Projets novateurs réalisés

Innovations in Multi-Jurisdictional Governance Models Using an Approach in Greater Victoria, BC

This project will contribute to research that helps address a problem with two key components: 1) how metropolitan areas throughout Canada and the OECD can optimize multi-jurisdictional governance practices and processes to address complex issues in contemporary & post-pandemic contexts; and 2) using an example from the Victoria Census Metropolitan Area (CMA), Canada’s 16th largest CMA by population, to showcase the principles of collaborative governance and how they could be improved within a region of over 20 local governments.

This research is significant as cities have become central to many issues plaguing the 21st century—from wealth inequality to climate change. Interestingly, Canada only has 36 CMAs in which over 70% of all Canadians live and where most newcomers will settle. Leaders in these CMAs need new tools and approaches that accelerate local collaborative solutions.

The research problem will focus on the historical context, evolution of, and optimized future state of the South Island Prosperity Partnership (SIPP) as a multi-jurisdictional, cross-sectoral alliance in Victoria CMA with a mandate for regional economic development. The methodology will include primary research (stakeholder & informant interviews) and secondary research (historical reports, meeting minutes, organizational reviews, academic research).

Understanding habitat and social factors as drivers of sexual segregation in Bighorn Sheep (Ovis canadensis)

This project plans to unravel the relation between habitat characteristics and social dynamics that influence sexual segregation in Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis). We will evaluate environmental and behavioural factors to better understand habitat preferences and social interactions that drive observed seasonal social and habitat segregation in bighorn sheep. The results of this study will provide crucial insights into conservation and management strategies, aiming for a better understanding of bighorn sheep and their natural environments.

On the exploration of the origin of failure modes of photovoltaic modules in marine environments

CAPSolar develops and manufactures solar panels tailored for the electric mobility industry. Their technology allows to customize solar modules to seamlessly integrate with any chosen surface. Whether it’s the color, texture, size, or form, their customizable solutions ensure a perfect match for unique solar panel specifications.
However, when using these solar modules in marine environments, it has been observed that these modules fail before reaching their predicted lifetimes. Seawater environments are harsh due to high salt content, which accelerates corrosion of metals and can degrade other materials. The metal components, such as connectors and wiring in the solar panels, can corrode if not properly sealed or protected. Additionally, the protective coatings on the solar cells and the adhesives used may degrade over time due to exposure to UV radiation, salt, and other environmental factors.
Hence, this project aims at exploring the origin of failure modes of photovoltaic modules in marine environments and proposing best strategies to prevent and/or remedy such failures.
Through this project, CAPSolar will gain deeper insights into the root causes of failure in photovoltaic modules used in marine environments, enabling the company to create more durable, efficient solar panels. This will help extend the lifespan of these panels, reducing replacement costs and minimizing environmental waste. Moreover, the improved performance of these modules will contribute to strengthening Canada’s leadership in the global clean energy market, supporting the country’s goals in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting sustainable mobility.

Swiss-roll mixed reactant fuel cell: design advancements and scale-up

The Ph.D. intern will be involved in the engineering scale-up of an innovative mixed-reactant fuel cell technology pioneered at the University of British Columbia. The proposed technology provides a simpler, cheaper and more compact design compared to conventional fuel cells. The partner organization, Mantra Energy Alternatives, will benefit greatly from the proposed project because it will provide an integrated and essential component to their carbon dioxide conversion and alternative energy generation strategy. Thus, the objectives of this project are design advancements and scale-up of the Swiss-roll mixed reactant fuel cell utilizing the formate effluent solution generated by Mantra’s electrochemical carbon dioxide reduction process.

Monitoring Pelagic Macrofauna Using Computer Vision-Assisted Underwater Video in an Indigenous Protected and Conserved Area

The Tsawout Nation has partnered with a local seaweed farming company, Cascadia Seaweed, to employ a suite of techniques for both marine monitoring and mariculture within a recently-established Marine Protected Area (QEN’T) in their traditional territory. A primary goal and next step for QEN’T is to monitor ecologically and/or culturally important marine animals, and to measure the potential impact of kelp habitats (a kelp forest and seaweed farm) on marine animals. The study will use underwater video cameras to monitor these animals, and compare those data to oceanographic data (e.g. salinity) and kelp growth over the course of a year.

Double Materiality and Gap Analysis for the Food Distribution Value Chain: A case study with Groupe Colabor Inc.

The food distribution chain plays a crucial role in sustainable development, connecting various sectors like agriculture, transportation, and other services resulting to a wide number of both direct and indirect stakeholders. However, it receives less attention despite its vitality for managing sustainability. In these present times, as the society and government demands complete disclosure of financial and sustainability status of companies and institutions, there is a strict requirement to provide complete disclosure on the financial, social, environmental, and organizational aspects in terms of Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) affairs. To this end this project would conducting operations and sustainability review, stakeholder surveys and interviews and prioritise relevant impacts taking into consideration accounting for the risks and opportunities. This is followed by a gap analysis which involves assessing the ESG information disclosure gaps and proposing strategies to meet the existing guidelines. In addition to these, the financial and environmental performances are integrated through eco-efficiency assessment to understand the trade-offs that exist between the risk and opportunities presented. This project would develop a baseline framework to evaluate the transparency of sustainability reporting in the food distribution industry.

Evolving Therapy with Technology

This project aims to transition Mindful Therapy from its traditional, in-person approach to a more integrated digital-centric model. The primary objective is to implement a comprehensive digital platform that will enhance patient management and therapy delivery. This involves evaluating current workflows, developing a strategy to implement the platform, and providing thorough staff training to ensure a smooth transition. The new platform will include electronic health records (EHR), secure messaging, video conferencing, and more.
Key challenges include increased demand due to the COVID-19 pandemic and integrating technology into existing workflows. However, there are significant opportunities in digital transformation. By leveraging telehealth and automating administrative tasks, Mindful Therapy can reduce barriers to care and improve service accessibility.
The project will also involve a personalized approach, using data-driven insights to refine services and tailor care to individual patients. Innovative service models like online group therapy and guided self-help modules will expand therapeutic reach and impact. The project’s ultimate goal is to make Mindful Therapy a leader in digital mental health services, enhancing efficiency, accessibility, and overall patient care.
The transition to digital will also require training programs tailored to staff skill levels, ongoing support for technical issues, and collaborative strategic planning with stakeholders to ensure smooth implementation. The outcome is a fully functional platform that promotes efficient workflows, staff competence, and patient-centered care.

Mitacs Accelerate Research Proposal – Lethbridge College – Optimized yield, quality, and power consumption with full spectrum LED lights in greenhouse production systems.

Supplemental lighting for greenhouse production, such as LED lights, is essential for greenhouse producers in Northern climates. HPS lights are currently the most used supplemental light, but they are approximately two times less power efficient compared to LED. Unfortunately, LEDs manufactured for horticultural purposes are very expensive compared to industrial full-spectrum High Bay LEDs, which hampers the industry’s adoption of new technology.  
 
The main objective of this AFC-funded and industry-supported project is to determine whether the yield gain justifies the high cost of horticultural LEDs or whether considerably less expensive High Bay LEDs can be used in greenhouse production instead.

Enhancing clinical documentations through LLM

The project focuses on transforming clinical documentation with advanced AI, specifically Large Language Models (LLMs), to alleviate the burden on healthcare professionals. Aimed at improving efficiency and accuracy, the strategy involves creating an AI-powered charting assistant that seamlessly turns clinician-patient interactions into standardized clinical documents, offered as a subscription-based SaaS platform. Initiatives include fine-tuning LLMs with anonymized data, integrating with EHR systems, upholding stringent data security standards, engaging in rigorous testing with healthcare practitioners, and piloting with institutional partners. It incorporates NLP, machine learning, and agile development to continually refine the AI, benefiting particularly small, rural, and indigenous clinics, with the ultimate goal of enhancing clinical quality and patient care.

Recyclage des plastiques flexibles

Dans ce projet, on propose de produire du mobilier urbain (pièces extérieures) à partir de matières 100% recyclées. Pour ce faire, des plastiques flexibles (films, pellicules, sacs, etc.) en fin de vie seront récupérés pour être utilisés ensemble (mélanges de résines) ou avec l’ajout d’autres résidus solides. Ces résidus seront sélectionnés parmi les matières disponibles sur le territoire de la RITMRG (Régie intermunicipal de traitement des matières résiduelles de la Gaspésie) qui est le partenaire du projet. Des formulations (avec ou sans additifs) seront produites par extrusion pour ensuite utiliser différents procédés de moulage (compression, extrusion, injection et rotomoulage) pour la fabrication de pièces à l’échelle réelle (bordures, chaises, pot de fleurs, pavés, tables, etc.). Ces pièces serviront comme démonstrateurs afin de développer de nouvelles gammes de produits.

Towards improved stability of early-age masonry walls using temporary bracing at the construction stage.

Despite significant development of various construction materials, masonry is still considered as one of the most cost-effective materials. However, they are often vulnerable to wind-induced lateral loads caused during construction stage (within 1 to 2 days of construction) when the masonry is yet to achieve full strength. Temporary bracing systems are often used to support these structures at construction site to avoid loss of materials and injury to workers. However, design of these temporary bracings is relatively subjective and tend to be very conservative to maintain safety at workplace. The industry partner, Canada Masonry Design Centre, has an immediate urgency for improved efficiency of bracing of walls under construction which require a better understanding of early-age properties of masonry. This proposal aims at accurate characterization of early-age masonry and development of stringent design guidelines for bracings of newly constructed wall systems to eliminate the current conservative and uneconomical design.

Advancing Cheque Fraud Detection and Localization: A Holistic Approach Integrating CNN and Grad-CAM

The primary objective of this research is to enhance fraud detection in cheques by implementing a comprehensive approach that addresses anomalies in formatting, signatures, and other critical elements. With a focus on fortifying bank applications against financial malpractices, our goal is to develop a robust fraud localization system. To achieve this, we will utilize a CNN implemented by Verafin for efficient fraud localization cheques. We aim to approximate and localize areas within the cheque that may be susceptible to fraud, leveraging techniques such as the Grad-CAM method. This involves analyzing important regions in cheque images to identify potential fraudulent elements, such as forged signatures or irregular formatting. By combining classification with detailed localization, our research aims to provide a comprehensive solution for enhancing the integrity and security of cheque processing systems.