Innovative Projects Realized

Fine tuning an LLM for patent drafting

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Investigating pathogen prevalence in a geographically isolated community of bumble bees

Bumble bees are threatened worldwide, and among several impacts to their populations are pathogens which impact colony health and success. This is a concern for captive breeding programs aimed at enhancing populations with pathogen-free colonies. In this research we partner with Wildlife Preservation Canada who maintain breeding programs and use a novel method for detecting pathogen prevalence in wild and captive bumble bees. The intern will be trained on quantifying pathogen loads non-destructively in bumble bees and work with an established team on Pelee Island, the southernmost point in Canada. Here we suspect pathogen prevalence to be low or non-existent because of disconnection from the mainland. There are also many imperiled bumble bee species present on the island including those targeted by WPC. The intern will interact with WPC who will additionally conduct a comparable study on the mainland. Both teams will share their findings with partners in Quebec.

3-Dimensional Construction Printing: Process Optimization

Ever-growing concerns related to affordable housing and climate change in Canada and beyond have necessitated innovative approaches in the construction industry. The construction industry is poised for new technologies that will address the housing crisis, particularly in northern and remote areas, and mitigate infrastructure needs in flood-prone areas (e.g., retaining walls). Additive manufacturing, also known as 3D printing, has revolutionized manufacturing and is well-suited to address large-scale construction challenges. Despite recent progress in 3D construction printing (3DCP), there are still major limitations in current systems related to reliable printable materials, optimization of the process, and the weak interlayers resulting from the layered fabrication process. Initially, this project delves into material characterization, including developing a concrete mix model for Finite Element (FE) analysis. At the same time, strength-curing time analysis and layer bonding investigations will be performed to ascertain optimal deposition thickness and rate. Then, in the next step, patterns for constructing hollow walls will be studied to find the optimal pattern to enhance transverse stiffness, buckling stability, and deposition time while ensuring satisfactory structural strength properties. Furthermore, FE analysis will be conducted to assess the bonding properties between the deposition layers and will be validated through experimental studies. Emphasizing the integration of theoretical modelling and practical experimentation, the project seeks to advance 3DCP technology, offering solutions to housing shortages in the face of global demographic shifts and climate-induced challenges. The outcomes aim to contribute significantly to the construction industry, promoting efficiency, affordability, and sustainability in housing construction, with potential applications both in Canada and globally.

Geometallurgical simulation of the SART process for cyanide control within gold and silver extraction

Gold and silver are precious metals and are difficult to extract from ores that have complicating minerals. These complicating minerals may in other circumstances be favourable due to their copper and zinc content but are problematic when the main value is the gold and silver. In particular, these copper- and zinc-bearing minerals occupy the cyanide that would otherwise capture the precious metals, thereby increasing the overall cyanide consumption. The SART process (Sulfidation, Acidification, Recycling and Thickening) is capable of regenerating the cyanide that is being consumed by the problematic copper- and zinc-minerals likely, in many cases, increasing the overall competitivity of gold and silver mines. The current project is to adapt an existing simulation framework for gold and silver mines to simulate their operations as-is without SART, and then to simulate their operation with the SART process, so that the comparison could potentially justify the installation of SART.

Modelling virtual sensor with AI for Robotics

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AIDOX – Document Understanding Platform

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Identifying Areas of Assessment for Strategic Asset Development Tool

Tulkita’s clients are facing challenges related to improving the operational effectiveness of IT. The objective of this research is to identify the specific areas requiring assessment, which will eventually lead to the development of an assessment tool to be used by Tulkita consultants. My research will consist of establishing the needs of Tulkita’s clients, identifying the frameworks currently being used by Tulkita consultants, and evaluating existing IT management frameworks in the industry. Based on my findings, a list of problem areas will be created, whereby Tulkita consultants will have a comprehensive document allowing them to undertake a high level assessment of the operational effectiveness of IT functions. The new framework will be customized to cater to Tulkita clients and designed to ensure ease of administration and cost effectiveness

Quelle instrumentalisation du métabolisme urbain pour le déploiement urbain de l’économie circulaire ?

L’agence d’innovation et de prospective Creative Capital entreprend une démarche novatrice de planification stratégique en urbanisme rassemblant un consortium de parties prenantes diversifiées. Cette démarche consiste dans l’intégration de la circularité dans un plan directeur d’un quartier au Québec. Ce plan doit comprendre des orientations d’aménagement intégrant les principes de l’économie circulaire dans le cadre bâti. À cette fin, l’organisation collabore avec l’équipe académique pour coconstruire le dispositif d’ateliers prospectifs qui structurera la démarche de planification. La singularité de cette collaboration réside dans l’intégration des principes du métabolisme urbain, conférant au dispositif une dimension tout à fait originale. Le cadre du métabolisme urbain invite à appréhender les territoires sous l’angle de la circulation et de l’accumulation des flux de ressources (p.ex. matériaux de construction). Considérée comme une approche diagnostique en économie circulaire, l’application du métabolisme urbain comme outil d’innovation en urbanisme mérite d’être expérimentée, caractérisée et évaluée.

MHRC-Mitacs-iA Workplace Mental Health Fellowship

Skilled trades workers could face many challenges like anxiety, stress, discrimination, long working hours and heavy workloads, which can harm their work performance and well-being. Despite the growing diversity in the Canadian skilled trades workforce, women remain underrepresented, particularly in electrical work, while the prevalence of disabilities among these workers is largely unknown. There’s limited research in Canada on the mental health of skilled trades workers with disabilities and from diverse backgrounds, including women and visible minorities. Very few research in Canada focusing on the mental health of electrical, plumbing and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) workers with disabilities and from diverse backgrounds, such as women and visible minorities. To fill this gap, this research will first use surveys to evaluate these workers’ mental health status, and then, will use interviews to learn more about their experiences and struggles. Research findings could inform policies to improve their work environment and culture and provide more support for diverse groups of workers. The applicant will work with the Ontario Electrical League (OEL) and the Mental Health Research Canada (MHRC) to carry out this research. Research results could support the development of strategies to enhance the experiences and occupational health of skilled trades workers and offer evidence-based insights for addressing mental health crises among individuals from diverse backgrounds. Through this collaboration, I hope to encourage more workers to enter skilled trade positions. Moreover, it aims to provide tailored recommendations for improving mental health services specifically for skilled trades workers from minority groups.

GRH Retail Collective

In September of 2023 a group of Capstone/Enactus NAIT students started work on a plan to reimagine the Glenrose corner store. Based on successful prototyping using a popup proof of concept model, Enactus NAIT is proposing a joint venture with Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital (GRH) to pilot and refine the business model over an eight month period. This would see the store open five days a week starting in May of this year.

To move this project forward, a full-time manager and business strategist is required. This is a perfect role for a NAIT Bachelor of Business Administration Co-op student. This person will be responsible for scaling the project from popups to full operations and guiding it through the next pilot period to a permanent operation that meets the objectives outlined below. This student will be guided and supported by GRH leadership, Enactus NAIT, the Mawji Centre for Student Entrepreneurship, and faculty advisors.

Identification automatique des anomalies comportementales d’enfants ayant un trouble neurodéveloppemental et intégration à un coach-avatar

Le Groupe Neuro Solutions, acteur clé en santé numérique, se consacre au développement de solutions innovantes pour les troubles neurodéveloppementaux comme le TDAH et le TSA. Notre produit phare, Kairos, vise à enrichir la vie des enfants atteints de ces troubles et à optimiser leur prise en charge par les professionnels de santé. Intégrant des techniques de pointe comme la gamification et l’intelligence artificielle, Kairos propose une thérapie immersive et efficace, enrichie par des données clés pour personnaliser les traitements. Lancé au Canada en 2022, Kairos a rapidement gagné en reconnaissance, remportant un Pediatric Device Innovation Award au Texas. Actuellement, des pilotes sont menés avec le CHUS Sherbrooke et le CHU Ste-Justine. Notre ambition se porte maintenant vers l’Europe, où Kairos est en passe de devenir la première application DiGA Canadienne, prescrite pour les enfants de 6 à 12 ans.

L’objectif du stage est de développer un système intelligent capable de détecter les anomalies comportementales d’enfants atteints de trouble neurodéveloppemental et d’intégrer une réponse proactive adéquate du coach-avatar afin de fournir des ressources et des conseils aux parents.

Voices Data Analyst Intern

??The Data Science/Analytics team at Voices is looking for a Data Analyst Intern to join the team and support analytics initiatives from developing Tableau reports to provide an in-depth/holistic understanding of the platform, leveraging our datasets to provide insights/recommendations to decision makers, and produce predictive models on KPIs (i.e. improving website conversion, hire rate of jobs, and client retention) to surface prescriptions/improvement areas. Analytics is a critical function in the organization that departments tap into to measure performance, obtain insights/recommendations, as well as gain access to predictive models. The candidate will support with the increasing volume of analytical initiatives that are critical to Voices’ strategic and operations activities. The main focus will be on improving ways to increase client conversion once clients have posted a job using predictive model approach. This will greatly impact our organizations main KPI for this year.? ?Past interns have been immensely grateful by the experience and have either been retained to improve the Voices platform, an emerging Canadian company, or have translated their experience to support analytical initiatives in other organizations.?