I&C – Beginning and End of the Project Life Cycle

Webinar details

Instrumentation and Controls (I&C), normally equated with the field sensors and actuators element of industrial automation are one reason why industrial automation/controls engineers are involved in the full life cycle of any project. Field devices are the interface between the control systems and the process, so it is important to get this part of the project correct; starting at the front end of the design, with the Piping and Instrumentation Diagrams.

The P&ID, which is the master index document to the entire plant, leads to control narratives and then needing to have control system design 90% complete for proper sizing of the control system and infrastructure during the preliminary design stage. I&C then need to understand the principles of multiple other engineering disciplines for proper sizing and selection during the detail design stage. Ironically instrumentation are then the last ones out of the plant because field devices cannot be installed until the mechanical and electrical infrastructure is in place.

• The webinar will be recorded and will be sent out to registered attendees afterwards.
• A certificate of attendance will be provided to attendees who request one near the end of the live webinar session.
• Please note: the time stated on this event is in UTC. You will need to convert this to your own time zone.

Key Takeaways

• Understand why instrumentation and control (I&C) engineers are involved throughout the entire project life cycle.
• Learn how Piping and Instrumentation Diagrams (P&IDs) form the foundation for effective control system design.
• Discover the importance of translating process requirements into control narratives and control system architecture during the design phase.
• Explore how collaboration across multiple engineering disciplines is essential for selecting and sizing instrumentation correctly.
• Gain insight into the critical role of field instrumentation during commissioning and why it is often the final element installed before a plant becomes operational.

Event Details

• Date: Thursday, 22 October 2026
• Time: 3PM – 4PM UTC
• Location: Online Session

Meet the Presenter

Ian Verhappen

Ian has been involved in digital communications since 1994 installing the first multi- vendor Foundation Fieldbus project in 1996.

Since then, Ian has served as both a leading Project Engineer/Designer and an external/cold eyes review consultant for a number of companies and in pulp and paper, mining, food processing, water and wastewater, oil sands processing, petrochemical and refining industries.

Ian is co-author, with Augusto Pereira, of ISA’s popular “Foundation Fieldbus Pocket Guide” now in its fourth edition.

Ian is also an active volunteer with ISA, serving as Vice-President of the Standards and Practices 2005/6 and is presently Canadian Chair of IEC TC65, SC65B and SC65E.. Ian is known as a digital communications evangelist and his passion for the topic has taken him around the world to share his experiences.

Ian has accumulated over 20 years’ experience in oil sands mining where he supported plant operations using standard mining processes of slurry transport, flotation / separation cells and multiphase flow. He is also experienced in truck and shovel operations with associated crushing and solids transport including real time maintenance/operating data for this mobile equipment via wireless communications.

Ian has the ability to explain technology in simple terms that can be understood by others without the same level of theory or experience, a rare quality!

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About the Engineering College of Technology (ECT)

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