Picnic - Cosponsored by Twin Cities Section of IEEE and I&M Society

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IEEE vTools Event Information Link

WHEN:

Wednesday, July 17, 2019

4:00 – 7:00PM

(RAIN OR SHINE)

 

WHERE:

Emerson Automation Solutions (Pavilion)

12001 Technology Drive

Eden Prairie, MN 55344

http://www.emerson.com

 

PRESENTATION:

Title:  "Technical Challenges of the Construction/Operation of the SWLRT"

Overview: The Southwest LRT Project is a 14.5-mile extension of the METRO Green Line, which will  operate from downtown Minneapolis at Target Field through St. Louis Park, Hopkins, Minnetonka to Southwest Station in Eden Prairie.  The alignment includes 16 new stations, eight park and rides with nearly 2,700 new parking spaces; passenger drop off areas, bicycle and pedestrian access, as well as new or restructured local bus routes connecting stations to nearby residential, commercial and educational destinations.  The presenters will provide an overview of the project, highlighting some of the technical challenges associated with construction. 

Presenters:  James Mockovciak, SWLRT Outreach Coordinator for Eden Prairie and Brad Odegard, Systems Manager

James Mockovciak is a member of the SWRLT Public Involvement Team. He has worked on the light rail project for over four years as Outreach Coordinator for Eden Prairie and Minnetonka. Before joining the project James worked for 20 years on international development projects in the South Pacific. 

Brad Odegard is the Systems Construction Manager at Metro Transit for the Green Line LRT Extension (SWLRT).  He has more than twenty years experience in the systems and automation industry.  At Metro Transit, Brad leads a group of subject matter experts each with more than ten years experience in rail operations, signaling, communications and rail electrification to coordinate design and oversee the construction of the Green Line Extension.  Prior to joining Metro Transit he worked at Honeywell in the building automation and controls division and at specialty contractors serving the residential, commercial and hospitality industries in roles from field service to design and engineering with an emphasis on automation and communications systems.

 

ROBOTICS TEAM DEMO:

A First Tech Challenge (FTC) community-based robotics team from Eden Prairie (Team 6369 Designosaurs) will also join us to show off their work! This year will mark the 9th year of this team’s existence, although none of the current team members are original members.  However, the coaching team of Coach Teder & Dr. Teder has been with the team since it started.  The original 6369 team members have graduated from high school and are now at colleges and majoring in Aerospace Engineering, Computer Science, Software Engineering, & Mechanical Engineering.  The team mission is to learn science and engineering principles through participation in the national FIRST robotics programs.  Building a reliable and robust robot is their primary focus. Their team has had the opportunity to compete at both the state and world levels of competition.  It is their goal to inspire other teams through their own work while designing and implementing successful competition strategies.  Each year they challenge themselves to balance the expansion of their own individual engineering capabilities with the welcoming of new members onto their team.  They learn from their successes and failures while implementing the engineering process of brainstorm, prototype, test, and redesign in all aspects of FIRST: technical, business and outreach components.  They welcome any opportunities to demonstrate their current robot and to mentor new teams wanting to get started in FIRST robotics programs.

 

FOOD and GAMES:

"Picnic and picnic games"

• Please join us for an afternoon of food and fun!
• We will provide food (grilled hamburgers, bratwurst, etc.) and beverages (water, pop, beer) as well as adult beverages.
• Please bring your favorite picnic games to share with your colleagues.
• A sand volleyball court is also available for those interested. (Sorry - no longer exists due to the light rail construction).

 

SPONSORED BY: 

• Cosponsored by your Twin Cities IEEE Section and the Twin Cities Chapter of the Instrumentation and Measurement Society.

 

OUR HOST:                                                       
We would like to thank Emerson Automation Solutions for allowing us the use of their pavilion once again this year for our annual picnic! NOTE: The SWLRT project is under construction and they are busy removing soil along the south side of the park.  To help restore some of the park experience, some features were added to the north side of the pavilion to create some separation from the construction and future train noise.  Those enhancements include some newly seeded areas.  To give the grass seed an opportunity to grow, we ask everyone to stay off of the seeded areas.  There have been some issues with vehicles going off the asphalt driveway and leaving ruts in the seeded areas. To prevent this from happening again please note the following:  added yellow caution tape along the driveway and sidewalk, trailers are not allowed in the park, large delivery/food trucks need to park in the lower parking lot and cart material up to the pavilion.  Having reserved the pavilion for our event, we are responsible for any damage.   The Eden Prairie Pavilion is an incredible asset that we have the privilege to enjoy.   Please help keep it beautiful!

 

FOOD AND REFRESHMENTS:

Food and beverages will be provided. 

 

Directions:

From 494:

Head South on Flying Cloud drive.

Take an IMMEDIATE right (West) on Technology Drive (first light).

Emerson Process Management will be on your left shortly after passing a Lake (pond).

From the parking lot it's a short walk up the blacktop path to the pavilion event center.

 

 

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AGENDA:

4:00 pm              Picnic begins

4:00 pm              Robotics Demos begin

5:00 - 5:30 pm    Presentation  

7:00 pm              Adjourn         

 

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