Innovative Projects Realized

Computer Simulation of Geospatial Dynamics: How Do Cities Grow and Evolve?

Cities are the engines of creativity, wealth creation and economic growth in our society. Despite the increasing importance of cities in modern world, our ability to understand them scientifically and to manage them well in practice is limited. The greatest difficulties and challenges to any scientific approach to cities have resulted from their many interdependent facets, such as social, economic, infrastructural, and temporal-spatial processes. The problems associated with urban research and city management lie in the treatments of those facets as independent issues. This frequently results in ineffective policies which often lead to unfortunate and sometimes disastrous unintended consequences. This research is going to treat city as complex system to investigate the mechanics behind urban land use growth and evolution. The ultimate goal of this research is going to build a computer-based simulation model to simulate the dynamic processes of urban growth and evolution by integrating urban system theory, complex system theory, and Artificial Intelligent (AI) technologies. The model will be based on an integration of Cellular Automata (CA), Agent-based Modeling (ABM) and evolutionary algorithms. Shanghai and Calgary will be selected as implementation cases of this research.

Étude sur les effets de Classcraft sur le climat de classe

Le but du projet sera de documenter de façon empirique les effets du jeu Classcraft sur le climat de classe. Nous adhérons à l’idée que ce jeu puisse être intégré en classe en tant que TIC pour favoriser un climat de classe positif et une ambiance propice aux apprentissages, en raison des caractéristiques spécifiques de Classcraft qui correspondent à une activité ludique tout en étant propice à une saine gestion de la classe. Encore faut-il vérifier cette hypothèse. Pour ce faire, nous organiserons des groupes de discussion avec des enseignants et des élèves ayant déjà vécu l’expérience en classe et analyserons leurs propos à la lumière des composantes du climat de classe proposées par Pianta et son équipe (Pianta et al., 2011). Cette étude exploratoire nous permettra d’établir les bases d’une évaluation quantitative ultérieure.

Time-aware Network Diffusion for Social Network Analytics

Nowadays, social networks, such as Twitter and Facebook, become platforms where ideas and opinions are constantly exchanged and rapidly reach populations that are geographically dispersed. Many marketing, political, and social campaigns rely on this fact to spread ideas, raise awareness in a massive way, and increase the popularity of products and services. Successful campaigns are those that spread information over large fractions of the population as fast as possible, usually within specific deadlines that are required. Generally, there do exist tools that can help design strategies that reach large portions of the population. However, there is a lack of practical tools that can make these strategies meet their required deadlines and achieve their goals as fast as possible. This may heavily impact the success of these campaigns, and this research proposal aims to develop tools that can automate strategies that are efficient both in terms of information spread and the time at which this spread is achieved. By collaborating with a major company in the field, Sysomos Inc., the results of this research can potentially have a large impact in the way that modern social network campaigns are developed.

Energy-Efficient High Dynamic Range Display

In this project, we design and implement various algorithms to reduce the energy consumption of the emerging hidgh dynamic range (HDR) displays based on some properties of the human visual system. These algorithms can be used in the modern HDR displays produced by the organization partner.

Hydrogen Storage in Two-Dimensional Layered Nanomaterials: Characterization – Year Two

In this project, we will develop solid-state hydrogen storage materials for the potential applications of fuel cell electric vehicles. Based on the most cutting-edge achievements in related fields, two categories of two-dimensional layered nanomaterials are proposed. Their hydrogen storage capabilities will be elaborated by in-depth characterization of material structure and hydrogen storage properties. Moreover, we will employ various modification methods, such as defect engineering, catalytic element decoration and surface area expansion, to optimize storage properties in terms of capacity, storage temperature and pressure. The mechanism for the property improvement will also be interpreted fundamentally. Knowledge about the characteristics of 2-D layered hydrogen storage nanomaterials will be systematically established at our SFU based hydrogen technology laboratory. To the interest of our industry partner, several promising hydrogen storage materials with large capacity at ambient temperature and low pressure will be developed and verified for commercial applications.

Hydrogen Storage in Two-Dimensional Layered Nanomaterials: Characterization

In this project, we will develop solid-state hydrogen storage materials for the potential applications of fuel cell electric vehicles. Based on the most cutting-edge achievements in related fields, two categories of two-dimensional layered nanomaterials are proposed. Their hydrogen storage capabilities will be elaborated by in-depth characterization of material structure and hydrogen storage properties. Moreover, we will employ various modification methods, such as defect engineering, catalytic element decoration and surface area expansion, to optimize storage properties in terms of capacity, storage temperature and pressure. The mechanism for the property improvement will also be interpreted fundamentally. Knowledge about the characteristics of 2-D layered hydrogen storage nanomaterials will be systematically established at our SFU based hydrogen technology laboratory. To the interest of our industry partner, several promising hydrogen storage materials with large capacity at ambient temperature and low pressure will be developed and verified for commercial applications.

Hydrogen Storage in Two-Dimensional Layered Nanomaterials: Synthesis – Year Two

The objective of the proposed research is to investigate novel solid-state materials that have potential for hydrogen storage applications in fuel cell electric vehicles. Of interest are materials that can store hydrogen at ambient conditions and low pressures, have high gravimetric and volumetric hydrogen capacities, and can be safely packed into a hydrogen storage tank for automotive use. The research will focus on assessing the feasibility of threedimensional structures consisting of two-dimensional layered nanomaterials such as graphene as viable media to store hydrogen. This research agenda brings together proven expertise in nanomaterials, hydrogen storage, and fuel cells at Simon Fraser University with leading technical expertise at Hydrogen in Motion (H2M). The most promising nanomaterials resulting will be considered for next generation hydrogen fuel tank solutions developed by H2M, which may further promote the market proposition for “zero-emission” fuel cell electric vehicles and contribute to Canada’s leadership in the automotive industry.

Hydrogen Storage in Two-Dimensional Layered Nanomaterials: Synthesis

The objective of the proposed research is to investigate novel solid-state materials that have potential for hydrogen storage applications in fuel cell electric vehicles. Of interest are materials that can store hydrogen at ambient conditions and low pressures, have high gravimetric and volumetric hydrogen capacities, and can be safely packed into a hydrogen storage tank for automotive use. The research will focus on assessing the feasibility of threedimensional structures consisting of two-dimensional layered nanomaterials such as graphene as viable media to store hydrogen. This research agenda brings together proven expertise in nanomaterials, hydrogen storage, and fuel cells at Simon Fraser University with leading technical expertise at Hydrogen in Motion (H2M). The most promising nanomaterials resulting will be considered for next generation hydrogen fuel tank solutions developed by H2M, which may further promote the market proposition for “zero-emission” fuel cell electric vehicles and contribute to Canada’s leadership in the automotive industry.

Development of an advanced modeling platform for assessing chemical and mechanicalmembrane durability in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells – Year Two

Hydrogen powered polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) are a clean energy technology that generates electricity without harmful emissions at the point of use. To accelerate commercialization, current R&D efforts mainly target reduced cost and increased lifetime. The proposed research project addresses both aspects by developing a unified chemical and mechanical modeling platform for evaluating membrane durability in PEMFCs. The core validation is based on extensive test and field data provided by our industry partner, Ballard Power Systems. The validated modeling platform will be integrated into Ballard’s modeling portfolio and applied to predict membrane life as a function of fuel cell design, materials, and operating conditions, which is critical in facilitating and accelerating the development of enhanced membrane durability PEMFC products.

Development of an advanced modeling platform for assessing chemical and mechanical membrane durability in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells

Hydrogen powered polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) are a clean energy technology that generates electricity without harmful emissions at the point of use. To accelerate commercialization, current R&D efforts mainly target reduced cost and increased lifetime. The proposed research project addresses both aspects by developing a unified chemical and mechanical modeling platform for evaluating membrane durability in PEMFCs. The core validation is based on extensive test and field data provided by our industry partner, Ballard Power Systems. The validated modeling platform will be integrated into Ballard’s modeling portfolio and applied to predict membrane life as a function of fuel cell design, materials, and operating conditions, which is critical in facilitating and accelerating the development of enhanced membrane durability PEMFC products.

User Characterization and Content Personalization Using DistributedLocality Sensitive Hashing over a Peer-to-Peer Network

Multimedia data are of huge demand from “connected” consumers and how to deliver them ‘ ‘

effectively and efficiently becomes the new frontier of computer networking research’and

development. The proposed project utilizes the research at the University of Victoria on

content-based musical information retrieval and the development at Disternet Inc’ on a new,

generation of home gateway devices to enable efficient and effective user characterization

and content personalization using distributed locality sensitive hashing over a peer-to-peer

network. The research and development is expected to drastically reduce the cost for service

providers and network operators to deliver high-quality multimedia contents to end users, and

at the same time allows graduate students to use their research to solve real-world problems,

Metagenomics to assess impacts of the Mount Polley Mine tailings dam breach onassociated ecosystems

The Mount Polley tailings impoundment failure released 24 million m3 of mine-influenced water and sediment into the surrounding watershed. The scale of this spill is unprecedented in BC history, and the effects on current and future ecosystems are unknown. Of paramount concern is the containment of toxic metal-containing compounds that threaten aquatic life. My research addresses the role of wetlands and riparian soils in remediation of this spill. I established permanent monitoring sites under a Mitacs Accelerate award to track the progression of contaminants throughout the watershed. Extension of this work will allow us to track responses of these ecosystems to physical and chemical stress, and conduct a bioaugmentation trial to determine the best approaches for remediation. Our research outcomes will provide Imperial Metals with a clearer understanding of the effects of the spill and will inform Imperial Metal’s decisions on how best to stimulate ecosystem recovery
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