Innovative Projects Realized

Research, analysis and development of business processes for innovation service delivery in the aerospace market

The research activity is to collect, compile, and analyze relevant information from external open sources about specific topics impacting the aerospace market. Additionally, research into management and marketing theory related to processes, frameworks, and best practices for market analysis and investment decision-making will also be part of the project. Findings from the initial market research will used for further research, analysis and development of the new business processes to support the introduction of new services and innovation projects by PAL Aerospace into the global aerospace market.

Determination of emerging contaminants-loaded on sludge-based activated carbon: chemical leachability and stability

Sewage sludge wastes have been treated by diverse techniques to obtain sludge-based activated carbon (SBAC). These materials show excellent properties as sorbents of, e.g., organic pollutants, heavy metals, and nitrogen/phosphorous-based nutrients. In a previous research, the loading of emerging contaminants on SBAC has been achieved. As an extension of this work, we propose to study the leachability via chemical means and evaluate the emerging pollutants-loaded SBACs stability in rain garden soil media (RGSM).

Chemical leachability will be evaluated by batch desorption tests and desorption columns in soil media, both approaches will serve to determinate the ratio between loaded and released emerging pollutants in a laboratory scale. In fact, the stability tests of SBAC will be performed in RGSM, which will leach upon chemical triggers are applied. In collaboration with Kerr Wood Leidal (KWL), a leader company in progressive solutions for environmental process in BC, we will analyze the scalability of the processes as stabilization of SBAC in RGSM

Development of new enzymatic products for optimization of paperproperties.

number of industrial processes, as well as on papermaking productivity. Such

impacts have to be considered too in the emerging field of biorefining (production or

extraction of high value products from forest biomass). The main partner to this

project (Buckman Canada) has successfully introduced enzymes to the paper industry,

but would like to expand its offering to the forest industry as a whole. Our goal is to

develop a new method that will allow for specific monitoring of synergies among

various enzymes, using fluorescence spectroscopy. We intend to develop new

formulations and demonstrate their effectiveness on industrial substrates. Our

success will help Buckman Canada and Kruger reinforce their leadership position in

application of green chemistry in the forest biomass products sector.

Side-Stream Nitrogen Treatment using a Membrane Aerated Biofilm Bioreactor (MABR) System: A Pilot Scale Demonstration

Municipal wastewater contains excessive nutrients, which when discharged without sufficient treatment can cause eutrophication in the receiving water bodies. Digested sludge liquor, the produce water generated from the treatment of sludge that is produced from municipal wastewater treatment plant contains high concentrations of ammonia that is toxic to aquatic biota and requires further treatment. Newer and less energy-intensive processes, such as the nitritation/anammox (anaerobic ammonium oxidation) processes are emerging, but information on the implementation of these processes at the full-scale is limited, especially for operations under cold Canadian conditions.

In this study, we propose to employ the nitritation/anammox processes at the pilot-scale in a membrane aerate biofilm reactor (MABR) to estimate the operation strategies for ammonia-rich sludge liquor treatment. This objective will be achieved through multidisciplinary studies combining expertise in wastewater treatment, biofilm microbiology, and bioreactor development from the University of Alberta, and full-scale bioreactor design and operation from EPCOR.

Variational methods for pipeline safety and data analysis

This project will explore the non-invasive ways to find potential leaks in buried gas distribution pipelines using sound propagation. When there is a sound source at one point of the pipeline, the nature of the sound coming to another point of the pipeline will depend on the properties of the surrounding soil, properties of the pipe and its integrity. We will study the mechanics of sound propagation in a buried pipeline surrounded by soil, using methods of modern mechanics. We will also use similar methods to formulate best practices of data analysis. Both of these topics are important to the competitiveness of Canadian industry. Preserving the integrity of gas pipelines is also important to limit GHG emissions in the atmosphere.

Développement de composantes logicielles intelligentes pour la gestion des flux de trésorerie

Le projet vise à développer de nouvelles composantes intelligentes pour un logiciel financier. Ainsi, différentes problématiques devront être résolues à l’aide de techniques statistiques et d’apprentissage machine et profond. Les données disponibles étant principalement du texte, le projet nécessite une étape de transformation afin de rendre les données utilisables dans les modèles appropriés. Des modèles préliminaires avaient été développés par l’entreprise dans le cas de certaines composantes et serviront de point de départ pour les développements futurs. Par ce projet, l’organisme partenaire bénéficiera de l’accompagnement du chercheur dans les différents scénarios de développement. Le projet facilitera également le recrutement futurs de talents dans le domaine de la sciences des données.

Bond Pricing AI Improvement

The fixed-income market consists of government and corporate bonds and other debt instruments which are used to finance operations and capital investments. The bond market remains heavily reliant on exchanges of information between counterparties and as a result information on prices is decentralized and market participants operate with different levels of information. The objective of this research project is to create improved Artificial Intelligence models which will allow market participants to better manage trading activities, manage risk, or make portfolio funding allocations. Improving the incorporation of relevant data to allow for more accurate bond price forecasting will contribute to the efficiency, stability, and competitiveness of Canada’s financial system.

A cloud?based, multi?modal, cognitive ophthalmic imaging platform for enhanced clinical trial design and personalized medicine in blinding eye disease

Age Related Macular Degeneration is the leading cause of irreversible blindness in Canada and the industrialized world, yet there are no treatments for most patients. Tracery Ophthalmics has developed an imaging method, “AMD Imaging” (AMDI) that has generated unprecedented pictures of the retina (film of the eye) that include both known and unknown “flavours” of disease (phenotype). These complex images will be compared against an individual’s genetic makeup (their genotype) and their concurrent illnesses, medications, and lifestyle history (their epigenetics). Tracery’s imaging will help identify patients that will benefit from TMi’s drug development program, and ultimately help doctors choose which treatment will work best. During this project, we will involve medical experts and their patients to generate and amass AMDI images, evaluating them over time and against other modalities. Cloud?based computing will be leveraged to integrate image?based and structured data, genomics and large data analytic to unite global users.

Understanding the Mechanism of Probiotics for Human Health

DoseBiome has developed a new probiotic that targets several aspects of oral health: dental caries, periodontal diseases, and halitosis. This project aims to understand the exact mechanism of our probiotic’s inhibitory properties against the pathogens associated with the above diseases. DoseBiome is a new start-up in the probiotic/microbiome health sector, and this project will allow for improved technology and manufacturing processes for our oral probiotic line.

Identification of blood-based biomarkers predictive of pulmonary exacerbations in cystic fibrosis

Individuals with cystic fibrosis experience recurrent episodes of worsen in respiratory symptoms, termed pulmonary exacerbations (PEx). Early identification of individuals who are at elevated risk of PEx can improve their clinical outcomes and rescue their lung function. In this project, we will collaborate with the Prevention of Organ Failure Centre of Excellence (PROOF) to develop a simple blood test to predict the PEx in CF individuals. We will also evaluate the genetic influence on blood biomarker candidates during the project and refine the blood test based on these genetic variants. Our interactions with PROOF Centre will directly benefit their organization by providing proof-of-concept of their goal, to develop blood-based biomarkers and move towards personalized medicine.

Prediction and Mitigation of Drillstring Vibration

An oil well drillstring is a slender slru(.;ture whidl vibrales in 3 major coupleu moues. Unwnlrolkd

vibration of the drillstring interferes with the drilling procedure. Tool and bit failure, improper

borehole quality and lower penetration rates are examples of the side effects of unwanted vibration of

the drillstring. Prior research by others has attempted to model the drillstring under different effects

and interactions. However, due to the nonlinear characteristics of the combined vibration modes, and

interacting loads such as bit-formation interaction and contact with the wellbore, it is not feasible to

analytically solve the system equations and investigate the vibration trends for models with a large number of realistic downhole conditions. Numerical modeling is an effective way to overcome the

complex problem of coupled equations of motion of the drillstring in the presence of contact with the

wellbore. Several factors such as drillcollar and drillpipe length, material and cross sections affect the

vibration behavior….TOBECONTINUED

Stable isotope measurements of vanadium and molybdenum as tracers for treated oil-sands process affected water

Petroleum coke (PC) is a by-product of the extraction of crude oil from the Oil Sands in northern Alberta and has been shown to effectively remove total acid-extractable organics from oil sands process-affected water. This treatment may also lead to an increase in some heavy metals in the treated water and it is important to distinguish between coke-derived elements and those found naturally. The objective of the project is to develop an understanding of the sources and sinks of vanadium and molybdenum in the petroleum coke treated water in the Athabasca Oil Sands Region. This knowledge can be used to identify and potential environmental concerns.