Projets novateurs réalisés

L2M – Drone-based Search and Rescue (SAR) in Dense Forests

The “Drone-Based Search and Rescue (SAR) System in Dense Forests” project aims to transform SAR operations using a coordinated swarm of drones equipped with advanced computer vision and machine learning algorithms. These drones, launched from DJI dock stations and connected via Starlink satellite technology, will efficiently locate missing persons in densely forested areas. By processing real-time aerial footage and ensuring constant data transfer through Starlink, the project minimizes the need for human SAR teams in hazardous environments, enhancing safety and mission outcomes.

The project’s Market research will focus on swarm SAR operations in forests and swarm forest data gathering and inventory. The project explores the latest drone technologies, computer vision, machine learning algorithms, and optimal trajectory planning for enhanced efficiency and safety in SAR operations. For forest data gathering, drones will provide accurate information on tree species, height, and Diameter at Breast Height (DBH), supporting sustainable forestry management. Analyzing market trends, technological advancements, and potential industry partnerships will help identify opportunities and challenges in deploying drone swarms for these applications.

Supported by Springboard Atlantic and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), the project bridges academia and industry, fostering innovation in Atlantic Canada. It addresses regional innovation challenges by enhancing R&D collaboration, accelerating technology commercialization, and showcasing technological advancements in sectors like cleantech and agrifood. The project’s versatility extends beyond SAR to forest monitoring, wildfire protection, habitat conservation, agricultural monitoring, infrastructure inspection, and emergency response, highlighting its potential to address various environmental and safety challenges, contributing to regional priorities and sustainable development.

L2M – AI-Driven Subsea Video Enhancement with Advanced Filtering for Improved Visibility in Challenging Underwater Conditions

This project aims to enhance subsea video quality for improved underwater visual inspection and analysis, crucial for industries like offshore oil and gas, marine research, underwater construction, and maritime security. Leveraging advanced AI and machine learning techniques, we will address challenges like water turbidity, light attenuation, and visual distortions in underwater images. Through the Lab2Market Validate program and the Mitacs Business Strategy internship, we aim to develop commercially viable solutions tailored to the unique conditions of the Atlantic Ocean. This collaboration will help bridge the gap between innovative academic research and practical applications, enhancing the safety and efficiency of underwater operations and creating valuable commercialization opportunities for advanced technological research.

Upgraded: Strategic Innovations in B2B Communication

The partner organization specializes in providing core funding, grants, and finance and tax strategy consulting services. Despite their robust service offerings, they face significant challenges that go beyond day-to-day business operations, particularly in effectively connecting with potential clients and expanding their market reach.
The primary innovation challenge the organization needs to solve is creating more effective pathways to connect potential clients with their services. This involves generating leads, organizing marketing data and strategies, and increasing brand awareness in a way that transcends routine business activities.
This project aims to address these challenges by developing innovative B2B outreach strategies that extend beyond the organization’s regular operations. By implementing advanced marketing techniques and leveraging digital tools, the project will streamline client acquisition processes and significantly enhance the efficiency of their marketing efforts. Key initiatives will include:
– Creating targeted marketing campaigns tailored to specific client segments
– Optimizing customer relationship management (CRM) systems to improve client interaction and retention
– Utilizing data analytics to refine and adjust marketing strategies in real-time
The expertise required to solve this problem includes proficiency in digital marketing, data analytics, CRM optimization, and strategic marketing planning. By filling these gaps, the project will not only address the current challenges but also position the partner organization for sustained growth and improved client engagement in the long term.

Eco-Friendly Agriculture Solutions Analysis

This project will help the partner organization evaluate energy efficiency in agricultural production challenges by analyzing cutting-edge technologies and sustainable practices that go beyond current day-to-day operations for food production. Through a high-level project investigating market demands, operational requirements, potential technologies and local impacts, the project will help the organization better understand policy and identify practical opportunities and limitations in pursuing the construction of an eco-friendly agricultural park. This project will also build support for investment to deliver agricultural production supported by elements like waste-to-energy processes suitable for cold climates.

Demande SSE | Cynthia Lin

L’objectif principal de ce projet de recherche est d’analyser de manière approfondie l’impact de l’intégration de l’intelligence artificielle dans les moteurs de recherche sur les comportements de recherche des utilisateurs et les stratégies de marketing numérique. Nous visons à identifier comment ces innovations technologiques transforment les dynamiques de recherche en ligne et influencent les pratiques des agences de marketing numérique.

Demande SSE | Alexa Victor

Le projet qu’Alexa entreprendra avec nous aura non seulement un impact dans notre organisation, mais aussi pour les nombreuses entreprises locales d’ici (PME), puisqu’il est important dans le contexte économique actuel de tirer profit des solutions créatives existantes dans un but d’attraction de clientèle qualifiée. Il est impératif d’éviter de donner l’impression de vouloir sans cesse vendre de nouveaux produits alors que la créativité s’internalise de plus en plus pour des raisons de coupures budgétaires. La recherche proposée par Alexa permettra également à plusieurs entreprises de bénéficier de certains avantages dont de meilleures tactiques concernant le processus d’optimisation créatif dans toute entreprise.

Developing integrated multi-channel marketing campaigns for national expansion

pointA is a not-for-profit organization that has grown its footprint over the last five years from serving workplaces across Ontario to the rest of the country. It is now accelerating its growth nationally to achieve its mission of reducing congestion by providing knowledge, support and incentives to employees and residents and encouraging them to try alternative, sustainable forms of transportation including carpooling, public transit, walking, cycling, and remote work. We will be leveraging the expertise at the University of Waterloo through the Global Business and Digital Arts program intern and faculty to develop and execute a comprehensive national marketing strategy that will help promote the organization across Canada and to increase the number of workplaces and partner organizations that pointA works with.

La propriété comme investissement: les acteurs de la financiarisation du marché du logement montréalais et leur discours

Cette année, selon les prévisions de la Société canadienne d’hypothèque et de logement, le coût moyen d’un appartement à Montréal augmentera de 10% ; comment expliquer l’avènement de ce que certains osent appeler une crise du logement ? Parmi tous les facteurs qui participent de l’emballement économique, le changement de la perception du logement, devenu un bien ordinaire et l’occasion d’investir pour une rare élite économique, est trop souvent négligé. Notre projet de recherche porte sur la multipropriété à Montréal et se penche sur le discours qui produit une justification morale et économique de l’investissement immobilier. Si la propriété immobilière a toujours été perçue comme un investissement stable et sécurisé, sa justification d’un point de vue économique est ambiguë : tout comme l’épargne, le patrimoine immobilier est souvent décrit par l’économie orthodoxe comme un « argent mort ». En nous appuyant sur des travaux récents de sociologues du logement et de l’économie, nous posons une question fondamentale : comment comprendre qu’un élément aussi crucial dans notre existence que le logement ait été progressivement appréhendé comme une marchandise ordinaire ?

Exploring Wait times for Pediatric Rehabilitation Services for Children who are Neurodiverse in Durham, Ontario

This research focuses on challenges in accessing pediatric rehabilitation for children with neurodevelopmental disabilities. In Durham Region, Ontario, Grandview Children’s Centre (Grandview) is the only provincially designated center to provide necessary rehabilitation services for these children. However, high demand has created long wait times to care. Using electronic health records of children under 19 years-old attending Grandview for rehabilitation (physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology) between 2020-2023, this research will: 1) Describe annual wait times for rehabilitation; and 2) Investigate the association between rehabilitation wait times and age, sex, residential location, and referral source. This research will provide necessary information to impact care in several ways, including: 1) informing Grandview about wait lists to help develop wait time and care strategies; 2) providing the Ontario government, relevant ministries, and policymakers with current data to better understand the urgency related to pediatric rehabilitation wait times; and 3) shaping expectations of parents and caregivers regarding care for their children with neurodevelopmental disorders. Finally, this research will lay the foundation for future studies and advocate for essential funding for this population. This research is a collaborative effort between the Institute for Disability and Rehabilitation Research at Ontario Tech University and Grandview Children’s Centre.

Visualization and Explainable AI (XAI) Techniques in Check Fraud Detection

Check fraud continues to be a substantial challenge in the financial sector, involving the unauthorized use of checks for illegal fund acquisition. To address the issue of fraud detection, specific Artificial Intelligence models, particularly Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs), have been increasingly applied to classify checks as fraudulent or legitimate. However, there is a crucial aspect of these models usually overlooked, which is the ability to interpret and understand the decisions made by the model. The ability to interpret why a check is labelled as fraudulent or legitimate is highly important, helping to understand the basis for a decision which increases transparency and trustfulness. In this project, two different AI techniques are applied to our model to generate the heatmaps of the final classified output. They reveal which part of the check is most influential in the model’s decision-making process, allowing Verafin to enhance the accuracy and fairness of its fraud detection systems.

Optimizing the healthcare of refugees in Alberta through the evaluation of a principles-based care model: the New Canadians Health Centre

Refugees face multifaceted health needs, due to fleeing home, living in a refugee camp, and limited access to healthcare. Research underscores the need for comprehensive healthcare for refugees to foster long-term positive outcomes. Therefore, in 2021, the New Canadians Health Centre (NCHC) was established as a principles-based community health centre, with a mandate to provide primary healthcare grounded in principles supporting social justice and equity to refugees following their arrival in Canada. There has been no prior research exploring the role of a principles-based model in supporting refugee health; accordingly, there is a need to research the activities at the NCHC. This project will explore how the NCHC’s principles-based model is upheld and influences refugees’ health experiences. Specifically, this project will engage refugees to understand the impact of the NCHC’s principles-based model on their health access and outcomes. This research will further the body of evidence on refugee healthcare practices.

Human-Readable Description Extraction from Tabular Data

This project proposal aims to tackle a significant challenge in fintech: extracting human-readable descriptions from tabular financial data. Interpreting vast amounts of structured data in the dynamic financial technology landscape is crucial for informed decision-making and compliance reporting. The project seeks to develop a robust system by leveraging open-source Large Language Models (LLMs) tailored to Verafin’s needs. By systematically evaluating LLM performance, refining prompt engineering techniques, and benchmarking against industry standards, the project aims to optimize accuracy, efficiency, and scalability. Through this endeavor, Verafin enhances its data interpretation capabilities and reinforces its position as a leader in fintech innovation.