Innovative Projects Realized

Towards development of a biodegradable polymer for use in single-use surgical gloves

The proposed university-industry research aims to develop a biodegradable polymer with a target application in personal protective equipment (PPE), aligned with the ongoing global research efforts towards Next Generation Plastics (NGPs). The new NGP is expected to fully degrade within 2-5 years when disposed in soil and exposed to a combination of water, UV and thermal-based biodegradation mechanisms. If proven feasible through the proposed lab-scale tests, followed by upscaling by the industry partner, the new product will address Canada’s recommended zero-plastic waste strategy by avoiding the use of non-recyclable plastic products and adapting circular economy approaches in engineering productions.

Simultaneous localization and mapping using a magnetic quantum sensor

Vehicles that are able to autonomously move in the air, on the ground, or underwater must fuse various forms of sensor data together in order to ascertain the vehicles location relative to objects or a map. Typical sensor data includes inertial measurement unit data and some sort of positioning data, such as GPS data. However, positioning data is not always available, especially indoors and underground. SBQuantum (SBQ) has developed a novel quantum magnetometer that can measure the Earth’s magnetic field gradient. This project proposes sensing and mapping the magnetic field gradient using SBQ’s sensor in order to deduce the position of a vehicle or hand-held device. In particular, the focus of this project is the research, development, testing, and deployment of a navigation solution using magnetometry data provided by SBQ’s quantum magnetometer, as well as assessing just how reliable and accurate a magnetometry-based navigation solution is. The proposed navigation solution can potentially be used as an inexpensive means to position vehicles or hand-held devices such as smartphones in, essentially, any environment, when GPS is not available.

Intelligent Lawn Mow Routing using Automatic Vehicle Locator Technology for Smart City

In Winnipeg, MB, grass and weed growth can be seen during the summer, up until the middle of October. Weeds such as dandelions are hazardous to human health as they can trigger allergic and asthmatic reactions to the public. Their roots can grow up to two feet long if not removed on time. During the grass growth period, the City of Winnipeg uses many mowers of different sizes and horse-powers to mow and remove the weeds in boulevards, athletic fields, parks and other city owned green spaces. Currently, mowing routes are decided manually by the foremen. This is inefficient and time consuming. In the past year, the City has initiated a pilot Smart City mowing tracking project using Automatic Vehicle Locator (AVL) technology. These devices have been installed on lawn mowers and the City has been gathering data such as the geographical locations and speeds of the vehicles. We propose to use the AVL data to automate routing in real-time. We will synthesize an efficient routing algorithm that minimizes the transportation cost of the different lawn mowers by finding the shortest path between mowing location.

Employment Transitions of Refugees: Refugees, Employer, and Sponsorship Group Perspectives in Pictou County

Since 1979, Canadians have used the Private Sponsorship of Refugee (PSR) program to sponsor and resettle refugees in their communities. One of the roles community-based refugee resettlement volunteers play is helping newcomers find work or set up a small business. Research indicates that community-sponsored refugees make a faster and more resilient economic transition, but we don’t know why. This study draws from the first-hand experiences of refugee newcomers and volunteers and employers who help refugee newcomers resettle to gain insight into why community-based resettlement facilitates their economic transitions. In addition to contributing to the academic knowledge on refugee economic integration, this study will provide tools for PSR groups to share with newcomers and the volunteers who support them including a “best-practices” manual for volunteers, an information booklet for employers, and an orientation to economic integration for refugee newcomers.

The Voice of e-Democracy Panel in the City of Markham

The proposed project will help develop an online forum that can be used as a public consultation tool for governments as they make important public policy decisions. This forum will be developed and tested in the City of Markham as a case study. The model will then be refined so that it can be applied to other jurisdictions. The result will be a framework and online panel that can be used by various actors to communicate with and learn firsthand from citizens through digital technology. This model will also be the basis for the establishment of a Centre for e-Democracy, which will be facilitated through a collaborative partnership between industry, academia, government, and advocacy groups. The value for Delvinia is to build upon the AskingCanadians marketing panel the company established and create a new forum that goes beyond linking businesses and consumers, connecting government and citizens.

Cybersécurité et expérience utilisateur : exploration du rôle de l’interface dans la réduction de la cybercriminalité en contexte bancaire

De plus en plus de personnes utilisent les services bancaires en ligne au quotidien et s’exposent ainsi à des risques divers tels que le vol d’identifiants. De nombreux outils technologiques peuvent être mis en place pour contrer ces activités criminelles, mais leur utilisation et adoption dépend des comportements des utilisateurs. Malgré une compréhension des enjeux sécuritaires, de nombreux utilisateurs sont toujours victimes de ce type de vol du fait de leur utilisation quasi-automatique des outils en ligne qui entraîne une perte de vigilance face aux informations présentées. Nous souhaitons tester des fonctionnalités sur les interfaces bancaires afin d’augmenter la vigilance des utilisateurs et de les permettre de détecter la menace à laquelle ils font face. Ce projet vise à développer et tester à l’aide d’outils psychométriques et physiologiques des changements d’interfaces afin de proposer un juste équilibre entre vigilance et expérience utilisateur agréable. Cette recherche est critique pour l’entreprise partenaire tout comme pour l’ensemble de la société qui pourrait ainsi bénéficier de recommandations en matière d’interface afin de réduire les risques d’attaques criminelles faisant appels à des outils d’ingénierie sociale.

Feasibility Study for Wastewater Collection and Treatment System at Aubigny community

Aubigny is a small rural community where individuals are responsible for their septic systems. Being smaller lots and close to the Red River, the potential for environmental damage such as soil, surface and ground pollution could be there. If suitable wastewater treatment system could be installed in this community then there would also be potential for more residential development. The project will determine the feasibility of creation of a sustainable wastewater treatment system that could work for such a community and ensure environmental sustainability there. The study will assist to choose the appropriate wastewater system for the community for future development with confirming sustainable environment there.

Étude sur les systèmes de réfrigération à éjection travaillant avec du CO2 transcritique.

Le projet vise à optimiser des pompes à chaleur transcritiques au CO2 par l’intégration d’un éjecteur. Les applications potentielles sont le chauffage et le refroidissement de bâtiments ou de procédés industriels nécessitant des puissances élevées. Pour cela, une approche couplée modélisation thermodynamique / expériences sera choisie. Les modèles d’éjecteur et de pompe à chaleur seront successivement validés par des mesures faites sur un banc expérimental de pompe à chaleur au CO2 disponible chez Hydro-Québec. Le système sera optimisé en couplant les modèles thermodynamiques à un algorithme d’optimisation multi-objectifs. L’éjecteur optimisé sera alors testé sur le dispositif expérimental. Le partenaire Refri-Ozone assurera le suivi du projet et permettra d’identifier les principales applications de ce type de système. L’amélioration des technologies de production de chaud et de froid utilisant le CO2 comme réfrigérant naturel ouvre des perspectives sans limite dans un contexte de réchauffement climatique et de bannissement progressif des réfrigérants synthétiques.

bridgeVUE – UX/UI research and development

Navigation at sea is a complex and comprehensive task. Combined with the challenges of navigating in heavy traffic, and avoiding dangers in low light and low visibility, it becomes considerably more difficult. This project, bridgeVUE, leverages an emerging technology to enhance marine navigation by contextualizing radar data over an individual’s field of vision, in real time. By using an Augmented Reality (AR) headset, bridge crew can overlay critical information over their field of vision, even when visibility is near zero, increasing their situational awareness.

Currently, bridgeVUE is a functioning prototype that consolidates and visualizes multiple data input. However, there are some UX/UI improvements that need to be made. As part of this project, Engage Creative Technologies and UPEI will work together to research the latest on UX/UI in emerging technologies, such as AR, and will develop solutions that will be adopted and embraced by the end-users of bridgeVUE.

Marketing and Communications Application

The Pottle Centre is a drop-in social centre for individuals living with mental illness, now celebrating 40 years servicing our local community. This charity was established by the late Dr. Clarence Pottle former Waterford Hospital Medical Superintendent and Director of Mental Health Services for the Government of NL with a vision of providing a welcoming, safe space for members who are consumers of provincial mental health and addictions services. The Pottle Centre is a vital asset in assisting Eastern Health in achieving their vision – Healthy People, Healthy Communities. The social connection and benefits of the many programs offered promote the well-being of these vulnerable members of our community and because of the Pottle Centre’s work, members do not need to spend their days alone nor face their mental illness or addiction issues unsupported.
The centre is fortunate to have a small group of dedicated professionals working to enhance the lives of its members. However, given the rising costs for operating and challenging economic climate, sustained funding has become increasingly vital to the longevity of the centre.

Reducing the effect of magnetic disturbance in inertial measurement based indoor localization

Using inertial measurement units (IMUs) has been one of the main techniques for indoor localization. In many cases, this type of methods uses accelerometer, gyroscope, and/or magnetometer that are available in commercial mobile devices, such as smart phone. One main advantage of using this type of techniques is that no separate infrastructure deployment is needed. However, its performance is affected by noise that exists in the measurement data. When tracking pedestrians, the moving speed and direction are usually estimated separately. Muldi Vision Ltd. (MDV), the industrial partner organization, has been providing localization services for workers in industrial environments. When using their current product in manufacturing plants, the accuracy of the IMU-based localization method is highly affected by magnetic disturbance. The objective of this work is to find methods to reduce the negative effect of magnetic disturbance on the accuracy of the sensor orientation estimate and therefore improve the localization accuracy.

Improving Emotion Regulation and Executive Functions in Adolescents using Mindfulness-based Martial Arts

The intern will play an integral role in the completion of a pilot treatment study to explore the feasibility and sensitivity of neurobiological measures to explore brain-based changes in emotion regulation and executive functions (e.g., impulse control) associated with participation in Mindfulness Martial Arts (MMA). MMA is a treatment program developed at Integra that integrates evidence-based mental health therapy into the milieu of martial arts training. The intern will develop skills in EEG and ECG administration and data analysis. She will also gain an understanding of MMA and its treatment components and how specific treatment components are associated with activation of different areas in the brain. She will share her knowledge and expertise about neurobiology and emotion regulation with the clinical and management team at Integra, thereby futhering their understanding of the LD/mental health population and the impact of MMA.