Innovative Projects Realized

COVID-19 Prevention: Hybrid Polymer/Photoactive Ceramic Self-Disinfecting Coating

This twelve-month project aims to understand and propose a practical solution to prevent transmission of COVID-19 from contact with contaminated surfaces. It addresses a challenge of crucial importance for Canada and for Bioastra Technologies, a Canadian company specialising in smart materials for health, robotics and environmental applications. BioAstra was recently designated as an “essential service” by the Quebec government to repurpose existing smart coating and smart wearables technology towards the fight against COVID-19. The objective of this project is to functionalize various types of high-contact surfaces with a spray that creates a durable leave-on coating to inactivate COVID-19 and other viruses. Specifically, we will develop a composite based on Bioastra’s proprietary sol-gel formulation integrated with metal-oxide nanoparticle (NPs)-based photocatalysts. Due to the composite nature of the film, better anti-viral performance can be obtained coupled with long term-stability. We anticipate a synergist effect arising from the antiviral properties of photocatalyst materials combined with the intrinsic virus-inactivating properties of certain charged polymers and their ability to form a durable, fast-setting film when sprayed on a surface. A systematic study of the charge recombination and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation of the different polymer/NPs will be carried out. In particular, the structure-property relationships…

Digital Storytelling for Social Justice: Impact assessment, Producer Approach, and Strategic Communication in an age of New Media

This study aims to evaluate and measure the impact of a Canadian produced documentary, I am Rohingya, A Genocide in Four Acts. By critically analysing the intended and unintended outcomes of this award-winning documentary, producers whose aim is to enhance their socially minded production process, can learn how to improve their techniques through feedback and by comparing their experiences to scholarly literature. Additionally, through a comparative analysis of Canada’s market of funding for social justice themed digital stories, producers and scholars can gain a better understanding of what requirements and accountability structures exist within a Canadian context that focus on the relationship between media practitioners and vulnerable populations. This study will be mindful of the importance of communication, networks, and the political spheres surrounding social causes in an effort to better understand if building ownership throughout the production process can increase distribution and change.

Testing and optimizing the performance of a digital micromirror device (DMD) for mid-wavelength infrared imaging

Mass fever screening, as the most effective way to control the spread of these pandemic diseases, is vital to reduce the impact of COVID-19 to Canada. However, existing methods for mass fever screening is largely inefficient due to limited sensitivity in temperature measurement, which is attributed to easy interference by ambient parameters, low resolution, and incorrect ways of deployment.
This NSERC COVID-19 Alliance project aims to develop single-pixel infrared imaging thermometry (SPIRIT) for mass COVID-19 fever screening via an academia-industry collaboration between INRS and Ajile Light Industries Inc. (ALI). In particular, we propose to complete this objective by three specific Aims that involve the development of hardware and software of the SPIRIT system and the application of the SPIRIT system in measuring the temperature of humans. INRS and ALI will provide necessary and complementary expertise that encompasses all research tasks proposed in this application. Both sides are committed to frequent interaction and communication to ensure the on-time execution and fast progress of this project and to facilitate the technology transfer. ALI will continually invest in this direction to quickly commercialize the proposed technique.

Empowering Patients with Diabetes through Experience Design

This initiative is conducted with the Fraser Health Medicine Program, which provides
a wide range of integrated healthcare services in acute care hospitals and out-patient
services. This research will focus on various tools such as visual storytelling to engage staff
to empower patients with diabetes to take control of their diabetes health by providing them
with individualized education so that they can return home with the required diabetes
knowledge and follow-up resources.

Building Standards for Online Voting: Safeguarding the Industry

This goal of this project is to develop a Standards Proposal and initial framework to guide the use of online voting in municipal elections in Ontario. Elections in municipalities in Ontario are among the most digital in the world, yet there are no guidelines to shepherd use of the technology. Working with our partners we will develop a Standards Proposal to co-create online voting standards with stakeholders (i.e., municipalities, vendors, local associations). The project will focus on Ontario as a case study to establish proof of concept with the eventual objective of building a national framework.

Carbon sequestration through 3 novel biomass-based methods and opportunity for integration into carbon offset markets.

Biocoal is made from wood charcoal and a binder. Biocoal made by BC Biocarbon is made to replace coal in high temperature combustion uses. As biocoal is similar to coal, it is thought to be used to store carbon in the ground. This project hopes to demonstrate the carbon storage ability of biocoal, plastic-sealed wood, and bitumen-bound wood.

Experiment conditions for each product will include landfill, surface environment, indoor room temperature, and frozen for one year. The project business partner, BC Biocarbon, will also benefit from a research project on how to sell their carbon-based products in a carbon offset or carbon storage market.

Results after one year will better show the carbon storage ability of biocoal, plastic-sealed wood and bitumen-bound wood. Also, this research will help show how biocoal, plastic-sealed and bitumenbound wood waste may be used for large scale carbon reducing programs for limiting climate change.

Real-time Transcription and Knowledge Extraction of Video Consults

Dialogue is Canada’s leading telemedicine provider, founded to improve well-being by using technology to deliver excellent care. Dialogue is a pioneer of virtual health care dedicated exclusively to organizations that want to improve the health and well-being of their members and families. We provide effective health solutions through outstanding health care experiences and a focus on patient safety.
The project consists of the following:
Build a production application that will be able to do real-time transcription of the video consultations in Dialogue’s systems (video and EMR).
Build a knowledge extraction model (entities and intents) that is run against this real-time transcription to structure the data, filter it and store it in the proper section of the EMR.

Gulo Gulo Vision-based navigation for autonomous vehicles

The Gulo Gulo project objective is to improve the navigation algorithm utilized by the onboard motion sensors of AV/CVs to achieve positioning accuracy of less than 1% of the distance travelled with standalone INS solutions. The standalone solution will be aided with visions sensors (camera, LIDAR and RADAR) in addition to integrated system fusion with AI HD map-aiding visual odometry solution.
The solution will be 5G ready so that, in the future, the whole computation effort can be done on the cloud and will not depend on powerful local GPUs.
Utilizing the intern’s research and development efforts in navigation and HD mapping, the partner organization , METI, will be able to achieve the project objectives, attract business partners, expand to and compete within the automotive industry.

Material and Structural Performance of Nano-Carbon Based Ultra-High-Performance Fiber Reinforced Concrete

This research aims to thoroughly evaluate a new revolutionary generation of advanced cementitious materials: CNF-UHPFRC. It is composed of several phases that target to assess this competitive material at several levels and optimize it. One of its important and distinctive aspects is to tailor its constituents, correspondingly price, for each specific application, while maintaining the outstanding mechanical strength.
Another important aspect is the material behaviour at the structural level. This will be assessed by adopting the UHPFRC material in a new seismic strengthening profile. The strengthening will be applied to an RC circular column. Promising results and superior member’s performance are expected, as well making a print in the world of material and strengthening applications.
The conducted research in all of its aspects will be able to comprehensively determine the weakness and strength points of this material, in order to address them in future research. The partner organization as a result will be able to promote this product confidently in the Canadian and international markets.

Numerical and Experimental Investigation of Drive Motor Thermal Performance

This research project is related to the development of innovative solutions to enhance thermal performance of self-contained DM systems. The project will be carried out in collaboration with Van der Graaf Inc. (VDG), which is a Canadian company located in Brampton, Ontario. A long-term plan has been developed by the applicant and the industrial partner. The main objective is to help VDG produce DM systems with superior thermal performance capability and equipped with in situ sensors providing the user with live data about the overall thermal performance of the system. Undoubtedly, this technology has the potential to be a disruptive innovation for the drive motor industry, which would put VDG ahead of their international competition. The first phase of this long-term plan is the research proposed in this application which focuses on understanding and modeling thermal performance of DM systems.

CanGo- An Empowering Wayfinding Tool for Persons with Disabilities

For many persons with disabilities, for example those living with cognitive or visual
impairments, it is often impossible to drive a personal vehicle and to travel
independently, whether to school, to therapy, to their work place or to visit their friends.
Because of their challenges, they must rely on caregivers or family members for transport,
or use disability transport services that are often limited and quite unreliable. In many
cases, those with disabilities lack the confidence to use public transit systems moreover,
their parents or caregivers are often very wary ofletting them travel by themselves.
Our research will involve extensive engagement and consultation with users, the
development of a range of customized tools e.g. tools that provide alerts or notifications
to users and caregivers. The adoption of Can Go could lead to huge benefits and reduced
costs to individuals with special needs (through their increased independence), their
families and caregivers, and to support services.

Responsive polymer-based sensing system for COVID-19 infection

Monitoring hormone levels in saliva can be used to assess female reproductive health, which can yield many benefits to individuals. For example, those that have fertility issues can use hormone levels in saliva to improve their chances of conception, while the monitoring hormone levels over time could also be used to track and help treat disease. The project proposed here will yield a simple, and inexpensive tool that can be used at home (not in a clinic) to allow one to monitor hormone levels in saliva over time, e.g., daily. The development of this technology will provide a unique experience for the interns as it is at the intersection of technology development and human health.