Instrumentation and control engineering

<h2 id="as-profession">As profession</h2>
<p>High demand for engineering professionals is found in fields associated with process automation. Specializations include <a href="/facts/Industrial_engineering/TjInYQeC">industrial</a> <a href="/facts/Instrumentation/znu7yF5t">instrumentation</a>, <a href="/facts/System_dynamics/EPI2wWsI">system dynamics</a>, <a href="/facts/Process_control/tmjQhchm">process control</a>, and <a href="/facts/Control_system/8CEjIDlS">control systems</a>. Additionally, technological knowledge, particularly in computer systems, is essential to the job of an instrumentation and control engineer; important technology-related topics include <a href="/facts/Human%25E2%2580%2593computer_interaction/EkmIxGCx">human–computer interaction</a>, <a href="/facts/Programmable_logic_controller/bqh0GAdb">programmable logic controllers</a>, and <a href="/facts/SCADA/nKL6Mfd1">SCADA</a>. The tasks center around designing, developing, maintaining and managing control systems.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:2" href="#fn:2"><sup>2</sup></a>
</p><p>The goals of the work of an instrumentation and control engineer are to maximize:
</p>
<ul><li>Productivity</li>
<li>Optimization</li>
<li>Stability</li>
<li>Reliability</li>
<li>Safety</li>
<li>Continuity</li></ul>
<h2 id="as-academic-discipline">As academic discipline</h2>
<p>Instrumentation and control engineering is a vital field of study offered at many universities worldwide at both the <a href="/facts/Graduate_school/e19zs58x">graduate</a> and <a href="/facts/Postgraduate/VhXDbhBz">postgraduate</a> levels. This discipline integrates principles from various branches of engineering, providing a comprehensive understanding of the design, analysis, and management of automated systems.
</p><p>Typical coursework for this discipline includes, but is not limited to, subjects such as <a href="/facts/Control_systems/8CEjIDlS">control system design</a>, instrumentation fundamentals, <a href="/facts/Process_control/tmjQhchm">process control</a>, sensors and <a href="/facts/Signal_processing/Npaja6zb">signal processing</a>, automation, <a href="/facts/Robotics/wkmvodJz">robotics</a>, and industrial data communications. Advanced courses may delve into topics like intelligent control systems, <a href="/facts/Digital_signal_processing/PEG7azr8">digital signal processing</a>, and embedded systems design.
</p><p>Students often have the opportunity to engage in hands-on laboratory work and industry-relevant projects, which foster practical skills alongside theoretical knowledge. These experiences are crucial in preparing graduates for careers in diverse sectors including <a href="/facts/Manufacturing/3qW7bcdy">manufacturing</a>, <a href="/facts/Power_generation/Uo6mQQ1T">power generation</a>, oil and gas, and healthcare, where they may design and maintain systems that automate processes, improve efficiency, and enhance safety.
</p><p>Interdisciplinary by nature, the field is accessible to students from various engineering backgrounds. Most commonly, students with a foundation in <a href="/facts/Electrical_Engineering/YYXW1KLW">Electrical Engineering</a> and <a href="/facts/Mechanical_Engineering/cbId4fye">Mechanical Engineering</a> are drawn to this field due to their strong base in <a href="/facts/Control_systems/8CEjIDlS">control systems</a>, system dynamics, electro-mechanical machines and devices, and electric circuits (course work). However, with the growing complexity and integration of systems, students from fields like <a href="/facts/Computer_engineering/5x1TRKGo">computer engineering</a>, <a href="/facts/Chemical_engineering/Fb64amQf">chemical engineering</a>, and even <a href="/facts/Biomedical_engineering/TNAa3sqa">biomedical engineering</a> are increasingly contributing to and benefiting from studies in instrumentation and <a href="/facts/Control_engineering/5ckfXmB8">control engineering</a>.
</p><p>Furthermore, the rapid advancement of technology in areas like the Internet of Things (IoT), <a href="/facts/Artificial_intelligence/lJGauQwX">artificial intelligence</a> (AI), and <a href="/facts/Machine_learning/e0w0XJTu">machine learning</a> is continuously shaping the curriculum of this discipline, making it an ever-evolving and dynamic field of study.
</p>
<h2 id="see-also">See also</h2>
<ul><li><a href="/facts/Industrial_system/VJgamU0a">Industrial system</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/Instrumentation_in_petrochemical_industries/eD0tv9Tb">Instrumentation in petrochemical industries</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/List_of_sensors/sA5xYuLg">List of sensors</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/Metrology/HC0MmLdb">Metrology</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/Measurement/rsLLbn1s">Measurement</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/Programmable_logic_controller/bqh0GAdb">Programmable logic controller</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/International_Society_of_Automation/XDTHPwBI">International Society of Automation</a></li></ul>

<h2 id="external-links">External links</h2>
<ul><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20140517130918/http://iicta.org/">Industrial Instrumentation and Controls Technology Alliance</a></li>
<li><a href="https://instrumentationandcontrol.net">"Instrumentation and Control"</a>.</li></ul>

<h2 id="references">References</h2>

<ol>
<li id="fn:1"><p>"Instrumentation Engineering Technology". Northern Alberta Institute of Technology. Retrieved 17 October 2012. <a href="http://www.nait.ca/program_home_78211.htm" target="_blank">http://www.nait.ca/program_home_78211.htm</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:2"><p>"Instrumentation and Control Engineering is for Perfectionists", Diksha P Gupta <a href="http://electronicsforu.com/resources/instrumentation-control-engineering-perfectionists" target="_blank">http://electronicsforu.com/resources/instrumentation-control-engineering-perfectionists</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
</ol>

Instrumentation and control engineering open-in-new

Instrumentation and control engineering