the power requirements of refrigeration units in long-haul trucks. The proposed solution will help displace an equivalent amount of diesel fuel that is otherwise used to power the refrigeration unit. Specifically, this research will result in a comprehensive embedded systems platform for the remote monitoring of Westhill Innovation’s solar powered reefer setup. Using a detailed […]

Managing traffic through work zones is a highly complicated task where designers need to ensure smooth traffic flow without exposing workers to safety risks. One aspect of effective work zones traffic management involves predicting anticipated delays, understanding their causes, and proactively mitigating those causes. Unlike smooth traffic flow, predicting travel times and delays through interrupted […]

This project explores the use of new anaerobic digestion technologies such as the vacuum-assisted anaerobic digestion as well as innovative pretreatment technologies including the high-shear thermo-alkaline Lystek process and other mechanical, thermal, and chemical pretreatments to enhance the solubilization of the lignocellulose in cattle manure. Enhanced solubilization will result in higher biomethane yields and faster […]

Ce projet vise principalement l’application de matériaux à changement de phase dans l’enveloppe des bâtiments. L’objectif global de ce projet est de réduire la consommation d’énergie et d’améliorer le confort thermique de vie des Québécois. Ensuite, l’objectif principal de ce projet est d’utiliser de nouveaux MCP biosourcés ; permettant ainsi la haute performance des bâtiments bois […]

As the leader in the delivery of pediatric rehabilitation services for the Region of Waterloo and County of Wellington, KidsAbility serves 11,000 children annually with a variety of developmental, physical and communication needs. For the past 30 years, demand for KidsAbility’s services has grown at twice the rate of growth in revenue. The disparity between […]

Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Sequestration (CCUS) is the removal of carbon dioxide (CO2) from large-scale emissions point sources of fossil-fueled power industrial facilities, including electrical power generation plants, for compression, transportation, utilization, or permanent underground storage. This research project titled ”Review of CCUS Options for Natural Gas-Fired Power Generation” will examine CCUS with a focus […]

The goal of this MITACS proposed project is to evaluate the preliminary performance and economics of the carbon dioxide capture technology using recovered waste heat from engine exhaust and utilizing the recovered heat to regenerate solvents in a small-scale carbon dioxide (CO2) capture project. This is because the regeneration of the solvents requires high energy. […]

Geomembranes (thin sheets that can be polymeric or bituminous), are used as the liners in waste containment and mineral extraction facilities to protect the surrounding environment from contaminant migration. Environmental awareness and high demand for mineral resources increased the demand for geomembranes and have created economic opportunities for Canadian companies with an estimated revenue of […]

Battery chargers are an essential component in electric, plug-in hybrid vehicles and various other clean energy systems. However, the battery charger performance is susceptible to the operating temperature. Thus, an efficient and reliable thermal management system should be developed to address the problems due to induced thermal stress. This project aims to develop a heat […]

Over 250 million scrap tires are generated in North America every year. More than 2% of municipal solid waste is composed of scrap tires or approximately one scrap tire per person in this area. Additionally, approximately three billion tires are stockpiled in landfills, collection sites, and illegal dumps, posing environmental hazards and possible health risks. […]

This Mitacs Accelerate represents the first year of the UBC Precast Design Studio, which is a multi-year partnership between the Canadian Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute (CPCI) and the University of British Columbia (UBC). The Studio will provide students with a hands-on learning experience for the seismic design, construction, and seismic response of precast shear walls. This […]

Battery powered Portable Power Station (PPS) becomes popular in recent years because of its multiple benefits to consumers, such as portable, environmentally friendly, no noise, no need for gas. However, the existing PPS suffers from two fundamental limitations: (1) longer re-charging time, such as 5 to 7 hours; and (2) limited power capability. This project […]