Let's get technical

InTech, Aug 2007 by Policastro, Ellen Fussell

EXPO 2007

2-4 October

Reliant Center, Houston, TX

Fresh perspectives, expert advice, multiple venues dot the landscape of ISA EXPO 2007

There is a mountain of technology out there, and ISA is digging deep into the technical aspect of automation and control at the ISA EXPO 2007 in Houston in October. In fact, six technology exchanges will offer more than just tree- top analysis. Security, Safety, Wireless & Networking, Enterprise Integration, Process Automation, and Environmental & Quality control are the six exchanges.

Attendees can take advantage of content specific to each technology, including technical sessions and open events such as briefings on essential standards, topical forums, and standards development meetings.

Also new on the docket this year are evening exhibition hours and networking receptions on Tuesday, so attendees can spend more time learning about the latest technologies and meeting more people in the industry.

X- Pods will be central gathering places to support each technology exchange on the exhibit floor. Users with similar agendas can share information and attend educational briefings from industry experts.

Specialty pavilions

The Bus Station specialty pavilion is the first collaborative endeavor designed to offer the latest information on industrial bus and field communications. Attendees can get technical education and product information at the station. The collocation of technologies and education presentations will allow users to find the most appropriate answers to their communicationrelated questions.

Also new is a Software Solutions Pavilion, a focal point for those looking for software products to help their operations run with security, reliability, and efficiency. Technologies included are software solutions for interoperability, shop-floor data collection, automation, process control, process improvement, and data acquisition.

An Industrial Communications Pavilion will feature data communications technologies from wireless data links to fiber-optic Ethernet switches, automation interface products, integration of information within the enterprise, and connectivity between device, process control, and management systems. The Environmental Pavilion offers products to help companies comply with regulations and become better equipped to meet factory guidelines.

The Sensors Fair will showcase sensors, transducers, detectors, and related technologies for process and discrete industrial automation applications.

Open operations and maintenance demo

Owners and operators are struggling to manage more complex systems in their plants, fleets, and facilities. So to remain competitive, they need to manage their systems as productively as possible. Yet large scale systems integrations projects spanning all key functional domains of major enterprises are costly to implement and sustain. Plus they often have a high-risk of failure.

The OpenO&M Initiative is a collaborative effort that includes multiple open standards organizations and helps them achieve interoperability between key operations and maintenance (O&M) solutions components in manufacturing, fleet, and capital facility environments. The demo leverages key open standards to help support critical industry-defined use cases with sensor-to-enterprise interoperable solutions that key industry vendors provide.

Wireless update: Inside ISA100

Attendees can meet and gather valuable information from committee members at this special center on the exhibit floor. Wireless experts from around the world will discuss their task of developing a standard for the process and manufacturing industries to deploy a single wireless infrastructure, able to transport information from multiple field bus protocols.

Control System User Forum

Known last year as Birds of a Feather, this year's event, back by popular demand, might be under a different name, but it still offers the same uncensored, unscripted opportunities to hobknob with other users of industrial automation solutions, learn lessons, and gain insights from their experiences.

YAPFEST will again give young automation professionals a chance to network with seasoned professionals and peers to find out more about what it takes to make it in the world of automation and control.

Keynoters

Keynoters this year represent safety strategies, innovative technologies, and space exploration. Take a peak inside to find out more about the opportunities in store this year.

Traditional safety, security risk

Over the years, the process industries have evolved several strategic approaches for chemical accident, loss prevention, and security. At any given time, companies will not find themselves at the same point along this spectrum. In fact, different departments within a facility, different functions within a department, or the same departmental function at different times may choose to implement multiple strategies at the same time," said Steve Arendt, vice president of organization performance assurance at ABS Consulting, and keynoter on Tuesday, 2 October at v ISA EXPO 2007.