Data Acquistion

Description

This course is part of a series that leads to a JACMET Engineering Instrumentation Certificate. All businesses have to collect increasing quantities of data and the range of applications within the JACMET member companies provides a certificate that demonstrates both wide scope and rigorous practice. Although the interfaces with the physical world are very diverse (and are covered in other certificate courses), they all feed similar data acquisition systems. This course takes a practical viewpoint and covers the specification, application and extendibility of data acquisition systems.

• Day 1: Two practical examples of data acquisition. The applications drive the specifications and boundary conditions for use. However, they have a lot in common and a number of general features can be deduced that apply to all data acquisition tasks. We then work back into the building blocks and the trade-offs for speed, accuracy and cost.
• Day 2: Few data acquisition activities are straightforward. As well as the obvious limitations of speed and accuracy, there are pitfalls from environmental factors, connections, instrument loading and application-specific limitations. These issues are examined in terms of the cases developed in Day 1. Some features of the impact of new technology on data acquisition are also studied.

The course involves individual and team activities with time for discussion to take full advantage of the experience of the participants. The case studies of the first day allow everyone to benchmark their own familiarity with the topic and develop personal learning goals.

Objectives

The objective is to demonstrate how data acquisition systems are specified, designed, used and not abused.

Intended Audience

Anyone who has to specify or collect data to make decisions.

Course Information

When and Where

• The course is taught for 16 hours total in a classroom.
• Note: You must attend all 16 hours to complete the course.

COURSE TESTIMONIALS

• "Excellent Course!"

When asked what they liked most about this course, past participants commented on the following:

• Breakdown between Design and Problems.
• Taught us to correct the problems faced.
• Got to hear others viewpoints on the various topics
• Found out what others are doing in the industry
• Current developments
• Interactive
• Pace
• Format
• Documentation
• Presenter

Instructor

• John Robertson, Arizona State University