SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition) systems typically gather a vast array of process data – the symposium will be looking at smarter ways to use this data.
Last year one of the most successful Symposia organised by a Division of the International Society of Automation (ISA) was held in the Florida city of Orlando. It was the 2012 ISA Water/Wastewater and Automatic Controls Symposium (ISA WWAC Symposium). The record attendance numbers, which were more than triple the numbers of past years, highlighted the growing importance of automation and cybersecurity in the municipal water/wastewater sectors in North America
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The 2013 ISA Water/Wastewater and Automatic Controls Symposium, which will take place 6-8 August 2013 at the Crowne Plaza Orlando-Universal Hotel in Orlando, Florida, USA. Now in its eighth year, it will offer again a unique opportunity for automation, instrumentation and SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition) professionals in the water and wastewater sectors to share ideas, network and earn continuing education credits.
The 2013 ISA WWAC Symposium is a three-day event that focuses on the challenges associated with providing reliable, secure and cost-efficient automation for the world’s municipal water/wastewater infrastructure. The gathering features two full days of technical speakers/presentations, networking events, a poster session, and a supplier showcase. This year’s program also includes an optional tour of a local water treatment facility, and two optional short courses on SCADA cybersecurity and flow meter section/sizing.
Invited Speakers
This year’s symposium will feature three prominent speakers who will present on pertinent industry topics, including cybersecurity, the benefits of high-performance HMI design, and effective SCADA project management techniques.
John Cusimano, CFSE, CISSP of exida, who also is the instructor for the symposium’s two-day in-depth cybersecurity course, will deliver a talk about the current state of cybersecurity at municipal water plants. Bill Hollifield of PAS, who spoke at last year’s symposium, will return to provide an overview of a recent EPRI (Electric Power Research Institute) study about the benefits of high-performance HMIs and how these HMI techniques can be applied to water/wastewater SCADA systems. P. Hunter Vegas of Avid Solutions, who recently co-authored (with Greg McMillan) the book 101 Tips for a Successful Automation Career, will present a talk on how to successfully plan and manage SCADA retrofit projects.
Call for Abstracts
The complete technical program for the symposium will feature over 30 speakers presenting on a variety of automation, instrumentation and SCADA topics unique to the water/wastewater sector. There are still a few speaking slots left in the technical program. The symposium program committee extends an open invitation for potential speakers to submit 250-word abstracts for a 30-minute talk, and a 6-12 page paper and/or poster. More information, along with the official call for abstracts, can be found here on the website. Abstracts are due by 31 January 2013.
Partnerships with WEF, the Florida AWWA and NRWA
The WWAC Symposium’s new-found growth in popularity was in no small measure thanks to alliances with the Water Environment Federation (WEF), the Florida Section of the American Water Works Association (FSAWWA) and the National Rural Water Association (NRWA). By forming strong partnerships with other associations, the symposium has been able to reach a broader cross-section of water and wastewater professionals across the industry. For members of these associations, the symposium provides targeted professional development and training opportunities otherwise inaccessible.
“This collaboration aligns with WEF’s Strategic Direction, connecting water professionals to leverage knowledge and promote innovation,” says WEF Automation and Info Tech Committee Chair Tom DeLaura. “I am very much looking forward to continuing WEF’s technical co-sponsorship of the 2013 WWAC Symposium. It has been a pleasure to be part of the team that brought ISA and WEF together for this symposium, as well as on several other initiatives. The power of such collaboration is uplifting.”
Cost-Effective Continuing Education Credits
The 2013 ISA WWAC Symposium offers a cost-effective way for operators and engineers who work in the municipal water and wastewater sectors to gain valuable continuing education credits. (These are a system of offsetting education costs against tax in the USA). Thanks to partnerships with local organizations, and the ISA’s own role as an education provider, attendees are able to receive both PDHs (professional development hours) and CEUs (continuing education units) for the time they spend at the symposium, and during the symposium’s two optional training courses on cybersecurity and flow meter section/sizing. Registration for the 2.5 day symposium costs only $425, and discounts are available for AWWA, WEF and ISA members. A special discounted hotel rate of $92/night has been arranged for symposium attendees.
Symposium Preview Brochure
Registration for the symposium is now open. Interested parties can find out more about the 2013 ISA WWAC Symposium on the symposium website, or by viewing the four-page full color “conference preview” brochure, which is also available on the website. Both paper-based and online sign-up methods are available.
Training Courses
Two optional training courses on cybersecurity and flow meter selection/sizing that are being offered in conjunction with the symposium.
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