1. A method for gathering data associated with a process plant, the method comprising: analyzing process plant hierarchy data to determine a plurality of parameters to be monitored, the plurality of parameters to be generated by a plurality of signal processing data collection blocks, each signal processing data collection block of the plurality of signal processing data collection blocks communicatively coupled to a network associated with the process plant; storing data indicative of the plurality of parameters to be monitored; and monitoring the plurality of parameters indicated by the stored data.