Research Triangle Park, NC (1 March 2010) - The International Society of Automation 
(ISA) announces the publication of Essentials of Modern Measurements and Final 
Elements in the Process Industry: A Guide to Design, Configuration, Installation, and 
Maintenance by Gregory K. McMillan.

Dedicated to automation engineers and technicians, this comprehensive resource 
aims to increase awareness of the opportunities afforded by modern measurement 
instruments and final elements, and to show how to get maximum benefit from the 
revolution in smart technologies. It builds an understanding of the fundamental aspects 
of measurements, measurement instruments, and final elements for applications in the 
process industry. The terminology and ideas presented provide a firm foundation for 
subsequent chapters that focus on what is needed for lowest life-cycle cost and best 
automation system performance. The last chapter provides a comprehensive exploration 
of the technology that supports the rapidly expanding opportunities of WirelessHART 
instrumentation. Each chapter includes a set of questions designed to stimulate the 
thought process involved for a successful application.

No prior plant experience with industrial process instrumentation is required for the 
reader to understand this book. For students and new employees, the chapters on 
fundamentals can improve productivity on the job and form a basis for further study. For 
the seasoned veteran, the book offers insights and serves as a guide through today’s 
myriad automation products and application details. It provides a picture of the 
state-of-the-art for 95% of the field instrumentation and final elements used, or under 
consideration, in a modern process plant. The reader is encouraged to seek further 
information on particular types of measurement instruments and final elements, which 
is available from manufacturers via the internet and in instrumentation handbooks and 
ISA publications.