Innovative Projects Realized

Hybrid modular power conversion system for fuel cells

The global demand for clean energy and energy security is increasing, in the context of extreme weather events and global unrest. Distributed and intermittent energy sources (e.g., solar, wind) can provide much needed renewable generation but complex power conversion and storage systems are required to transform raw unregulated power into quality power needed to supply loads and inject power into the grid uninterruptedly. The goal of the proposed activities is to investigate and develop power converters that combine hydrogen fuel cells and intermittent renewable sources to produce uninterrupted power generation. The activities targets research, development, and full-scale implementation of a reconfigurable power conversion system that improves efficiency, modularity, and coordinated operation. The techniques, methodologies, and prototypes created through this project are expected to support the adoption of renewable energy systems.

Performance of industrial wastewater strainers by computational fluid dynamics

State-of-the art computational methods will be harnessed to design strainers used for collecting and treating industrial and municipal wastewaters. Such devices play a vital role in conserving a vital and ever increasingly scarce natural resource. This research is a new initiative that will benefit societies throughout the world who depend on efficient and effective capture and treatment of wastewater. The academic and industrial partners will develop computational models to modify for the 21st century long-established industrial designs, helping the Canadian enterprise maintain global leadership in the field. The models will explicitly address the challenges of high Reynolds number flows and the transport and capture of particulates within them.

Composantes de l’efficacité des équipes de direction

Près de 50 % des faillites d’entreprises canadiennes seraient attribuables à des lacunes en matière de gestion et de décisions de la direction de l’entreprise. Si on reconnaît qu’une organisation et ses résultats seront au reflet de son équipe de direction, la littérature demeure sans réponse en regard des signes distinctifs des équipes de direction les plus efficaces. À ce jour, aucun modèle intégrateur des composantes et indicateurs de l’efficacité spécifique à ce type d’équipe n’existe. En collaboration avec la firme Harieka Groupe Conseil, cette étude permettra de consolider un premier modèle définissant les composantes de l’efficacité des équipes de direction. Pour ce faire, cette étude procédera au regroupement d’avis d’experts oeuvrant dans le domaine, utilisant la technique Delphi et celle du groupe nominal. Le modèle résultant de cette étude représentera une base théorique sur laquelle pourra s’appuyer la conception d’un outil d’évaluation diagnostic de l’efficacité des équipes de direction.

Reducing frailty with a 12-week multi-component intervention for older adults living in long-term care setting

Older adults living with frailty recover less quickly following minor illnesses and are more likely to be hospitalized or die. Therefore, it is of importance to identify strategies to prevent or treat frailty. In Canada, there is currently no available multi-component interventions addressing frailty in long-term care settings. This project will evaluate the effectiveness of a multi-component intervention on frailty in Canadian older adults with high risk of frailty in a long-term care home, and explore the feasibility for the planning of future studies with larger group of participants. Residents will be randomized to either: intervention and control group. Intervention group will receive a multi-component program involving physical exercise (aerobic, resistance, balance and flexibility), nutrition (target on calories and protein intake) and cognitive training (interactive activities). Control group will receive usual care. Outcomes such as frailty, nutritional status, and cognitive function will be collected before and after the intervention.

Évaluation du potentiel récréo-touristique de l’axe Duparquet-Lac Abitibi

Le tourisme a souvent été proposé comme stratégie de développement du territoire. La difficulté d’accès aux destinations périphériques en raison de leurs distances face aux grands centres leur vaut une image négative. Pourtant, l’éloignement des grands centres peut aussi être un avantage. Sur le plan touristique, la périphérie accentuée peut même constituer un élément d’intérêt, notamment en lien avec l’authenticité (faune, flore et cultures autochtones). S’arrime ici le concept de potentiel touristique en référence aux besoins d’évaluation d’un territoire dont on souhaite le développement, soit par la mise à jour des attraits existants, soit par l’identification de nouvelles ressources.

L’étude propose une démarche de valorisation et protection des patrimoines naturel et culturel des communautés autochtones et allochtones du territoire d’un milieu donné. Elle propose l’identification et localisation de ressources pouvant se prêter à une commercialisation, sur le plan touristique (accueil, et expérience). Le projet s’inscrit dans les activités de rapprochement des communautés (centre et périphérie de même qu’entre les divers groupes (autochtones et allochtones) qui composent la communauté locale.

Exploring and augmenting automation in smart textile manufacturing and testing

This project aims at upgrading and automating some of the existing methods used at Myant to manufacture, assemble, and test smart textiles. The candidate will use their engineering knowledge to assess the needs and opportunities for improvements, to design theoretical solutions, to prototype and test these solutions, and finally to prepare an industry-grade version of the solutions. This is expected to decrease production time and costs, reduce human errors and wasted materials, and overall improve the quality of Myant’s products.

Business Strategy Internship for Patkau Architects

Patkau Architects is an architecture and design research studio based in Vancouver, Canada. Patkau’s business faces many of the same industry challenges that other local companies struggle with, such as: the fluid economy, changing tastes in style, supply chain delays, the Vancouver housing crisis, environmental sustainability, and social issues, such as inclusivity, diversity, equity, and accessibility. These factors directly affect how Patkau is viewed by potential clients, investors, business partners, customers, furniture retailers, and the industry at large. This is also compounded by the daily operations of the Patkau Architects studio, where we are actively working on several residential, commercial, and academic projects. To address some of these challenges, we have endeavoured to improve our marketing strategies and promotional efforts. An intern would assist in the successful completion of the following three goals:
1. 2022 Studio Website Renewal / Furniture Website Launch
2. Furniture Business Process Innovation
3. Ad hoc design assistance

Toronto Common Data Model

City of Toronto’s Digital Infrastructure Strategic Framework (DISF) has a vision of “A Digital Connected Community” where digital infrastructure is increasingly used to deliver services, perform data-driven asset management, help manage public resources efficiently, encourage civic engagement, and inform decision-making.

A critical component of the DISF is the ability to share data across services and external stakeholders. But there are many technical and policy barriers that hinder data sharing. This project will address one of the technical issues that the City faces in sharing data, namely the lack of a common data model to represent data that is to be shared.

The development of a city-wide common data model addresses the data incompatibility problem by achieving interoperability of data. It enables the City to share information, plan, coordinate, and execute city tasks, and support decision making within and across city services, by providing a precise, unambiguous representation of information and knowledge commonly shared across city services.

A DGGS-based approach for querying, filtering and sorting of Geospatial objects for fast and customizable marketplace results.

Geospatial data (e.g. location of the business branches, fleet of online delivery vehicles) is a crucial part of online marketplaces, as their developers need easy-to-integrate tools that efficiently perform searches across said data. This project will explore novel approaches to improve state-of-the-art searches for objects with geospatial attributes. In this project, interns will develop computer programs and algorithms which facilitate efficient search for objects with geospatial attributes (i.e., locations) and non-geospatial attributes (e.g., name of the business, working hours, etc.). Also, they aim to further improve efficiency and scalability by exploring and customizing algorithms from High-Performing-Computing. Improving the speed of searches increases the economic viability of online marketplaces of the partner organization as a startup within the Canadian market.

Xeni Gwet’in First Nations Community Strategic Plan

Xeni Gwet’in is one of the six communities that form the Ts?ilhqot’in Nation located in the traditional Ts?ilhqot’in territory approximately 200km west of Williams Lake. Xeni Gwet’in is the only community in Canada to have received Aboriginal Title land that is recognized by the Supreme Court of Canada, which means that 1700 square kilometres of land is being transitioned to Ts?ilhqot’in full management, benefit and control. This year, the community developed a new 5-year strategic plan providing a framework for better government investment in meeting the community’s shared key priorities. The Xeni Gwet’in First Nations Community Strategic Plan Project will support the development of a new communication plan, a monitoring & evaluation plan and tool(s) that is rooted in Ts?ilhqot’in values.

Innovative Communication and Business Strategies for NABI and Members

Innovative Communication and Business Strategies for NABI and Members

NABI History and Background:
NABI (Northern Alberta Business Incubator) is a sector-agnostic incubator created by the City of St. Albert in 1989. NABI assists early-stage businesses to launch, grow and succeed by delivering a range of business supports, educational/development programming and mentorship.
Since its beginning, NABI has graduated over 470 member businesses and enabled over 3,000 entrepreneurs to capitalize on new opportunities. Eighty percent (80%) of NABI’s alumni companies have lasted for more than 5 years, and many for decades, contributing more than $480 million to our economy. Currently, NABI supports ~90 active member companies and is expanding its capacity to serve even more.

NABI Communications Project Scope:
NABI would like to use the opportunity of Mitacs grant funding to establish a program in partnership with MacEwan University’s Faculty of Fine Arts and Communications and specifically the Department of Communication, whereby the NABI organization may provide opportunities for students to support both the organization and its member businesses in meeting their strategic communication objectives. NABI collaborates and works with member organizations that need support for their growing businesses.

Optimisation du procédé de fabrication d’éléments chauffants à base de fibre de carbone

Traditionnellement, les dispositifs employés pour chauffer individuellement à l’électricité les pièces sont conçus à base de métal, lamelles ou spirales, où l’ont fait circuler un courant afin de les chauffer. Pour assurer un chauffage adéquat au plus fort de l’hiver nord-américain, les plinthes chauffantes doivent avoir un volume minimal de métal, ce qui résulte en un dispositif volumineux et encombrant qu’on installe le plus souvent au sol. Une entreprise de la rive-sud de Montréal, Delmec, s’est lancée dans la commercialisation de panneaux chauffants décoratifs. Contrairement aux dispositifs conventionnels, ceux-ci sont légers et compacts et peuvent s’accrocher au mur à la manière d’un tableau. Ils peuvent même être imprimés d’une image, d’une photo, d’un motif ou d’une peinture de sorte que le dispositif devient un élément à la fois utile et décoratif. Les panneaux offerts présentement ont une taille fixe de 2×3’.Delmec veut créer un nouveau marché en offrant des panneaux chauffants multiformes de différentes tailles. Afin de développer ce nouveau produit, Delmec a démarré une collaboration de recherche et développement dont l’objectif est de mettre au point une méthode de fabrication de panneaux multiformes à partir d’un procédé d’impression par sérigraphie d’encre chauffante.