Monitoring process stations utilizing visual indicators

A method of monitoring a plurality of process stations, the method comprising:

• capturing, by one or more cameras, digital images of the plurality of process stations;
• identifying a sequence of digital images of a process station of the plurality of process stations generated by the one or more cameras during an operation of the process station;
• identifying, in the sequence of digital images, a visual indicator of the process station based on a quick response (OR) code arranged proximate to the visual indicator, the visual indicator comprising a measurement displayed by an instrument of the process station;
• analyzing, in the sequence of digital images, the visual indicator to identify a current rate of change of measurements displayed by the instrument;
• identifying, using the QR code, configuration data for the process station that defines an expected rate of change of the measurements;
• determining whether the current rate of change deviates from the expected rate of change;
• and
• generating indicia representing the identified current rate of change in response to determining that the current rate of change deviates from the expected rate of change.

A system for monitoring operations of a plurality of process stations, wherein each process station includes one or more respective instruments that visually display their measurements of an operation of the process station and one or more valves that visually display their positions, the system comprising:

• one or more cameras configured to capture digital images of the plurality of process stations;
• and
• at least one processor configured to:
• identify a sequence of digital images of a process station of the plurality of process stations that includes digital representations of the one or more instruments and the one or more valves of the process station;
• identify, in the sequence of digital images, quick response (QR) codes arranged proximate to the one or more instruments and the one or more valves;
• identify, based on the digital representations in the sequence of digital images, one or more current rates of change of the measurements of the one or more instruments and one or more current positions of the one or more valves;
• identify, based on the QR codes, configuration data that defines expected rates of change for the measurements of the one or more instruments and expected positions for the one or more valves;
• and
• generate indicia representing at least one of:
• the one or more current rates of change for the measurements of the one or more instruments in response to determining that the one or more current rates of change deviate from the expected rates of change;
• and
• the one or more current positions of the one or more valves in response to determining that the one or more current positions deviate from the expected positions.