Arthur Zatarain wrote his first computer program in 1970, using punch cards on a Fortran system at LSU. He hand built his first micro in the mid-70'a and wrote its operating system on a thermal printer teletype. Since then he has written hundreds of computer programs on a wide variety of systems, with microcomputers and Programmable Logic Controllers getting most of his attention.

Much of Arthur's career involved software for industrial computers using languages ranging from assembly code to PLC ladder logic. The graphic icons on today's computer desktop occupy more memory than the entire storage available in the early micros. But despite the incredible advances in computer technology, the fundamentals remain unchanged; properly designed and programmed systems are essential for reliable and safe industrial computer applications. Arthur's long relationship with computers of all stripes is a valuable resource in many forensic matters.

Representative highlights and milestones are as follows:

1977 - Offshore Production Simulation Program: This Fortran program was written while at Shell Oil to simulate oil and gas processing in an offshore environment. It was later migrated to Basic on an IBM mainframe, and eventually operated on IBM PC systems.

1977 - Early PLC Installation: Arthur programmed and installed "LDC-40" manually programmable logic controllers to replace standard flow meter control systems for Shell Pipeline. These were among the very first PLC systems installed offshore in the Gulf of Mexico.

1978 - Zatmon Operating System: This Z-80 based operating system written by Arthur leveraged the whopping 4K system memory of a modified Digital Group computer. This tiny storage area held the core OS as well as several 256 byte dynamic overlay blocks that swapped in from cassette tape memory. The system operated automated Phi Deck drives to load the OS, overlays, and program code at a speedy 110 baud.

1979 - PLC flow control: While at Shell Oil, Arthur programmed early Allen Bradley Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC) to perform oil and gas production control and safety functions. These systems were among the first Ladder Logic programmable systems installed in the Gulf of Mexico.

1980 - Mag Tape and Punch Card Interfaces: At Dataran Engineering, Arthur developed several Z-80 based interfaces for older computer peripheral equipment. The initial target was connection to an Alpha Micro WD16 (LSI-11) DEC-compatible processor, with later variants running on PC compatible computers. Some of these systems remained in operation as late as 2008.

1982 - Microcomputer RTU: This solar powered Remote Terminal Unit built for McMoran Offshore was programmed in Motorola 6800 assembly language. The RTU performed supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) over both telephone and radio links using a handheld DTMF touchtone generator.

1983 - Autocad Database interface: Arthur became one of the earliest Autocad developers to produce realtime database interfaces for PC compatible machines. A modified version of the system also incorporated one of the first Global Positioning System (GPS) interfaces to a general purpose microcomputer for an application in dredging barge navigation.

1985 - Drill Mud Logger: Arthur developed a microcomputer-based oil rig mud monitoring system to track parameters related to drill rates and mud analysis. The system was programmed in PL/M on a multi-processor Z-80 system using the CP/M and TurboDos operating systems.

1986 - PC-AT Manufacturing: IBM AT compatible "clone" computers produced by Arthur under the Naratad brand name served both commercial and industrial users. Various configurations were developed for general purpose computing as well as high performance industrial computing in hot, wet, and high vibration applications.

1987 - Nuclear Medical Device: The Omnitron Remote Afterloader was programmed with the robust realtime PC technology developed at Dataran Engineering. This electromechanical system used both Pascal and Assembly code to configure and operate the patented cancer treatment system on which Arthur is a named inventor.

1987 - Voice Auto-dialer:   Arthur designed and programmed this single board computer for Seekirk using core routines from the Zatmon OS. The device used an Hitachi Z-80 derivative to receive touchtone DTMF codes for programming and control. The design evolved into the LB-100 system manufactured by TEST Automation and Controls as part of the SCADAware product line.

1988 - Oilfield Telemetry: Arthur's experience with realtime Personal Computer programming and I/O hardware design led to development of the SCADAware line of oilfield and industrial telemetry systems. These PC based systems were written in Intel assembly code and Pascal to perform complex telemetry, flow measurement, and process control functions using industrial personal computers.

1990 - Production Allocation Program: Arthur's "PAP" system was a PC-based oilfield reporting system for multi-well comingled production environments. Despite the relatively simple user interface and batch process methods, PAP remained in service with several oil and gas producers into the 21st century.

1991 - Certification in Systems Integration: This credential was administered by the Institute of Industrial Engineers (IIE). Certification required demonstrated competence, experience, and testing in the integration of process systems, industrial communications, and computerized control devices such as PLC and DCS equipment.

1992 - PLC Flow Measurement: Arthur programmed PC slot computers embedded into standard industrial PLC racks to perform AGA3 gas flow measurement and control while interfacing to external programmable devices. Process interfaces included pneumatic and hydraulic sensing and adjustment of mechanized process control components.

1994 - Modbus PLC Voice Interface: A modified SCADAware RTU formed the "Talk Box" system capable of direct interface to Modbus compatible PLCs. The system provided intelligent voice annunciation based on logic status communicated via a Modbus open architecture interface to any PLC.

1996 - PLC Network Communications: An embedded PLC computer linked to SCADAware telemetry systems to allow exchange of flow computation and control parameters over standard radio telemetry links.

1997- Automated Pharmaceutical Dispenser: Infringement analysis on the "Baker cell" patent led to product development of a portable pharmaceutical dispensing cart. The unit integrated bar code scanning, database management, and automated electromechanical sensing and positioning.

1998 - Redundant PLC System: Arthur served as the control system architect for the world's largest pipeline production ship. The continuous pipe-lay process used redundant PLCs to control automated welding machines and conveyors. The process was linked with the ship's dynamic positioning system (DPS) to coordinate pipeline production with ship movement over the seafloor.

2000 - Patent Testimony: Arthur testified in US Federal Court in a matter involving PC-based monitoring of mainframe computer operations. His expertise related to PC memory management, network communications, and realtime program operation under the DOS operating system.

2004 - Solaia PLC Patent: Arthur consulted for several manufacturers regarding infringement and validity of the "Solaia patent". The highly publicized patent disputes centered on PLC to Personal Computer communication links and data displays.

2004 - Computer Forensics: Arthur was certified by Oregon State University for New Technology Inc. computer forensics. This experience is useful for expert engagements in today's computer-centric industrial control environment.

2006 - Net DDE: The SCADAWare program was enhanced to include Net DDE processing to enable integration of existing SCADAware systems with larger SCADA systems supporting open architecture network protocols.

Present day - Computer System Analysis: Arthur continues to consult in a variety of situations involving industrial computers, PLC, and DCS equipment. His role includes software and hardware analysis as well matters related to design, fabrication, installation, and maintenance. A list of consulting engagements can be viewed here.

Click Here for detailed list of project profiles.

Copyright © 2011 Artzat Consulting. Photos modified for confidentiality or illustration clarity.

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plc and industrial computers

Arthur Zatarain has built and programmed computers since the mid 1970s. His first system was a z-80 hand made computer based on Digital Group design. He has PLC and DCS experience for design programming installation and maaintenance

Artzat consulting has experience with plc and computerized control systems. This experience was obtained at shell offshore as well as contract work for many producers such as exxon, mcmoran, conoco, chevron, and texaco./p>

Artzat Consulting is owned by Arthur Zatarain, PE in Metairie Louisiana, a suburb of New Orleans Artzat provides consulting and expert witness services to attorneys, insurers, and end users. Typical projects relate to equipment, automation, instrumentation, and control systems. Service is available nationwide with engineering licenses held in Louisiana, Alabama, California, and Alaska.

Forensic Engineer

A forensic engineer performs analysis and reporting on technhical matters that are typically being pricessed through some form of legal matter. However, a legal environment isn't required for a forensic examination. The analysis may be performed merely to determine the cause of a specific event or condition. For example, a forensic examination may be made on a control system to determine why an accident occured, or why a system did not perform as expected. The forensic analysis may be of software code such as ladder lofic in a PLC, or it may involve hard wired relay logic, electrical controls, power distribution, or instrumentation. Forensic engineering is therefore useful in a variety of situations regardless of the legal entanglement.

Industrial Equipment

Typical equipment includes programmable logic controller PLC, distrubited control system DCS, and electric relay logic. PLC systems use ladder logic for most operations, while a DCS will often use function block programming. The concepts of PLC and DCS have merged into a unified control platform based on open architecture interfaces. The use if ladder logic is widespread due to its earlier application to relay logic circuits.

An expert witness is used to investigate and evaluate the technical and commercial aspects of accidents, intellectual property, and commercial matters. Artzat consulting can assist clients in all these areas, with experience with steam boilers, paper mill, steel mill, burner management, and telemetry scada. Other areas include medical devices, flow measurement, meters, power distribution, and refridgeration.

Expert Witness Services

Expert witness can be provided in any state, with experience in Louisiana, California, Alabama, and Alaska. Other states include North Carolina, Olkahoma, Illionis, and Indiana and Texas. Michigan has also been served, with the states of Washington, Colorado, Oregon, and District of Columbia DC. Any state such as New York or New Jersey can also be served by expert witness service. Professional credentials are important, such as licensed engineer or registered engineer. Also importnat is a masters degree in engineering or similar field. A phd is not a necessity for an expert witness because career experience and expert witness experience is more useful to the client than a phd with no relevant experience.

product Liability

A forensic engineer is useful for matters of product liability and product defects. Artzat Consulting has experience with product liability for industrial and commercial equipment. Product liability has also been analyzed for control systems, programmable controllers, ladder logic, and engineering design. Product liability can result from an original product manufacturer oem, or from a systems integrator who combines components into a complete system.

Forensic Engineering Locations

Service in Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas, and Alabama is efficient due to the proximity of Metairie to those areas. However, an airplane will take Artzat anywhere within the USA in a matter of hours. Travel to Alabama areas such as Birmingham or Montgomery or Mobile is easy, with Huntsville also accessible by car. Visits to Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, and Austin are also less than one day away by car. A phd is not unusual for an expert witness, but is not really important when compared to real life experience with equipment, controls and automation with PLC and DCS control system equipment.

Service in California includes Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego as well as outlying Bakersfield and Antioch. Seattle is a bit far, but the airline does most of the heavy lifting. Travel to New York NYC occurs easily on JetBlue and Delta. Once in NYC the entire tri-state area is easily accessibls, as is upstate new york.

Service to New England is welcomed, so please inquire with your technical requirements for an expert witness. Travel to new England such as Boston is by JetBlue, or other carriers, which can then lead to other New England cities.

Engineer for Machine Accident

An engineer ma be required to serve as an expert witness or forensic for a machine accident such as with a conveyor, power press, steel mill, or extraction machine. The instance could be an equipment accident, or it could be a process accident. A typical example is an expert engineer for a manufacturing accident. This could be an expert engineer or forensic engineer in an assembly plant, or an expert engineer in a production line or on a vehicle assembly line.

Oilfield accident

An expert engineer can be useful to evaluate an oilfield or oil and gas accident. Those events may include oil and gas or the related products such as water, co2, h2s, and sulfates. The accidents occur on oil wells, gas wells, pipelines, storage tanks, and production vessels such as separators, treaters, waste heat recovery units, and water treating facilities. Such events can be generally divided into an oil and gas drilling accident or an oil and gas production accident. An oilfield accident requiring an expert engineer can occur onshore of offshore. The expert engineer can be for control system, production system, safety system or automation system, or instrumentation. The system can be electrical, electric, electronic, hydraulic, and pneumatic. A computer control system can also require an expert engineer. An industiral engineer can also be used if the matter involves safety and production systems.

Automatic control

An expert engineer may be required for an accident involving automatic control. That expert could be for electrical engineer, control system engineer, or automation engineer. A mechanical engineer or someone with experience with mechanical engineering can also be useful for an automatic control accident. A certified systems integrator is someone who can be an expert engineer for automatic control. The systems integration involves combining multiple equipment and techology into a single control system. This involves design, programming, fabrication, testing installation, and maintenance.

industrial accident

An industrial accident may require an expert engineer or forensic engineer to analyze and evaluate the control system connected with the event. The accident may have nothing to do with the control system. Still, a forensic engineer may be required to analyze the system to determine that the control system was not af fault.

Equipment accident

An equipment accident can require an expert engineer or expert witness to help evaluate the circumstances and situation including the mechanical and electrical components of the equipment. This can be industrial equipment, process equipment, manufacturing system, commercial equipment such as heater or dryer, or pump and compresssor. Industrial equipment is also a flow meter, electrical switchgear, control switch, button, and instrumentation. End devices are pressure, temperature, level, and other physical measurement. Many equipment is used for food production, packaging, transportation, storage, and conveyor. Metal processing such as steel mill, paper mill, refinery, petrochemical, and tank farm. Vehicle can also be equipment itself, or it can contain devices related to an equipment accident.