.

Introduction

After you've Connected your devices, Collected data through the Edge Server, Stored it in the Timescale database, and Analyzed it with Platform Explorer, the next step is to Visualize your insights. Platform Dashboards provide a powerful way to create visual representations of your data, making it easier to monitor systems, identify trends, and make data-driven decisions.

Dashboards support a wide variety of visualization widgets including:

• Real-time gauge displays for current values
• Historical trend charts showing data over time
• Status indicators for device health monitoring
• Custom layouts tailored to your specific needs

Video Tutorial

Get started quickly with this comprehensive dashboard overview tutorial:

Follow along with the video walkthrough above, or continue reading for detailed information on dashboard capabilities and features.

Dashboard Capabilities

Platform Dashboards provide comprehensive data visualization capabilities for your IoT infrastructure:

Real-Time Monitoring

• Live data updates from connected devices
• Instant visibility into current device states and values
• Automatic refresh of dashboard widgets
• Real-time alerts and status indicators

Historical Analysis

• Trend charts showing data over configurable time periods
• Compare current values with historical baselines
• Identify patterns and anomalies in device behavior
• Export historical data for further analysis

Customizable Layouts

• Drag-and-drop widget positioning
• Resize widgets to emphasize important data
• Create multiple dashboards for different use cases
• Share dashboards with team members based on roles

Multi-Device Views

• Combine data from multiple devices on a single dashboard
• Create organization-wide monitoring views
• Group related devices and assets together
• Build role-specific dashboards for different user types

Getting Started

Ready to create your first dashboard? Follow our step-by-step tutorial:

Creating Your First Dashboard →

This hands-on tutorial includes a video walkthrough and detailed instructions for:

• Creating a new dashboard
• Adding and configuring widgets
• Selecting device variables to display
• Customizing appearance and layout
• Publishing and sharing your dashboard

Quick Start Steps

If you want to dive right in, here's the basic process:

Step 1: Navigate to Dashboards

From the ControlCom Connect platform, navigate to Visualize > Dashboards in the main menu.

Step 2: Create a New Dashboard

Click the "Create Dashboard" button and provide:

• Dashboard name
• Optional description
• Visibility settings (private or shared with organization)

Step 3: Add Widgets

Start adding visualization widgets to your dashboard:

• Select the widget type (gauge, chart, status, etc.)
• Choose the device and variable to display
• Configure display options and thresholds
• Position and resize the widget

Step 4: Configure Time Range

For historical data widgets:

• Select the time range (last hour, last 24 hours, custom range)
• Configure refresh interval for real-time updates
• Set aggregation options for large datasets

Step 5: Save and Share

Save your dashboard and optionally share it with other users in your organization.

For a complete walkthrough with visual examples, see Creating Your First Dashboard.

Key Features

Widget Types

Gauge Widgets

• Display current numeric values with customizable ranges
• Color-coded zones for normal, warning, and critical states
• Configurable units and decimal precision
• Ideal for monitoring real-time metrics like temperature, pressure, or voltage

Trend Charts

• Line, bar, and area chart visualizations
• Multiple variables on a single chart
• Zoom and pan capabilities for detailed analysis
• Export chart data to CSV

Status Indicators

• Boolean state displays (on/off, active/inactive)
• Device health monitoring
• Connection status tracking
• Custom text labels for different states

Value Displays

• Simple numeric or text value displays
• Last updated timestamps
• Conditional formatting based on thresholds
• Compact layout for dashboard space efficiency

Dashboard Management

Organization and Access

• Create unlimited dashboards
• Organize dashboards by department, location, or function
• Role-based access control for dashboard viewing and editing
• Dashboard templates for quick deployment

Responsive Design

• Automatically adapts to different screen sizes
• Mobile-friendly views for monitoring on the go
• Full-screen mode for control room displays
• Print-friendly layouts for reports

Integration with Platform Features

Device Variables

• Visualize any device variable in your organization
• Support for all variable types (NUMBER, STRING, BOOLEAN)
• Automatic unit conversion and formatting
• Link to device details for deeper investigation

Alarms and Notifications

• Visual indicators for active alarms
• Dashboard widgets can trigger alarm conditions
• Integration with notification system
• Historical alarm data on trend charts

Best Practices

Follow these guidelines to create effective dashboards:

Design Principles

• Focus on Key Metrics: Don't overcrowd dashboards. Include only the most important metrics for the dashboard's purpose
• Logical Grouping: Organize related widgets together to tell a cohesive story
• Consistent Color Schemes: Use consistent colors across widgets for similar types of data
• Clear Labels: Ensure all widgets have clear, descriptive titles and units
• Hierarchy: Place the most critical information in prominent positions

Performance Optimization

• Limit Widget Count: Keep dashboards to 10-20 widgets for optimal performance
• Appropriate Refresh Rates: Don't refresh faster than necessary; use 5-30 second intervals for most use cases
• Data Aggregation: For historical data, use appropriate aggregation intervals to reduce data points
• Conditional Loading: Consider creating multiple focused dashboards rather than one large dashboard

Use Case Examples

Operations Dashboard

• Real-time status of all critical devices
• Current alarms and alerts
• Connection health indicators
• System availability metrics

Maintenance Dashboard

• Device health trends over time
• Predictive maintenance indicators
• Historical performance comparisons
• Maintenance schedule tracking

Executive Dashboard

• High-level KPIs and summary metrics
• Trend comparisons month-over-month
• Asset utilization statistics
• Cost and efficiency metrics

Facility-Specific Dashboards

• Location-based device monitoring
• Building or site-specific metrics
• Environmental conditions
• Energy consumption tracking

Next Steps

Now that you understand Platform Dashboards, you can:

• Explore Platform Diagrams for SCADA-like one-line visualizations
• Generate Reports from your visualized data in the Report stage
• Set up Alarms to automatically notify you of critical conditions
• Use the API to integrate dashboard data with external systems

For detailed widget configuration and advanced features, refer to the individual dashboard widget documentation pages.