Innovative Projects Realized

Sustainability framework for junior mining companies

Marketing strategies for innovative retail-based technologies and solutions

Extension of generic gesture modeling approach, evaluation and comparison against new commercial beta gesture modeling package

Implementation of a music-based walking program for clients of Parkinson Alberta Society

The proposed project seeks to build upon a recent pilot project that developed and evaluated a novel auditory reminder system that clients of Parkinson Alberta Society can employ to exercise large step walking outside of clinical settings. The pilot study highlighted a number of aspects requiring further investigation, both from clinical and research perspectives. Consequently, the proposed project will aim to elucidate further the potential effects of the music and walking program and expand current program capacity. This will be achieved via recruitment of participants who experience arm swing or freezing problems. Evaluation of program efficacy will involve collection and analysis of questionnaire, walking, and interview data. To facilitate the dissemination of the program and make it more user friendly for Parkinson’s patients, the proposed project will also revise existing program user materials and develop and deliver a training course for Parkinson Alberta Society staff on how to administer the music and walking program.

Surgical simulator design and evaluation using game engine technology

Surgical training is increasingly being done using simulator technology in order to teach basic skills to residents without risking patients’ lives. However, neurosurgery lags behind other surgical specialties in the adoption of simulators. Since there are no commercial simulators in this domain, the National Research Council has embarked on a neurosurgery simulator development program, in collaboration with Canadian neurosurgeons. We are planning to work in collaboration with this project in order to design surgical scenarios as part of a curriculum for the simulator; making use of Game Engine development tools as part of the prototyping for the system development. Our project will also focus on the evaluation of the simulated scenarios, making use of perceptual and educational evaluation methodologies. The outcome of our research will benefit both partner organizations: (1) LHSC, by developing training modules and a curriculum that neurosurgery residents can use to rehearse and refine surgical skills; and (2) Digital Extremes, by exploring this avenue as a new market for their software.

Steering the innovation process: accelerating “Ideas to Impact” in water treatment

Thermal modeling and design optimization of a reheat furnace

Model-driven application/sensor testing

Process optimization and spectroscopic analysis of diamond-like carbon films

Evaluation of biomaterial sorbents for leachate removal

Integrated modeling for systematically examining the performance of the Kennedale constructed wetland for a clean Canadian water environment

Constructed wetland is a critical water infrastructure in major Canadian cities like the city of Edmonton, which treats wastewater including storm water by reducing the suspended solids and the related contaminants before entering into receiving waterbody. The design and evaluating the performance of a constructed wetland requires accurate prediction of flow fields and particle pollutants settling behaviours. The objectives of this study are to develop a three-dimensional (3D) numerical model that can predict the flow characteristics in a constructed wetland including the flow fields of multi-phases and the dispersion and settling patterns of particles considering the effects of vegetation, evaporation and runoff. The proposed 3D modeling system will be applied to examine and improve the suspended solid removal efficiency of Kennedale constructed wetland in the City of Edmonton. This research program will benefit the city of Edmonton and also Canada by i) systematically evaluating the performance of the major wetland facility in Edmonton, ii) providing a cutting-edge design and management method for critical municipal water infrastructure, iii) extensively training more highly qualified engineers and researchers for the industry and government sectors in Canada, and iv) protecting the receiving water quality using sustainable constructed wetland system.

Development of a drug loaded degradable embolic particle capable of locally delivering therapeutic agents for transarterial chemoembolization