Mass_Transit_September/-October_2019 - 38

Mustafa
Mirza,

M.A.Sc., P.Eng.,
PMP
Director,
Rail Systems
Engineering,
WSP Canada

Daniel Lax

Founder & CEO
Clear-Vu Lighting

38 |

MUSTAFA MIRZA BRINGS MORE THAN
15 years of engineering experience towards
functional design and development, requirements definition and analysis, and
client service and support. Mirza has been
part of international teams that have delivered projects around the globe including
in Malaysia and Qatar, before moving to
Canada to work with WSP Canada.
Mirza's notable rail project contributions include Metrolinx Union Station Rail Corridor Signaling (USRC),
Metrolinx GO Transit Train Control
System (GTCS) and the Edmonton Metro Line Expansion. For both the USRC
and GTCS projects, Mirza led the systems engineering effort in planning and
managing of requirement generation,
analysis and traceability. His experience
and lessons learned in analysis work of
rail systems in his earlier roles were invaluable assets for his new role on the
USRC and GTCS projects.
For the Edmonton Metro Line Expansion Project, Mirza supported the
Signaling and Train Control Strategy,
taking into consideration the challenging operating conditions on the existing

ABOUT 10 YEARS AGO, DANIEL LAX
started Clear-Vu Lighting as a division
of Long Island-based plastic injection
molding company, Autronic Plastics
Inc. Since then, the company has grown
from a concept into a provider of specification-grade LED lighting systems to
transit agencies nationwide.
The first product developed was the
LED Portable Lamp Bank, which replaced
third-rail powered incandescent temporary and site lighting in subway tunnels.
The LED replacement product reduced
energy consumption by a factor of 10,
improved service life by a factor of five,
and eliminated a major risk of fires in the
tunnels thereby improving worker safety.
He also led the development of an
LED-based permanent tunnel light with
an integral emergency battery backup
and a quick connect system. Variants of
this technology have been deployed by
multiple transit agencies.
Through a NYSERDA grant, Lax's
company will pilot a wireless monitoring system that will provide light fixture health data to the transit network,
along with serving as an IoT-sensor
network platform.

Mass Transit | MassTransitmag.com | SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2019

FACT:
Mirza aspired
to become an
astronaut early
in his career
before making
the successful
transition to
public transit.
MassTransitmag.
com/21094173

Metro Line at the time. Additionally, he
provided support on the Electromagnetic Interference/Electromagnetic Compatibility Study Plan for the project.
Mirza continued his role in systems engineering by providing technical leadership towards the development of systems
requirements during the project's preliminary design phase. Mirza regularly
traveled between Toronto and Edmonton to ensure that the project proceeded smoothly and that the newly formed
team in the west was well managed. His
current role finds him regularly traveling
between Canada's metropolitan centers
in support of team growth and to apply
his lessons learned.
Mirza's co-workers note he has
evolved from a highly skilled technical expert into a motivated leader and
credit his ability to practice mindfulness,
which has resulted in an inclusive team.

"My

advice to everyone is to focus on performance
- meaning just do your job well. If you perform well, you
will be recognized, and you will get more opportunities."

Fact:
Clear-Vu Lighting
delivered a
complete design
and build station
of lighting and
electrical wireway
every three
weeks during
a six-month
period last year.
MassTransitmag.
com/21093537

After roughly two years in the station
lighting market (entrance/control area/
mezzanine/platform), the company has
manufactured over 20 unique light fixture products that were designed, prototyped, fabricated and deployed across
15 subway stations in New York City
during the past 18 months under New
York Gov. Andrew Cuomo's Enhanced
Station Initiative.
These fixtures feature best-in-class
performance characteristics and an innovative three-step emergency backup
system utilizing the DALI protocol.
Lax and his company have pioneered
innovative niche applications of LED
lighting and associated technologies in
the mass transit market, and provided numerous product platforms that
have improved the efficiency, operation,
maintenance and safety of transit systems
across the country.

am an entrepreneur and engineer at heart.
Designing, producing and delivering products that will
improve the lives and safety of millions of people is what
motivates me and brings me the most satisfaction."

http://www.MassTransitmag.com/21094173 http://www.MassTransitmag.com/21093537 http://www.MassTransitmag.com http://www.MassTransitmag.com

Mass_Transit_September/-October_2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Mass_Transit_September/-October_2019