Innovative Projects Realized

The use of thermographic imaging in the detection, identification and characterization of Deep Venous Thrombosis (DVT)

The project will investigate the relationship between Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) and temperature. The intern will use researched knowledge and thermal metrics to design a simulated trial to gather data (acquiring and processing several images), analyze (reviewing data and performing analytics), model (create specific DVT data models) and validate the simulated data with real data (human trial phase) for the thermal imaging of DVT. The intern will carry out this experiment using a novel 3d thermal imaginer. Results from this study will be used to prepare for the human participant trial; thermographic imaging detection of DVT in the lower extremities. Outcomes from this project could provide an application to partake in the Venous Thromboembolism treatment market valued at over $950 million in 2020 and forecasted to be over $1.7 billion by 20

Quantifying spatio-temporal variability of fire fuels in post-mountain pine beetle outbreak in Jasper National Park using terrestrial and airborne laser scanning and RPAS structure from motion

Well-known Canadian montane national parks have undergone a length period of fire suppression activities, which
started in the early 20th century. This has resulted in old growth forest stands that are relatively homogeneous in
nature, often containing forests that have the same species, age, and structure. In recent years, mountain pine
beetle outbreaks have occurred, especially in Jasper National Park, resulting in the dramatic transformation of
lodgepole pine forests surrounding the town site. The mortality of high proportions of trees attacked by mountain
pine beetle have resulted in a shifting of dead materials as trees eventually break down and fall over, increasing
the risk from wildfire as dry, dead forest fuels accumulate. This study uses novel light detection and ranging
(LiDAR) technologies and remote piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) to collect highly detailed, three-dimensional
structural information of dead and dying forest structures to determine how fuels for wildfire vary over space and
through time as forests are attacked, die, and eventually break down.

Finite Element Assessment of Novel High-Performance Building Panels

Rising material costs, lack of quality control, labour shortages, challenging climates and significant on-site waste continue to be the challenges encountered by the Canadian construction industry. The collaboration between the research team and NEXII will develop the technical know-how for the new generation building panel products to address these challenges. The new NEXII panel is a three-layer composite “sandwich” structure consisting of an expanded polystyrene insulation (EPS) core between two layers of Nexiite, an innovative material produced by NEXII. The application of the new generation building panel products leads to: (1) cleaner construction sites; (2) less noise and neighborhood disruption; (3) fire, water and mold resistant buildings; and (4) healthier indoor spaces. Preliminary structural assessment has already confirmed the feasibility of the research project. Advanced computer simulation using the finite element (FE) technique will be performed to optimize the structural and building envelop performance of the new products.

Investigation on the Effects of Water-in-Oil Emulsion on CSI Recovery Performance from Microscopic Perspectives

This research work will establish a systematic workflow for analyzing transient equilibrium foamy oil phase behavior by coupling the m-CCEC tests, depletion rate and presence of water-in-oil emulsion from microscopic viewpoint which are seldom performed for heavy oil. It will provide a strong connection and comparison with previously studies which was conducted in the absence of water-in-oil emulsion and in PVT system. It will create a strong connection between phase behavior with fluid properties, operating conditions and kinetics. A concrete database which contains sufficient amount of laboratory transient microflow data for selected heavy oil reservoir can be established.

Warr’s Pharmacy Scope of Practice

This project looks at innovative ways to expand the services the industry partner offers and to innovate for the needs of the community. It will be it approached looking at the best way to expand the scope of services they offer that conform with pharmaceutical standards and industry regulations.

Investigating the feasibility of and theimplementation of preimplantation genetictesting at Atlantic Assisted ReproductiveTherapies

Atlantic Assisted Reproduction Therapies (AART) is the primary facility located in the Atlantic Provinces capable of assisting reproductively challenged couples. Fertility Pharmacy Services(FPS) is an onsite subsidiary of AART. AART offers a wide range of services, however, AART currently does not have the capacity to assist individuals who require preimplantation genetic testing. Clients who require such genetic testing include persons with known genetic conditions and/or individuals who have suffered repeated miscarriages. The overall objective of this project is to investigate the feasibility of establishing a preimplantation embryonic genetic screening program at the AART center, located in Halifax. The project will be carried out through a number of stages, from researching the genetic tests best suited to FPS/AART’s clients, to establishing the equipment and facility, to finally performing new services for FPS/AART clients. This project will be highly beneficial to the region as it will allow AART to assist a new group of clients, therefore building the clientele serviced by the FPS

Green Industries Directory Study

The research will review of best-practices in green business directories and identify key opportunities for deployment of a localized listings directory of green businesses in the GTA.

Lennox & Addington Community Investment Fund

The County of Lennox & Addington is exploring the creation of a Community Investment Fund, a local investment vehicle that will provide capital to support the creation of new business from owners currently operating in Lennox and Addington, and to attract new residences to the region who are interested in starting new ventures. This will be accomplished by the Economic Development Office taking a collaborative, ecosystem-wide approach. We want to redirect investor capital from Bay Street to Main Street and create impact that investors can drive-by in their home community.

Throughout the Fall of 2021, the Economic Development Office, in working closely with Keshiv Kaushal, the Queen’s Smith School of Business intern, will be developing a draft business plan, an implementation timeline and key design elements of the Fund. In August, we formed a working committee comprised of Economic Development Coalition members to help us assess and finalize the Fund’s business plan and objectives.

Once the CIF Plan and its’ Fund components have been approved by the working committee and Economic Development Management, the team (led by Keshiv Kaushal) will work with KPMG throughout the fall to structure the Fund from a legal, regulatory and tax perspective.

Design, Sensing and Control of Novel Modular and Adjustable Prosthetics

Amputations of the upper limb are devastating injuries which can significantly affect the capability of performing
daily living, working and social activities. The current challenges of prosthetic solutions exist due to the lack of
modular design, comfort, immediate response to user intention, interfaces and tactile feedback. The long-term
objective of Awenza Health is aiming at building the next generation of prosthetics to improve the lives of hundreds
of thousands of amputees who suffer from discomfort and desensitization from their existing prosthetics. The
objective of this project is to design a low-cost modular and adjustable prosthetics which can use sensory feedback
to control the motion. Force sensors including EMG will be investigated for the controller design of the new
prosthetics. A modular and adjustable prosthetics will be designed and simulated for human-like motions. A 3Dprinted
prototype will be built and tested with control unit and sensors for verifications.

Determining Biomarkers of Addiction Disorders and Mental Health using Electroencephalography

There is a health crisis in Canada where substance abuse and addiction disorders have been growing out of control, resulting in the death of 19,355 Canadians from 2016 to 2020. Researchers describe the crisis to be getting worse in that opioid-related deaths tripled from 2000 to 2015 in Ontario, Canada and increased by 120% since the onset of COVID-19. Consequently, therapies are struggling to keep up. Our proposed project will have a major impact on saving the lives of those with addiction disorders as we are seeking to provide an objective measure of addiction with the intent of facilitating therapeutic assessment and treatment. Specifically, we will build a therapist-patient centered application that measures addiction through brain-waves. This will enhance therapeutic assessment and treatment by allowing individuals to track their own markers of addiction and provide therapists with a wealth of information about their patients.

Development of Wireless Power Transfer charging system for Commercial Electric Vehicles using a Model Based Design process.

As the climate change problem has been a serious global issue, we have been making effort replace internal combustion engine to electric vehicles (EVs) to reduce carbon emission. As demand for EVs increases, it is necessary to research an infrastructure; such as an efficient and intelligent EV charging system, to support various charging services. Wireless power transfer (WPT) is an efficient and promising charging system for EVs, and it is one of core research areas of Ontario Tech. University. Using a model-based design (MBD) method, my research topic, it is possible to shorten development time and to improve reliability and stability of a WPT charging system. The expected outcomes of this program are 1) development of a MBD based WPT charging system and 2) to achieve reduced WPT charging system development time and to 3) to improve system reliability and stability. Eventually, we would like to contribute expansion of more efficient and reliable EV charging infrastructures and to reduce carbon emissions in the world.

Développement et fiabilisation de l’Analyse de Cycle de Vie Routière au Québec

Piloter la transition écologique nécessite de connaître nos impacts environnementaux et d’évaluer les pistes de
réductions de ces impacts de manière fiable. Or, on évalue rarement cette fiabilité, et les prises de décisions
environnementales sont encore trop souvent basées sur des intuitions parfois erronées ou des résultats
d’analyses peu pertinents et non fiables. L’objet de ce projet est de quantifier les incertitudes relatives aux
évaluations environnementales menées par la méthode d’Analyse de Cycle de Vie en fonction de la qualité des
données d’entrées utilisées. L’objectif est de mieux comprendre la fiabilité des évaluations actuelles pour
l’industrie routière québécoise et la possible amélioration de cette fiabilité par le développement de données
issues de l’industrie.