Industrial Automation Excellence: Reducing Environmental Impact Through ISA Standards

Four Decades of Automation Leadership

As a California Registered Professional Engineer, my 45-year career demonstrates automation’s evolving impact. ISA recognized my contributions with Life Member and Fellow Member status in 2005. This honor reflects my work in advanced control systems for process and aerospace industries.

Global ISA Training and Business Development

My ISA journey began through international instruction. I taught critical courses across multiple continents. These educational initiatives consistently generated new business opportunities.

• TS06 – IT and OT Survival Basics for I&C Personnel
• TS12 – IT and OT Advanced Skills for I&C Personnel

Teaching these courses helped clients upgrade control networks. Consequently, they achieved better plant performance and enhanced security. All projects maintain environmental compliance and cybersecurity standards.

Chevron Refinery Emission Control Solution

The Chevron El Segundo refinery faced critical emission challenges. California state requirements demanded flaring elimination of 30 million cubic feet daily. This would have reduced capacity by 25%. However, we developed an innovative natural gas recovery system.

• Modified gas processing to extract methane, butane, and propane
• Built 6-mile pipeline to SoCal Edison power station
• Integrated quality monitoring and fiscal measurement systems

The project increased refinery throughput significantly. It also generated $1.2 million annual profit improvement. Most importantly, it substantially reduced regional air pollution.

LAX Jet Fuel Management Modernization

Los Angeles Airport required advanced fuel management systems. I designed and installed a comprehensive SCADA network for the Fuel Farm. The system ensured quality control across four fuel suppliers.

• New tank construction for Jet A/SAF Blend storage
• Automated quality monitoring and impurity removal
• Coordinated accounting between all stakeholders

The control system measured flow rates and tank levels precisely. It also handled complex fiscal accounting approved by the US Department of Energy.

BP Marine Terminal Environmental Innovation

Supertanker operations in Long Beach created significant pollution. Traditional unloading methods used shipboard pumps, contaminating harbor air and water. We implemented a comprehensive solution.

• Installed high-accuracy custody transfer systems (0.10% accuracy)
• Negotiated shore power connections with SoCal Edison
• Integrated flow computers, PLCs, and sampling systems

This eliminated ship-generated pollution completely. The project used Modicon PLC and OMNI Flow Computers successfully.

Coachella Valley Water District SCADA Implementation

This award-winning project transformed water management across 1,000 square miles. We implemented an advanced MPLS network serving 600,000 residents.

• 26 wireless WAN channels at 64mbps speed
• 400 field devices for comprehensive monitoring
• Coordination between multiple water districts

The $4.56 million project improved water quality throughout the region. It also enhanced accountability for all water resources significantly.

Industrial Cybersecurity Standards Development

I contributed to the foundational ISA99 cybersecurity committee. This work evolved into the ISA/IEC 62443 standards series. My involvement included multiple cybersecurity initiatives.

• Development and instruction of IC32, IC33, IC34 courses
• Department of Homeland Security ICS cybersecurity training
• US Coast Guard cybersecurity program participation

These standards now protect critical infrastructure worldwide. They represent essential protection against evolving cyber threats.

Professional Engineering Education

I annually teach a four-day PE exam preparation course in Southern California. The course maintains an exceptional pass rate exceeding 75%. This demonstrates the effectiveness of our teaching methodology. I also developed industrial networks curriculum for Cal State Fullerton.

Technical Publications and Industry Contributions

My work appears in the premier Instrumentation and Automation Engineers’ Handbook. I authored five critical chapters in the 2016 fifth edition.

• Calibration of Fiscal Metering Systems
• Bi-Directional Fiscal Metering Systems
• Multiphase Metering Systems
• Density Measurement
• Dewpoint Measurement

This handbook remains the world’s leading process automation reference.

Environmental Automation Case Study

Scenario: Industrial facility faces regulatory pressure to reduce emissions while maintaining production levels.

• Solution: Implement ISA-standard control systems with emissions monitoring
• Approach: Integrate PLC-based control with environmental compliance systems
• Result: 30% emission reduction with 15% production increase

For reliable industrial automation components that support environmental compliance, visit PLCDCSHUB for PLC systems and monitoring equipment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How can automation systems reduce environmental impact while improving profitability?

A: Modern control systems optimize resource usage and recover valuable materials. The Chevron project demonstrated how emission control can generate significant revenue through byproduct recovery.

Q: What role do ISA standards play in large-scale automation projects?

A: ISA standards provide proven methodologies that ensure system reliability and regulatory compliance. They establish common frameworks that reduce project risk and enhance interoperability.

Q: How critical is cybersecurity in industrial automation today?

A: Cybersecurity is essential for protecting critical infrastructure. The ISA/IEC 62443 standards provide comprehensive protection strategies that have become industry requirements.