Innovative Projects Realized

A Comprehensive Marketing Strategy for Digital Heath Products:Test kits and mobile app

THIS IS A GENERIC TEXT PUT IN PLACE AS THERE WAS NO PROJECT OVERVIEW

Étude palynologique de deux régions de la Côte-Nord au Québec : effets des feux et du climat sur la végétation boréale

Les forêts boréales, couvrant 10 % de la surface terrestre, sont essentielles à notre planète. Elles stockent du carbone, régulent le climat, fournissent des ressources comme le bois ou le papier, et abritent une riche biodiversité. Cependant, elles sont menacées par les changements climatiques, qui entraînent des feux de forêt plus fréquents et intenses, modifiant leur composition et leur capacité de régénération.
Pour mieux anticiper ces changements, ce projet de recherche se concentre sur l’est du Québec, une région peu étudiée et riche en forêts anciennes. Ce projet vise à analyser des carottes de sédiments lacustres pour retracer l’histoire des interactions entre climat, incendies et végétation au cours du dernier millénaire. Ces données permettent de comprendre comment les forêts ont répondu à des périodes de réchauffement ou de perturbations. Ce projet vise à identifier des stratégies pour préserver la résilience des écosystèmes boréaux. Comprendre leur passé est essentiel pour guider leur gestion et les protéger face aux défis climatiques, garantissant ainsi leur rôle vital pour les générations futures.

Land Use Mapping and Planning for Sustainable Development with Island Lake First Nations and other East-side Communities in Manitoba

Participatory community development research alongside Garden Hill First Nation (FN), Wasagamack FN and other East-side FN community members is the focus of this Mitacs research. Student interns will assist in recording each community’s traditional land use through maps, videos, interviews, development of plans and branding. A geographical information system will allow an analysis of different natural resources and land uses. This research will build capacity in the community to plan and implement sustainable development in the East-side communities considering cultural priorities. Student interns will engage in capacity building towards developing a land use plan with each FN. This work is important to fulfill the objective of the Wabanong Nakaygum Okimawin (WNO) Inc. planning initiative and to assist FNs in their community development “to develop a vision for land and resource use in the area that respects both the value of the boreal forest and the needs of local communities”.

Exploring Carbon Sequestration through Drone-Detected Solar-Induced Fluorescence (SIF) Data to Up-Scale Gross Ecosystem Productivity (GPP) from Eddy Covariance Flux Towers to Satellite Coverage

Climate change poses significant risks to global ecosystems, particularly forest ecosystems, which are crucial for carbon sequestration. In Canada, forests cover 38% of the land area, contributing 9% of global forest carbon sequestration. However, disturbances such as pest infestations and extreme weather events threaten their ability to sequester carbon. Current methods like flux towers and remote sensing satellites provide valuable data on carbon sequestration but are limited in spatial resolution, temporal frequency, mobility, and flexibility.

This project aims to address these challenges by integrating advanced drone technology with solar-induced fluorescence (SIF) measurements to explore carbon sequestration and forest productivity. The focus is on using SIF sensors and cameras (AirFlox and SIFCam) mounted on drones to enhance the monitoring of forest ecosystem productivity. Specifically, drone-based SIF data will scale up Gross Primary Productivity (GPP) measurements from flux tower sites, providing high-resolution, real-time data for dynamic assessments of forest health and carbon sequestration.

In collaboration with the Research Center Jülich, Germany, the project integrates drone-based SIF technology with flux tower and satellite data. This integration will enable detailed monitoring of forest responses to climate stressors, supporting Canada’s climate change mitigation strategies and advancing progress toward achieving net-zero emissions goals.

Pistes de conception en design urbain pour créer des milieux de vie inclusifs et adaptés aux personnes âgées dans les milieux ruraux québécois.

Cette recherche examine comment le design urbain peut être appliqué pour créer des milieux de vie adaptés aux aînés dans des zones à faible densité, en particulier les milieux ruraux au Québec. Ces territoires posent des défis spécifiques liés à l’accès limité aux services essentiels, aux difficultés de mobilité, et au manque de cohésion sociale. L’objectif est de développer des environnements inclusifs qui encouragent l’autonomie et le bien-être des aînés en s’appuyant sur des principes de design inclusif et universel. La recherche intègre des concepts comme la flexibilité des espaces, l’accessibilité, et la mixité intergénérationnelle, tout en analysant l’impact de la forme urbaine sur la vie quotidienne des aînés. Des études de cas inspirées de modèles internationaux, ainsi que des exemples de villes “age-friendly”, seront examinés pour identifier des solutions adaptées aux réalités locales. Cette étude combine une revue de la littérature et une analyse comparative des modèles existants. L’objectif est de développer des modèles de design urbain innovants et reproductibles qui améliorent la qualité de vie des personnes âgées tout en tenant compte des contraintes économiques et environnementales.

Evaluating the Accuracy of Glove-Based Hand Tracking for Virtual Reality Ergonomics Assessments

The specific objective of this project is to compare the accuracy of the Manus Quantum motion capture gloves against traditional hand-held controllers for conducting proactive ergonomics analyses in virtual reality (VR). Digital human model (DHM) hand locations and joint angles will be compared to their ground truth measures derived from laboratory-grade optical motion capture. To successfully carry out this project, the partner company (Cort Research & Innovation) will work with the intern to develop a comprehensive virtual task simulation in the Siemens Process Simulate software platform. The challenge faced by the partner organization is to demonstrate the effectiveness of this technology to its automotive manufacturing clients. As such, the simulation will need to include various gripping, grasping and placement tasks relevant to the automotive industry. The ability to manipulate objects without use of a VR controller represents a critical advancement in the field of VR ergonomics. As such, successful completion of this project will benefit the partner organization and academic institution by positioning them as a leading experts on this wave of the future in proactive ergonomics assessments.

L2M – Market Research for the Detection of TBI Biomarkers using Nanobiosensors

Market Research for the Detection of TBI Biomarkers using Nanobiosensors

Metallogeny of Rare Earth Element deposits in Quebec

The one-year project will investigate the geological, geochemical and geophysical properties of three Rare Earth Element (REE) deposits in Québec. Each of the selected deposit is representative of a class of REE mineral deposits. The project will provide new insights in the origin of the three types of REE mineral deposits. This new understanding of the formation of REE mineral deposits will be transferred to the industrial partners and will be used to improve the odds of discovering REE resources in Québec and Canada. The project will contribute to the training of three MSc and 1 PhD students, that will bring advanced knowledge in REE geology to their future employers.

L2M – Tunable Laser Business Canvas

The industry-standard tunable diode laser (TDL) has a limited tuning range (only a few nanometers), and the output wavelength can only be adjusted thermally which is a slow process. Applications requiring faster tuning, utilize some sort of mechanical element, some systems utilize Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) technology but these are all still mechanical in nature and do not have good repeatability. In addition mechanical methods are still not very fast, typically on the order of milliseconds. There are many applications which require much fast tuning speeds with good repeatability as it effects system performance, resolution and accuracy. Some application examples that need faster tuning speeds include optical coherence tomography used for retina imaging, telecommunications and more. This project will look at the market feasibility for a new laser technology that can address these gaps in the market today.

L2M-A Sustainability-Driven Framework for Decision Support in Commercialization Using Bayesian Belief Networks

This project focuses on advancing the commercialization of a Sustainable Decision-Making Framework (SDMF) by refining an interactive Bayesian Belief Network (BBN) model. The goal is to enhance the tool’s ability to visually represent decision pathways, making it more appealing and functional for potential customers. The project includes creating a Business Model Canvas, conducting a market evaluation, and testing assumptions through interviews with key stakeholders in sustainability-focused large firms and SMEs.

L2M – Development of Portable Microfluidic Electrochemical Sensors (MES) for On-Site Detection of Heavy and Critical Metal ions

This project aims to develop a portable and cost-effective microfluidic electrochemical sensor (MES) for detecting heavy and critical metal ions in water, including lead and lithium. The innovation integrates advanced microfluidics and electrochemical sensing to achieve on-site, real-time detection of contaminants, reducing the reliance on expensive and time-consuming laboratory methods. By leveraging low-cost fabrication techniques, the proposed MES technology offers scalability and affordability, making it suitable for environmental monitoring and industrial applications. The partner organization benefits from access to a novel, market-ready technology that aligns with growing demands for efficient water quality monitoring and sustainable resource management.

Development of Monodisperse and Stable Coacervate Droplets via Microfluidics for Catalysis Applications

New, greener methods for performing large-scale industrial chemical reactions are critical to decoupling the chemical industry from fossil fuels. Once such emerging category of reactions known as chemoenzymatic reactions are reliant on fossil fuel-derived solvents to run the reactions. Chemoenzymatic reactions are critical in making complex molecules essential in the pharmaceutical and materials industries. We proposed using peptide coacervates, a green, biocompatible liquid material that mimics the solvents required for chemoenzymatic reactions. Our novel approach employs mild conditions, allowing for simple reusability. Improvements in reproducibility will be achieved through microfluidics, a technique that can precisely control the formation of liquid micro-materials. Overall, this advancement will allow for a wider range of chemoenzymatic reactions that are more accessible due to reduced costs and environmental/safety impacts, therefore reducing the environmental and monetary costs of chemoenzymatic reactions.

Both McGill University and the Max Plank Institute (MPI) stand to gain from this project. The expertise in microfluidics will be transferred back to McGill, where groups working on similar projects will take advantage of this import technique. Conversely, peptide coacervates are a new material that will expand the capabilities of the MPI and lead the charge toward greener chemistry.