Innovative Projects Realized

Valorisation des déchets plastiques par pyrolyse et co-pyrolyse

Sur les 350 millions de tonnes de plastique produites annuellement, seules 9% sont recyclées; le reste étant enfouies, incinérées ou simplement laissées dans la nature. La pollution induite par ces déchets menace tout notre écosystème. La conversion thermochimique conjointe de ces produits avec des résidus forestiers permettrait de venir proposer une solution élégante à cette problématique. Écologique tout d’abord, puisque les matières plastiques ne seraient plus une nuisance toxique. Énergétique car la co-pyrolyse de ces intrants (résidus forestiers/plastiques) permettrait de produire un syngas riche en H2 et en CO; utilisable comme source d’énergie primaire ou pour produire des biocarburants (procédé Fischer-Tropsch). Économique enfin, puisque les produits de pyrolyse (syngas, biohuile et biochar) sont très prisés des industriels (métallurgie, industrie chimique…).
La mise en place d’un tel projet permettrait au partenaire ainsi qu’au Canada de développer une expertise sur un sujet d’actualité, de proposer des voies de valorisation innovantes et inédites et de se placer comme un leader mondial.

City of Lloydminster REMC Exercise Co-op

With the recent regionalization of emergency management services between 10 communities in the Lloydminster area, a project in the emergency management sector is being pursued that looks to create and deliver a full-scale exercise to a region of approximately 50,000 people. This exercise would be a one-of-a-kind delivery for a region such as Lloydminster and showcase the community’s capacity to respond to hazards, work collaboratively, and support exterior groups integration into a response team.

Enhanced efficiency by simplified business process through flowcharting or automation

Natik is growing exponentially and in order to keep up with the demands, we need to find ways to simplify the business process by eliminating nonvalue added activities like bottlenecks to save time and maximize productivity. As a start, we recently moved to an ERP system, Sage 100, as a means for effective control and timely reporting of company’s financial health at any point in time. In addition, our manpower also increased.

The accounting team needs support from an intern, a fresh set of eyes, to evaluate the process and by being an active participant, the intern will be able to identify areas for improvement, opportunities to use the skill sets acquired in the school in a work setting and recommend solutions that are practical and actionable.

Génération de données synthétiques en assurance

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Rheological behavior of modified asphalt under short and long-term aging in Colombia

This project focuses on investigating the behavior of a typical Colombian asphalt, which has been modified to enhance its properties, under short and long-term aging conditions. The primary objective is to evaluate how these modifications influence the asphalt’s strength and durability, critical factors affecting its lifespan in road pavement. The overarching goal is to develop guidelines for best practices in Colombia, taking into account local asphalts and modifiers. This will contribute to improving the designs of asphalt mixes used in road construction in Colombia, making them more resistant, durable, and sustainable. . The partnership will further ÉTS’s initiatives in understanding asphalt aging phenomena and provide the Universidad Nacional de Colombia access to state-of-the-art equipment, benefiting the broader Canadian and Colombian infrastructure sectors.

Create Your Self: A Study of Avatars in Virtual Reality

This project aims to simplify the creation of avatars for use in research, with a focus on self, identity, and facial recognition. Avatars, or digital selves, can be challenging to make and limited by software, and this is made worse when participants’ avatars look different from themselves in real life. The goal of this research is to figure out how to standardize the creation of avatars for use in research. Outcomes will be usable by any researchers interested in conducting VR research using human avatars. The intern, upon completion of the time abroad, will return to the home university and train researchers in the skills learned abroad, and ideally create a cross-country collaboration for the study of avatars that will continue to standardize and simplify the learning and research process.

Optimisation de la production de NaCl sous forme de « hopper crystals »

La fleur de sel est un produit recherché dans le milieu gastronomique. La structure spécifique des cristaux de fleur de sel donne un croquant en bouche et libère en même temps un goût salé explosif. La fleur de sel est produite essentiellement autour de la Méditerranée. Pour produire de la fleur de sel au Québec nous devons recréer les conditions d’évaporation dans des bassins permettant de contrôler les paramètres de cristallisation. Le projet vise l’étude des paramètres qui contrôlent la formation des cristaux de sels tels q ue : la température et la chimie de l’eau salée, l’humidité et la température de l’air, et la consommation d’énergie par kilogramme de sel produit (pour un éventuel dimensionnement industriel). Tout cela sera accompli par des expérimentations dans des bassins équipés d’instruments de mesure pour suivre les paramètres susmentionnés et ainsi tenter d’optimiser la production de fleur de sel en milieu contrôlé. La compréhension des mécanismes de précipitation des sels à partir de saumures trouvera aussi plusieurs autres applications dans le domaine fondamental.

Taukir Aziz – Johnston’s Grain

This project aims to help the grain broker Johnston’s Grain achieve two key goals. First, it will research and develop a comprehensive strategy for expanding their export of Canadian grains and oilseeds into emerging markets in Asia and Africa. This includes analyzing market demand, trade regulations, and competitive landscapes to identify promising new countries to sell their products. Secondly, the project will design and test financial risk management tools and hedging solutions. These allow Johnston’s Grain’s suppliers, such as farmers and grain processors, to protect themselves against volatile price swings in commodity markets using futures and options contracts.

By opening up new international sales markets and offering innovative price hedging services, the project will enable Johnston’s Grain to increase revenues, provide more value-added offerings to existing clients, and solidify their position as a leading prairie grain brokerage. Having capabilities in export market development and customized risk management will give Johnston’s Grain a competitive advantage while benefiting the overall Canadian agricultural economy.

Northern Asset Management SRO Innovation Program

Our project focuses on leveraging detailed analytical research and advanced technological tools to enhance investment options at Northern Asset Management. As a comprehensive financial advisory and investment planning practice specializing in retirement and estate planning, we are committed to assisting clients throughout Canada in achieving their financial goals and maintaining financial health.

With the Canadian investment industry consolidating its two self-regulatory bodies into one effective January 1, 2023, our objective is to adapt to the new regulatory landscape proactively. This project aims to integrate technology-driven solutions and build Excel programming for in-depth analysis, ensuring compliance with the evolving regulations. The student involved in this initiative will contribute to day-to-day operations while actively learning and managing the new regulatory framework, guaranteeing that all clients under the firm’s management adhere to the guidelines set by the Canadian Securities Administration.

The merging of regulatory bodies brings about a significant transformation, unlocking many financial products previously exclusive to institutions. Working closely with the senior planner, the student will explore and integrate these new options into client portfolios. This strategic integration aims to provide clients with an optimal financial future while mitigating risks to the lowest possible extent.

By combining cutting-edge technology with detailed analytical research, our project ensures Northern Asset Management remains at the forefront of the industry, offering clients unparalleled financial planning and investment advisory services in alignment with the latest regulatory standards.

Understanding Creativity – A Computational Research from the Human Visual Perception’s Perspective

Human perception is a critical part of creativity. This research is based on an observation that a creative solution often connects two remotely related concepts. Therefore, I will focus on the mechanism of human visual perception, particularly the mechanism to connect two objects, in this project. The objective is to be achieved by using the curve reconstruction problem as an experimental platform, to quantify the visual information processing mechanism, with correlated cognitive activities (eye movements and brain activities). As a result, it is expected that a general framework for visual perception could be derived theoretically and mathematically, to reveal the cognitive mechanism underlying a creative process. A correlation is expected between the derived framework and cognitive responses within a creative process.

Systems and Survey Insights Engine AI Innovation

Veras (Veras Technologies Inc.), is a Calgary-based start up company that has developed a Survey insights Engine that enables you to Understand What’s Important by leveraging AI (artificial intelligence) and other innovative technology transform thousands of quantitative and written survey responses into concise, and actionable insights and key themes – enabling you to make better and faster decisions.

While Veras’ Survey Insights Engine is innovative, it was launched prior to the mainstream advent of Chat GPT. To keep up with current trends in AI technology and implement the latest innovation in the software product and company processes, the intern, Chase Miller, will audit current systems and processes to identify improvements with Chat GPT, implement and integrate Chat GPT with current Survey Insights Engine, and implement and integrate Chat GPT to improve current processes.

BSI Program

The SDI Group has been a part of the Co op program for the last 14 years. We have supported many students in providing a well rounded experience and mentorship as part of their education. A student being able to be in the field and working directly with the health and safety organization, complements their education by actual practical experience in a variety of areas. SDI Group has 4 Divisions and 10 areas of service. Moreover, in partnership with our clients SDI strives to find solutions that meet non-traditional needs. We build and manage customized systems for clients in many sectors that enhance their current business model. Together our staff serve over 150 partnerships across North America. During their four month intern they will be engaged in several objectives both within SDI and for our client base. Our challenge and opportunity are to review key client’s health and safety management systems and provide innovative solutions on where we can improve performance. This is through training and procedural updates. The areas are learning and providing input into how controls can be put in place for occupational hygiene work conducted. Lastly, updating formal hazard assessments based on work environments and proper controls can reduce incidents. The student will also be reviewing past COR audits for opportunities for improvement.