Methods and systems for the industrial internet of things

A method for data collection, processing, and utilization of signals with a platform monitoring at least a first element in a first machine in an industrial environment, the method comprising:

• obtaining, automatically with a computing environment, at least a first sensor signal and a second sensor signal with a local data collection system that monitors at least the first machine;
• connecting a first input of a crosspoint switch of the local data collection system to a first sensor and a second input of the crosspoint switch to a second sensor in the local data collection system;
• switching between a condition in which a first output of the crosspoint switch alternates between delivery of at least the first sensor signal and the second sensor signal and a condition in which there is simultaneous delivery of the first sensor signal from the first output and the second sensor signal from a second output of the crosspoint switch;
• and
• planning data acquisition routes based on hierarchical templates associated with at least the first element in the first machine in the industrial environment,
• wherein the local data collection system manages data collection bands that define a specific frequency band and at least one of a group of spectral peaks, a true-peak level, a crest factor derived from a time waveform, and an overall waveform derived from a vibration envelope, and wherein the local data collection system includes a neural net expert system using intelligent management of the data collection bands.