Innovative Projects Realized

Xenia Ai/Pricepoint

Since 2018, Xenia has been working on a new product – Pricepoint. Pricepoint is a fully automated revenue management system for small and mid-sized, independent hotels, and hostels. It uses artificial intelligence to derive demand forecasts and at any moment provide hotels with the most optimal price which has the highest probability of increasing the hotel’s overall revenues. Pricepoint fully automatically manages hotel’s prices on online sales platforms at a fraction of the cost of a revenue manager. The intern will validate the product-market fit by developing the first cohort of paying customers.

Integration of molecular tools with technological evaluation to improve the performance of starter cultures for yogourt

Yogourt demand has increased significantly over the past decade, accompanied by a fast-paced diversification in types of product, requiring specialized processes. The challenge faced by Lactalis Canada is to continually adapt the fermentation process to obtain consistent and optimum quality, shelf-life and sensory profile using the cooperation of living microorganisms as starters in milk which already contains a variable microbiome. In order to meet this challenge, molecular tools are urgently needed to improve the process of starter production and monitor the performance of starters during milk fermentation. The collaboration with the University of Guelph will provide the expertise to develop these tools and evaluate the genetic and metabolic compatibility of specific strains for predictable yogourt characteristics. This project will expand understanding of bacterial interactions during milk fermentation and their impact on the flavour profile of fermented milk. The results will be used to improve the yield and sensory profile of yogourt produced by Lactalis Canada.

Determining recreation and protection values of old growth forests on Vancouver Island

Old growth forests provide many values to society including recreation and the enjoyment of knowing these magnificent forests exist for wildlife and future generations. Ancient Forest Alliance has set out to better communicate the diverse values of intact old growth forests, so they are not undervalued and over-logged. To provide data that AFA needs, this study will survey Vancouver Island residents to determine the value they have for old growth protection and recreation in old growth forests. The survey will ask respondents to choose between alternate scenarios which have different levels of how much timber is harvested, how many recreational facilities exist, how much old growth forest is protected and how much that scenario might cost taxpayers. Researchers will analyze the survey results to estimate the value Vancouver Island residents have for recreation in, and protection of old growth forests on Vancouver Island.

Understanding the Operational, Human, and Policy Implications for a Roadmap to Canada’s Next Generation 9-1-1 Services

The project will create a research-based strategic plan and roadmap that describes when and how to best introduce NG-911 services in British Columbia. The research needs to consider the unique BC context including review of current legislation, our emergency response structures and practices, current technologies, societal expectations and political norms. The work also needs to consider global trends and developments in emergency communications from industry, government and emergency response agency perspectives and identify the implications in BC.

Development of an efficient coding for CDMA-based passive RFID tags

Radio frequency identification (RFID) is a technology that uses radio frequency to identify and track tags attached to objects. This technology is employed in different industries such as asset tracking, supply chain management, ID badging, etc. Current solutions for object tracking have limited precision, suffer from low performance, and are expensive and complex. In this project, by implementing a technology called code division multiple access (CDMA), we improve the RFID system performance significantly. The Aveer CDMA-based RFID system with passive, small, and low-cost tags is able to perform real-time 3-dimensional tracking with micrometer accuracy. These capabilities make Aveer tags applicable to many other technologies such as automation and robotics (e.g., monitoring robotic arms movements that can improve product quality and reduce production cycle time), motion capture (e.g., placing small tags on actors and capture real-time motion with high accuracy), etc.

Assessing COVID-19 Impacts on Urban Travel and Activity Patterns Employing Cellphone Travel Data

COVID-19 impacts on travel are unprecedented, affecting virus-spread, transportation services delivery, and how people will eventually safely participate in economic, educational and social activities. These impacts vary substantially across neighbourhoods, often worsening existing inequities in Canadian cities. This project will accelerate research for deriving insights about COVID-19 from TELUS network location data. Specifically, it will develop new methods to use cellphone traces to measure, model, and evaluate our response to COVID-19’s disruption of daily activity/travel participation. The end product will be the largest mobility dataset ever created for use by Canadian transport researchers. This dataset, and associated modelling processes, will be a significant knowledge asset in Canada’s understanding of and response to the COVID-19 outbreak, and will be used to investigate COVID-19-related disruptions to travel and activity participation in the Greater Toronto Area. Special attention will be paid to the impacts on food accessibility, in-store shopping and online food deliveries.

Sectoral use of ammonia as a clean solution

This project consists of three subprojects. In the first subproject, an ammonia-fueled a power generator will be developed and experimentally tested. Thus, the emission released from the generator such as CO2, NOX, and SOX, will be reduced substantially. The second subproject of the project is to investigate the ammonia economy starting from production to last use in various sectors. Evaluating a microgrid system and compatible electrical vehicle, and their economic benefits, advantages or disadvantages will be researched extensively. In the third subproject, a review of ammonia economy with a cradle-to-grave approach will be conducted, results of this research will be used in life cycle assessment analysis to define goals and scope, inventory data and possible impacts to the environment. Life cycle assessment will be done for all dimensions and domains of ammonia.

Strategic Growth Intern

At Curatio, we’re on a mission to ensure no patient is alone on their health journey; a mission that has never been more stressed than ever before during the pandemic.

We believe everyone should have the support, information, and online tools they need to achieve their best health outcomes. Our mobile platform helps match patients to other patients that understand what they’re going through, all in private, secure environments.

From curated information, tracking tools, evidence based programs and fun rewards…Curatio’s mobile platform is personalized to make ones living with a health condition a better one. Due to COVID-19, we have focused on some new project initiatives to help deliver our app to people that have been physically, mentally and emotionally impacted by COVID-19 which this intern would gain experience and contribute toward the success of such initiatives.

MBA Intern- Use-cases project

Amii is looking for an MBA Intern in order to conduct a systematic review of artificial intelligence and machine learning use-cases in high priority sectors such as energy, health, manufacturing , finance, and agriculture. This literature review will provide critical information for the development of a knowledge base to support the build-out program resource materials. These will be used for the educational content Amii industry partners and also for a cohort-based program applying AI and ML for reducing the green house emissions.

The key responsibilities and deliverables are as follows:
• Search, review and collate industry-based research and while white papers in multiple industry verticals (Output: a documented literature review)
• Highlight AI & ML use-cases in various sectors and their impacts in various businesses(Output: catalogue of cases highlighting different impacts in the business value chain)
• Work with Amii team to build out a catalogue of templated use cases from various verticals that highlight different outcomes and align with Amii’s AI Adoption Spectrum(Output: A portfolio of templated case studies from various industries and businesses)

Studs Astray Inc – Danielle Zimmerman

Studs Astray is in need of help to design a digital marketing strategy to best reach their target audience. The intern will explore other methods of selling online including additional market places and sales channels.

Robert Simmonds Inc. – Alvin Poernomo

This project seeks to develop an AI selling experience using an avatar that can be a surrogate for the person shopping as well as an avatar that would be the sales associate. This would be very scalable if executed properly and could be the next level online shopping experience.

Missing Link Technologies – Olamide Ojolo

Market research B2B buying behaviors have changed since the beginning of the pandemic. Missing Link Technologies wants to know what platforms people are leveraging, and where they are getting their information. The intern will look at how companies are shifting their priorities, to do a complete a market analysis on a business level.