What we’re about
The IEEE Consultants Network of Long Island (historically called the LICN), is a non-profit professional organization affiliated with the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). The LICN consists of electrical, electronic, software and mechanical engineers -- each with their own independent consulting practice.
We meet on the first Thursday of the month to discuss either a technical or consulting related topic. Some technical topics qualify for continuing education credits for Professional Engineers.
We are a friendly bunch and are always willing to help members with questions about starting a consulting practice. Our meetings are open to the general public, but you must meet certain eligibility requirements to become a voting member. For more information, go to http://www.licn.org.
Upcoming events (2)
See all- LI Ducks Baseball Game and Fireworks ShowBethpage Ballpark, Central Islip, NY
Before the pandemic, prior to our monthly Zoom meetings, we used to meet in person and enjoy a more social event where we would chat with friends and make new ones. Here's an opportunity for the LICN, its friends and family to get together and have some fun while supporting a non-profit that supports STEM education on Long Island.
Enjoy a Long Island Ducks baseball game and stay for fireworks after the game!
The game starts on Saturday July 19th at 6:35 PM when the LI Ducks take on the Charleston Dirty Birds. The gates open at 5:35 PM. Tickets are $23.00 each and parking is FREE. Part of the proceeds will help support FIRST Long Island, the non-profit that puts on the FIRST Robotics competitions for the Long Island region.
We encourage you to invite family and friends. Let's all have a fun night of baseball and fireworks! Feel free to pass the link around through email and share on social media. YOU DO NOT NEED TO BE AN ENGINEER OR A MEMBER OF OUR MEETUP GROUP TO JOIN US.
To register, you must use this Event Brite form. In the form, there will be a place to list your affiliation. If you list "LICN" under "Company" then LICN members will be seated together as a group. It is also important to note on the form if you require any special accommodations in terms of accessibility. Act quickly because registration closes on July 3rd at 11:59 PM.
LINK to Event Brite Ticket Purchase Page:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/first-long-island-the-long-island-ducks-2025-tickets-1245656394809IMPORTANT TICKET INFO:
The LI Ducks do not have electronic ticketing options for this group event, ALL TICKETS ARE "WILL CALL" and would be picked up at the ticket office. When picking up your tickets make sure to give your affiliation as tickets will be organized by affiliation and primary contact. A photo ID is required to pick up the tickets.The Event Brite ticket confirmation email indicates electronic ticketing but please remember ALL TICKETS ARE "WILL CALL" for this event.
- Communications-Based Train Control (CBTC)Link visible for attendees
As cities grow at unprecedented rates and the need for efficient mass transit becoming increasingly critical, rail infrastructures across the globe are turning to Communication-Based Train Control (CBTC) to enhance efficiency, safety, and automation. This presentation provides an in-depth and accessible introduction to CBTC systems, examining their workings, significance, and central role as the cornerstone of future transit solutions.
Topics include:
Part I: Fundamentals and History- Overview of traditional fixed block signaling and its drawbacks.
- Evolution of CBTC in the 1980s and shift to radio-based control.
- Explanation of IEEE 1474 standards and why CBTC is not proprietary in itself.
Part II: Architecture and Operation
- Key CBTC subsystems: ATP, ATO, and ATS
- Structure of CBTC: onboard, wayside, control center, and wireless communication
- Moving block vs. fixed block operations and train separation logic
Part III: Deployment and Integration
- Real-world examples: NYC Subway, Beijing Metro, Paris Métro, and London Underground
- Grades of Automation (GoA 1–4) and their relationship to CBTC.
- Integration with existing systems and common fallback mechanisms.
- Overview of cybersecurity concerns and regulatory safeguards
Part IV: CBTC Design Considerations
- High-level review of CBTC network design (from Cisco’s Rail CBTC and Safety Design Guide).
- Introduction to CBTC network design principles
- Focus on redundancy, failover strategies, and secure communication practice
- General examples of device roles and network layouts
- Integration with object detection and axle counting systems
- Discussion of operational risks and environmental challenges
Part V: Future Trends and Innovation
- Diversification into AI/ML-based predictive maintenance and traffic optimization.
- Autonomous trains and the rise of GoA-4 driverless metros.
- Interoperability challenges and the push for global standardization.
- Cost-benefit analysis for agencies considering CBTC upgrades.
Speaker Bio:
Alexander Impastato holds advanced degrees in Electrical and Computer Engineering with a solid background in signal systems, automation, and system integration. He utilizes this experience in the Transportation Industry where he designs subway projects using multidisciplinary teams.His field of expertise involves circuit detailing, PLC programming, and simulation and pre/post operational testing of electrical systems with attention to safety and reliability. With research and field experience in Communication-Based Train Control (CBTC) under his belt, Alexander is dedicated to the development of transport technology. His mission is to introduce signaling principles to the public.
Agenda:
We will start our meeting at 7:00 pm. For the next 10 minutes or so, we will introduce ourselves, handle any LICN business and do a little networking. We will then start our presentation. After the presentation, feel free to stick around and chat with others to network or to further discuss our lecture topic.NOTES
There is no cost to attend this meeting, however, if you are a NYS Professional Engineer and would like to receive Professional Development Hours (PDHs) of continuing education credit, then payment of a $15 fee is required. You will also have to properly fill out an Evaluation Form to prove that you attended this lecture. Click here to open the form. Simply fill it out and click on the “Submit” button. PDHs will be granted based upon actual time of lecture including Q&A. You must stay to the end to receive credit.We accept electronic payment via Zelle. Zelle is a bank-to-bank transfer mechanism supported by most banks, without a fee, as part of their normal online banking capabilities. There is also a Zelle app available for your smartphone.
When you use Zelle with your bank, it will ask for the following information: 1) the amount to send (enter $15.00), 2) what account you want to pull the money from (select whatever account you want to use), and 3) the phone number or email of the recipient (enter ieeelicn@gmail.com. Don’t worry if you see the name of our Treasurer, David Rost, pop up). If it asks for a memo field, we suggest entering "yymmdd LICN PDH” where yymmdd are the year, month and date of the lecture.
While we prefer that your payment and evaluation form are received by the day of the lecture, they must be received by the first Monday after the lecture.
If paying by Zelle is a problem for you, then please contact Ed Gellender at edgellender@gmail.com for an alternate payment method.
