Distinguished Lecture: The Queen Isabela Causeway Bridge Collapse Detection
On September 14, 2001, an errant barge damaged the bridge between Port Isabel and Padre Island in south Texas. Five people died when they drove off the opened bridge in the dark. After the structure was repaired and reopened, James Mercier was tasked with designing and installing a way of warning drivers that the bridge had been damaged. The system restored local confidence in the repaired structure.
James will be travelling to the Mile High City all the way from Texas to share this story with us, and explain both how the Electrical and the Traffic Engineering involved to make this project functional. The event is a part of the IEEE Distinguished Lecturer program, which offers a list of renowned and exceptional lecturers who each possess specialist knowledge within their field.
PDH certificate will be provided to attendees upon request.
Food and beverages will be provided.
Date and Time
Location
Hosts
Registration
- Date: 17 Jul 2024
- Time: 06:00 PM to 08:00 PM
- All times are (UTC-06:00) Mountain Time (US & Canada)
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- 1580 Logan St
- Denver, Colorado
- United States 80203
- Building: Office Evolution
- Room Number: Fillmore Room on Floor 6
- Starts 26 June 2024 12:00 AM
- Ends 17 July 2024 08:00 PM
- All times are (UTC-06:00) Mountain Time (US & Canada)
- Admission fee ?
Speakers
Mr. James J. Mercier, P.E.
THE QUEEN ISABELA CAUSEWAY BRIDGE COLLAPSE DETECTION AND MOTORIST WARNING SYSTEM
Biography:
Mr. James Mercier is a licensed as a professional engineer in Texas and Ohio. as well as a Texas licensed Master Electrician.
After serving 4-years in the Air Force, he worked in a factory for 3 years, and afterwards served a four-year Apprenticeship with the
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers becoming a Journeyman Wireman in 1999. His training specialized in industrial and commercial wiring. In 1986, he graduated from the University of Cincinnati with a BS in Civil Engineering and worked as an Environmental Engineer in the private sector.
In 1994, he was hired into the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to work in the Roadway Illumination and Traffic Signals Sections where he specialized in grounding practices, inspecting installations for code and contract compliance, improving design practices, and
improving lightning protection. In 2001, He transferred to the TxDOT Bridge Division Hydraulics to specialize in river and stream flows through culverts and bridges.
Mr. Mercier retired from TxDOT in 2015 and concentrate on serving IEEE. In 2020, he was awarded the George F. McClure Citation of Honor recipient for dedication to IEEE and his Chapter.
Agenda
6:00 - 6:30 pm: Registration and networking
6:30 - 7:00 pm: Drinks and food served
7:00 - 8:00 pm: Presentation