Innovative Projects Realized

Materialized View Performance at Massive Scale for Data Analytics Workloads

View materialization in relational database systems helps in improving the performance of
querying the stored data. With the emergence of large scale data analytics, there are several
challenges that need to be considered for robust view management. In this project, we study
the performance of materialized views at large scale, when there are thousands of users
creating tens of thousands of views. Further, the challenges that emerge from new
computing paradigms like cloud computing wi ll also be investigated

Controlling Flow-Induced Vibrations with Novel 3D-Printed Devices

Continuous flexible systems such as aircraft wings, pipelines, risers, bridges, power towers, and transmission lines are always subjected to unwanted vibrations induced by unsteady wind loading. The typical engineering solution is to add a tuned-mass
damper to these structures. This typically works in removing the unwanted resonance, but it creates new problems as it adds two new natural frequencies. Here, we seek to develop a new class of dampers without a natural frequency, making them useful at damping vibrations over a broad spectrum of frequencies.

Development and application of a field method that evaluates propulsive force generation and transfer in Canoe Kayak Sprint

Canoe Kayak Sprint is a highly technical sport, where small changes in athlete stroke technique and/or boat movement can have large implications on race performance. Due to the complexity of these movements it has been difficult in the past to obtain equipment that is precise enough to measure kayak sprint technique accurately. With continual advancements in kinematics and kinetics measurement equipment/technology this problem can now be solved. The objective of this project is to create an instrumented kayak system (i.e. boat, paddle) that can be used to accurately measure kayak sprint technique in the athletes’ daily training environment. The researchers will develop and validate a kayak foot board, seat, and paddle which will measure the forces and moments (i.e. kinetics) being transferred from the water to the boat by the athlete. In addition, full-body and boat movements (i.e. kinematics) will be collected to better understand the temporal and spatial relationships of kinetics and kinematics during the kayak stroke.

Simulation of Aeration inside a Hydroelectric Turbine

This research project is aimed at improving the oxygenation of water downstream of hydroelectric dams; one of the issues being to preserve the aquatic fauna. The goal is to develop the fundamental understanding and applied technology needed by industry in the field of two-phase flows. Experimental and numerical tools are developed to design similar laws, to obtain validation data for numerical simulation of aerodynamic wind turbines. The student will perform numerical simulations of the two-phase flow characteristic of those encountered in aerating hydroelectric turbines. The student will perform numerical analysis (verification, validation) of the computations, analyze results such as the total air-water interface area critical for oxygenation efficicency.

API Usability of Machine Learning Libraries

API usability specifies how easy, efficient, error-preventing, and pleasant an API of a software library is from its users’ perspective. With machine learning (ML) techniques becoming increasingly powerful and pervasive, many non-programmers
and casual users (e.g. domain experts in medicine or geography) started to explore ML libraries. However, many find them challenging to use because of bad API design. This project aims to investigate the API of ML libraries through the lens of
user-centered design. The knowledge gathered will help developers of ML libraries improve their APIs and establish preliminary methodologies to evaluate API usability of ML libraries.

Integration of printable polymers with composite nanomaterials for wearable microfluidics

Research into wearable systems, functional nanomaterials, 3D printing, flexible microfluidics, and commercial thermoplastic polymer (TP) microfluidics, is reported daily. However, much of this research is hindered by difficulties in integrating structures, devices, and systems realized using different materials platforms. While polymers such as SU-8 and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) are popular with academics, TPs such as optically transparent cyclic olefin copolymer (COC) dominate in commercial microfluidics. TPs are expensive to prototype with, and are difficult to combine with flexible elastomer materials (PDMS, polyurethane) for high-stroke actuators. The proposed student project will combine thermoplastic materials such as COC and plastisol with functional nanomaterials developed in the Simon Fraser University (SFU) Microinstrumentation Lab. These functional nanomaterials include magnetic, piezoresistive, and piezoelectric composite polymers, with highly flexible polymer base materials. The student will work on materials integration techniques for portable thermoplastic based systems, and/or wearable textile based systems.

Green technology for the derivation of pharmaceutically important compounds from marine invertebrates and subsequent development of platform for controlled drug delivery

Some species of marine invertebrates are rich source of diverse bioactive molecules with variety of therapeutic properties including immunostimulatory, anticancer and antimicrobial. This research aims to develop an integrated process for the sequential extraction and fractionation of pharmaceutically important from a selected marine invertebrates using supercritical carbon dioxide. The newly developed process will be a greener alternative to the conventional extraction methods and eliminate/reduce the use of toxic organic solvents, employed in the conventional process. Our proposed approach will also address the concern over the presence of residual solvents in pharmaceutical products. The goal also extends to fabrication of novel hydrogel for controlled drug delivery using the components present in marine invertebrates. This project will result in generating fundamental knowledge and development of green technology in the area of natural products.

Jeunes vulnérables en transition vers l’âge adulte : Portrait des trajectoires d’emploi et d’éducation

La transition de l’adolescence à l’âge adulte est une étape charnière qui coïncide avec l’apparition et la chronicisation de problématiques coûteuses pour l’individu et la société (ex. : chômage,sous-scolarisation, pauvreté chronique). Bien que ces problématiques soient plus fréquentes auprès des populations vulnérables, ces dernières sont sous-représentées dans la recherche, qui se centre typiquement sur les jeunes au collégial et à l’université (Côté, 2014). Mon séjour à l’étranger me permettra d’éclaircir ce portrait en concevant des trajectoires d’emploi et d’éducation de jeunes vulnérables dans leur transition à l’âge adulte. Je suivrai deux principaux objectifs. D’une part (objectif 1), avec les données du Pr. Schoon, je travaillerai à l’élaboration de trajectoires auprès de jeunes vivant en Angleterre avec un faible statut socioéconomique, en examinant si des différences s’observent en fonction de l’urbanicité des milieux (rural, périurbain et urbain). D’autre part (objectif 2), je concevrai des trajectoires à partir de mon échantillon de thèse comprenant des jeunes sous-scolarisés, avec comme objectifs de vérifier quels facteurs personnels (p. ex. : agentivité, ténacité, avoir une passion) et sources de soutien (p.ex : famille, organismes communautaires) prédisent les trajectoires harmonieuses en termes d’emploi et d’éducation dans la transition à l’âge adulte.

Design in Inversion

Oil and mining industry are using electromagnetic waves in order to image the subsurface. Such

imaging increase the likelihood of finding geologically meaningful targets and therefore increase the

economical value of exploration as well as minimize the environmental impact of exploration.

In this set of internship we will develop optimal electromagnetic imaging techniques that allow us to

work on complex geological targets and optimally recover an image of the subsurface.

Study of Topologies and Cooling Solutions for a High Power Density, Cost-Effective and Eco-Friendly Motor for Powersports Electric Vehicles.

BRP is a global leader in the world of powersports vehicles, propulsion systems and boats. The company wants to develop electric motors for its future on- and off-road electric vehicles, thus reducing the greenhouse gas emissions of its products.

Powersports electric vehicles require electric motors with high power, but low weight. This type of motors is subject to overheating when delivering the performances required by BRP standards.

This project aims to deeply investigate the heat transfers involved in high performance electric motors. The goal is to determine the motor geometry and characteristics that provide the best compr

A study on soil-pipe interaction: effects of slope grade

Transmission pipelines are the most popular and widely used medium to transport hydrocarbons (e.g., oil and gas) over long distances. Pipelines might pass through various geological and topographic conditions and therefore, pipeline routing is a critical component for successful design and regulatory approval. Due to the environmental and safety concerns or constraints imposed by the land use, pipeline routing often requires designers to allow for crossing adverse ground, e.g. steep slopes, valleys and faults. If a pipeline crosses along or across a slope, it might experience/trigger a landslide and therefore, pipelines need to be properly designed against such slope stability issue. Although a number of research has been conducted on pipesoil interaction in the past, none of them focused on the effect of slope grade on the pipe-soil interaction loading. This research will address the design issues related to the inclined ground surface and thereby, significantly improve the safety of current pipeline design practice.

Synthesis and characterization of new core shell oxides based structure for solid lithium metal batteries

Canada is in the very centre of the global energy storage revolution – a broad introduction of solid state battery technology for Electric vehicles, home use and power grid optimisation. At present, lithium-ion batteries use flammable liquid electrolytes and non-surface protected electrodes, which is expensive and potentially unsafe for the environment. This project aims to develop a new generation of safe and cheaper solid state batteries and fundamental understanding of storage mechanisms and structure-property-performance relationships.