Innovative Projects Realized

Ground operations in the aviation industry

This research project aims to solve the problem of fragmented data in the aviation industry by developing a system that integrates and analyzes various data sources. The goal is to create dynamic dashboards that provide real-time insights into safety, compliance, and operational status for different users, such as airlines and ground service providers. The focus will be on ground handling operations, including fueling, de-icing, and passenger handling. By aggregating data, developing analytical systems with machine learning, and creating user-friendly dashboards, this project will help stakeholders make informed decisions, enhance operational efficiency, and uphold safety standards in the aviation industry.

The relationship between dark matter and peculiar velocities: Newtechniques and tests with numerical simulations

During this research I will contribute to our growing understanding of dark matter and dark energy by applying and extending the theoretical framework of simulation and modeling of how dark matter couples via gravity to induce measureable peculiar velocities. As a result of this work Dr. Lavaux and I hope to produce a large set of randomly generated universe simulations which can be used to confirm how peculiar velocities and the systematic and random errors associated with measuring them can depend upon the cosmology of the simulation. In working with both Dr. Lavaux, Dr. Jens Jasche, and I will also contribute to constructing a constrained simulation matching the 2M++ catalogue. I will also work with Dr. Lavaux in developing an alternative to maximum likelihood and minimum variance velocity reconstruction measures for cosmology surveys. These works will help understand gravity and constrain the formation history and composition of the universe.

An Exact Method for the Quadratic Knapsack Problem Through Binary Decision Diagram

This Mitacs Globalink project, part of a PhD thesis titled “Exact and Heuristic Methods for the Quadratic Knapsack Problem (QKP),” aims to develop new optimization techniques for solving the QKP, a problem with significant applications in industries like logistics, finance, and electronics. Building on prior successes, including a dynamic programming heuristic and an algorithm using Binary Decision Diagrams (BDDs), the project will focus on creating a branch-and-cut algorithm specifically for the QKP. This collaboration between experts from Université Laval, Université de Québec à Montréal, and Carnegie Mellon University integrates advanced BDD techniques with QKP models. The research outcomes are expected to contribute significantly to combinatorial optimization, with broad applications across various industries, enhancing global advancements in solving complex optimization challenges.

Experimental investigations on metabolic and transcriptomic profiling of Rhodococcus opacus cultivated on lignin stream

In recent years, lignin valorization has gained increasing attention in both academic and industrial sectors, hoping to achieve salient breakthroughs in lignin metabolism. Many studies have pointed to a promising approach using microorganisms particularly bacteria for lignin valorization through a bio-funneling approach, converting it into products of biotechnological interests. Thus, this project aims to contribute to advancements in the bioconversion of lignin stream (upstream and downstream), a highly abundant industrial by-product in both Canada and Brazil, which is currently burnt for heat and electricity production in the paper mills, posing significant environmental risks. This project will essentially focus on understanding the genetic and metabolic mechanisms involved in converting phenolics and lignin by Rhodococcus opacus, a bacteria capable of consuming aromatic compounds and producing lipids from this substrate.

We’re Only Human: Enhancing a Cultural Sensitivity Training Virtual Reality Prototype in Early-Stage Development

Objective: Draw on Researcher Expertise to Assist the Calgary Catholic Immigration Society (CCIS) in their Development of a Virtual Reality (VR) Cultural Sensitivity Training System

Background: Through informal testing with eight CCIS employees, a design concept introduced in the “Preconceptions” application that is a VR cultural sensitivity training program. It creates a digitally immersive environment that tracks people’s eye movements to reveal implicit biases (e.g. show how one looks longer at a visible minority in a retail store). Patterns are presented to reveal implicit attentional bias.

Current Inniative: CCIS needs support systematically gathering and interpreting high-quality information for the purpose of continued innovation, development, and deployment. As such, CCIS is partnering with a social scientist that has a strong research background in community-based research. Since the social scientist is an expert in qualitative and quantitative data, he will be able to support an intern in developing high-quality information gathering strategies that includes sampling a diverse group from various demographics. The partnership will provide maximally effective information for improving an innovative cultural sensitivity training product.
An intern will learn to facilitate the use of the application: preparing the VR setup to ensure all technical aspects are functioning correctly, guiding participants through the eye-tracking activities, and analyzing data to identify patterns ensure participants understand how to interpret their data and reflect on their biases. The supervised internal will design questionnaires and focus groups for collecting feedback focusing on the effectiveness of the application in achieving learning objectives.

Outputs: (1) High-quality experience in a community-university partnership that provides transferable skills for a student-intern. (2) High-quality information-gathering tools such as effective surveys and focus group guides that enable further development and refinement of the VR system. (3) Improved efficacy of an innovative application from participant feedback and technical observations distilled into recommendations.

Stage au Festival Akousma

Le projet vise à implémenter une culture de la médiation dans la programmation des activités de la société de diffusion Akousma afin de faire mieux connaître les musiques numériques immersives.

Différentes activités, actuellement en projet, pourront être mises en place auprès de publics néophytes afin de partager et rendre plus accessibles ces façons de faire de la musique. Ces activités pourront être présentées aussi bien à des publics jeunes, d’âge scolaire, qu’à des personnes âgées qui feront la découverte de ce type de musique mal connu.

De nouvelles technologies peuvent aujourd’hui permettre de présenter des concerts de type alternatif qui peuvent permettre à un public peu habitué à la salle de concert de découvrir un monde sonore nouveau ; on pense aux écouteurs à conduction osseuse, par exemple, qui peuvent être utilisés lors de « soundwalks » (ou excursions sonores) et aussi à des haut-parleurs sans fil qui peuvent être utilisés pour animer des places publics.

À la fin du stage, la société de diffusion de concerts aura en main les outils nécessaires pour incorporer ce volet d’activités de médiation à sa programmation régulière et elle pourra également partager son expertise en la matière auprès de ses partenaires qui occupent un créneau similaire. À terme, ce sont les musiques numériques en particulier, mais aussi les musiques nouvelles en général, qui bénéficieront de ces développements. La stagiaire aura acquis une expérience non-négligeable en organisation de concerts et d’autres activités, et elle aura pu mesurer l’impact de ses interventions sur les publics visés.

Digital Twins for City Challenges

The goal of the proposed project is to develop a Digital Twin of a city to enhance urban planning and emergency management. University of Calgary faculty members and students will work with the City of Calgary on developing a Digital Twin of the City of Calgary as well as an application prototype of this twin to evaluate its usefulness in supporting the overall goal. Digital Twin technology bridges between the physical and virtual world, enabling real-time data management, analytics, simulation and control.

Global GNSS Interference Detection and Impact Analysis for Aviation Safety

Global navigation satellite systems have significantly improved aeronautical navigation over the past decades, providing a safe and precise means of navigating airspace. Unfortunately, recent years have seen a worrying increase in GPS interference incidents in aviation, which is alarming because GPS is crucial for modern aviation navigation and safety. GPS interference, through jamming and spoofing, can lead to navigational errors, increased risk of accidents, and compromised air traffic control. IATA’s Global Aviation Data Management (GADM) team is preparing reports on GPS signal loss using data from the Flight Data Exchange (FDX) program to address this. They plan to extend their analysis globally using ADS-B data to identify safety issues. Various methods, including statistical analysis, software-defined radios, and machine learning algorithms, are being explored to detect GNSS jamming and spoofing. Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) networks are particularly effective in modelling aircraft trajectories using ADS-B data because they can handle sequential data over long periods. This project aims to improve the detection of GNSS interference by applying advanced machine-learning techniques to global ADS-B data. The GADM team will provide a secure data-sharing environment, and ETS researchers will implement methodologies to detect interference patterns, enhancing aviation safety.

Investigating the effects of ?-adrenergic stimulation on IKs channel trafficking in cardiac myocytes using total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) microscopy

Cardiac arrhythmia is an electrical disturbance in the heart which can cause a variety of potentially life threatening conditions. Arrhythmias are due to malfunctions in the protein channels, which in turn alter the bioelectric currents signaling each heartbeat. A key channel responsible for terminating the electrical signal is the voltage gated potassium channel, IKs. During an adrenaline spike associated with the fight or flight response, there is an increase in IKs activity although the mechanism is not well understood. The aim of this project is to examine how IKs channels are redistributed at the cell surface during stimulation. This will be achieved using a combination of electrophysiology and advanced microscopy techniques. These findings will give new insight into the mechanisms that regulate the channel and ultimately cardiac function. This information will aid in designing better pharmaceuticals to restore and maintain healthy electrical activity in the heart.

Comparative Analysis of Unregulated Drug Supply Trends and Drug Checking Strategies in British Columbia and France

The ongoing illicit drug poisoning crisis in Canada has resulted in over 40,000 deaths since 2016, with British Columbia being the province hardest hit. The crisis is largely driven by the presence of potent fentanyl analogues in unregulated drugs, leading to this significant rise in overdose deaths. In contrast, Europe, including France, has not experienced a similar increase in fentanyl-related deaths, though concerns are growing due to recent cases involving synthetic opioids and other new substances. To address this crisis, harm reduction services like drug checking, which allows people to identify the chemical composition of their drugs, have been implemented in both regions. This proposal aims to explore the effectiveness of drug checking services in BC and France, focusing on the factors influencing their use, emerging trends in unregulated drug supplies, and their impact on reducing drug-related harms.

L2M – Innovative Brain Implantable Device for the Treatment of Brain Aneurysms

Brain aneurysms are blisters on brain arteries caused by high blood pressure and smoking. Every 18 minutes, a brain aneurysm ruptures, leading to 1,370 deaths a day worldwide. This project seeks to develop an innovative brain implantable device to treat brain aneurysms through prototyping, lab validation, and customer discovery and feedback. The partner organization supports this project by advancing inclusive innovation and helping to address global public health challenges. The investment enables the development of transformative healthcare solutions that align with its mission of fostering innovation while contributing to broader societal benefits and advancing medical technology in Alberta.

Examining the influence of PAS-induced LTP delivered over the visual cortex and cerebellum on motor performance and functional connectivity post stroke.

Learning a motor task is dependent on many cortical regions. As a skill is learned, changes take place within the circuitry of the brain to optimize efficiency of the movement execution. Following stroke, motor deficits in the upper extremity are common, emphasizing the need for intact skill learning to reacquire motor function. Advancements in rehabilitation techniques are needed to optimize recovery; cortical stimulation may serve to augment recovery when combined with behavioural intervention. The cerebellum, which stores and adapts motor programs, and the visual cortex, which transfers visual information to guide movement are potential target regions for such stimulation. Stimulation, in concert with motor cortex stimulation, provides a novel technique to potentially improve the integration of sensory information to improve motor performance. The current project will investigate whether, as we hypothesize, the influence of stimulation in individuals with stroke will positively change the brain and lead to functional improvement.