ISA, in collaboration with the Institution of Engineering and Technology, conducts its 60th International Instrumentation Symposium in London

Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA (8 July 2014) — Collaborating with the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), the International Society of Automation (ISA) highlighted the latest developments, technologies and trends in instrumentation, process measurement and control through expert-led technical sessions, paper presentations and training courses at its 60th International Instrumentation Symposium in London, England, 24-26 June 2014.

Some of the brightest minds from industry and more than 15 countries - particularly from the aerospace, oil and gas, chemical, and manufacturing sectors - and academia attended the symposium, which provided an opportunity to share knowledge, successes and best practices as well as address both common and emerging challenges. As part of the event, leading companies demonstrated their newest solutions and services at a vendor exposition.

The content-rich technical program, which included the presentation of more than 30 technical papers, featured many hot-topic areas of interest, notably:

•    Cybersecurity
•    Optical thermal history coatings
•    Thermographic phosphors
•    Sensors and transducers: theory, design and testing
•    Turbine engine measurements
•    Process measurement
•    Wireless and automated systems

Given increasing concerns among industrial and manufacturing leaders about the risks posed by cyberattack, the opening session and keynote address focused on industrial cybersecurity.

Several global experts in industrial automation and control systems security emphasized the critical need to improve cyber defenses of critical infrastructure and adopt the guidelines of the US Cybersecurity Framework unveiled by President Obama earlier in the year.

In addition to leading the conference’s initial session on cybersecurity, Adam Sedgewick, Senior Information Technology Policy Advisor of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, delivered a keynote address on the subject, outlining the key provisions of the Cybersecurity Framework and explaining why owners and operators of critical infrastructure and industrial plants should implement them.

Sujeet Shenoi, F.P. Walter Professor of computer science and professor of chemical engineering at the University of Tulsa, in another keynote address on cybersecurity, urged industrial leaders to quickly shore up defenses of critical infrastructure assets because he said they are currently far too susceptible to attack.

The Automation Federation, ISA’s umbrella organization that has been working with the White House to educate industry and manufacturing leaders on the value of the Cybersecurity Framework, assisted ISA and IET in crafting the cybersecurity portion of the conference program. IET is a member of the Automation Federation.

In addition to the technical sessions, the product exhibition, networking activities, and a reception and banquet, the symposium included three training courses. Two of the courses were ISA courses. They were: Introduction to the Management of Alarm Systems (IC39C) and Industrial Wireless Systems (IC85C). The other course, Introduction to Measurement Uncertainty: Methods and Applications, was based on a popular ISA textbook and desk reference: Measurement Uncertainty: Methods and Applications, Fourth Edition.

About the Institution of Engineering and Technology
The Institution of Engineering and Technology is working to engineer a better world. Our heritage dates back to 1871, and today our mission is to inspire, inform and influence the global engineering community, supporting technology innovation to meet the needs of society.

What we do:
•    Thought leadership
•    Safeguarding professional standards
•    Delivering world-class knowledge products and services
•    Providing a professional home for life for engineers and technicians
•    Recognizing and promoting excellence
•    Inspiring the next generation

About the Automation Federation
The Automation Federation is a global umbrella organization of 16 member organizations and six working groups engaged in automation activities. The Automation Federation enables its members to more effectively fulfill their missions, advance the science and engineering of automation technologies and applications, and develop the workforce needed to capitalize on the benefits of automation. The Automation Federation is the “Voice of Automation.” For more information about the Automation Federation, visit www.automationfederation.org.

About ISA
Founded in 1945, the International Society of Automation (www.isa.org) is a leading, global, nonprofit organization that is setting the standard for automation by helping over 30,000 worldwide members and other professionals solve difficult technical problems, while enhancing their leadership and personal career capabilities. Based in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, ISA develops standards; certifies industry professionals; provides education and training; publishes books and technical articles; and hosts conferences and exhibitions for automation professionals. ISA is the founding sponsor of The Automation Federation (www.automationfederation.org).

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