ISA WWAC Symposium gathering steam with more than 200 pre-registrations

2013wastewaterplantThe symposium committee is pleased to announce that pre-registration activity for the 2013 ISA Water/Wastewater and Automatic Controls Symposium (WWAC Symposium) has been brisk. Pre-registration for the symposium, which will take place 6-8 August in Orlando, Florida, USA, is now in excess of 200. In addition, more than 30 individuals have registered for the symposium’s two optional short courses on in-depth cybersecurity and flow meter selection/sizing.

Taking place at the Crowne Plaza Orlando-Universal Hotel in Orlando, the 2013 ISA WWAC Symposium is a three-day event that focuses on the challenges associated with automation and instrumentation in the water and wastewater sectors. The symposium features more than 40 technical speakers, two full days of technical presentations, a tour of a local water treatment plant, a general reception and a supplier showcase. This symposium is unique as it focuses entirely on the needs of automation professionals in the municipal water and wastewater sectors.

“Our secret is our focus,” says Patrick Gouhin, CEO and Executive Director at ISA. “Our annual ISA Water/Wastewater Symposium specifically caters to the needs of professionals involved with automation, instrumentation and SCADA in the municipal water and wastewater sectors. It is a unique niche event and we are proud of its increasing popularity. There is no other event like it in North America.”

A strong technical program

This year’s technical program features more than 40 speakers. Carey E. Hidaka from IBM’s Smarter Water Group will present a keynote address on how “big data” analytics can realize significant opportunities when applied to the myriad of data sources available to municipal water and wastewater utilities.  These data sources include supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems, computerized maintenance management systems (CMMS), customer billing systems, and enterprise asset management systems (EAMS) as well as  geographic information systems (GIS) and web-based data, such as those used for the US Geological Survey.

“Fresh water, a fundamental requirement for life on the planet, is becoming a scarce resource as the world’s population grows and competition increases for available water,” says IBM’s Hidaka, a seasoned professional with more than 35 years of experience in the water and information technology sectors. “Against this backdrop, the world’s cities will require new and innovative approaches to address these significant challenges. Business-as-usual and traditional engineering solutions won’t be enough.”

Other notable speakers in the 2013 WWAC symposium technical program include:

  • John Cusimano, of exida security services, who will provide an update on the current state of cybersecurity in municipal water plants, and what types of risk management programs owners can be put in place to protect themselves.
  •  P. Hunter Vegas, co-author of the book 101 Tips for a Successful Automation Career, who will talk about how to successfully manage SCADA retrofit projects, and how to manage schedule/risk and context amid the differing perspectives of team members, including system integrators, operators, maintenance technicians, middle managers and utility owners.
  •  Michael Sweeney, deputy executive director of the Toho Water Authority and long-time member of the American Water Works Association, who will talk about current and upcoming technology trends in the municipal drinking water sector.
  •  Tom DeLaura, Chair of the Water Environment Federation’s Automation and Info Tech Committee, who will present on the automation technology trends in the wastewater sector.

Other topics addressed in the technical program include: real-time control of combined sewer overflow gates, case studies on plant upgrades, cybersecurity risk reduction, developing in-house automation standards, instrumentation best practices, ensuring power reliability at plants, remote communications, on-line web-based reporting, advanced process control, alarm management, improving process visualization, and system integration best practices.

“This year’s 2013 WWAC symposium program covers a fascinating mix of instrumentation, SCADA, cybersecurity, alarm management, and human-factors topics. The program offers great insight to anyone who works in the operations, maintenance, design or capital planning aspects of the water or wastewater sector,” says general symposium chair Graham Nasby, a senior instrumentation and control engineer with Eramosa Engineering. For the full program schedule, including full presentation abstracts and speaker bios, visit www.isawaterwastewater.com/program-schedule/

Registration is still open

Registration is still open at www.isawaterwastewater.com . Attendees can register online or register by contacting ISA customer service at 1-919-549-8411. Registration for the three-day symposium is $450, and includes catered breakfasts and lunches, as well as a printed attendee note set of the symposium proceedings. Discounts are available for ISA, AWWA and WEF members.

Attendees will also receive approved continuing education credits (PDHs and CEUs) from ISA and the Florida Section of the American Water Works Association. These credits can be used toward continuing education requirements for various state-issued water operator, wastewater operator and engineering licenses. See the symposium website for more information.

 

Attention members of the press: ISA invites you to attend the ISA WWID Symposium with complimentary registration. To register, and gain further details, contact Graham Nasby via email at graham.nasby@eramosa.com, or by phone at +1 519-763-7774.

 

About the 2013 ISA Water/Wastewater and Automatic Controls Symposium
Presented by the ISA Water and Wastewater Industries Division, the ISA Water/Wastewater and Automatic Controls Symposium (WWAC Symposium) helps professionals in the water and wastewater industries understand how instrumentation, SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition) and automatic control applications are vital to the treatment and distribution of water, the collection and treatment of wastewater, and the management of storm water. As a three-day event, the symposium features technical speakers, invited speakers, an exhibit hall, plant tour and a general reception. The 2013 ISA WWAC Symposium is being held 6–8 August 2013 at the Crowne Plaza Orlando-Universal Hotel in Orlando, Florida. More information can be found at www.isawaterwastewater.com or by contacting Graham Nasby, general symposium chair, at graham.nasby@eramosa.com.

About ISA
Founded in 1945, the International Society of Automation (ISA) is a leading, global, non-profit 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. For more information see www.isa.org.