埃迪斯科文大学

Instrumentation control and automation engineering is the integration of electrical, electronic and computing engineering with control engineering.

This integrated discipline includes the development of intelligent systems to automate monitoring, processing, and production in different engineering industries. The course is designed to provide graduates with a strong background to enter into a range of career pathways related to automation and control application in the mining and mineral processing, oil and gas, and agriculture industries that are strongly represented in the economy of Western Australia.

Graduates of the course will be conversant in electrical and electronic engineering; have specialist skills in design, development and management of advanced control and automation systems; and have the ability to participate in, and lead, complex multidisciplinary projects.

The program focuses on the development of knowledge and skills relevant to professional engineering practice along with a sound theoretical base, and includes strong elements of practical problem solving, team work and project development. As a result, graduates will have strong analytical skills, in addition to multiple technical and transferable competencies.

The course covers topics in process control algorithms, computer interfacing and communications of industrial controllers, as well as computer automation, including the use of PLCs, SCADA, and PC-based systems to control systems and processes. Topics such as advanced PLC control and SCADA systems, and manufacturing execution systems are introduced in the advanced years of the program, after students have gained proficiency in the theory of modern control and dynamic systems.

Course Structure

Students are required to complete 30 Core units, 2 Elective units and a Practicum unit.

Course Learning Outcomes

• Apply systematic engineering synthesis and design processes to conduct and manage instrumentation, control and automation engineering projects, with some intellectual independence.
• Demonstrate a global outlook and knowledge of contextual factors impacting the engineering discipline, including respect for cultural diversity and indigenous cultural competence.
• Demonstrate advanced knowledge of the underpinning natural and physical sciences and in depth understanding of specialist bodies of knowledge within the instrumentation, control and automation engineering disciplines.
• Demonstrate clear and coherent oral and written communication in professional and lay domains.
• Demonstrate conceptual understanding of the mathematics, numerical analysis, statistics and computer and information sciences which underpin the instrumentation, control and automation engineering disciplines and fluently apply engineering techniques, tools and resources.
• Demonstrate responsibility for own learning, professional judgement and an understanding of the scope, principles, norms, accountabilities and bounds of contemporary engineering practice.
• Think critically, and apply established engineering methods and research skills to complex engineering problem solving.

Employment opportunities

Instrumentation control and automation engineers have diverse employment opportunities in most sectors of industry, including product design and development, manufacturing, mining and resource, agriculture, public utilities, road and transport, defence, aerospace, chemical, pharmaceutical, and consulting.

Possible future job titles

Control and Automation Engineer, Process Control Engineer, Instrumentation Engineer.