Innovative Projects Realized

Supporting Sustainable Industry: A Framework for Value Chain Analysis

Sustainable institutions have established a strong market reputation and demonstrate significant growth potential. Their primary focus has shifted from profitability to sustainability. CEOs of these organizations believe that achieving market growth requires implementing eco-friendly and transparent practices. Furthermore, companies have collectively raised public awareness about the necessary actions and current efforts to promote a healthier environment.

Given the importance of this topic, the project aims to develop a framework for analyzing the value chain of companies, particularly in the industrial sector. The goal is to establish a framework that allows small and medium-sized enterprises in the industrial sector to identify their critical activities and improve sustainability in their value chains.

Application of neuroimaging to optimize observational learning from a mobile application: influences of age and brain function

One side effect of stroke is damage to the left parietal lobe, important in motor control of the right hand. Many stroke patients experience loss of motor skills and have difficulty relearning how to perform daily tasks. Recent reports from stroke rehabilitation centres have shown increased improvements in relearning basic motor skills upon incorporation of observational learning techniques into their therapies. The proposed research project will consist of neurologically healthy, right-handed adults between the ages of 18 and 80 participating in an fMRI task designed to activate the mirror neuron system through observation and mimicking of tasks observed via video. Areas of neural activation will be measured and strength of activation will be compared between 4 age groups to observe changes through aging. This research will lay the ground work for improvement of techniques for rehabilitating motor function in chronic stroke patients by contributing directly to the understanding of the neural networks underlying observational learning.

Enhancing Ocean Literacy in Rural Communities

The StFX X-Oceans Outreach participant will collaborate with Students on Ice Foundation on their Blue Future Pathways initiative. The goal is to promote ocean literacy through STEM to youth in rural communities and to work with pre-service teachers to encourage them to incorporate ocean-based material in their curriculum and future teachings. Expected benefits to the partner organization are ocean knowledge dissemination, engagement, environmental stewardship, and leadership of youth and teachers for a sustainable future and a bourgeoning Blue Economy.

Nickel Bros Canada

Nickel Bros, a leading structural moving company in North America, faces the challenge of efficiently estimating and coordinating complex structural moving projects. As the industry evolves, the demand for precise and competitive bidding has intensified, requiring the company to enhance its estimating processes and improve communication with suppliers and subcontractors. This project’s primary activities involve streamlining the request for quotations (RFQ) process, analyzing project data, and improving proposal writing—all crucial for securing new clients and maintaining existing relationships. By integrating an intern into their estimating team, Nickel Bros will benefit from fresh perspectives and innovative approaches to data analysis and client communication. This role will not only assist in enhancing the efficiency of their operations but will also facilitate the development of more accurate cost estimates and proposals, ensuring they remain competitive in a challenging market. To address these challenges effectively, expertise in construction logistics, cost estimation, and familiarity with Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software is essential. Moreover, understanding blueprints and demonstrating strong organizational and communication skills will enable the intern to contribute meaningfully, thus supporting Nickel Bros in achieving its strategic objectives and driving future growth.

Interior Designers Institute of British Columbia

The Interior Designers Institute of British Columbia (IDIBC) plays a critical role in regulating the interior design profession in BC, ensuring that registered interior designers (RIDs) uphold a high standard of practice and ethical conduct. However, with over 800 registrants, the organization faces challenges in maintaining accurate, efficient, and up-to-date member services, particularly concerning the regulatory requirements and continuing education necessary for RIDs to sustain their professional credentials. The main activities of IDIBC include providing essential support and resources to its members, advocating for the profession, and facilitating continuing education programs. The innovation challenge that IDIBC needs to address revolves around streamlining the registration processes, enhancing member agreements, and improving educational resources in line with current provincial regulations. This project will not only enhance the organization’s operational efficiency but also significantly elevate the member experience by ensuring that all registrants receive timely and relevant guidance and support. To effectively tackle these challenges, expertise in human resources management, policy development, and a strong understanding of professional regulatory practices will be essential. The intern’s contributions will foster innovation in these areas, allowing IDIBC to better serve its members and fulfill its mandate as a professional regulatory body, ultimately contributing to the advancement of the interior design profession in British Columbia.

Bentley : Découpage intelligent de plans d’ingénierie

Le design de grands projets de génie civil (routes, ponts, complexes résidentiels, usines, etc.) requiert plusieurs décisions techniques dont les résultats sont consignés dans divers types de plans d’ingénierie. Tout projet d’envergure ne peut être imprimé/affiché sur une seule feuille, même de grand format en raison de l’étendue du projet et de la quantité d’informations à afficher. Par conséquent, l’ingénieur doit découper son modèle informatique en plusieurs pages. Encore aujourd’hui, cette tâche est effectuée manuellement par des ingénieurs et doit être répétée si le projet subit des modifications ou révisions en cours de routes entraînant des effets en cascades qui alourdissent la tâche de design. Ce projet vise à utiliser l’intelligence artificielle et les modèles de vision afin d’automatiser cette tâche en tenant compte du contexte de chaque projet pour diviser le projet à des endroits stratégiques qui mettent bien en évidence les détails nécessaires à la construction.

Oi Marketing

Oi Marketing is an innovative digital marketing agency committed to helping businesses strengthen their online presence through targeted strategies and creative solutions. As the digital landscape rapidly evolves, Oi Marketing faces significant challenges in scaling its content marketing initiatives and refining its social media strategies to stay ahead of market trends and shifting consumer behaviors. The main activities of the organization include developing customized marketing plans, executing digital advertising campaigns, managing social media accounts, and analyzing performance metrics to enhance client engagement and drive conversions.
Currently, the agency seeks to address the challenge of creating a cohesive digital marketing strategy that goes beyond standard practices, aiming to elevate brand visibility while fostering meaningful connections with target audiences. This project is particularly crucial as it will enable Oi Marketing to harness the latest trends and technologies in digital marketing, allowing them to remain competitive in an increasingly crowded marketplace.
To effectively solve these problems, Oi Marketing requires expertise in various areas, including content creation, search engine optimization (SEO), social media management, data analysis, and project management. The integration of two interns into this project will bring a wealth of fresh perspectives and innovative ideas, allowing the agency to tap into diverse skill sets and viewpoints. The interns will be involved in creating engaging, high-quality content that resonates with target audiences, conducting in-depth analyses of social media metrics to inform strategic adjustments, and implementing data-driven solutions to enhance overall campaign effectiveness.
Moreover, the project will enable the interns to gain practical experience in a real-world business context, where they will learn to navigate challenges that go beyond routine operations. By collaborating with experienced professionals, they will develop essential skills in problem-solving, communication, project management, and creative thinking. This experience not only enriches their academic knowledge but also significantly enhances their future career prospects by expanding

Lynn Henderson Public Relations

Lynn Henderson Public Relations (LHPR) is a dynamic firm specializing in providing elite PR services to a diverse range of clients, including luxury hotels, fine dining restaurants, resort destinations, and luxury goods. However, as the media landscape continues to evolve, LHPR faces the challenge of adapting its outreach strategies to effectively engage audiences across various platforms. The firm must innovate its approach to media relations and client representation to stand out in an increasingly competitive environment, particularly in a digital age where audience engagement is key. This internship will address these challenges by allowing the intern to contribute fresh perspectives and innovative ideas that enhance LHPR’s media engagement strategies.
The intern will focus on conducting comprehensive research on industry trends, potential media outlets, and client-specific strategies that resonate with target audiences. By assisting in the development and implementation of PR campaigns, the intern will help refine LHPR’s messaging to ensure it is not only relevant but also compelling. Additionally, the intern will support social media management efforts, creating content that engages audiences and amplifies client stories across digital platforms. This project will go beyond day-to-day business operations by integrating strategic insights and creative solutions that enhance the firm’s overall public relations approach.
To solve these challenges, expertise in research methodologies, strong writing and communication skills, and proficiency in social media management are required. The intern’s contributions will enable LHPR to maximize its impact, showcasing clients in innovative ways and building stronger media relationships. Ultimately, this internship will provide valuable hands-on experience while ensuring that LHPR remains at the forefront of the public relations industry, positioning the firm for continued success and growth.

Création de bases de données et de réseaux de neurones convolutifs pour l’analyse granulométrique par photographies

Au cours de la dernière décennie, les réseaux de neurones convolutifs (CNN) ont révolutionné l’analyse d’images dans plusieurs domaines du génie. Toutefois, on retrouve encore peu d’utilisation de CNN en géotechnique. Une des applications les plus évidentes pour les CNN dans ce domaine est la classification des sols et la réalisation d’analyses granulométriques à partir de photographies. Deux verrous technologiques principaux empêchent le développement de CNN pour ces applications. Premièrement, l’entrainement des CNN nécessite d’imposantes bases de données qui comportent des dizaines de milliers de photographies de sols et de matériaux granulaires et les analyses granulométriques correspondantes. Ces bases de données n’existent pas en géotechnique. Deuxièmement, la structure des CNN doit être optimisée pour la réalisation d’analyses granulométriques. Le projet de recherche s’attaque à ces deux problèmes. Les échantillons reçus dans les laboratoires du partenaire seront utilisés pour construire des bases de données. Les réseaux de neurones multiéchelle développés à l’ÉTS seront ensuite entrainés avec ces bases de données pour prédire la granulométrie et faire la classification des sols et des matériaux granulaires.

Development an automated clinical notes generation pipeline

The proposed research project focuses on developing a real-time clinical notes generation pipeline (Note Wizard). The Note Wizard will automate the generation of clinical notes from audio consultations, improving accuracy and reducing the documentation burden on healthcare providers. These advancements will enhance operational efficiency, provider satisfaction, and patient care quality at Dialogue Health Technologies.

Using Remote Sensing and GIS to Better Understand a Copper Porphyry Prospect (Peru)

Elida is a newly discovered copper porphyry prospect located in Central Peru. The overall copper reserves are unknown and cannot be estimated from field inspection alone. The proposed research by the intern is aimed at helping to solve this ‘puzzle’ by using and developing remote sensing (RS) and geographic information systems (GIS) techniques for this problem. RS and GIS will be used by the intern to map and interpret lithological, mineral units and structural features that aid in understanding the movement of copper in this deposit. The partner organization is an exploration and mining company. For economic reasons, it is critically important for the company to know how much copper is emplaced within the system versus displaced. The main benefit to the partner is that the intern study project will help understand the copper retention in the system story.

Computing the flow of suspensions of red blood cells in complex networks of capillaries

We develop a numerical model of blood flow in the microvasculature of the human body as a building block to later simulate targeted drug delivery. The model requires (i) to implement a Front Tacking/Immersed Boundary method to coupled the solution of the fluid flows to the deformation of the red blood cells (RBCs) and (ii) to consider the complex meshed geometry of the network of capillaries described on the fluid grid. The model is implemented in a computing platform that runs in parallel on large supercomputers to later enable massively parallel computing. We validate our implementation against existing data available in the literature on simple flow configurations such as as a single RBC in a simple shear flow. As a proof of concept, we ultimately compute a suspension of RBCs flowing through a Y junction. The numerical model can also be used to optimize the design of microfluidic devices that perform tasks such as high-throughput cell sorting and of processes that produce bio-compatible artificial materials through 3D printing.