Innovative Projects Realized

Explore thousands of successful projects resulting from collaboration between organizations and post-secondary talent.

31620 Completed Projects

2978
AB
5221
BC
856
MB
696
NL
899
SK
9419
ON
9858
QC
98
PE
619
NB
1192
NS

Projects by Category

Suspended sediment contributions from Forest Roads in the Honna River watershed

The Honna River is a source of drinking water for the Village of Queen Charlotte on Haida
Gwaii, British Columbia. There is concern that sediment from a highly traveled logging road is
contributing to poor water quality in the Honna River. This project is following up on the work
of Elizabeth Baird (2010 MITACS Intern), where she determined what factors controlled
sediment leaving logging roads. However, the dataset she used was limited to a 10 month
period. This project has two main objectives using a longer dataset collected over the past 3
years: 1. determining what impact logging truck traffic has on sediment transported to
streams during typical rainfall events and; 2. assessing how improvements to logging roads
could reduce sediment transported to nearby streams. This proposal is intended to focus on
the first objective, with a separate proposal to focus on the second in 2013. This study will
aim to provide….TOBECONT’D

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Faculty Supervisor:

Marwan Hassan

Student:

Partner:

Forestry BC (Prince George)

Discipline:

Physics

Sector:

University:

The University of British Columbia

Program:

Accelerate

The Role of Surface Oxidation on the Behaviour of Metal Alloy Microparticles in Electronics Assembly

Solder paste is a material that is approximately 90 % metal alloy powder by weight and 10 % flux medium, a material consisting of organic compounds whose principal function is to remove oxide from the powder surface, is used in the assembly of electronic devices. This material is printed onto circuit boards, after which components are mounted onto them. The assembly is then passed through an oven in a process known as reflow fusing components to the board. The effect of the powder’s surface characteristics on paste behaviour is poorly understood. This research project aims to take advantage of high-resolution surface characterization techniques to establish a link between the composition and thickness of the powder’s surface oxide and the solder paste behaviour.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Daniel Guay

Student:

Partner:

AIM Metals and Alloys LP

Discipline:

Physics

Sector:

Manufacturing

University:

Université du Québec : Institut national de la recherche scientifique

Program:

Accelerate

Urban Indigenous Housing in BC: Means of and barriers to addressing Indigenous housing need in municipal housing policies and plans

This study aims to understand how municipalities in British Columbia (BC) address urban Indigenous housing need within their Official Community Plans and housing strategies by reviewing a sample of plans and strategies from throughout BC and interviewing municipal planning staff. For AHMA, the Umbrella Organization of Indigenous Housing Providers in BC, this research is necessary to identify policy gaps and influence decision makers accordingly. In addition, municipalities in BC are now eligible to receive funding from the Province to perform a Housing Needs Report in their communities, so this project will help AHMA identify the gaps in Indigenous inclusion for these assessments and intervene to maximize the impact of provincial funding.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Margaret Low

Student:

Partner:

Aboriginal Housing Management Association

Discipline:

Sociology

Sector:

Real estate and rental and leasing

University:

The University of British Columbia

Program:

Accelerate

Développement d’une méthode d’optimisation pour la génération des horaires du personnel de soins afin de minimiser l’absentéisme et les arrêts de travail

Le projet de recherche tente de réduire l’impact de l’absentéisme et des arrêts de travail (chez le personnel de soins) sur la qualité des services proposés dans les hôpitaux. Pour cela, des emplois du temps optimisés seront générés à l’aide de nouveaux indicateurs. Ces indicateurs seront créés avec des algorithmes issus de l’intelligence artificielle à partir des données historiques sur les quarts de travail, dont l’absentéisme et les arrêts de travail. Par exemple, nous pourrons identifier (prédire) le quart de travail présentant le plus de probabilité d’être en sous-effectif et compenser ce risque en affectant un plus grand nombre de collaborateurs. L’objectif final est d’améliorer le bien-être au travail du personnel de soins en réduisant la surcharge liée au manque de personnel et de faciliter la tâche des gestionnaires dans la réalisation des emplois du temps.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Sara Séguin;Julien Maître;Maud-Christine Chouinard;Marie-Eve Poitras

Student:

Partner:

Timesphere

Discipline:

Mathematics

Sector:

Information and cultural industries; Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

Université du Québec à Chicoutimi

Program:

Accelerate

Isolation thermique des vêtements de protection en condition de froid extrême

Le froid extrême est un environnement quotidien pour de nombreux travailleurs canadiens. La conception de vêtements de protection efficaces contre le froid passe par une connaissance parfaite de son isolation thermique, ce qui n’est pas actuellement le cas. Pour pallier à cette lacune, ce projet propose 1) de déterminer l’isolation thermique de différents assemblages de textiles développés par notre partenaire industriel et dans des conditions d’utilisation réelles et 2) de comprendre le comportement structurel de ces assemblages par différentes techniques d’analyse.
Ce projet offrira un avantage concurrentiel non négligeable à Logistik Unicorp dans la conception de vêtements de protection contre le froid. De plus, les innovations qui en découleront seront utilisés par notre partenaire à des fins de formations tant en interne qu’auprès de l’industrie textile canadienne.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Ludwig Vinches;Stéphane Hallé

Student:

Partner:

Logistik Unicorp

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Manufacturing

University:

Université de Montréal

Program:

Accelerate

Evaluating anthropogenic impacts on arctic breeding raptors

Peregrine falcons (Falco peregrinus) and rough-legged hawks (Buteo lagops) breed throughout the Canadian Arctic. Several monitoring programs were established in the 1970’s and 1980’s to evaluate the recovery of these and other raptors following the banning of DDT. DDT is a pesticide that was once widely used, but resulted in severe population declines in many raptors via its action of reducing egg shell thickness, resulting in low breeding success. Although raptor populations have recovered over the last several decades, the arctic is increasingly affected by other anthropogenic impacts including landscape disturbance from industrial activities (e.g., mining) and climate change. This project will study peregrines and rough-legged hawks at two sites Nunavut with the aim of understanding how these raptors respond to human-generated disturbances. Specifically, this project will address the following three questions: 1) How does proximity to anthropogenic disturbance such as mining activity affect nesting site selection? 2) Does the intensity of response to human observers visiting the nest predict other parental care behaviours? 3) How does year-to-year variation in environmental conditions affect the provisioning behaviour of parents? Each of these questions will be considered in light of their consequences for breeding productivity.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Kimberley Mathot;Andrew Edward Derocher

Student:

Partner:

Arctic Raptors Inc

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

University of Alberta

Program:

Accelerate

Exploring barriers and facilitators in achieving positive sexual health among trans-femme youth

The overall purpose of this study is to explore sexual health needs of trans-femme youth using a Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) appraoch. Trans-femme is a term used to indicate anyone who was assigned male at birth and now identifies with femininity. The lack of understanding about the sexual health needs of trans-femme and low levels of relevant sexual health education have put an increased risk of Sexually Transmitted Infections/Sexually Transmitted Disease (STI/STDs) and HUman Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infenction among trnas-femmes. Yet little is known about their sexual health concerns. My study will idenify the barriers and facilitators experienced by trans-femme youth in achieving positive sexual health. The photographs taken by the participants will help them to share their concerns around sexual health. Findings will generate suggestions for policy maker about the ways to achieve the gender-inclusive sexual health system.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Jane Springett;Denise Spitzer;Glynnis Lieb

Student:

Partner:

Pride Centre of Edmonton

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Health and Related Sciences & Technology

University:

University of Alberta

Program:

Accelerate

Planning for the Co-management of the Metlakatla First Nation Conservancies

Conservancies are a new and unique type of protected area in British Columbia that explicitly recognizes First Nations’ rights to social, ceremonial and cultural uses of the area. Conservancies, and the Conservancy Management Plans (CMPs) that direct them, are informed by a Collaborative Management Agreement (CMA) that is negotiated on a government-to-government basis between the First Nation and the Province of BC. Since 2008, the Metlakatla First Nation and BC Parks have designated 28 conservancies within their Traditional Territory, five of which have CMPs to be finalized and implemented this year. While these plans provide an opportunity for equitable and effective co-management of the Metlakatla Conservancies in theory, it remains to be seen whether or not they will be implemented successfully in practice. By reviewing academic literature and government documents, performing an inventory of the Metlakatla’s current management capacity, and conducting interviews, this research seeks to identify the actions that…TOBECONT’D

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Faculty Supervisor:

Murray Rutherford

Student:

Partner:

Metlakatla Development Corporation

Discipline:

Sociology

Sector:

Public administration

University:

Simon Fraser University

Program:

Accelerate

Additive manufacturing of high-performance polymer parts for aerospace application

Additive manufacturing (AM), 3D printing, offers flexibility in manufacturing and can process a wide range of materials. In this project, polymers and composites are investigated to increase mechanical performance, and to reduce weight, cost, and lead time of candidate parts. Pratt & Whitney Canada (P&WC) can greatly benefit from AM processes in aircraft engine components. In addition, AM can shorten the engine design cycle, and Research and Development (R&D) activities. This requires investigation of 3D printed parts and the impact of manufacturing parameters on final part properties, e.g. surface smoothness, tensile strength, etc. Available data from previous studies will be gathered and experimental testing on small-scale coupons will be used to fill gaps in data. In addition, large-scale parts will be prototyped, and their mechanical performance will be explored. Along with cost modeling, this project will help P&WC to make strategic decisions regarding the use of AM in its products.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Kazem Fayazbakhsh

Student:

Partner:

Pratt & Whitney Canada

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Aerospace; Advanced Manufacturing; Technology

University:

Toronto Metropolitan University

Program:

Accelerate

Solid Fermentation of Barley

Canada is the fourth largest barley producer and the second largest malt exporter in the world, representing billions of dollars in domestic and international sales. Typically, barley is utilized as animal fodder, as a nutritional supplement for healthy foods and is also used in the production of alcoholic beverages and distilled spirits. The ethanol produced for alcoholic beverages can also be utilized in the production of petroleum products. Interestingly, ethanol production often results in significant amounts of thin stillage by-product. Analysis of thin stillage revealed the presence of the highly valuable cognitive nootropic, glycerophosphocholine (projected to surpass $10 billion in the next several years). Additional processing and enrichment of thin stillage can produce other valuable organic solutes and high-quality protein. Therefore, enhancing fermentation conditions, developing processing and purification methodologies, and demonstrating up-scale feasibility is of interest in contributing to the global supply of these coproducts, while maintaining current applications for ethanol production. Successful development of these processes will provide a means for the Canadian barley industry to adopt these supplemental technologies to produce additional sources significant revenue, without sacrificing current methodologies and processes of barley crop.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Martin Reaney

Student:

Partner:

Saskatchewan Barley Development Commission;Bioriginal Food and Science Corp

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Agriculture

University:

University of Saskatchewan

Program:

Accelerate

Assessment of compression breakage test methods for rock hardness characterization

The most energy intensive component of mineral processing is comminution (crushing and grinding), consuming, on average, about 50% of the total electric energy of a mine site . To optimize and thereby improve the energy performance, accurate measurement of the ore hardness is critical. The proposed study is aimed at developing a new test apparatus that represents an improvement over existing methods. The test apparatus has the ability to generate data for larger sample sets than present methods and thereby represents a significant improvement.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Bern Klein

Student:

Partner:

Minpraxis Solutions Ltd.

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

The University of British Columbia

Program:

Accelerate

Modélisation de la température minimale normalisée pour la prédiction de lacharge électrique sur le réseau d’Hydro-Québec

Le projet est divisé en deux parties. La première partie consiste à déterminer la température
pour laquelle la consommation en énergie électrique est maximale pour une région donnée.
Ceci permet d’anticiper les pointes de consommation d’énergie électrique durant l’année
selon les saisons. Ensuite, les profils de la charge des consommateurs d’énergie électrique
sont déterminés. Cette étape consiste à modéliser la consommation électrique dans les
réseaux d’Hydro-Québec. Ces données pourront par la suite être utilisées dans le but de
développer un système intelligent pour déterminer la consommation réelle en énergie
électrique des clients d’Hydro-Québec durant la journée et durant l’année.

View Full Project Description
Faculty Supervisor:

Maarouf Saad

Student:

Partner:

Institut de Recherche Hydro-Québec

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Professional, scientific and technical services; Utilities

University:

École de technologie supérieure

Program:

Accelerate

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Mitacs — Return on Innovation

Mitacs is funded by the Government of Canada, the Government of Alberta, the Government of British Columbia, Research Manitoba, the Government of New Brunswick, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, the Government of Nova Scotia, the Government of Ontario, Innovation PEI, the Government of Quebec, the Government of Saskatchewan, and the Government of Yukon.