Innovative Projects Realized

Internet-of-things (IoT)-based Data Collection and Analytics for Onsite Scaffolding Project Management

Scaffolding, as a type of temporary structure on construction sites, provides access for trades to certain areas for performing construction activities. Depending on project sizes, the budget for scaffolding can account for a substantial amount of the total direct work budget. Failure to the management of scaffolding activities can result in cost overrun and schedule delays in the projects. Meanwhile, scaffolding management is challenging by its nature, e.g., ad-hoc trivial daily activities with various material components consumed at different locations. This makes scaffolding management difficult, from tracking ongoing activities and material, to well utilize the tracked information for project management. To improve the current industry practice of scaffolding management, timely and accurate data acquisition mechanisms are necessary to record scaffolding data to further form productivity metrics for project management purposes. Therefore, this research project intends to develop a data-driven framework for onsite scaffolding data acquisition and utilization of analytics to provide decision support information for project management. The research team at the University of New Brunswick will collaborate with the Hinton Scaffolding Solutions (Ontario, Canada) to develop Internet-of-things (IoT)-based solutions that incorporate machine learning and statistical methods to form productivity metrics for project earned value analysis (EVA).

Quantum and Silicon Photonics Library for AIM photonics

Quantum computing (QC) is expected to deliver the next leap in information technology, with anticipated impacts as significant as the development of silicon integrated circuits and the Internet. Photonic QC provides the advantage of a scalable platform based on silicon manufacturing. Industry has recognized the potential of a purely photonic approach, as being pursued by Xanadu (Toronto, Canada) and PsiQuantum (California). However, photons don’t last long while travelling in silicon waveguides, meaning it is difficult to perform many quantum operations before the photons are lost. The major challenge for the scaling of photonics-based QC is optical loss – “every photon counts”, as “a photon once lost cannot be recovered”. It is thus critical to develop ultra-low loss photonic components, which can be achieved by careful design, and by fabrication in a world-class facility.

Business Strategy Intern

Working directly with the Growth team, under the supervision of the Marketing Manager, the intern will jump two feet into Anovas current projects. Anova is a small but mighty team working with tools like HootSuite, Canva, MailChimp & Monday.com; Anova takes pride in seeing other fertility clinics struggle to keep up with its ontent and look forward to welcoming an energetic intern in into our midst. Anovas objective during COVID-19 is to solidify its online presence and familiarize people with the brand, and value propositions.

Some of the main intern activities will include:
Managing current social media content planning
Creating engaging content
Monitoring performance of various channels, and identifying which posts are the most engaging
Developing 12 months of content themes for 2021
Streamlining social media accounts as part of a rebranding initiative (eg: Juno Fertility under the Anova banner)

As a new department within in Anova, our basket is brimming with projects to increase Anovas visibility in the fertility space. Many of these projects have had to pause and/or pivot due to COVID-19, and having another valued member able to move projects forward will be important for overall success.

Examining the feasibility and potential impact of a clinical innovative software tool to support pharmacists for minor ailment prescribing

Pharmacists are providing increasingly patient-centered clinical services such as Pharmacists Prescribing for Minor Ailments (PPMA). However, several factors delay pharmacists’ ability to implement PPMA including integration with workflow and time constrains. Technology solutions aim to support PPMA can be important innovative tools to help pharmacists to perform PPMA. The aim of this project is to examine the feasibility and potential impact of a new clinical innovative software tool to support pharmacists for minor ailment prescribing. This project will be using an online survey that examines pharmacists’ perspective on the acceptability, impact on the integration in workflow, self-efficacy, time required and overall satisfaction with PPMA. The results of this project will be used to refine the tool to enhance its acceptability and effectiveness. The tool can then be implemented, to improve PPMA service, which will ultimately optimize patient care.

Conversion des veilles et diagnostics manuels vers une solution intelligente / Gestion et transformation des données internes

Cette proposition encadre une portion stratégique d’un projet R&D en préparation soit le développement d’une stratégie de gestions, de stockage, de transformation, de sécurisation et d’accès aux données recueillis à l’interne de CRD.

Analyse du dialogue

L’objectif du projet est de comprendre l’influence de caractéristiques du locuteur (émotion, troubles mentaux etc) sur l’organisation du dialogue. Les études actuelles se heurtent notamment à l’absence d’analyseur discursif automatique pour le dialogue. L’échange avec Pr. G. Carenini répond à cet enjeu : son expertise sur l’analyse discursive, les architectures neuronales et l’apprentissage distant, alliée à la nôtre en formalisation des dialogues, permettront le développement d’approches robustes et performantes. Nous étendrons au dialogue leur approche faiblement supervisé en tenant compte des difficultés spécifiques (manque de données et différences de formalisation). Le système permettra d’étudier les liens entre locuteur et organisation dialogique. Cette étude aura des retombées en termes de publications et ouvrira la voie à une collaboration de longue durée avec l’une des meilleures équipes en traitement de la langue.

Economic and Security Optimization for NFT Marketplaces

Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) have arisen as a popular and attractive method to handle digital assets, including but not limited to digital art, certificates, audio and video files. Based on Blockchain technology, the concept of NFT can guarantee the ownership of a digital asset, the secure transfer of said ownership and the integrity and immutability of the history of transactions around an asset. In turn, this innovation has given rise to marketplace platforms that handle NFT transactions, creating new business opportunities. However, the technology is still new and immature for business and there remain security vulnerabilities and room for business and performance optimization. In this project, we will explore these opportunities and propose specific optimizations for NFT marketplace platforms on security, performance and economic efficiency.

Developing an Efficient Ensemble Machine Learning Model for Generating Insights and Evaluating Contractors Qualifications for Successful Execution of a Construction Project

The research is meant to invent a quicker and efficient method for evaluating potential suppliers for public sector procurement, especially for construction services. This is a complex and paper intensive process today. Using machine learning models to decipher data and
PledgX is focused on building a solution that enables public sector buyers evaluate suppliers more efficiently and quickly using AI-driven insights. These insights are generated from data collected from suppliers at the stage of submission.
By analyzing data that is available in pdf/excel/word files in the company’s records, PledgX is building an easy-to-use tool to guide GCs to build a prequalification package. This process also ensures that data is collected from GCs more efficiently at this stage in comparison to the paper/pdf/word/excel documents submitted today.

Creative BC: Strategic Design Process Researchand Plan Development

Creative BC is an independent provincial agency tasked with overseeing the development andpromotion of B.C.’s creative industries. In addition to administering tax credits and providingproduction support for filmmakers and television producers, it intends to work with the digital media, music and publishing industries to co-develop and implement a strategy for the creative sector. To fulfill its new mandate under the provincial B.C. Creative Futures plan, Creative BC is engaging an Interdisiplinary Graduate Studies student (ISGP) researcher who will lead a research, design and experimental process to craft an innovation-centered growth plan for the cultural and creative industries in British Columbia. Their goal is to build an innovative and sustainable creative sector that results in local pride and global attention. With an effective strategy they will be able to recruit and retain top creative thinkers and leaders and ultimately influence public policy.

Addressing the Senior Digital Divide: Evaluating the Technology, Access and Support for Seniors (TASS) Project

This impact evaluation study assesses the economic, social and cultural impact of the Technology, Access and Support for Seniors (TASS) project initiated in 2020 by Human Endeavour, a York Region charity. Recognizing the need to pivot to online program delivery, Human Endeavour obtained grants to purchase, support and deliver free, preprogrammed tablets to 400 vulnerable seniors identified by United Way Greater Toronto, the Regional Districts of York and Muskoka, and eight Ontario community agencies. By gathering data from 100 online surveys and 25 interviews with seniors and 20 interviews with program managers and executive directors of participating organizations, we evaluate the impact of TASS in reducing senior isolation through digital connections. We examine the strategies, skills and technical expertise required by non-profits to address the growing senior digital divide by developing post-pandemic hybrid program delivery models. Since technology now outpaces digital research, assessment remains key to building social inclusion.

InterGenNS [Intergenerational North Shore] Project 2.0: Best Practice: From Global Exploration to Community Action

In response to the vast interest in the North Shore pertaining to intergenerational initiatives, InterGenNS Project 2.0 seeks to bridge community engagement and academic research to provide tangible tools and resources that broaden the awareness of initiatives that connect generations in the North Shore. This project actively contributes to reducing social isolation and loneliness while enhancing social capital, community capacity, cultural connectedness, social awareness, and social cohesion among various populations in the North Shore community.
Based on the information gathered from the data collection procedures, various deliverables will be created and made accessible to the North Shore community. This project is unique as it looks at intergenerational programming from a global perspective and takes a deeper dive into understanding the intricacies of best practices that bring generations together to then translate useful knowledge and resources to better support intergenerational initiatives in the North Shore. In addition, there is a community development component as the intergenerational workshop creates a space for youth and older adults to come together. The partner organization will gain an enrichened understanding of the current intergenerational initiatives in the North Shore as well as assist and support residents and various organizations looking to be involved in intergenerational initiatives on the North Shore.

A new automated approach for Engineering Design and Manufacturing Specification generation

RPS Composites Inc. designs and manufactures a wide range of corrosion-resistant (fibre reinforced plastic/polymer) FRP and Dual Laminate equipment from piping systems to ducts, stacks, hoods, covers, cells, and other miscellaneous custom equipment. Their engineering team has used different design methods provided in the codes and standards. The current process of designing and generating the manufacturing specifications is observed to be very time-consuming. The goal of this project will be to automate and optimize the current design process and manufacturing-specifications generation of the processes. This automated system will benefit the partner organization in improving the speed and accuracy of their design processes. This project will also aim to improve the documentation and archival of the company’s historical data for effective reference in future