Projets novateurs réalisés

Hydrogen-bonding naphthalene diimide (NDI) based cathode interlayer for high performance organic solar cells

Considering the continually growing energy demands and concerns about climate change due to anthropogenic CO2 generated from fossil fuels, there has been a global endeavor to transition towards low-carbon renewable energy sources, particularly photovoltaic technologies. Organic solar cells (OSCs) are ideal candidates for low-cost PV technologies thanks to the possibility of large-scale device fabrication by solution printing or coating techniques. Though OSCs cells have achieved remarkable progress in the last few decades, stability and efficiency issues hinder their commercialization. We will address this issue by developing materials called “cathode interlayer materials” which have been shown to enhance solar cell stability and efficiency. Thus, this research will benefit the community and the partner organization by advancing organic photovoltaic technologies toward commercialization.

AerOsol-Cloud Interactions: the Role of orgAnic compounds and particle Size in CLoud droplEt activation (ORASCLE)

Aerosol particles and their interactions with clouds are one of the largest sources of uncertainty in global climate change. Many aerosols that activate into cloud droplets form from gas-phase reactions of semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs). Surfactants are a special class of compounds in aerosol particles which partition to the surface of a particle or an interface between distinct phases within a particle. Surfactants can simultaneously modify the conditions under which a particle will activate into a cloud droplet and the gas-to-particle partitioning of other SVOCs. The goal of this project is to conduct chamber experiments using state-of-the-art techniques and instruments to constrain the interactions between SVOCs and surfactants present at the surface of aerosol particles. The results of these experiments will be used to improve and validate highly detailed theoretical models of aerosol-cloud interactions that I have developed as part of my thesis work at McGill.

Sustainable Engineering Design Audit (SEDA) Part II: Investigations in implementing environmental accounting at engineering companies in major Canadian cities; tracking, decision making, limited compl

Sustainability continues to be one the most critical issues of the 21st Century. Life Cycle Assessments (LCA) are a popular research topics as academia looks to promote sustainability within industry. Small to mid-sized Engineering Procurement and Construction (EPC) firms in Canada remain outside the capable bounds of the expensive and complex tools and consultation required to develop their organizations strategic framework to include, track and innovative with sustainability measures. The purpose of the proposed research is to determine the effectiveness of the Sustainability Engineering Design Audit (SEDA) at implementing sustainability parameters into the decision making process of these firms. SEDA is a software tool that seeks to meet these needs by offering a streamlined LCA in the feasibility phase of an engineering project providing data on environmental parameters to engineering decision makers. The research will address this issue through four focus points:
– Streamlining the LCA process for EPC projects; minimizing complexity while maintaining a significant level of accuracy
– Determine the level of impact various environmental parameters have on the outcome of the decision process
– Finding the most effective way to present the user interface that minimizes userexperienced complexity

Évaluation archéologique du secteur Micosas-lac à Jim du Parc régional des Grandes-Rivières du lac Saint-Jean pour fins récréotouristiques

Alors qu’à l’échelle nationale il est connu qu’il faille dorénavant tenir compte des préoccupations des Premières Nations en regard de leur présence sur le territoire depuis des milliers d’années, le projet du Parc régional des Grandes rivières constitue un pas déterminant dans cette reconnaissance à l’échelle régionale. En effet, la mission du Parc qui vise à présenter les richesses du territoire et l’harmonisation des activités humaines et du territoire naturel s’inscrit directement dans la vision que promeuvent les Premières Nations depuis des siècles. À partir des informations recueillies, l’organisme partenaire sera non seulement en mesure de proposer une offre tenant compte de la présence des Premières Nations sur cette portion du territoire du Parc, mais également s’assurera que les projets d’infrastructures tiennent compte du patrimoine archéologique du lieu.

Development of an improved generative adversarial network method for data augmentation and its application in environmental and financial domains

Using simplified language understandable to a layperson; provide a general, one-paragraph description of the proposed research project to be undertaken by the intern(s) as well as the expected benefit to the partner organization. (100 – 150 words) This project aims to increase image datasets by not doing experiments or collecting physical checks. Instead, the image data augmentation is implemented by generative adversarial networks (GANs), generating new images from original images using different algorithms. GANs have a generator and a discriminator. The generator generates new images from random inputs, and the discriminator calculates the loss between new images and original images. The weights of networks will be adjusted through back-propagation and to reach minimal loss between new and original images. The results can benefit the partner organization in augmentation check images to free the model’s performance from the limitation of datasets.

Inspection Interval Optimization for Aerial Distribution Systems in Electrical Distribution Networks

EPCOR Distribution and Transmission Inc., an electric utility based in Edmonton is looking to figure out the inspection intervals on its distribution assets. In the case of pole-mounted transformers and wood poles, fixed interval inspection performed by EDTI might not detect potential risks immediately. Also, it often resulted in the decision of no action required. Therefore, this project aims to investigate the inspection data and develop a reliability model to explore the optimal inspection intervals for the aerial distribution system. Furthermore, the result will help EPCOR Distribution and Transmission Inc. reduce the inspection costs and gain a template model to plan their future inspections for the aerial distribution system.

Automatisation des processus d’acquisition de clients, de signature des contrats et de gestion de projet

Améliorations des processus interne et automatisation des taches dans l’acquisition de clients et la gestion de projet afin d’amener des gains d’efficacité dans les modelés opérationnels des processus et lors de prestation de service et de suivi de projet

Conversion des veilles et diagnostics manuels vers une solution intelligente / Capture et transformation des données externes

Conversion des veilles et diagnostics manuels en une solution intelligente / traitement des données externes à l’organisation

International Space Station Hemp Seed Germination- On Ground Proof of Concept

This project investigates the feasibility of growing cannabis (Hemp) in space on the International Space Station. Hemp represents an ideal crop due to it being a highly productive species creating significant amounts of oxygen, essential nutrients, and various products (including textiles, oils, and plastics if processed). As human space exploration increases in frequency and reaches further into the unknown, astronauts will require effective means to sequester carbon dioxide, produce oxygen, and various plant-based products. In addition to the above benefits, long-term space travel creates significant stressors on the human psychological state. where interacting with plants has been shown to provide many benefits. Establishing Hemp cultivation in space would provide many advantages and benefits to space dwelling populations.

Wireless gas sensor based on activated carbon and nanofibrillated cellulose for detection of food spoilage

Monitoring the quality of perishable food is critical for reducing the societal costs. A wireless intelligent gas sensor based on biomass/heavy oil-derived activated carbon will be prepared to monitoring the spoilage of food. Agricultural/forest biomass residual materials such as straw, sawmill waste, and logging residue, and cheap and abundant bitumen are feedstocks yielding high porous activated carbon via a two-step process consisting of low-temperature pyrolysis (<600?) and high-temperature activation (1100-1200?). The activated carbon will be modified to prepare volatile sensor. The cellulose-based film used as base substrate for energy harvesting circuit, RFID chip, and volatile sensor will be prepared with nanofibrillated cellulose. Once this can be done, it will provide a reliable smart wireless gas sensor with good selectivity, sensitivity, low cost, and real-time responsibility to monitor the spoilage of food during the transport and storage.

Novel Boundary Element Method for Inductance Extraction in Cables of Complex Cross-Sections

The proposed project is dedicated to fast resistance and inductance extraction for multiconductor transmission lines. Since the complexity of power cable designs has grown significantly over the past decade, fast and accurate tools for electromagnetic characterization are required. The cable models presently used by Manitoba Hydro however are overly simplified compared to the ones available on the market. The alternative surface-volume-surface integral equation formulation is proposed to reduce computational time and memory. During this project the Method of Moments solver based on the novel formulation will be accelerated via hierarchical matrices and/or adaptive cross approximation. This resistance and inductance extractor will be integrated in PSCAD software currently developed by Manitoba Hydro.

Designing, developing and implementation of innovative analytics process to capture insights from multiple marketing platforms

This project aims to build a tool that will help the company automatically gather and analyze data from multiple platforms, such as Google Analytics, Linkedin and Hotjar. This tool will save the company time by removing the need to manually gather and analyze data and will also help the marketing team finding the best strategy to approach customers, either potential or current ones.
With regards to current customers, this project will help the company by gathering feedback on what customers like about the product, what they find most useful, what they find challenging, what improvements they would like to see in the product and so forth.

With regards to new customers, this projects will help the company find out who is our target market and where it is located, how can it be best approached, what problems our potential clients face that they seek to solve by purchasing our product and so forth.
Finding answers to these questions is aimed at improving the overall strategy that the company uses to market itself, acquire new clients and retain them. Furthermore, answers to these questions will lead to better product features, a better pricing model and a more satisfied customer base.