Projets novateurs réalisés

L’inclusion des personnes en situation de handicap : regard sur la philanthropie en action

Depuis quelques années le nombre de personnes en situation d’incapacité augmente au Canada, tout en voyant la nature de leurs incapacités se complexifier. L’étude à réaliser examinera en profondeur la philanthropie en action au Canada dans le contexte de l’inclusion des personnes en situation de handicap. Elle entendra comprendre comment les fondations philanthropiques interviennent, quels impacts elles ont eu jusqu’à présent, et comment elles peuvent renforcer leur contribution à la promotion de l’inclusion des personnes en situation de handicap. Suite à cette recherche, nous concevrons des outils en vue de permettre aux fondations d’identifier ce qui relève, dans leurs dons et subventions, de l’enjeu lié à la vulnérabilité d’incapacité. Notre partenaire, Humanité & Inclusion Canada, bénéficiera des connaissances produites pour développer un argumentaire en faveur de l’intégration de la vulnérabilité des personnes en situation d’incapacité dans les programmes des fondations.

Digital Education in Indian Educational Systems (junior years)

Indian public school language policy follows a three plus/minus one model, with state languages as the medium of instruction and English plus another Indian language taught. Private schools mainly use English, along with the official language of the respective state and an additional Indian language. Initially proposed as the national language of the country, Hindi faced protests from various language-speaking communities, prompting the formation of Indian states based on common languages, thus resulting in 22 Indian languages being granted official status. Additionally, in contrast to Canada’s multicultural approach within its bilingual framework, India views language and culture as inseparable. This implies that each state in India has its own unique cultural and linguistic characteristics, reflected in their respective curricula. Incorporating multilingual lessons may improve educational attitudes and decrease dropout rates. This study aims to explore the feasibility of introducing Binogi, a digital resource, in India. It investigates the prerequisites for aligning the resource with the curriculum, ensuring accessibility in culturally relevant languages, and considering digital availability.

Game theoretic modeling of joint forest management in India

The project involves conducting of field experiments to derive social preferences and discount rates of the individuals in Indian villages. Government of India had launched the joint forest management (JFM) program in 1990, whereby local community is involved in the forest management. The program has not been uniformly successful across the country. The idea of the research is that people in villagers have different social preference and discount rates, and the variation in the success of JFM can be explained by the variation in the social preferences and discount rates among the individuals. The research proposes to develop a game theoretic model of JFM, incorporating the social preferences and discount rates of the individuals, and characterize the equilibrium outcome of JFM program in the villages. The research also proposes to develop agent-based model for capturing the emergent properties of the interactions among the individuals and predicting the JFM outcomes.

Restoring landscape heterogeneity to be resilient to wildfire: a simulation approach in dry forests of BC.

This project focuses on enhancing wildfire resilience in the southern Okanagan Highlands of British Columbia to reduce the risk and severity of wildfires. By combining fire spread and carbon budget models, we will evaluate different forest management strategies to lower fuel loads and greenhouse gas emissions. Partnering with Forsite Consultants Ltd. will help us apply our research practically and refine our methods. Community involvement ensures our strategies align with local needs and values. The project will provide Forsite Consultants Ltd. with innovative insights and practical solutions for wildfire risk management, contributing to healthier, more resilient forests and communities.

Gouvernance, démocratie participative et économie sociale et solidaire

L’organisation partenaire du projet se dénomme le TIESS (Territoires Innovants en Économie Sociale et Solidaire). Le TIESS est une OBNL dont la mission consiste à contribuer au développement territorial par le transfert de connaissances en outillant les organismes d’économie sociale et solidaire afin qu’ils puissent faire face aux enjeux de société de façon innovante et transformer leurs pratiques. A cette fin, le TIESS a pour enjeu de contribuer à la
recherche et développement et nourrir le débat public. Le défi qui se pose actuellement concerne l’inclusion des organisations ESS, oeuvrant aux transitions socio-écologiques, dans le tissu municipal de la ville. Autrement dit, comment les initiatives émergeant par le bas peuvent-être reconnues et développer de manière institutionnelle à travers des mécanismes de co-construction et co-gouvernance par les élus et les fonctionnaires de la ville. Ce défi est prégnant présentement, à l’aune notamment des élections municipales à venir pour la ville de Montréal.

East Hastings Corridor Community Economic Development

The East Hastings corridor, from Hamilton to Heatley, lacks a clear understanding of the unmet needs of its primarily low-income and equity-denied residents and community-serving organizations. As health services expand in the area, identifying potential small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to fill commercial unit gaps becomes crucial, especially concerning opportunities for work, shopping, and socializing. This research is vital to guide Hastings Crossing Business Improvement Association (HxBIA) (and other organizations such as Activate DTES, Community Impact Real Estate Society (CIRES), and Exchange Inner City) in supporting essential businesses and allocating City of Vancouver funding effectively. It aims to raise awareness of Community Economic Development conditions and opportunities in the area through the following objectives:
1. Identify unmet needs of local residents and organizations.
2. Determine viable SMEs to fill commercial gaps.
3. Assess the impact of these gaps on residents’ livelihoods and community interactions.
Data will be collected through surveys, interviews, and existing studies. Needs will be assessed, and market analysis will identify potential SMEs. Finally, an impact assessment will evaluate socio-economic effects, leading to actionable recommendations for stakeholders. By systematically addressing these objectives, this research will provide crucial insights to support a thriving and inclusive East Hastings corridor economy.

Techno-economic analysis of different SAF pathways

Sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) will be urgently required to decarbonize the aviation sector and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. Different production pathways are already well identified, but the technical and economic challenges and impacts of deploying these pathways are still poorly understood. This project aims at exploring different SAF pathways (Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids Synthetic Paraffinic Kerosene, HEFA-SPK; Fischer-Tropsch Synthetic Paraffinic Kerosene, FT-SPK, from biomass and waste; Power-to-Liquid). It will characterize the required production infrastructure and their cost and will identify the key possible obstacles to scaling up such supply chains. From key inputs to market access, economic and other challenges will be analyzed to help speed up the development of SAF supply chains.

Mathematical Modelling of Coke Formation in Thermal Cracking Units

Thermal cracking of ethane (from natural gas) is used to make ethylene, a chemical used for producing plastics. Thermal cracking occurs in metal tubes that pass through a furnace, where heat generated in the combustion chamber outside of the tubes makes the cracking reactions inside the tubes occur at high rates. Coke is an undesirable side product that deposits on the inner surface of the tubes during ethane cracking, influencing rates of chemical reactions and the distribution of chemical products that emerge from the reactor. Companies who operate thermal cracking furnaces want to have a thorough understanding of the chemical reactions and operating conditions that influence ethane cracking, coke formation and coke removal. The objective of this research is to develop and validate a model (i.e., a set of mathematical equations inside a computer program) that NOVA Chemicals will use to predict coke formation and removal in industrial cracking furnaces. The model will account for a detailed list of chemical reactions and will predict coke accumulation in response to changes in reactor operating conditions and furnace design.

Multilingual NowLLM – Benchmarking

THIS IS A GENERIC TEXT PUT IN PLACE AS THERE WAS NO PROJECT OVERVIEW.

L2M – VisioConTech

The proposed project, VisioConTech, aims to revolutionize construction site monitoring through the implementation of automated, real-time systems designed to enhance safety, reduce costs, and improve operational efficiency. Traditional monitoring methods, which rely heavily on human observation, are inherently prone to errors and delays, frequently resulting in significant budget overruns and heightened safety risks. VisioConTech leverages advanced computer vision technology to deliver continuous, objective surveillance, autonomously detecting, classifying, and tracking construction vehicles, equipment, tools, and personnel. This innovation substantially mitigates safety risks by identifying potential hazards before they result in accidents.

Moreover, VisioConTech’s system generates reliable data regarding the construction process, facilitating the estimation of costs and the identification of operational bottlenecks. This capability enhances operational efficiency by providing accurate, real-time information that supports informed decision-making and proactive resource management, leading to optimized project timelines and reduced delays.

The uniqueness of this project lies in its application of the latest advancements in AI and computer vision, specifically tailored to the complex and ever-changing environment of construction sites. VisioConTech ensures higher productivity and safety, directly addressing critical industry challenges. By minimizing accidents, reducing rework costs, and improving overall project management, VisioConTech provides a strategic advantage to construction companies. This comprehensive solution sets a new benchmark for technological integration in construction management, offering significant benefits to partner organizations and advancing the industry’s standards.

L2M –Optical emission spectroscopy for quality monitoring and controlling in wire-arc directed energy deposition process.

The project aims to improve the quality of 3D-printed parts by developing an in-situ nondestructive method that combines spectroscopy with Wire-Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM). This involves using a spectrometer and developed algorithms to monitor the welding process, providing comprehensive material characterization during the 3D printing process. Implementing this in-situ sensor will improve process quality control and produce more reliable and efficient components with potential mechanical and microstructure properties.

L2M-3Dimension Thermal Imaging System

This project addresses the main problem in utilizing Additive Manufacturing (AM) in industries like oil and sands and aerospace, which is the assurance of the quality of the part. This project is a novel approach to providing 3-dimensional thermal data from the 3D printing process, which can provide valuable data and allow engineers to delve into the mechanical properties and microstructure of each point of as-built parts. Previously, 2D thermal data was provided for the process, but this device is providing the position-wise thermal data. During this internship, the entrepreneurial skills of the intern will improve. Also, by interviewing a group of experts the product will be polished for industrialization.