Communications Division

Communications – it is literally and figuratively the backbone for today’s industrial site.  Industrial communications is so much more than simply specifying one protocol or transport medium. It’s 2012 and the second decade of the new millenium.  We have fiber, wireless, CAT6, radio modems, sat comm, industrial bus protocols (and more protocols).  ISA Comms Division is here to help sort out this maze.

Or on a more formal note, This ISA Technical Division focused on the equipment, software, and protocols involved with transmitting, reporting, and processing of real-time data, including concepts relating to data acquisition, processing, storage and transmission, information theory, and industrial IT. The work includes data transmission to/between sensors and real-time computing/control systems via analog, serial, fieldbus, Ethernet, and wireless methods.

In reality, this means we are concerned with all the “magic” that makes it possible for control systems to work.

Without the physical layer/hardware and associated operating systems and communications protocols working properly, it would be impossible to control the process. People tend to take the signal infrastructure for granted until it does not work, and then because it is about the “nuts and bolts,” there are few people available to able to actually help solve the problem. This is where the ISA Communications Division can help you find the information you need to sort out these issues and more importantly help you make the right choice up front, so you do not get the 2 a.m. phone call.

We have two exciting opportunities this year where you cannot only learn about different communications technologies and how to properly apply them while also networking with the knowledge workers, your peers, who are making it all possible. The first event is a Wireless Factory workshop we are co-hosting with ISA-100 and then in June we will have our two track symposium in La Jolla, California. Links to information on both events are below and on the navigation bar to the left.

Peter & I hope to “communicate” with all of you regularly and soon.

 

To join the Commmunications Division simply follow the following link and follow the instructions provided there.



Related Files

Communications Division 2012 Symposium Paper Call (Adobe PDF File)
Wireless Factory Workshop Paper Call (Adobe PDF File)

Contacts:
Ian Verhappen

Ian Verhappen
Director
Phone: (780) 842-4722
Fax: (780) 809-0645


Randy Buchanan


Randy Buchanan
A & T Department VP
Phone: (601) 266-4949
Fax: (601) 266-6452

John Campbell


John Campbell
Membership Chair

Peter Fuhr


Peter Fuhr
Director-elect
Phone: (831) 574-5206

Rodney Jones


Rodney Jones
Staff Contact

George Studor


George Studor
Program Chair
Phone: (763) 208-9283

Ian Verhappen


Ian Verhappen
Newsletter Editor
Phone: (780) 842-4722
Fax: (780) 809-0645

Ian Verhappen


Ian Verhappen
Webmaster
Phone: (780) 842-4722
Fax: (780) 809-0645

Clifford Whitehead


Clifford Whitehead
Symposium Contact
Phone: (440) 646-3779
Fax: (440) 646-4399