CU Boulder Engineers:
The Future of Process Industries Is Open
Industrial control architecture is undergoing a 25-year structural shift. The engineers who understand both process design and digital infrastructure will lead it.
- From proprietary DCS to open automation
- From siloed systems to digital convergence
- From vendor lock-in to lifecycle flexibility
OPEN ARCHITECTURE STACK
Cloud / Edge Compute
Scalable infrastructure layer
ML & Optimization
AI-enabled decision systems
Real-Time Control
O-PAS™ interoperable framework
Process Simulation
Physics-based models
Field Instrumentation
Sensors, actuators, I/O
Why This Matters to Chemical & Biochemical Engineers
You are trained in thermodynamics, kinetics, and transport phenomena. But modern plants increasingly depend on integrated digital systems that connect:
The architecture underneath determines whether innovation is possible — or constrained for decades.
Closed systems limit evolution. Open architecture enables it.
The Convergence Stack
Tomorrow’s plants demand convergence across physics-based models and scalable compute infrastructure.
What You'll Receive
A curated set of resources designed for engineering students navigating the transition from academic foundations to digital industrial practice.
Open Automation Primer (PDF)
Foundations of modern interoperable control architecture.
Technical Comparison Model
Proprietary vs open lifecycle analysis.
25-Year Economic Framework
Why architecture is a capital decision, not a feature checklist.
Career Pathways Overview
Where chemical engineers fit in open automation.
Get the Student Open Automation Brief
Designed specifically for CU Boulder Chemical & Biochemical Engineering students exploring careers in digital industrial systems.
Industry Leadership in Open Standards
Trevor Cusworth works at the intersection of industrial control architecture and next-generation computing, helping process industries transition from closed systems to open, interoperable automation frameworks aligned with O-PAS™ principles.
His focus is structural interoperability and long-term modernization strategy — enabling plants to evolve safely over decades.
Designing the Next 25 Years of Process Infrastructure
The architectural decisions made today will shape flexibility, cybersecurity, sustainability, and innovation capacity for decades. Engineers who understand both molecules and digital systems will define that future.