Instrumentation Engineering Technology, Diploma

Program Information
Credential: 
Diploma
Duration: 

2 years
 

Delivery: 
Main campus
Program Cost Estimates: 
Program Cost Estimates

Contact Information

Contact Name: 
Dale Gust
Contact Title: 
Associate Dean
Contact Phone: 
403.342.3400 OR 1.888.732.4630
Contact Email: 
inquire@rdc.ab.ca
Related Careers

Instrumentation engineering technologists are employed in many industries, including:

  • Exploration and acquisition of oil, gas, and minerals
  • Oil and gas pipelines systems and metering
  • Municipal power, water, and waste management utilities
  • Process operations associated with oil and gas refinement, mineral extraction, and wood products
  • Power generation and grid distribution
  • Manufacturing automation and fabrication facilities
  • Food and pharmaceutical processing
  • Engineering design and consultation operations

Experienced technologists may advance to supervisory or managerial positions, or become self-employed consultants. After a minimum of two years of relevant work experience, graduates are eligible to acquire a Certified Engineering Technologist (CET) designation through the Association of Science and
Engineering Technology Professionals of Alberta (ASET) and, with an additional four years of relevant experience, a Professional Technologist (PTech) designation.

The Program

Instrumentation engineering and associated technologies are rapidly changing and expanding in virtually every industrial and commercial sector. Current and future demand for Instrumentation Engineering Technologists (IETs) in this multi-disciplinary field is exceptionally high. Instrumentation systems form the monitoring and control nervous system of a broad spectrum of industries and applications. Thanks to such systems, commodities like oil, gas, electric power, wood products, clean drinking water, food products, and a wide variety of consumer goods find their way to market.

Program Outcomes
Possessing a unique blend of focused theoretical and practical training, graduates of this program will be able to:

  • Employ relevant industry, health and safety standards, codes, policies and procedures in accordance with current legislation, regulations and organizational policy;
  • Analyze and troubleshoot instrumentation control systems, including electrical, electronic, electromechanical (pneumatic and hydraulic), analog, and digital systems;
  • Design, analyze and maintain (specific configuration and modification of) computer-based systems and hardware including electronic and computer-based controllers, to optimize the performance of process control systems;
  • Analyze and solve complex technical problems by applying principles of advanced mathematics and science;
  • Evaluate wireless and wired control systems applying mathematical, scientific, electrical, electronic and digital principles;
  • Demonstrate and apply the elements of leadership in a multidisciplinary engineering environment;
  • Appraise the installation and deployment of a control system as a supervisory member of a multidisciplinary team;
  • Assess the need for maintenance, reliability and life cycle management of equipment;
  • Apply the principles and practices of project management;
  • Research, analyze, prepare, author, and communicate in written, verbal, nonverbal, and presentation formats, technical documentation appropriate for a variety of audiences;
  • Identify, develop, and demonstrate strategies for maintaining continuing competency and practice standards associated with global industry trends and practices in instrumentation.

The program persistently challenges students to critically think through planning and troubleshooting situations, apply methodologies to solve problems, and to communicate effectively (both oral and written) to any audience.

Requirements
Admission Requirements: 

A minimum average of 65% with no mark below 50% in:


a. ELA 30-1 or ELA 30-2 or equivalents
b. Mathematics 30-1 or equivalent
c. Physics 20 and Chemistry 20 or equivalents
d. One of Chemistry 30, Physics 30, Mathematics 31

Note: Applicants whose first language is not English must demonstrate English language proficiency in addition to the program admission requirements.

Graduation Requirements: 

Students must pass all courses and achieve a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0.

Program Content

Year 1

  • GET 101 Introduction to Instrumentation
  • GET 103 Technology Physics
  • GET 106 Engineering CAD
  • GET 108 Project Management
  • GET 111 Engineering Mathematics
  • GET 112 Advanced Engineering Mathematics
  • GET 114 Computer Programming
  • GET 116 Engineering Communications
  • IET 105 Programmable Controllers
  • IET 115 Process Measurements I
  • IET 215 Process Measurements II
  • IET 120 Process Control I
  • IET 125 Process Operations
  • IET 130 Industrial Chemistry

Year 2

  • GET 202 Engineering Statistics
  • GET 204 Professional Practice
  • IET 205 Data Networking
  • IET 210 Industrial Information Systems
  • IET 216 Process Measurements III
  • IET 220 Process Control II
  • IET 225 Analyzers I
  • IET 228 Electrical & Fluid Power Systems
  • IET 245 SCADA and HMI
  • IET 221 Process Control III
  • IET 230 Instrumentation Systems
  • IET 226 Analyzers II
  • IET 235 Reliability-Based Maintenance
  • IET 240 Capstone Project
Year 1 Course Descriptions

GET 101

Introduces students to basic instrumentation and measurement systems and components.

GET 103

Explore multi-dimensional engineering problems in kinematics, Newton's laws, circular motion, torque, electromagnetic and mechanical waves, conservation laws and steady sate linear circuits.

GET 106

Employ graphical language of drafting using free-hand sketching and 2D CAD. Construct objects in orthographic, isometric, and sections views. Examine principles of component identification and documentation.

GET 111

Apply the fundamental principles of algebra, geometry, trigonometry, nonlinear equations, matrices, determinants and differntial calculus to engineering related problems.

GET 112

Extend the understanding of calculus to include integration techniques and applications, differential equations, Maclaurin and trigonometric Fourier series, Laplace transforms and inverse Laplace transforms. Prerequisite: GET 111

GET 114

Develop structured C/C++ programming skills involving decision and loop structures, functions, arrays and pointers code libraries, and debugging methods. Strong emphasis on algorithim planning, program design, code documentation.

GET 116

Employ professional presentation and communication skills to exchange technical data, operational narratives, and information. Use industry standard software tools to collect, summarize and organize date in order to aid in critical decision making processes.

IET 105

Examine the roles, functions, hardware, software, programming, and interfacing of programmable controllers in a production environment. Learn about digital logic concepts and PLC ladder logic. Write basic programs and create program documentation. Prerequisite: GET 114

IET 115

Recognize the concepts necessary to perform work in hazardous areas. Describe the operation of pneumatic instrumentation devices. Analyze problems associated with instrument loops and pressure and level instruments. Prerequisite: IET 135, IET 145

IET 215

Explore pressure level and temperature measurement methods, including calibration of transmitters and how measurement signals are generated. Learn related terminology and formulas. Prerequisite: IET 115 Corequisite: IET 120

IET 120

Analyze basic concepts of industrial process control. Identify equipment in a process control loop, methods used to achieve process control, fundamental control algorithms, controller tuning and stability. Prerequisite: GET 129, IET 137, IET 135 Corequisite: IET 115

IET 125

Explore process equipment used in chemical plants, petrochemical plants, and pulp mills with regard to basic operation and design. Prerequisite: GET 101

IET 130

Inorganic and organic chemistry concepts and principles related to industrial chemistry.

Year 2 Course Descriptions

GET 202

Apply concepts and techniques of statistical theory to process control, quality assurance, data collection, summarization, and presentation.

GET 204

Recognize legal and ethical requirements for engineering professionals based on Provincial Association or Society. Prerequisite: Term three course completion or consent of Associate Dean.

IET 205

In-depth coverage of networking technologies, topologies, and protocols and integration of different network protocols in industrial environment. Prerequisite: IET 140

IET 210

Examine network architectures and technologies associated with the acquisition and management of industrial data. Introduction to open-protocol data transport and geographical information systems. Prerequisite: IET 205

IET 216

Troubleshoot, commission, install and maintain instruments for flow, density, and storage vessel measurement. Prerequisite: IET 215 Corequisite: IET 230

IET 220

Design and implement advanced control strategies to deal with different types of process disturbances and complex industrial processes. Prerequisite: IET 120, IET 115 Corequisite: IET 125, IET 215

IET 221

Design and implement advanced control strategies to deal with excessive process disturbances and complex industrial processes. Prerequisite: IET 220

IET 225

Examine the fundamentals of operating, troubleshooting and commissioning of liquid and gas analytical instruments. Prerequisite: IET 115, 130, 215

IET 226

Assess, calibrate, and validate industrial analyzers used for air quality, moisture, stack emissions, sampling systems, vibration, and composition of a process stream. Prerequisite: IET 225 and GET 202

IET 228

Fundamental theory, analysis, and application of common instrumentation-based electrical circuits. Operational theory and application of fluid power control systems. Prerequisite: GET 101, GET 103

IET 230

Design, select and size instruments and valves for an industrial project. Illustrate team project management techniques to create an instrumentation engineering package. Corequisite: IET 216

IET 235

Apply the principles and practices of reliability-centred maintenance. Identification of safety practices and standards, planning for routine, one-time, and systems change management, application of failure detection, analysis, and prevention Prerequisites: IET 125, IET 130, IET 216, GET 202

IET 240

Research and compile a technical report on a on a technical problem. Demonstrate project management skill set for an Instrumentation Engineering Technology graduate. Prerequisites: Completion of all Term 3 courses.

IET 245

Learn about the main concepts, communication protocols, software, hardware, and interface technology used in remote monitoring, data collection, and control of industrial processes. Implement interactive Human-Machine Interface screens. Prerequisite: IET 105 Corequisite: IET 205