Projets novateurs réalisés

Identifying Logistical, Emotional and Digital Needs During the Estate Settlement Process

When a person passes away, family members have to navigate a host of administrative tasks to settle their estate. Closing out accounts, cancelling subscriptions, filing paperwork, and figuring out how to handle an ever-increasing online presence, bereaved individuals can become overwhelmed by this work. This research project aims to understand how people currently navigate the administrative tasks around death, the supports and obstacles in carrying out these tasks, and the opportunities for making this job easier for everyone. To meet these goals, our research will involve interviews and surveys with people who have gone through this process first-hand and service-providers who have helped people through this process (for instance, funeral directors and executor assistants). To leverage their unique expertise and experiences, the project will also bring these groups together with researchers to co-design a service that would address their emotional, technological, and informational needs as they carry out the administrative work that is a part of death.

Valorization of Ground Hemp Hurd Residuals

Hemp processing produces two products, the baste fibres, which make up the outer layers, has been used for hundreds of years for it’s sturdy long fibres in textiles, rope manufacturing and much more, however the inner components, or Hurd, have yet to find much widespread use beyond paper manufacturing and as animal bedding. This project seeks to investigate uses for hemp hurd fibres provided by Tekle Technical Services Inc(TTS). Primarily, research will investigate production of crystalline nano-cellulose(CNC) as an end product for these fines. The end-goal is creation of a novel industrial process that may include production of CNC, but will primarily build a strong business case for creation of a pilot-scale plant by TTS that will utilize residuals from their hemp processing to produce high-margin, innovative cellulose products.

Designing a Full Duplex Transceiver to Improve the Detection of Low Cost Resonators Used in Electronic Article Surveillance

Electronic Article Surveillance systems, which are used to help retailers detect shoplifted items, suffer from two major problems. First, the systems often fail to detect EAS tags/labels that are present within the ‘detection zone’ of the gate. Secondly, false detection indications when EAS tags/label are not present within the ‘detection zone’ of the gate. As a result of the unreliability, many of these systems are powered off by the retailer and only provide a visual deterrent to shoplifters. From some samples that INEO has conducted at a number of shopping centers, we estimate that as many as half of these systems are not powered on. The goal of this project is to improve EAS
detection technology to encourage more widespread use of these systems which will benefit retailers and consumers by reducing costs due to shoplifting.

Scalable Chatbot Framework for Multi Layered Chatbots and Memory.

The general objective of this research project is to develop a new natural and empathic chatbot by integrating the transformer and intent-based systems. The goal is to implement a system for expressive 3D interactive characters that can move between the structure of an intent-based system with specific Question and Answer pairs and the more open-ended smart system of the Transformer. Most currently existing chatbot systems are limited in their abilities to engage in open-ended and natural dialogues with human users. As such, this research project will investigate the possibility of expanding the knowledge base of existing chatbots to answer questions outside of the original knowledge base.

Blackbox optimization applied to Design of Experiments

The pharmaceutical industry relies on a process known as batch manufacturing to supply their goods to the public. Each batch takes time to ends, involves many parameters and is very expensive. Quality tests are performed at the end of each batch. The calibration of parameters is a crucial task and Design of Experiment (DoE) is the traditionally approach used. DoE is a predefined sequence of tests on parameters. Each test consists to run a batch with a given set of values of parameters and to measure the performance (quality tests) of that batch. DoE compiles obtained results and gives its best values of parameters. This project aims to explore an adaptive approach of DoE that consists to dynamically exploit the information from previous tests to determine the new set of values of parameters for the next test, in order to converge to a better set of values of parameters than a classical DoE approach, possibly with a less number of tests.

Predictive modeling in multiple sclerosis: using real-world data to inform practice, policy, and research

Multiple sclerosis (MS), a progressive disease of the brain and spinal cord, affects millions globally, including 93,500 Canadians. With one of the highest existing global MS rates, the number of Canadians living with MS is expected to increase to 133,600 by 2031 and the economic burden to reach $2 billion by the same date.

Treatments for MS are available to help manage and reduce the number episodes of increased disability, and control symptoms. But, while there have been many studies on independent risk factors for patient health outcomes, no study to date has attempted to combine patient, disease, and treatment-related factors to better predict treatment outcomes.

This study will link provincial health care records data with clinical data, to develop predictive models on MS-related outcomes, and make it available on a website to guide better treatment decisions. Better patient care will ultimately facilitate the cost-effective use of health care resources.

Mapping Building Conditions – perhaps a bit more – for what purpose

Despite advancement in asbestos education and knowledge, there remains a shortcoming in area of management of asbestos exposure, which results in human health impact. This shortcoming was documented in a study carried out in Minneapolis, Minnesota (Alexander et al 2012). Alexander and colleagues examined the population exposed to asbestos and looked into evidence of lung changes consistent with asbestos exposure. Their investigation demonstrated a strong relation between asbestos exposure due to poor detection and management practices, and measurable human lung modifications. Unfortunately, despite the invested efforts to reduce asbestos exposure, Ontario still allows the import and utilization of asbestos products (2013, April). The goal of this research project is to target issues concerning accurate classification of ACM conditions, thereby improving the well-being of workers health, and hence preventing future harm from asbestos. This project is in partnership with ECOH Management Inc.

Development of High-Performance Additively Manufactured Wicks for Two-Phase Heat Transfer Applications

The objective of this project is to leverage the design freedom offered by additive manufacturing (AM) to create and high-performance capillary structures optimized for two-phase heat transfer applications (e.g., heat pipes). Moreover, compared with conventional heat pipe systems, these wick structures can be directly fabricated as part of one-piece AM metal parts and housings, allowing a two-phase thermal management system to be directly integrated into virtually any component. This will serve to lower the weight and improve the thermal performance of heat sinks in applications such as electronics cooling, lighting, and thermal comfort.
As the auto industry pivots to EVs and autonomy, Ontario industries need to develop transformative automotive technologies to ensure their relevance in this quickly changing industry. These project outcomes will allow Magna to design and develop lightweight, high-performance, two-phase AM thermal management solutions for a myriad of applications and enable Magna to offer unique solutions to a wide and diverse range of potential customers, resulting in new product lines and revenue streams. By developing this technology, Magna will be positioned to pioneer next-generation electronics cooling and electric vehicle (EV) thermal management technology.

Techno-economic assessment of operating grid-scale super-capacitor energy storage for a wind power producer

Battery and energy storage units are one of the main sources of backup power in modern power systems to support the renewable power generation deficiencies in meeting the load demand. In recent years, the advancements in the charge/discharge efficiency, low cost, and long life of super-capacitor energy storage (SCES) technology have challenged conventional battery technologies. Besides, due to their high-power delivery capability, the SCES units are a strong candidate for supporting uncertain wind power production in a wind power generation complex. Atlas power generation Inc. has developed a SCES technology from inexpensive and widely available minerals which have the above-mentioned advantages. This research project is intended to execute a techno-economic assessment of investing in SCES units in a wind power production complex from the prospect of the wind power producer.

Deep learning-based application for construction and mining industries exploiting drone data

Drone technologies become more robust, and easier to use across important civil sectors, such as construction and mining, with the assurance to deliver unparalleled performance and consistency in every operation. However, one of the significant challenges in integrating drones into civil applications is related to data; i.e. lack of standards for high-quality data collection, complexity of data analysis for converting the overwhelming volume of raw data to concise information, as well as long delays before the data-driven information can be integrated to the process of decision making. Tackling these challenges is the main objective of this project. Hence, Centre de Géomatique du Québec (CGQ) active in developing an automated platform for collecting, processing, and analyzing field data using drone technology elevated by the power of visual and geospatial artificial intelligence (AI). The drone will be provided by the partner of CGQ, ARA Robotique Inc. Another partner of CGQ, Chaac Technologies Inc, will help from data collection to data management. The platform mainly targets the construction and mining sectors for earthwork progress monitoring, predictive inventory analysis, and site safety assessment. It helps managers extract site data to build information dashboards and automated reports in a timely, cost-effective, and safe manner.

Transport Properties of Layered 2D and TMD Materials Based Devices

My doctoral research work is based on the optoelectronic, and transport properties of layered two-dimensional (2D) and transition metal dichalcogenide (TMD) materials-based devices. Currently I am fabricating devices and studying their electron transport properties. The next target, to characterize the heat transportation in these devices, can’t be completed at my home institution because it requires additional sophisticated instruments (e.g. for frequency-domain thermoreflectance, magneto-optic kerr effect and for sheet resistivity) and simulation facilities. This Programme gives me opportunity to carry out this work by using the facilities of our collaborators in Canada.

Expected outcomes:
1. Less-explored thermal transport properties can be reported for these important and much-in-demand materials
2. The analysis can be implemented in several fields such as optoelectronics, sensors, and spintronics to improve the device performance related to heat dissipation in the devices.
3. The hands-on training on new experimental facilities would strengthen my research career and promote collaborations.

Analysis of Salmonid Spawning and Rearing Habitat in the Seymour River in North Vancouver, British Columbia

Salmonid populations are increasingly challenged by interruptions in watershed connectivity, and limited access to critical habitat. For spawning and rearing, salmonids require diverse habitat features, including gravel beds and large streamwood. However, many watersheds are deficient in large streamwood and gravel, in part due to dam structures limiting downstream transport. Therefore, there is a need to evaluate whether gravel and large streamwood deficiencies are occurring in the lower Seymour River (River) downstream the dam. Furthermore, there is a need to address whether these deficiencies can be mitigated to improve salmonid spawning and rearing habitat. This project will provide the Seymour Salmonid Society with an assessment of spawning and rearing habitat availability in the River. Based on these findings, habitat restoration recommendations to restore limiting factors will be provided. The Seymour Salmonid Society can use the results of this study to recover wild salmonid populations, including the River’s summer-run steelhead population.