Innovative Projects Realized

Explore thousands of successful projects resulting from collaboration between organizations and post-secondary talent.

30156 Completed Projects

2861
AB
5059
BC
812
MB
673
NL
842
SK
8957
ON
9368
QC
96
PE
579
NB
1120
NS

Projects by Category

Integrating high resolution remote sensing of multi-scale hydrogeomorphology into long-term river management

Large northward-flowing boreal rivers are an important hydroelectric resource, but effects of river regulation on downstream geomorphology and aquatic ecosystems are difficult to predict. Peace River, BC presents an ideal case study of river response to regulation, with continuous monitoring since dam construction in 1967. However, current understanding of system changes is based mainly on periodic ground-based measurements that may be less sensitive to characterize complexity at the scales at which the river responds. This project aims to incorporate recently developed fluvial remote sensing methods into the ongoing research and monitoring of Peace River through investigation of three specific questions (1) how does geomorphic change affect in-stream hydraulics and aquatic habitat? (2) how can unmanned aerial vehicle-based remote sensing and photogrammetry be used to characterize the stability and function of constructed habitat compensation features under changing flow conditions? and (3) how do flow regulation and geomorphic change alter riparian vegetation succession? The proposed research will involve the development of automated image processing workflows for the derivation of fluvial features of interest at appropriate scales for each question, providing a flexible framework that will be set up to accommodate incoming remote sensing data and complement field based studies.

View Full Project Description
Faculty Supervisor:

Brett Eaton

Student:

Partner:

BC Hydro (Vancouver, BC)

Discipline:

Earth science

Sector:

Utilities

University:

The University of British Columbia

Program:

Elevate

Design, optimization and testing of baffle-type parallel-channel flow field plates within a 200-cm2 fuel cell short stack with a highly-active catalyst – Year two

Enhancing the current and power density in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) is one of the main challenges to their large-scale commercialization and hence in tune with the pending needs of the PEMFC industry. The volumetric power density in PEMFC stacks is strongly affected by the flow field plates due to their critical impact on the reactants distribution over the electrodes and their bulky size. In the proposed research, baffle-type parallel-channel cathode, anode and cooling flow field plates are designed with a small thickness. The flow distributions over these thin plates are optimized through computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations combined with experimental verifications and flow visualization. Since the flow field plates in stacks behave differently than in single cells, both original and optimized plates are tested within a fabricated 200-cm2 short stack. TO BE CONT’D

View Full Project Description
Faculty Supervisor:

Xiaotao Tony Bi

Student:

Partner:

Vancouver International CleanTech Research Institute

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

The University of British Columbia

Program:

Elevate

Design, optimization and testing of baffle-type parallel-channel flow field plates within a 200-cm2 fuel cell short stack with a highly-active catalyst

Enhancing the current and power density in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) is one of the main challenges to their large-scale commercialization and hence in tune with the pending needs of the PEMFC industry. The volumetric power density in PEMFC stacks is strongly affected by the flow field plates due to their critical impact on the reactants distribution over the electrodes and their bulky size. In the proposed research, baffle-type parallel-channel cathode, anode and cooling flow field plates are designed with a small thickness. The flow distributions over these thin plates are optimized through computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations combined with experimental verifications and flow visualization. Since the flow field plates in stacks behave differently than in single cells, both original and optimized plates are tested within a fabricated 200-cm2 short stack. Comparative study of the polarization curves for the two original and optimized plates provides an in-depth understanding of the impact of the flow field design on the stack performance. An in-house high activity core-shell catalyst is tested with the optimized plates within the fabricated stack in the hope of achieving a current density as high as 1.5 A/cm2.

View Full Project Description
Faculty Supervisor:

Xiaotao Bi

Student:

Partner:

Vancouver International CleanTech Research Institute

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

The University of British Columbia

Program:

Elevate

Impacts of tidal turbines on marine mammals – Year two

Canada’s coastal regions are an excellent source of marine renewable energy. These regions are also popular with marine mammals, providing good feeding opportunities. However little is known about how marine mammals will be affected by tidal energy developments. Concerns include the impacts of sound on animals’ ability to find food and navigate, the indirect effects of changes in prey distribution and abundance, and the direct impacts of collision with tidal energy structures in the water column. The objectives of this project are to better understand how marine mammals interact with tidal energy devices using a combination of traditional passive acoustic monitoring and novel sonar imaging methods. This study will improve our understanding of environmental effects and will contribute to the development of crucial collision risk models. This project will allow SMRU Canada to help move marine renewables forward into a cleaner future, both in Canada and elsewhere in the world.

View Full Project Description
Faculty Supervisor:

Isabelle Cote

Student:

Partner:

SMRU Canada Ltd

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

Simon Fraser University

Program:

Elevate

Impacts of tidal turbines on marine mammals

Canada’s coastal regions are an excellent source of marine renewable energy. These regions are also popular with marine mammals, providing good feeding opportunities. However little is known about how marine mammals will be affected by tidal energy developments. Concerns include the impacts of sound on animals’ ability to find food and navigate, the indirect effects of changes in prey distribution and abundance, and the direct impacts of collision with tidal energy structures in the water column. The objectives of this project are to better understand how marine mammals interact with tidal energy devices using a combination of traditional passive acoustic monitoring and novel sonar imaging methods. This study will improve our understanding of environmental effects and will contribute to the development of crucial collision risk models. This project will allow SMRU Canada to help move marine renewables forward into a cleaner future, both in Canada and elsewhere in the world.

View Full Project Description
Faculty Supervisor:

Isabelle Cote

Student:

Partner:

SMRU Canada Ltd

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

Simon Fraser University

Program:

Elevate

Mechanisms and Application of MFD Catalyst on the Leaching of Secondary Copper Sulfide – Year two

Cu and Ni minerals that have great economic value mostly exist in the form of sulfides, making them difficult to extract using hydrometallurgical processes. Currently, heap leaching is the most economical way to extract these metals from low grade ores. Copper recoveries of many chalcocite heap leaches report around 70% copper recovery. However, the chalcocite leaching reaction has several stages. The first stage leach is characterized by 50% copper extraction and the conversion of chalcocite into a second stage of covellite (CuS) which is very difficult to leach at ambient temperature. In our preliminary test using acidic ferric sulfate as lixivant, addition of MFD catalyst increased the rate of chalcocite leaching by 5 times in the first 8 hours of reaction in stirred reactors. TO BE CONT’D

View Full Project Description
Faculty Supervisor:

Edouard Asselin

Student:

Partner:

Jetti Services Canada Inc

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Mining

University:

The University of British Columbia

Program:

Elevate

Mechanisms and Application of MFD Catalyst on the Leaching of Secondary Copper Sulfide

Cu and Ni minerals that have great economic value mostly exist in the form of sulfides, making them difficult to extract using hydrometallurgical processes. Currently, heap leaching is the most economical way to extract these metals from low grade ores. Copper recoveries of many chalcocite heap leaches report around 70% copper recovery. However, the chalcocite leaching reaction has several stages. The first stage leach is characterized by 50% copper extraction and the conversion of chalcocite into a second stage of covellite (CuS) which is very difficult to leach at ambient temperature. In our preliminary test using acidic ferric sulfate as lixivant, addition of MFD catalyst increased the rate of chalcocite leaching by 5 times in the first 8 hours of reaction in stirred reactors. A similar test using a stirred reactor was also performed on pure covellite, improving its leaching rate by 36 times in the first 8 hours. Therefore, there will be imminent application for MFD catalyst in heap and dump leaching of copper sulfides.

View Full Project Description
Faculty Supervisor:

Edouard Asselin

Student:

Partner:

Jetti Services Canada Inc

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Mining

University:

The University of British Columbia

Program:

Elevate

Building Risk Models and Feedback Systems Using Large Volumes of Automobile Telematics Data

More and more vehicles are outfitted with telematics (e.g. Global Positioning System (GPS)) devices that allow real time data to be collected on driver behaviour. This includes, for example, your location, how long you’ve been driving, your pattern of acceleration and braking, your cornering, and other factors. This project will explore the best way to use such streaming telematics data from automobiles to assess accident risk and improve driver behaviour. We plan to build validated models that can be used to quantify the expected risk as well as develop systems that provide effective feedback to drivers to reduce risky behaviour. Such models and systems will provide insurance companies a competitive advantage allowing them to better assess risk, and thus state insurance rates, as well as reduce risks for their clients and thus improve safety generally on Ontario roads.

View Full Project Description
Faculty Supervisor:

Stefan Steiner

Student:

Partner:

Intelligent Mechatronic Systems Inc;University of Waterloo

Discipline:

Mathematics

Sector:

Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

University of Waterloo

Program:

Accelerate

Pelvic Floor Health and Sexual Well-Being in Men

The promotion and maintenance of men’s pelvic floor health is a growing concern as pelvic disorders affect a substantial number of men and their prevalence is expected to increase as a result of Canada’s aging population. Pelvic floor disorders go beyond their physical consequences as they can negatively impact men’s psychological, sexual, and social quality of life. Evidence strongly suggests pelvic floor muscle training can contribute to the promotion and maintenance of pelvic floor health and to the treatment of symptoms associated to pelvic floor disorders. Nonetheless, traditional ideals regarding men’s behaviours can be a barrier to their engagement in health promoting behaviours. The associations between men’s pelvic floor health, sexual health, and identification to traditional masculine ideals currently require a closer attention from researchers. Increasing evidence-based knowledge in this area will contribute to the development of effective interventions, products, and services focused on the maintenance and promotion of pelvic health and treatment of pelvic floor disorders that are tailored to men’s experiences and needs.

View Full Project Description
Faculty Supervisor:

Elke Reissing

Student:

Partner:

WOW Tech Canada Ltd

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Health and Related Sciences & Technology

University:

University of Ottawa

Program:

Accelerate

Integration of GNSS Precise Point Positioning and Inertial Sensing Technologies for Lane-Level Car Navigation

Present car navigation systems provide drivers with route guidance information relying mostly on Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS). There is a growing demand at the present time to achieve decimeter-level accuracy for the purpose of accurate lane-level car navigation. This research aims at the development of reliable, accurate and continuous lane-level car navigation integrating the emerging GNSS precise point positioning (PPP) technology with motion sensors in land vehicles. A navigation system with continuous decimeter-level accuracy would have a significant impact in a wide range of applications. For instance, the automotive industry will benefit from such system to increase driving efficiency and enhance driver’s experience and safety. In addition, the proposed technology could provide reliable and robust performance for different intelligent transportation system (ITS) applications and services.

View Full Project Description
Faculty Supervisor:

Aboelmagd Noureldin

Student:

Partner:

Profound Positioning Inc

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Manufacturing; Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

Queen's University

Program:

Accelerate

Isolation of marine microalgae for sustainable production of squalene

Marine microalgae are currently used as a source of high value polyunsaturated lipids such as DHA and EPA. The focus of this research is to isolate a strain of marine microalgae that can produce commercially viable amounts of squalene. Squalene is a high value hydrocarbon that is predominately extracted from the liver of deep sea sharks and its consumption is associated with health benefits. Environmentally this is irresponsible for the protection of deep sea wild life to continue this method for obtaining squalene. Using microalgae in heterotrophic fermentations could be a sustainable way to produce this high value product. This project will focus on deriving a renewable squalene source from marine microalgae using biotechnology and sustainable methods. It will benefit Mara Renewable Corporation by allowing exploration of new and potentially more productive microalgae strains for producing a new value-added product.

View Full Project Description
Faculty Supervisor:

Su-Ling Brooks

Student:

Partner:

Mara Renewables

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Environmental Science and Technology; Sustainability & the Environment; Biotechnology

University:

Dalhousie University

Program:

Accelerate

Intelligent Residential Energy Management Utility Controller

To research, design, and develop a network communication and control modules that integrate any residential HAVC control system with a utility energy management user interface. Developed signal modulation scheme will be implemented on development testing board. Device will network with all utilities for gas, water, and electricity.

View Full Project Description
Faculty Supervisor:

Jahangir Hossain

Student:

Partner:

Thermo Matrix

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

University of British Columbia - Okanagan

Program:

Accelerate

Previous
1…158159160161162163164…2,513
Next

Join a thriving innovation ecosystem.

Subscribe to our newsletter now!

Subscribe