Projets novateurs réalisés

Optimizing a wireless environmental monitoring system for automated methane quantification in landfills and industrial facilities

Biocovers are earthen structures built into landfills and other industrial facilities to collect and degrade greenhouse gas emissions from the site. They are widely considered one of the most effective ways to combat methane. In order to assess the performance of those biocovers, operators have to attend to the biocover regularly and use a flux chamber and handheld analyzer at different points on the cover and the landfill in order to measure the system’s methane destruction efficiency. The challenge with this method is that it is time-consuming, expensive, and produces very sparse data points.

Spero Analytics is an IoT startup which deploys wireless environmental monitoring systems for the waste management and oil and gas industries. Our aim with this project is to adapt our monitoring system to fit inside an automated, solar-powered flux chamber, thereby converting it into a wireless, autonomous system that can take methane flux measurements every hour with no external, thereby eliminating the need for manual measurement. The research for this project will include designing a robust flux measurement protocol, creating an efficient data transmission and cloud-based analytics system, and ensuring the system is energy efficient.

Composite and foam profiles for building and construction industry: modification of the products and existing extrusion processes

Vision Extrusions Group LTD is a recognized leader in the building products industry. They produce a wide range of products (as shown in Figure 1) including windows, doors, decks, fences, etc. utilizing extruded polymeric profiles as a substitute for wood. In the proposed project, the following objectives have been set by the partner organization to improve the quality and reduce the cost of their products:
(I) Development of a technology that enables the elimination of steel/aluminum stiffeners embedded in extruded PVC profiles (in products such as windows, doors and rails) by increasing the mechanical properties of PVC. (II) Development of a novel approach in order to increase the production rate of extruded PVC foam profiles without sacrificing properties. (III) Production of extruded profiles utilizing recycled thermoplastic/natural fiber composite foams with high processing rates. Improvement of the mechanical properties of such foam profiles through the inclusion of a second reinforcing phase.

Development of a smart software travel assistant for free independent traveler

This project is to build a smart traveler assistant (STA) software system for Free Independent Travelers (FIT). FIT is a travel style where a person plans and books all aspects of their trip themselves, including transportation, accommodations, and itinerary. This STA could plan and book the itinerary before traveling and could replan and rebook the travel activities during traveling according to the real situations. In Dr. Yuhong Yan and her students’ previous research, an automatic travel planner was built based on automatic service composition. All the traveling activities are modelled as services and a service is abstracted as a common model whose properties include cost, time, location, etc. Thus, service composition algorithm is developed to integrate the services into a plan using planning techniques. Although the planning algorithm developed can solve the problem well, the main difficulty is to understand user requirements described in natural language. The current advances in Large Language Model (LLM) can solve the problem of user requirements understanding. We plan to use Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) to control how LLM responses to user input. More specifically, the common properties of services are going to be modelled and the values of the properties are going to be extracted using RAG + LLM. Then, we could properly model user requirements and then extend our existing travel planner to build a true STA. Our industrial partner is Concord Tour & Travel. This is a Montreal based travel agency. It has full-fledged product lines from airplane tickets, bus tour, to group travel groups to many destinations. Concord senses the trend changes in tourism industry and is interested to build a smart FIT assistant. Their domain expertise will play a crucial role in ensuring the success of the final product.

Quantum LiDAR Raytracing

Developing quantum-enhanced LiDAR requires a deep understanding of the water medium’s optical properties, which vary with environmental factors. To address this, an oceanic model was created to estimate system performance based on water’s scattering and absorption traits, though it currently simplifies these as identical. In the proposed project, this will be refined. System analysis is equally vital, focusing on beam behavior, optical compatibility, and signal processing using Phantom Photonics’ interferometric approach. A raytracing-based scattering model is being developed to optimize pulse duration and ensure device stability. In parallel, a fiber-based LiDAR system is in development to improve precision, data quality, and SWaP metrics, allowing deployment at depths up to 6000 meters. Interns will support this work, especially by adapting existing free-space optics models for underwater use. These combined efforts aim to boost performance, reliability, and the commercial appeal of Phantom Photonics’ LiDAR systems.

L2M – MeshGuard

This project aims to create a communication tool that works without the internet by using mesh networking technology. It is designed to help workers in remote or dangerous areas stay connected, even during emergencies like power outages or network failures. The system can send important information such as location, temperature, and gas levels between devices. The partner organization will benefit by improving worker safety, reducing the risk of accidents, and ensuring better communication in areas with poor internet access.

L2M – Hydrogen Conversion Kits for Heavy-Duty Trucks

Alongside participation in the Lab2Market Validate program, where the intern will test commercial viability of their idea by speaking to potential customers, this Mitacs project consists of a market analysis that identifies ideal vending countries, investigates safety regulations, and estimates market size for the intern’s idea of a hydrogen conversion kit for heavy-duty trucks. The conversion kit would modify internal combustion engines from diesel to hydrogen, thereby eliminating greenhouse gas emissions and reducing fuel costs, as hydrogen derived from waste sources is cheaper than diesel fuel.

Examining the construction of masculinity in K-Dramas within a global context

This research project analyzes how South Korean TV dramas, particularly King the Land (2023), portray masculinity and why these representations appeal to Western audiences like those in Canada and Brazil. By studying cinematic techniques and cultural themes, the project aims to understand how these dramas shape global perceptions of South Korean men and culture. The collaboration between São Paulo State University (UNESP) and Lakehead University will strengthen international research ties, promote academic exchange, and contribute to broader discussions about gender, media, and cultural globalization. The project benefits both institutions by fostering cross-cultural dialogue and enhancing expertise in transnational media studies.

Optimal inspection processes and procedures to inspect stormwater ponds and culverts

The 407 ETR Concession Company Limited (407 Co) owns, operates, and manages the 407 electronic toll road (407 ETR), a privately operated toll highway and is a recognized leader in providing innovative transportation solutions in Ontario. The 108 km highway extends east to west across the northern portion of the Greater Toronto Area and has 41 interchanges and connects with 9 major highways. The highway is a critical infrastructure asset, designed to reduce traffic congestion and provide a seamless driving experience for millions of users annually. The 407 Co wants to institute inspection procedures that leverage emerging remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) and autonomous boat technologies. Together, Mohawk College’s Unmanned and Remote Sensing Innovation Centre (URSIC) and 407 Co, will collaborate to test, validate and develop the optimal processes and procedures as to how to best inspect stormwater ponds and culverts. In this project, a Mitacs Intern at Mohawk College will support on-site data collection, complete data processing across multiple platforms, and support the applied research of new processes and procedures.

L2M – Automating Chromatography Process

Minerva Analytics Inc. is a technology startup focused on automating manual and repetitive processes in research laboratories. The goal is to free scientists from routine tasks so they can concentrate on complex analysis and innovation. Through AI-powered software tools, Minerva transforms traditional lab workflows—often reliant on manual data entry, disconnected spreadsheets, and inefficient communication—into streamlined, intelligent systems.

L2M – Gen AI powered cyber threat assessment platform

We are developing a next-generation cybersecurity tool that uses large language models (LLMs), a form of generative AI, to help small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) detect hidden weaknesses in their systems before they can be exploited. Unlike traditional tools that rely on fixed rules and often flood users with too many alerts, our platform understands patterns in system logs the way a security expert would. It connects directly to existing log data sources like Zeek, Suricata, Windows Events, or AWS CloudTrail, and uses an AI model combined with the latest threat databases (like CVEs and CISA KEV) to spot outdated technologies or risky configurations—such as old encryption or legacy file-sharing systems. When it finds a risk, the system explains the issue clearly and provides a ready-to-use report, making it easy for non-experts to take action. The platform runs entirely within the organization’s own infrastructure, keeping all sensitive data private, and only shares anonymized updates, making it especially suitable for privacy-sensitive industries like healthcare or utilities. The partner organization will benefit from a cutting-edge solution that enhances cybersecurity without the need for extra staffing or major infrastructure changes. It reduces the time and effort needed for vulnerability assessments, helps prioritize what to fix first, and keeps businesses protected from modern AI-driven threats—while being cost-effective and easy to integrate.

L2M – Next-Generation iEEG Electrodes with Integrated Optical and Oxygenation Sensors for Precision Neurodiagnostics

This project explores the market opportunity for a next-generation intracranial EEG (iEEG) electrode system that integrates optical and oxygenation sensors to enhance brain monitoring in clinical and research settings. The proposed innovation addresses a critical gap in current neurodiagnostic tools by enabling simultaneous acquisition of electrical activity and hemodynamic signals from the brain. This dual-modality capability has the potential to significantly improve seizure localization in patients with drug-resistant epilepsy and broaden applications in functional brain mapping and brain-computer interface research.

The goal of this Lab2Market Validate project is to conduct focused market research to assess clinical needs, identify early adopters, and evaluate the competitive landscape. Through stakeholder interviews with neurologists, neurosurgeons, clinical researchers, and healthcare technology buyers, we aim to validate the product’s value proposition, understand regulatory considerations, and define key product features that align with user requirements.

Insights gained through this process will inform the development of a commercialization roadmap, including IP strategy, clinical integration pathways, and go-to-market plans. This research will lay the foundation for launching a health technology venture based in Alberta, focused on bringing advanced neurodiagnostic hardware to market with strong clinical impact and global scalability.

Development of a Neural Network-Based Model for Generating CT uMaps from Standalone PET Imaging

One type of diagnostic imaging used in nuclear medicine is positron emission tomography, (PET). PET images display the function of the tissue being imaged, for example sugar metabolism, without displaying the anatomy. In hospitals, people undergoing PET imaging will also be imaged with computed tomography (CT) which displays the anatomy, and the two images are overlapped.
The extra CT image is time consuming and provides the person being imaged with a small extra radiation dose. Cubresa is working to develop a standalone PET imaging system for faster image collection and a lower radiation dose at the cost of reduced anatomical information. One issue with images that rely on radiation, such as PET and CT, is that some of the radiation that comes from the person being image does not make it to the detectors to make the image because of a process called attenuation. Extensive research has been done and CT images are corrected for attenuation. Similar research is not as thoroughly completed with PET images because the attenuation corrections from the CT images can be used on the PET images. This project aims to begin further development of the attenuation correct for standalone PET images.