Innovative Projects Realized

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

30508 Completed Projects

2882
AB
5105
BC
825
MB
681
NL
860
SK
9051
ON
9491
QC
97
PE
586
NB
1141
NS

Projects by Category

Characterization and Modeling Inclusion Population during Secondary Steelmaking

The ultimate goal of this project is to develop a fundamental understanding of inclusion evolution during a particular refining process in secondary steelmaking unit. The particular focus is firstly on developing a detailed characterization of the inclusions formed during refining in the Stelco Ladle Metallurgy Facility, and secondly on adapting the existing McMaster ladle metallurgy/inclusion model for the Stelco facility. Ultimately this is expected to achieve better process and product control. Inclusions, depending on their size and type, may profoundly affect steel properties. Depending on their type and abundance they may have an equally profound effect on the process, for example nozzle clogging by inclusions, leads to interruptions of the casting process. For these reasons, the nature and quantity of inclusions formed is an important criterion of assessment for refining processes. It is crucial to understand and control the evolution of inclusions as a function of process conditions either to minimize the quantity or modify the type from deleterious to benign inclusions. Moreover, a comprehensive kinetic model that considers steel-slag reactions and steel-inclusion reactions is a powerful tool to accurately predict the inclusion population during secondary refining. TO BE CONT’D

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Faculty Supervisor:

Ken Coley

Student:

Partner:

Stelco;McMaster University

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Manufacturing

University:

McMaster University

Program:

Elevate

Training the mind, to train the body

In this project, we will measure and increase brain activity theoretically related to motivation to test whether this neural correlate predicts exercise behaviour. In the first study we will test the validity of a text-message based intervention and demonstrate that it increases motivation-related brain activity. Following the in-lab pilot, Study 2 will provide neurofeedback training to directly manipulate and increase the same brain marker of motivation used in Study 1. Study 2 will also track exercise motivation intentions and self-reported patterns over a one-month period. Study 3 will conceptually combine Studies 1 and 2 by implementing the text-based intervention in the real world and tracking exercise adherence over 3 months (using GoodLife sign-in data).

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Faculty Supervisor:

Kyle Nash

Student:

Partner:

Goodlife Fitness

Discipline:

Sociology

Sector:

Arts, entertainment and recreation

University:

University of Alberta

Program:

Elevate

Accelerated Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage in Mine Tailings

Reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to limit the impacts of climate change requires implementation of practical GHG-cutting technologies by industry. This research project will investigate carbon management and sequestration strategies for reducing GHG emissions in the mining industry with a focus on diamond mines including the Gahcho Kué mine in the Northwest Territories and Venetia mine in South Africa. The outcomes of this work will be employed by De Beers to implement carbon sequestration processes and improved mine waste management practices, which will improve environmental performance, reduce operational costs, and enhance their social license to operate. This research will make significant contributions in environmental sustainability and aid Canada’s transition to a low-carbon economy while training three postdoctoral fellows in carbon mineralization and tailings management.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Ian Power;Siobhan (Sasha) Wilson;Gregory Dipple;Gregory Dipple;Siobhan (Sasha) Wilson;Ian Power

Student:

Partner:

De Beers Canada Inc

Discipline:

Earth science

Sector:

Mining

University:

The University of British Columbia; Trent University; University of Alberta

Program:

Accelerate

Carbon Materials Production and Utilization

Developed advanced carbonaceous materials from processed biomass is of interest for integration into a variety of high performance applications including, plastics, rubbers, adsorbents, and chemicals. Origin Materials has a patented process that converts waste biomass into 5-chloromethlyfurfural (CMF), furfural and hydrothermal carbon (HTC) as a by-product. This research project will examine the high-quality HTC by-product and identify an economically feasible valorization pathway, as well as preparation and property evaluation of surfactants derived and the potential to use furan-based aldehydes (i.e. CMF) as wood adhesives.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Paul Charpentier;Jean Duhamel;Cedric Briens;Dominic Pjontek;Charles Chunbao Xu;Mario Gauthier

Student:

Partner:

Origin Materials

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Agriculture

University:

University of Waterloo; Western University

Program:

Accelerate

Uncertainty Modeling and Quantification in Neural Network Image Denoisers

Image denoising is a fundamental process in most of computer vision systems, imaging systems, and photography productions. Recently, with the power of deep neural networks, image denoising has been pushed towards new boundaries. However, neural network image denoisers are constrained by the accuracy of the noise model used to train them. Training on a poor noise model results in poor generalization performance on real-world images. Moreover, it is still unclear how to quantitatively assess the output of a neural network image denoiser, especially in real-world cases where ground truth is unavailable. To this end, this project aims at pushing the state-of-the-art denoising performance through: (1) training neural network image denoisers on more accurate noise models derived form real images; and (2) using loss functions that models and quantifies the uncertainty of the network outputs, hence, we can have a confidence measure of the denoising results.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Michael Brown

Student:

Partner:

Royal Bank of Canada (Borealis)

Discipline:

Computer science

Sector:

Technology; Information and Communications Technology

University:

York University

Program:

Accelerate

Decision Support System to Manage and Forecast Final Project Costs

Managing construction projects can be a challenging task as they are subject to change and comprised of numerous work packages. Understanding project outputs in the early phases of a project can assist project managers to make informed decisions and take timely corrective actions to deliver projects on-time and on-budget. In the applicant’s doctoral research project, a Markov model was developed to enhance the accuracy of project cost forecasting through the integration of historical performance data. While this previous research has improved forecasting accuracy of a project’s ongoing cost performance, it cannot provide information regarding the impact that actions designed to mitigate poor cost performance (e.g., time crashing, duration extension) will have on project outcomes.
The objective of the current proposal is to develop a simulation-based framework that can predict the impact of various potential actions taken in response to poor project forecasts and suggest optimal actions. Monte Carlo simulation will be added to the previously developed Markov model to simulate various decision-making scenarios that can be taken by project managers. Outcomes of these analyses will be ranked and optimal decisions selected. Results of this research can be used as a supplementary tool to aid practitioners in the decision-making process.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Simaan M Abourizk

Student:

Partner:

Graham Industrial Services Ltd

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Construction and infrastructure

University:

University of Alberta

Program:

Elevate

Developing solutions for safer harvesting techniques on steep terrain – Year two

The forest industry in British Columbia (BC) is facing increasingly difficult challenges regarding fibre supply. New winch-assist technology that enables fully mechanized ground-based forest harvesting on steep terrain has been increasingly used in BC since 2016. The new systems have improved safety and provide access to fibre that was previously uneconomic. New low-consumption small-size cable yarders have also received increasing interest in non-trafficable terrain. Both the winch-assist and the cable yarding systems have similar issues related to the use of tensioned wire ropes and natural anchors (stumps or trees).
Rope and anchor failures have serious safety risks for the operators and the forest industry as a whole. To date, only a few studies focused on cable tensile force analysis and suitability of trees or stumps as anchors. This research aims to study the behaviour of cable-supported systems and anchors under varying conditions and improve safe practices of the newly introduced technology in BC.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Dominik Roeser

Student:

Partner:

FPInnovations (Vancouver, BC)

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Agriculture; Construction and infrastructure; Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

The University of British Columbia

Program:

Elevate

Developing solutions for safer harvesting techniques on steep terrain

The forest industry in British Columbia (BC) is facing increasingly difficult challenges regarding fibre supply. New winch-assist technology that enables fully mechanized ground-based forest harvesting on steep terrain has been increasingly used in BC since 2016. The new systems have improved safety and provide access to fibre that was previously uneconomic. New low-consumption small-size cable yarders have also received increasing interest in non-trafficable terrain. Both the winch-assist and the cable yarding systems have similar issues related to the use of tensioned wire ropes and natural anchors (stumps or trees).
Rope and anchor failures have serious safety risks for the operators and the forest industry as a whole. To date, only a few studies focused on cable tensile force analysis and suitability of trees or stumps as anchors. This research aims to study the behaviour of cable-supported systems and anchors under varying conditions and improve safe practices of the newly introduced technology in BC.

View Full Project Description
Faculty Supervisor:

Dominik Roeser

Student:

Partner:

FPInnovations (Vancouver, BC)

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Agriculture; Construction and infrastructure; Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

The University of British Columbia

Program:

Elevate

Implementation of a low barrier hydromorphone distribution program to prevent fatal overdoses – Year two

North America is experiencing an unprecedented opioid overdose epidemic driven by the proliferation of fentanyl and fentanyl-adulterated drugs. Based at the BC Centre on Substance Use (BCCSU) and in collaboration with the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC), I will undertake an ethno-epidemiological study to evaluate the implementation, uptake, and effectiveness of a novel low-barrier hydromorphone distribution program via a secure automated medication dispensing system targeting individuals at high risk of fatal overdose. The study will also examine barriers and facilitators to program scale up. The BCCDC is responsible for the implementation and operation of the distribution systems and program, with the BCCSU conducting the external evaluation. Data collection will involve qualitative interviews with 60 program participants and 15 stakeholders, as well as ethnographic fieldwork. The Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users’ (VANDU) mandate is to improve the lives of people who use drugs (PWUD), and they benefit by playing a key role in an evaluation and knowledge translation for a program with the potential to directly benefit PWUD. VANDU members will be included on a community advisory committee, be employed as peer research assistants, and be involved in future policy development and knowledge translation.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Ryan McNeil

Student:

Partner:

Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users

Discipline:

Sociology

Sector:

Health and Related Sciences & Technology

University:

The University of British Columbia

Program:

Elevate

Implementation of a low barrier hydromorphone distribution program to prevent fatal overdoses

North America is experiencing an unprecedented opioid overdose epidemic driven by the proliferation of fentanyl and fentanyl-adulterated drugs. Based at the BC Centre on Substance Use (BCCSU) and in collaboration with the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC), I will undertake an ethno-epidemiological study to evaluate the implementation, uptake, and effectiveness of a novel low-barrier hydromorphone distribution program via a secure automated medication dispensing system targeting individuals at high risk of fatal overdose. The study will also examine barriers and facilitators to program scale up. The BCCDC is responsible for the implementation and operation of the distribution systems and program, with the BCCSU conducting the external evaluation. Data collection will involve qualitative interviews with 60 program participants and 15 stakeholders, as well as ethnographic fieldwork. The Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users’ (VANDU) mandate is to improve the lives of people who use drugs (PWUD), and they benefit by playing a key role in an evaluation and knowledge translation for a program with the potential to directly benefit PWUD. VANDU members will be included on a community advisory committee, be employed as peer research assistants, and be involved in future policy development and knowledge translation.

View Full Project Description
Faculty Supervisor:

Ryan McNeil

Student:

Partner:

Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users

Discipline:

Sociology

Sector:

Health and Related Sciences & Technology

University:

The University of British Columbia

Program:

Elevate

Time Series Clustering and Classification

Financial indicators of an individual firm may be in the form of time series, vectors, or even richer data, such as text or images. The purpose of this work is to explore and develop methods for dealing with such data, and in particular perform the clustering/classification of such data into similar groups. In the project the intern will develop the tools that will allow to determine whether a client should be issued a loan or not.

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Faculty Supervisor:

Rafal Kulik

Student:

Partner:

ZetaTango Technology Inc

Discipline:

Mathematics

Sector:

Information and cultural industries

University:

University of Ottawa

Program:

Accelerate

Modeling Dune Roughness in a Large Sand-bedded River – Year two

Dunes are common bed features in large sand-bedded rivers and are significant sources of in-channel roughness. Reliably estimating roughness is crucial for the prediction of flood flows, but roughness is crudely represented in hydraulic models widely used by environmental consultants and engineers. Roughness is treated as a calibration knob in these models, adjusted to force predicted water levels to match observations. This makes water level predictions during floods difficult, especially for flows beyond the range of previous observations. The proposed project will examine the physical basis for dune-related roughness in rivers. Previous bed surveys from the sand-bedded Fraser River will be compiled and dune characteristics (height, length, lee angle) will be extracted. Roughness from model calibrations will be compared to observed dune dimensions. Recently proposed relations for predicting dune dimensions, developed separately, will be refined using the field observations and validated with some new field observations. Modules for existing hydrodynamic and morphodynamic models will be developed that incorporate the new predictive relations for roughness. The project will reduce reliance on time-consuming roughness calibration exercises. TO BE CONT’D

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Faculty Supervisor:

Jeremy Venditti

Student:

Partner:

Northwest Hydraulic Consultants Ltd

Discipline:

Earth science

Sector:

Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

Simon Fraser University

Program:

Elevate

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