The main goal of this project is to improve the sustainability of building materials. To work towards this goal, the research project turns towards biology as a source of inspiration for the next generation of building materials. Natural fibres (i.e. hemp, straw, agricultural residues) have great potential in the building industry, but currently still need […]

Creating an inclusive environment where different innovators can feel welcome and exploit their talents is an ethical imperative no company can ignore. The scientific literature also provides clear evidence that diverse teams are more creative and high-performing, and that the engineering industry has a diversity problem. The general objective of this proposal is to research […]

For decades, drying sub-alpine fir and yellow spruce is known as an unmanageable task mainly due to the high moisture variation and the presence of wet-wood that result in a broad spread of moisture in kiln-dried timbers. For this reason, a considerable portion of under-dried and over-dried wood can be observed in kiln-dried subalpine fir […]

A. Overall Project Objective Recent research at the University of Calgary has focused on shear walls and on evaluating the influence of various parameters on in-plane shear capacity. The reason for this is that, for example, while it is recognized by most researchers that compression on walls increases the shear strength of masonry, the quantification […]

The goal of the proposed research project is to improve the work productivity for the partner company (Ocean Steel) by identifying bottlenecks accurately in the steel fabrication workstations. This work included evaluating the current applied solutions in order to resolve the same problems encountered with Ocean Steel, which was done by conducting a literature review. […]

This project will provide Deneschuk Homes with a new and innovative tracking system for producing work orders, new project proposal estimates and customer-directed customizastion of projects. The project will lead to more efficient workflow, greater transparency for customers, sub-trades, and employees of Deneschuk Homes. The Intern, Dakota Kolomay, will implement and operationalize the new software, […]

This project will study different residential building retrofit strategies commonly used in Ontario in terms of their environmental performance. In particular, it will try to understand the embodied and operation carbon emissions associated with those strategies. The aim of this project is to understand the effect of using different material and systems in retrofit projects. […]

The proposed research focuses on developing biochar-plastic composite materials to support the product development goals of the industry partners. In this study, the intern will be accessing the effect of biochar properties and extrusion conditions on the properties of biochar-plastic composite materials and identify an optimum operating condition and formulation that results in higher mechanical […]

In the context of a global increase in waste production and waning natural resources, this research intends to promote the shift to a circular economy in the Ontario construction industry. The work includes a literature review, an industry survey, structured interviews, and a period of testing assessment tool(s) with real projects for local use. The […]

Rapid of urban population and limited raw material and energy resources increase the demand for more sustainable structures. An initiative was taken by many governments, including Canada, to introduce more timber structures to the public buildings. This initiative can save a considerable amount of energy required to produce common construction materials such as concrete and […]

The objective is to design and develop different hybrid renewable power plants including wind turbines, photovoltaic system, energy storage, and small hydro power generators developed by Pioneer Solar & Renewables. The main aspect of this project is utilizing of renewable energy resources in the distribution system. This microgrid can operate in two different modes, namely, […]

Digital Workflows for Adaptive Reuse of Historic Houses in Ottawa’s downtown (Canada) will explore new applications of emerging digital technologies for the rehabilitation of our built heritage, especially in producing records relevant for the understanding of the historic fabric of residential buildings in Ottawa. Good decision in heritage conservation relay on accurate and precise information […]