Innovative Projects Realized

Catalytic Dry Reforming of Methane: Simultaneous Reducing GHGs emission and Producing Hydrogen

The mitigation and utilization of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4), are current global challenges. To date, there have been many attempts to reduce CO2 and CH4 with dry methane reforming methane (DMR), an eco-friendly technology that utilize CH4 and CO2 into syngas (H2 and CO). The main issue that needs to be addressed for commercial DRM processes is catalyst deactivation by carbon deposition and sintering of active metal. Therefore, the aim of this project is to improve non-PGM based catalysts for DMR. Specifically, the expected properties of advanced non-PGM catalysts are a high durability to catalytic deactivation via carbon deposition and poisoning. Their intrinsic nature in performance and long-term stability will be achieved by catalyst characterization for reducibility, particle size, porosity, and surface area.

Validation of physics-based response prediction using deep learning

Infrastructures including buildings and bridges show dynamic behaviors due to earthquakes, wind loads, and etc. The excessive dynamic response sometimes leads to structural failure. Therefore, accurate prediction method of the dynamic response for the structures is required to secure the safety the structures. A neural network augmented physics (NNAP) model which is based on deep learning was proposed as an accurate response prediction method for the MDOF structures subjected to dynamic loads. NNAP model complements the conventional numerical model by adding an output of the neural network inside an ordinary differential equation (ODE). The main objective of this project is to validate the deep learning algorithm which predicts the dynamic response of MDOF structures using a hybrid simulation test result. After the test, the proposed method is expected to become more advanced by the collaborative study with Professor Song and Professor Kwon.

Analysis of the reverse trip directions of overnight workers from smart card data

Many overnight workers rely on public transit for commuting to work at night and from work in the morning. However, it is challenging to understand overnight workers’ travel patterns between origins and destinations due to their reverse travel directions compared to traditional daytime workers. This research proposes a methodology to identify the overnight workers’ travel based on analyzing smart card data. The research explores individuals’ smart card data, covering about thirteen million peoples’ usages in Seoul, South Korea. We will analyze the frequency of trips, the average duration of work hours, work hours deviation and arrival time at work regularity to create criteria to find overnight workers’ trips. This data could help transit authorities to offer enhanced transit services by improving the frequency and span of service at midnight.

Biodegradation of Bio-sourced Organic Electronic Materials

Although Electronic waste (E-waste) is steadily increasing due to the use of electronic devices worldwide, it is not being properly disposed of. The incineration or landfill disposal of e-waste causes serious environmental problems and affects human health.
Eco-friendly organic electronic materials (OEMs) are attracting attention as a sustainable alternatives for conventional electronic materials. Particularly, the introduction of biodegradable and bio-sourced organic electronic materials can alleviate the environmental impact of the electronic industry and reduce environmental pollution. In addition, the development of electronic materials based on biological resources abundant in nature can contribute to solving the problem of resource depletion of resources required for electronic products. However, the principle of biodegradation of OEMs has not been elucidated yet.
In this project, the principle of biodegradation through micro-separation OEMs will be intensively studied, and the supramolecular structure will be controlled to develop electronic organic materials with high biodegradability. We will focus on eumelanin pigment, a rich biological resource among electronic organic materials, which is a bio-based organic electronic material candidate for eco-friendly electronic products.

Structure of near-zero carbon footprint sustainable community

The goal of this project is to propose a design of near-zero carbon footprint sustainable community within the designated area. Design constrains will include the available land, target number of housing units, target commercial space, and target emissions of CO2 and effluent water. We will consider as part of the solution: (i) energy efficient buildings, (ii) photovoltaic energy generation, (iii) district heating and cooling, (iv) community design that promotes walking and bicycling in order to minimize GHG emissions associated with daily activities. We will concentrate on the design of sidewalks & not-for-cars pathways to accommodate the expected mix of active and passive transportation. This will lower the GHG emissions in the community.

Active Search In the Wild

Having robots be able to conduct visual searching of objects in their environment is an important step towards building intelligent robotic assistants. Automatic object searching is a useful tool for social, service, and search and rescue robots; such robots would be required to reason about likely locations of an object specified by a user. However, much of the existing work in the area of automated visual search assumes the target object to be in the detection dataset category, even though the dataset has a limited category of annotations. To mitigate this problem, we propose a project which aims to search for a query object that is known seen in the dataset. We will first propose an object detection model to detect an unknown object that is not in the detection dataset, and calculate its similarity to a user-queried word. Next, we aim to apply this detection model to generalize an object searching problem, where the query object can be any word. Finally, we will conduct experiments using this system to determine system functionality on real robot through human studies.

Exploration of the effect of game elements on motivation based on emotion assessment algorithm

Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WMSDs) continue to be one of the most common lost-time injuries in Canada and South Korea, comprising over a third of all work-related lost-time injuries. Given the continued prevalence of WMSDs despite efforts to decrease their occurrence, a new approach to WMSDs intervention is required. This research project is to validate the developed gamification with its fun, creative and innovative approach, to improve workers’ on-the-job safety behavior by reducing the risk factors of WMSDs in the workplace. To achieve this goal, the proposed research has two distinct but related tasks: (1) to determine the effects of individual game elements on motivation by measuring several psychophysiological responses, (2) to explore the relationship between user types and/or personality traits and individual game elements in order to develop an effective customized gamification.

La sécurité non traditionnelle, le nouveau chantier pour l’Union européenne en Indo-Pacifique

Notre projet de recherche essaie d’étudier les moyens dont l’Union européenne pourrait employer pour renforcer son influence en Indo-Pacifique. Compte tenu des défis auxquels l’UE fait face aujourd’hui : les crises successives depuis 2008, les limites budégtaires et institutionnelles, la sensibilité des sujets politiques et sécuritaires — l’Union européenne n’a pas autant de leviers que les grandes puissances dans la région. Alors que pour devenir un vrai acteur international, l’Union européenne doit savoir profiter de son statut spécial en tant qu’institution régionale et maximiser ses gains stratégiques dans la région. Nos propositions sont les suivantes : C’est dans le secteur de la sécurité non traditionnelle que l’UE a plus de marges de manoeuvres à déployer et elle doit savoir coopérer avec les institutions régionales, notamment l’ASEAN, adopter une approche compréhensive et rester à l’écoute des demandes et suggestions régionales pour exercer une influence réelle et peu contesté dans la région. Les investissements de l’UE pour renforcer son influence en Indo-Pacifique consiste plus généralement à contribuer à favoriser une gouvernance régionale et la connexion régionale et à long terme, construire une gouvernance mondiale où l’UE joue un rôle indispensable.

Initial exploration of alternative propulsion for business jets

Demand for environment-friendly business jets is expected to increase due to the growing number of corporations enacting environmental initiatives to reduce their carbon footprint. Yet, few realistic studies have been conducted on alternative propulsion for business jets and major R&D investments around the world are not driven by rational decision, but rather by the current technology hype around electric aircraft. This project aims to identify promising alternative propulsion technologies to reduce the environmental impact of business jets while maintaining the target aircraft performance. This work will inform the stakeholders on the most promising technologies and serve as the starting point for project EAP (CRIAQ/NSERC) which involves Bombardier, Pratt & Whitney Canada, and Calogy Solutions as industrial partners as well as Université de Sherbrooke, Concordia, and Polytechnique Montréal as academic partners.

Structure-Activity Relationships of Hafnium Dioxide Nanoparticles for Cancer Radiotherapy and Imaging

Nanoparticles made from hafnium dioxide (hafnia; HfO2) have emerged as a potential enhancer of cancer radiation therapy. Such nanoparticles allow for reduced doses of radiation to be used on tumors, sparing healthy tissue from side effects without reducing its anti-cancer effects. However, despite their potential, it is not yet known how different nanoparticle properties, such as size and shape, effect their efficacy or risk of side effects. This project thus aims to gain an understanding of the relationship between nanoparticle properties and their biological effects. Several different types of HfO2 nanoparticles will be created, examined, and carefully compared regarding their toxicity and performance under medical X-Rays. Such information will be crucial to the development, regulation, and clinical trials/applications of future nanomedicines.

The fate of dissolved metals in lakes containing freshwater mussels

Freshwater mussels are in decline across North America, but due to their filtering capacity, this taxon remains an important part of lake ecosystems. The Cape Breton Regional Municipality Water Utility (CBRMWU) utilizes several lakes as surface water sources, some of which contain populations of freshwater mussels. The CBRMWU is interested in the contribution of freshwater mussels to water quality prior to water treatment. Recent experiments at Cape Breton University found significant differences in concentration of several metal contaminants over time between tanks containing freshwater mussels and those without. Local lakes with mussels were also found to have significant differences in metal concentrations than those without. Building on this research, the current study aims to investigate the fate of these contaminants by using tank and observational studies which will analyze the presence of metals in the water column, mussel tissue, and mussel exuvia. This study will similarly investigate the fate of microplastics, another ubiquitous contaminant. While there has been some research investigating the bio-accumulation of contaminants in freshwater mussel tissue and sediment, little has been done on the effect of freshwater mussels on the water column.

Growing Opportunities: Marketing Outreach and Business Development

Growing Opportunities Farm Community Cooperative is a non-profit community service cooperative. The organization’s objectives are to alleviate poverty, provide nutritious fresh produce to people in need, provide employment for people with barriers and challenges, build community resilience, and mitigate climate change.

Growing Opportunities provides inclusive skills training, work experience and employment for people with barriers to employment including diverse abilities (disabilities) at their Community Farms. We partner with other organizations that offer skills training and work experience for people with challenges and barriers. Growing Opportunities provides nutritious, fresh, local produce to low income individuals and families.

The MiTacs funded marketing and communications and administration intern will be working with the Growing Opportunities management team to:

Develop and implement business marketing strategies to promote Growing Opportunities, the Community Farms Project and special events via conventional media, social media, the website, press releases, videos, images, memes, and blogs.

Contribute to the creation of a summer series of fundraisers, festivals and celebrations at the Cline Agri-Health farm, to bring a wide cross-section of community members from varying backgrounds to the farms so they can see the scope of the work and the programs and enjoy the farm as a community space.