Innovative Projects Realized

Deep learning-based illuminant estimation for mobile devices

Humans possess the ability to see objects as having the same color even when viewed under different illuminations. Cameras inherently lack this capability. A process called auto white balance (AWB) has to be applied by the camera to mimic this behavior of the human visual system. AWB is one of the first steps in a series of operations performed on-board the camera as the raw image recorded by the sensor is processed. It plays a crucial role in ensuring that the colors in the final image that is output to the user are correctly represented. In recent years, AI algorithms for AWB have demonstrated superior performance over conventional methods. However, existing AI solutions are too computationally expensive for use on smartphones and mobile cameras. The goal of this project is to devise an AI algorithm that is light-weight and capable of running in real time on-device. This project will help Samsung Electronics Canada develop an improved and more practical auto white balance AI algorithm applicable to modern smartphone camera images.

Holocene fire history as a predictor of watershed responses to future wildfires in southwestern British Columbia

Approximately 2.6 million people in Vancouver and the Lower Mainland depend on the Seymour, Capilano and Coquitlam watersheds for clean, fresh drinking water. A key component of maintaining watershed health and resilience is understanding the relationships between climate, fire and vegetation within the Water Supply Area. As the climate warms these relationships will likely change, presenting a challenge for watershed managers. Historical fire behavior, and the speed and magnitude of associated vegetational regime shifts, can act as gauges for the potential changes Vancouver’s watersheds may experience in the coming decades. By studying the pollen, charcoal and macrofossil content of a sediment core from a small, mid-elevation lake within the watershed, mangers can gain insight into Holocene climate-fire-vegetation relationships. The resulting paleoclimate history will provide information about regional fire and vegetation regime shifts during past warm periods to aid in adopting appropriate adaptive management strategies that minimize damage to watershed ecosystems.

QU02 MRI: a new window on mitochondrial dysfunction in Alzheimer’s disease

This project seeks to develop new methods for imaging oxidative and vascular function in the brain. The methods under development are based on widely available MRI hardware, which will make them feasible for use in future clinical drug trials, an application that is of interest to the partner organization CQDM. Before the approach is ready for commercial application, a number of methodological issues must be addressed to achieve optimal sensitivity, specificity, and tolerability in patients. The project thus consists of an initial development phase, during which MRI acquisition procedures will be optimized, followed by a clinical phase in which 100 Alzheimer’s disease (AD) patients as well as 100 age-matched controls will undergo imaging with the final protocol. The new data provided on oxidative and vascular changes in the brains of AD patients will provide a deeper understanding of disease mechanisms in AD.

Optimisation de la régie d’irrigation en production d’amandes

La sécheresse qui perdure depuis plusieurs années en Californie entraîne les producteurs agricoles à modifier leurs pratiques culturales pour faire face à cette nouvelle réalité. Ce projet de recherche appliquée vise à définir la régie d’irrigation optimale pour la production d’amandes qui maximisera l’utilisation des ressources naturelles telles que l’eau et l’énergie nécessaire pour pomper l’eau d’irrigation. Hortau, une entreprise québécoise, développe des outils technologiques permettant à ses clients d’améliorer leurs pratiques d’irrigation. L’amande constitue un marché de niche pour l’entreprise québécoise. En testant différentes stratégies d’irrigation, les résultats de ce projet permettront d’améliorer la compréhension des besoins en eau de l’amande, permettant ainsi aux agronomes d’accompagner les producteurs à optimiser davantage l’utilisation des ressources naturelles.

Identifying Opportunities and Barriers for Local Food Infrastructure in Yellowknife, NWT

Communities throughout Canada’s North are turning to small-scale agriculture in hopes of solving food security issues, fostering economic growth and adapting to climate change. The City of Yellowknife has developed an Agriculture Strategy to build a resilient local food system. Through an emerging partnership between the City of Yellowknife and Wilfrid Laurier University, the Mitacs intern will engage community members and local food actors to identify how potential infrastructure, such as a food hub, can foster opportunities and address community-defined needs to enhance the local food economy. Through interviews and focus groups, community members will envision a sustainable food system in Yellowknife and provide input into how infrastructure can improve access to healthy, locally produced food and support the emerging local food economy. This research will result in recommendations to the City Council on infrastructure, programming and policy needs to further the dialog of local and sustainable food systems in the North.

Prospective Cohort Study of Chronic Cough in the Canadian Longitudinal Study of Ageing (CLSA)

Chronic cough is a common symptom affecting approximately 10% of the general population that has major social, psychological and physical implications including depression, anxiety, and a reduction in social participation. Current data suggests the prevalence of chronic cough increases with age and is twice as common in female than in males. The exact reasons for this are unknown and there is no licensed treatment for this condition. There are some conditions like asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease which may be associated with chronic cough, but often treatment of these conditions with inhalers still leaves patients very symptomatic with cough. Therefore, there is an unmet need to better understand this condition. Unfortunately, there is no data evaluating the prevalence, incidence, characteristics, risk factors, and health consequences of the condition in the Canadian population and hence the CLSA provides a perfect opportunity to gain a better understanding of this condition. This information will be valuable in working towards better identification and treatment of chronic cough.

Digital Strategy Internship with Clearday Communications

With a large percentage of our clients cancelling live Clearday workshops, including those that count towards professional designation credits (CPAs and lawyers), we’ve had to shift more of our services and sessions online. The success of these online sessions prompted us to consider other ways we can provide convenient learning and development services for our professional-designation clients.

Problem: Other professions need to earn professional credits each year. Sometimes their employers provide training that earns them credits, but many have to source their own accredited training. They are busy people who need a good selection of learning, on-the-go.

We would like to conduct a competitive analysis, assess the viability of, and then develop a business and operations plan, for a podcast and accompanying app that provides professional designation credits for other professions for a membership fee. There would be a wide selection of content at the client’s fingertips. All of the material on the app would be accredited by the governing body. An app like this exists for accredited sessions for CPAs (newly released).

An IoT Hot Cold Sensation Device

This project is to research and develop a portable hot-cold sensation diagnostic device which will be used to test and record the degree of hot and cold sensation on patient’s limbs. Traditional method uses test tubes filled with warm water or cracked ice and water for testing. Temperature less than 5oC and greater than 45oC elicit painful responses in addition to temperature should be avoided. The proposed device not only integrates the key sensory testing tool, but through its electrical components, it provides method to conduct reproducible tests. It has the potential to be a disruptive technology. With the predicted growth and its potential to standardize neurological examinations and thus revolutionize the clinical industry, the device will become more prevalent in hospitals and private practices. This will help Clinisys further impact the local economy though the creation of employment opportunities, and the development and retention of highly qualified personnel that will ultimately lead to increased investment in Alberta.

Performance of cavity nesting birds breeding on reclaimed mine tailings: An individual life-history approach

This study will assess the behaviour, physiology and reproduction of individual birds breeding on reclaimed mine tailings, and will provide a robust measure of the effectiveness of reclamation efforts on the Highland Valley Copper operating area. By examining a range of life-history traits in two ecologically distinct species, and comparing birds breeding on reclaimed mine tailings to those on land that has not historically been exposed to mining operations, we will also be capable of identifying individual measures of quality or reproductive investment that most closely track environmental disturbance. This may become the basis for future cost-effective impact assessments in all industrial sectors engaged in resource extraction, as individual responses to environmental disturbance can provide an “early warning” of future population declines.

Industrial Research Intern Aleo Canada

Like many other industries, the manufacturing industry is struggling with increased operations costs and decreased efficiency due to COVID-19 preventive measures. In this project at Aleo, we will do a detailed analysis of these issues faced in the different manufacturing industries and leverage the latest technology to address these challenges. This project will create value both for the partner organization and Canada. The increased production efficiency at reduced cost will help the Canadian economy to bounce back quickly. This project will bring new clients and revenue for Aleo. It will also help Aleo to enhance its market presence and grow its business.

MBA – Bookkeeper & Grant Research Intern (BSI)

The Bookkeeper will provide support for the finance department and assist in various research activities for the different bookkeeping needs of Zones and grant development:
• Assistance for the finance department with general administrative and fiscal duties
• Prepare, review and manage record-keeping for ASBA and the Zones
• Conduct grant research to identify potential funding sources
• Prepare research on Zone level bookkeeping procedures
• Compilation of a feasibility report outlining the procedural steps in Zone bookkeeping
• Data Entry
• Other duties to be performed as required

EOLC – Resilience and Recovery

Beyond the immediate disruption to healthcare systems, the COVID-19 pandemic is also causing major disruptions to the regional economy and labour market. In Eastern Ontario, this shock to the $85 billion/year economy and 570,000-strong labour market is already very serious, with potential debilitating consequences for the prospect of a rapid economic recovery (Labour Force Survey, Statistics Canada, April 2020). The factors enabling a region to bounce back rapidly after economic or labour market shocks of this magnitude remain poorly understood. The objective of the project is to answer the following questions:
1. What does the academic literature tell us about factors creating resilience in a local/regional economy and labour market?
2. What are the mechanisms by which entrepreneurship and innovation confer greater resilience to a regional economy and job market?
3. What indicators might be used to assess resilience factors, especially entrepreneurship and innovation, and their contribution to a resilient economy?
4. How can those indicators be combined into a “resilience index” to assess and track the level of resilience of a regional economy and labour market?
5. What recommendations can be made to preserve or increase the degree of resilience in the regional economy?