Innovative Projects Realized

Evaluating the Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Risk Assessment Method in Supporting Decisions for Loan Approval by Financial Institutions

Financial institutions ensure borrowers’ ability to repay the loan before lending them for the pursuing projects. The ESSAFIN Logic 1.0 software tool is available for evaluating loan proposals based on the Environment, Social, and Governance (ESG) criteria. The tool has a potential for improvement to account for the lack of critical practical application and evidence-based literature support. This research aims to validate the indicators of ESG criteria and improve the existing risk assessment method for evaluating projects to assist decision-making in loan approval for financial institutions. The existing ESSAFIN Logic tool 1.0 will be improved to incorporate uncertainty
using the available literature and expert opinions on the types of indicators, and weights of criteria and indicators. The generated risk score will be compared with the risk level estimated using the existing method. Based on this, an improved risk assessment method will be proposed.

Smart Greenhouse Initiative

The use of a modern greenhouse is considered an efficient way of maintaining favourable growing conditions to enhance the productivity of agriculture and horticulture. However, the high production cost is associated with the greenhouse operation due to the high energy demand that results in significant greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and environmental impact. It is important to consider the efficiency of greenhouse operation by maintaining the optimal operating conditions for energy-efficient operation for sustainable development of the Canadian nursery industry and adhere to the Canadian Government’s emission reduction goals. The proposed collaboration between AgriForest and UBCO aims to develop pathways for the performance enhancement of greenhouses.
This research aims to develop an automated microclimate monitoring and control strategy for the greenhouse by considering the plant health and related energy use for effective and energy-efficient operation. This is a practical investigation in which a vertical growing system will be realized by AgriForest in a greenhouse environment. This case greenhouse will be instrumented with the deployment of a wireless sensor network to capture greenhouse characteristics. The collected data will be analyzed and used to develop a greenhouse performance model.

Spatiotemporal analysis of emerging contaminants of concern for salmonids by direct mass spectrometry

This project will develop and optimize high throughput, rapid screening analytical methods for twoclasses of aquatic toxins that threaten salmonid populations on Vancouver Island. These include UV filter sunscreen products associated with recreational activities and tire preservative compounds associated with roadway run-off. Working with project partners, community groups, and First Nations communities on Vancouver Island, these techniques will be used to screen large sample sets to identify ‘hotspots’ and characterize how these contaminants vary over time and space. The outcomes of this work will be used to develop and evaluate mitigation strategies to inform tangible actions aimed at improving water quality, protecting habitat, and preserving B.C. salmon.

Developing Methods for Quantification and Characterization of Fucoidan Present in Laminaria Digitata Extract

Using simplified language understandable to a layperson; provide a general, one-paragraph description of the proposed research project to be undertaken by the intern(s) as well as the expected benefit to the partner organization. (100 – 150 words) 7 Fathoms Seaweed Skincare (7FSS) is a small business that has developed products which incorporate an extract of Laminaria Digitata seaweed. The extract is prepared using a proprietary method and customers have reported dermatological and other benefits to using their products. The beneficial properties of their skincare products are thought to be due to the presence of fucoidans. Fucoidans vary depending on the seaweed they are obtained from, extraction methods used and geography. They can have different structures, molecular weights, degrees of sulfonation and other functional groups. The intern will develop a method to quantify and characterize the fucoidan in the 7FSS extract. The primary objective of this internship is to develop an analytical method using mass spectrometry to characterize the amount and structure of fucoidan present in 7FSS aqueous seaweed extract

Digital data engine for efficient storage and management of data

A lot of digital data is produced on a daily basis with high speed and complex formats. It is challenging to work and deal with such data. Data is in different formats from different sources and it is hard to organize, search and retrieve data. This makes it difficult to organize, clean and analyze data. Repetitive tasks for cleaning and analyzing data again and again requires a one-stop-shop custom technology based solution that provides efficient storage and easy management of data. In this project, the intern will work on designing and developing a technological solution. This solution will have data integrated into a larger database and then the process of managing data will be automated along with data organization, cleaning and analysis to assure convenient, efficient use of data. This will streamline the data management process and will enable smooth transactions for all stakeholders using the solution.

L’optimisation des horaires dans le secteur de lavente au détail

La gestion des horaires du personnel est cruciale pour l’industrie de la vente au détail. Ce secteur, hautement concurrentiel et dont les marges bénéficiaires sont faibles, est extrêmement sensible à la maitrise des coûts. Une gestion efficace des forces de travail à disposition, pouvant générer des bénéfices tangibles, fait appel à une planification efficace des horaires de personnels qui consiste à assigner à l’ensemble des employés des quarts de travail ou des tâches en respectant, parexemple, qualifications, disponibilités, prévisions de l’absentéisme ou du trafic, ou encore des règles issues du code du travail et des conventions collectives. Le projet vise essentiellement à améliorer la compréhension, le traitement et l’intégration de ces éléments au sein des outils d’optimisation d’horaires existants. Plus spécifiquement, il visera à développer les domaines de recherche reliés à l’attribution des tâches en temps réel et son optimisation, à la génération d’horaires sur le long terme ou basés sur le profit et à l’optimisation de l’emballage.

An Information Representation Framework for the Performing Arts

As much of the performing arts activity has moved to the virtual space over the past eighteen months, an effective online presence, as well as an efficient way to reach potential audiences has become essential for arts organizations everywhere.
Information that can be machine processed effectively is key to a successful online presence. However, existing representational frameworks struggle to address the unique challenge presented by the performing arts domain, and the existence of multiple, incompatible schemas, many of them informal or insufficiently formalized, further hinders the effective dissemination and processing of information.
This research project will undertake the development of open-source formal ontologies for representing knowledge in the performing arts field as well as a methodology for incorporating ontologies in recommender systems. This work will be integrated into StagePage’s technology platform which will be vital to the development of a new series of products and the company’s overall growth.

Implementation of accounting, dispatch software and related processes

Heartland Disposal & Recycling is a waste disposal & recycling business offering waste disposal bins, portable toilets, and temporary fencing to residential, commercial, and industrial companies. Heartland also provides ongoing accounting and financial reporting services to Hape International Inc., which is a multi-national toy manufacturing business. Hape International Inc. has approximately $25 million in annual revenue, with its head office based out of Switzerland.

Heartland Disposal is affiliated with Solv.x Enterprises Inc. which also rents and services portable toilets to various construction and paving companies, as well as supplying parts washers and bio-degradable solvents to mechanic shops and large and medium size machine shops in Central and Northern Alberta.

Both Heartland Disposal and Solv.x Enterprises are in the process of implementing dispatch software for the waste bins and portable toilets, as well as tracking all the assets. Solv.x is a newly acquired business that lacks up-to-date accounting practices, therefore we are in the process of converting over the current accounting software from Sage 50, to QuickBooks Online, to improve the company’s overall accounting processes, asset tracking and management, and financial reporting. This will improve the efficiency and accuracy of the companies financials.

Optimization of the tempering heat treatment cycle of large size forgings

Large size high strength steels parts used in transport and energy applications undergo several heating and cooling cycles during their manufacturing process (casting, forging, quench, tempering). Generally, in the tempering process the parts are heated in industrial furnaces and the impact of non-uniform heating on the subsequent steps is of critical importance. A non-uniform temperature distribution may result in property variation from one end to another of the part, changes in microstructure, or even cracking. On the other hand, optimization of residence time of these products inside the furnace can minimize energy consumption and avoid undesirable property changes. However, due to the large size of the components, empirical approaches based on trial and error are costly and not always reliable. The proposed project, through a combination of 3D numerical CFD simulations, multiscale experimental
measurements (industrial scale and laboratory physical simulation), and computer aided artificial neural network optimization, considering all participating parameters during the tempering within the industrial furnace, will develop heat treatment procedures with optimized residence time and uniform temperature distribution.

Conservation of the Oregon forestsnail through translocation and habitat enhancement efforts

Land snails are important ecological components of ecosystems, providing multiple services that maintain the health of ecosystems in which they occur. The Oregon forestsnail (Allogona townsendiana), currently designated as Endangered under the Species at Risk Act, is found only in southwestern British Columbia in Canada at the northernmost extent of its known range. Trans Mountain Canada Inc. is required to complete an Oregon forestsnail translocation study to satisfy Condition 16 of Species at Risk Act (SARA) permits issued for the Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion Project. To meet this requirement, Trans Mountain has formed a partnership with BCIT and the Nature Trust of BC to conduct this study. This is a multi-year effort, with the first phase of the project designed to identify and assess locations in the Lower Mainland where Oregon forestsnails do not currently occur, but contain sites that are suitable for the development of habitat enhancement plans to create conditions appropriate for subsequent translocation of OFS.

Identification, localization, and characterization of human body inflammation using thermographic imaging

The research project undertaken by the intern is to investigate the relationship between inflammation and temperature, use that knowledge to define thermal metrics and develop a standard operating procedure for 3D thermal body imaging. During the project the intern will build a phantom to evaluate and optimize the performance of a commercially available 3D thermal imager for the identification, characterization and localization of inflammation. By the completion of the project, the intern will have a pathway towards a human study and a validated technology to perform accurate 3D thermal data collection. The expected benefits for the partner organization is a validated use case for inflammation related to back and spine health that can be offered as a solution to their customers.

Aluminum-Water Reactors for Sustainable Generation of Hydrogen

There is an urgent need for carbon free sources of energy to mitigate the climate change effects. Hydrogen is a very promising fuel to transition to climate-friendly energy and sustainable energy future. However, most hydrogen is produced from carbon sources and thus undesired emissions are unavoidable during the production. One key solution is to use aluminum and water reactions to produce zero-carbon hydrogen on-demand. The cost of hydrogen can be reduced by using recycled aluminum. The scope of this project is to produce catalysts to enhance the hydrogen generated from recycled aluminum and water mixtures. These experiments will support the commercialization of this hydrogen generation process.