Innovative Projects Realized

Detection and localization of oil-under-ice

As resource exploration and development moves further north into harsher environments and
more severe ice conditions, the risk of a spill in ice-covered waters-whether it is as a result
of drilling, production or storage and transport of product-increases. The first steps in the
management, cleanup and remediation are the detection, localization and tracking of the spill.
While existing aerial surveillance and satellite remote sensing techniques are effective in
tracking oil in open water and in loosely concentrated ice, none have proven to be effective in
penetrating ice. Additionally, the performance of existing visual, ultra-violet and infra-red
aerial techniques can all be rendered ineffective by darkness, fog and clouds. The objective
of the proposed research is to develop a model and simulation for the detection and
localization of oil under ice using a fleet of Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUV). The 3D
simulation that is proposed is to be used by the project partner, C-CORE, to set the direction
of subsequent work…TOBECONT’D

Radar-based Real-Time Detection of Overdose Incidents in Small Public Spaces

This project aims to train machine learning models that use millimetre-wave radar data to non-invasively detect health incidents, such as overdoses in public bathroom stalls. The partner, Brave Technology Coop, has developed a small, wall-mounted, radar sensing unit on which we want to directly deploy real-time gesture detection software, an instance of cutting-edge “Edge AI.” The unit can then immediately notify a responder if it detects a target incident, which otherwise would not be detected until a passerby notices.

The project will improve Brave’s ability to accurately classify these incidents, thereby strengthening their ODetect sensor product. Additionally, it will investigate other health-related gestures that may diversify the product’s target market.

Applications de l’apprentissage statistique en assurance voyage

Ce projet de recherche est fait en collaboration avec le département de Recherche et Développement de la compagnie Optimum Réassurance Inc. Il a pour but de faire usage des concepts et des outils d’analyse prédictive, de l’apprentissage automatique et statistique pour développer des méthodes de modélisation et de prédiction des réclamations et des comportements des assurés en assurance voyage. Les données seront fournies par des compagnies d’assurance qui détiennent un contrat de réassurance avec l’organisme partenaire. Ces clients, ainsi que l’organisme partenaire, ont démontré un intérêt à raffiner leurs techniques de tarification, et de s’initier à l’implantation des outils nécessaires pour faire usage des techniques de modélisation les plus à jour. Cette ligne d’affaires requiert une attention particulière à l’aire des changements des habitudes de voyages, et ce projet contribuera aux avancés dans la modélisation de la gestion des risques. Ce projet requiert la collaboration de plusieurs agents du marché de l’assurance voyage, afin de maximiser la quantité de données accessibles et de faire avantager le marché dans son ensemble en ayant accès aux résultats et à la description des méthodes utilisées.

Caractérisation du coefficient de frottement de l’aluminium à haute température appliqué au procédé HSBF (High Speed Blow Forming)

Dans le but de d’alléger et d’améliorer les véhicules existant l’entreprise Verbom a développé un procédé de mise en forme de l’aluminium qui permet de réaliser des pièces de carrosserie forme complexe que les méthodes traditionnelles de mise en forme de permettent pas d’obtenir. Afin de pouvoir optimiser le procédé et d’augmenter la productivité l’entreprise possède une simulation numérique du procédé. Cette simulation pour être fiable requière que différents paramètres soient renseignés, et en particulier un paramètre encore peu défini, le coefficient de frottement de l’aluminium à la température à laquelle il est mis en forme, soit 500°C. Aucune méthode conventionnelle n’existe pour réaliser ce type de mesure, un banc d’essai a donc été conçu spécialement, et il va permettre de réaliser une étude qualitative et quantitative sur le coefficient de frottement et les différentes méthodes de lubrification à cette température.

Methods to improve SNR of a small-scale NMR system forin-vivo biomarkers monitoring

The goal of this project is to develop advanced mathematical algorithms integrated with the probe
design technique to improve the SNR of an NMR measurement. The proposed methods are summarized as:
1) Apply Compressed sensing (CS) technique associated with the optimized recovery method to the current obtained NMR signals.
2) Time-averaging technique can also be developed and applied to further improve the SNR of the developed algorithms.
3) Investigate and develop the phased-array receive (Rx) coils for the current MR system.

Wahkohtowin Northeast Superior Guardian Program

Indigenous participation is integral to the advancement of community-led governance over natural resources development projects. Stemming from such undertakings is the need for effective and continuous environmental monitoring for mitigating impacts to traditional lands and waters. The research proposal is aimed at articulating community-identified values and objectives for the development of an effective and culturally appropriate Environmental Monitoring (EM) training program. The intent of the project is to contribute to the advancement of Indigenous practitioner presence in natural resources management and forestry. The project will include the design vocational skills training modules that are community-focused and community-led. The expected benefits of the project will include a contribution to the study of Indigenous land use and governance structures and the provision of expanded training options for Indigenous youth in resource management.

Optimisation des opérations de transport d’intrants et d’extrants chez Cascades

Le problème sur lequel nous travaillerons consiste à optimiser les opérations de transport d’intrants et d’extrants pour une usine chez Cascades. L’entreprise aimerait déterminer les modes de transport à utiliser (camion et train), les tournées des véhicules (camions) pour la livraison et revoir la taille de sa flotte de camion afin de réduire ses coûts de transport tout en assurant des délais de livraison raisonnables pour ses clients. Plusieurs contraintes réelles de l’entreprise (p. ex. capacité de transport) seront considérées. Notre projet consistera donc à développer un outil d’aide à la décision afin d’aider l’entreprise à déterminer les décisions à prendre pour une usine spécifique de son réseau, et de déterminer les répercussions potentielles sur l’ensemble de son réseau. Une analyse sera menée afin d’évaluer la robustesse des solutions proposées aux changements ayant une forte probabilité de se réaliser. Ceci mènera à des recommandations concrètes pour l’entreprise.

Spatial and Temporal Patterns of Habitat use of Green Anaconda (Eunectes murinus) in Amazonian Streams Using Remotely Sensed Imaging and Radio Telemetry

This project will be studying the relationship of Green Anacondas with their surroundings by describing the ways Anacondas use their habitats and how these behaviours change throughout the year. We will be using a technology called “radio telemetry” to follow Anacondas in order to observe them and collect information. Drone and Satellite imagery will be used to describe the Anacondas territories and habitats. Anacondas are important “top” predators of rainforest ecosystems and are also valuable in conservation land management through eco-tourism. The Alliance for Research and Conservation in the Amazon will benefit from this work because they will have a better understanding of the predator-prey relationships on their land, and will use the project to increase interest in visitations to the site, which ultimately helps manage and defend the pristine rainforest the organization is protecting.

Acoustical Detection of Swallowing Aspiration

Swallowing dysfunction (dysphagia) is a common disorder in patients with neurological impairments,
head/neck injuries or brain-stem stroke. Dysphagic patients lack the intricate coordination between the
swallowing and the respiration functions, which results in high risk of food aspiration. The goal of this
proposal is to develop a novel and non-invasive acoustic technology that can detect aspiration at the
patients’ bedside without any interference with the normal swallowing of the patients. It can be easily applied
to any dysphasic regardless of the patient’s age or level of cooperation; thus reducing the need for
invasive and expensive current gold standard swallowing assessment techniques. The proposed
technology will diversify the product offering and market breadth of the industrial partner, Sagatech;
itt may also enhance the competitiveness of present Sagatech technologies.

Automation of the manufacturing process design

Automation is generally perceived as the application of physical robots to replace the human workforce to complete a specific task. However, automation can also appear in the design process where it replaces the repetitive computations and lookups by a human. In the latter case, automation reduces the risk of human error and highly increases the transparency and efficiency of the design process. The present work is focused on the automation of the manufacturing process of metallic powders. The goal is to utilize the historical data of the company to develop a customized predictive model that provides manufacturing recipes for future products.

Oat Conversion to Milk and Nutrient Recovery Optimization

Plant-based beverages are inappropriate alternatives to bovine milk, due to lower protein content and not sufficient amount of essential amino acids. To produce nutritionally complete plant-based beverage with high overall acceptability, the technological interventions and fortification techniques need to be developed. Oat is one of the promising raw material for preparation of functional plant-based milk due to the presence of dietary fibres and good nutritional quality of oat proteins. Appropriate complementation of oat proteins with other high nutritious plant protein isolate will enable to produce plant-based beverage with all essential amino acids required for a complete source of protein in a single serving. The applied interventions may lead to process improvements for better quality and performance of plant-based beverages and further growth and global competitiveness of Canadian products in a global market.

Evaluating the Long-Term Sustainability of Natural Systems in Ontario’s Greenbelt

Ontario’s Greenbelt is composed of nearly 2 million acres of protected land including natural areas that provide ecosystem services to millions of people. While these areas face reduced pressure from land use conversion, they still face a pressures typical of natural systems in peri-urban landscapes including loss of biodiversity, invasive species, impacts from infrastructure projects and a changing climate. In order to determine the extent to which these pressures are shifting natural systems, indicators of system health are needed. This report will use existing natural system spatial data to quantify changes in the natural system across the Greenbelt. Through municipal case studies relying on previously collected high-resolution spatial and field-collected information, a list of recommended indicators will be developed, identifying high priority indicators for collection and reporting. It will also provide recommendations for additional, precise monitoring criteria based on data analysed at both regional and local levels.