Innovative Projects Realized

Retrieval and monitoring of water quality parameters based on hyperspectral remote sensing data and intelligent algorithms

The research will develop an AI model driven by remote sensing data from a satellite, to identify the spatial variability of water pollutants present in lake water, to improve the understanding of the potential for algal blooms. With the development of the AI model, the use of remote sensing will be enabled to predict the potential for algal blooms in lakes that can then be used as an early warning system for water quality which will enable water intakes to water treatment plants can better plan their operating horizons to include, as an example, shutting down the intake system, to protect the integrity of the water treatment plant, and improve the quality of water provided to water consumers.

An Optimal Hybridized Design Methodology for a Solid-State Fermenter: Safe Pesticide Alternatives Using Microbes

Crop Defenders, our industrial partner grows a high-value type of fungi that can kill crop pests without harming or poisoning the crops. This type of fungus is currently being grown in a manual and labor-intensive process. The aim is to automate this manual process to drastically increase the company’s productivity. By doing so, Crop Defenders expects to lower their cost per acre 10-fold and be able to sell to field-farmers as well as greenhouses. The first step towards automating the process will be achieved by designing a solid-state fermenter or bioreactor where the environmental conditions needed for the fungi to grow can be observed and controlled. The first stage of this project aims to develop a conceptual design for this instrument up to the embodiment stag

Sentiment Analysis for the Assessment of Financial Fitness (SAFF)

We apply Artificial Intelligence (AI) on Sentiment Analysis for the Assessment of Financial Fitness (SAFF), which can help an individual to understand one’s latent feeling and reservation towards money saving, spending and planning. The SAFF framework can be applied to not only financial institutions, but also other sectors, e.g. healthcare, rehabilitation and education. Sentiment analysis can alert current situations, as well as to monitor long term financial development. The SAFF system can help providing better services to the public, help individuals achieve personal satisfaction and enjoy financial stability. Since the user communication tool is web-based, the framework supports user mobility. The system can be deployed across provinces, nationally and internationally. We believe that the current revolution in financial sectors is towards AI innovation, including Chatbot mediated sentiment analysis, and we want to make sure Canada is the leading country in AI adoption.

Development of a stable and printable carbon nanotube based bioink for E.coli detection

Early detection of pathogen biomarkers such as E. coli is important for management of water bodies and agricultural farms. This information is invaluable to municipalities, provincial governments and private enterprises. Such information could have probably prevented the worst-ever outbreak of E. coli contamination in Bruce County, Ont. in 2010 where 2,300 people fell ill and seven died (Source: CBC News, Canada). At present, live detection of biological contaminants in water supply has no solution. The project will focus on developing printable sensors that can sense the bacteria rapidly. The completion of this project will address a real-world application of the technology by incorporating the sensor into a viable product (i.e. handheld or autonomous monitoring device) and will allow the company to create sensing solution for liquid borne bacteria that would be sold worldwide. Municipalities, wastewater treatment facilities, government agencies, businesses, and individual users will be able to use the monitor directly to assess water quality in their communities or private wells in real time.

Data driven energy efficient base station sleep control for 5G systems

The objective of this project is to develop a software system which can optimally control the base station sleep states in 5G networks to save energy. The 5G wireless networks are required to be green and yield very low carbon dioxide emissions. Compared with that of 4G wireless networks, the power efficiency of 5G is expected to be increased to 100-fold. High energy efficiency is a critical requirement in 5G network design and operation. We propose station sleep strategies based on machine learning, stochastic programming and robust optimization models which, by leveraging demand patterns learned from historical load data, provide statistically optimal energy efficiency and delay-bounded QoS.

Hydrogeochemical investigation of elevated geogenic uranium in a subarctic region

Northern Canada faces environmental changes from growing resource extraction and global warming, which make an understanding of baseline conditions critical. In the Dawson Range, Yukon, naturally elevated concentrations of uranium have recently been discovered in groundwater at levels that exceed federal water-quality guidelines. This region is also the focus of advanced mineral exploration and falls within traditional territories of several First Nations. Mining activities may enhance uranium mobilization through the generation of waste rock and tailings. Thawing of permafrost might cause a similar effect by altering hydrological and geochemical conditions in groundwater. This project’s goal is to understand and communicate the baseline controls on uranium mobilization in the Dawson Range through analyses of water and rock samples and involvement with local industry, First Nations, and government.

Personalizing gamification strategies to improve young adult life skills training. Part 2; support worker needs analysis and design of clinical interface

Facing Dragons is a mobile health game that gives quests and challenges to young adults (17-29) to help them figure out what to do with their lives, gain an empowered sense of self and unlock their purpose in life.

One of the key research innovations in this game is the addition of a special interface for support workers and caregivers that helps them get to know the young adults they work with.
In this project we will match young adult mobile gameplay preferences with game design elements in order to teach life skills in a fun and engaging way that maximizes the motivational power of gamification. We will also be creating a useful clinical interface to assist those who help young adults face their dragons every day.
This project is an important next step in the design of a mobile life coaching game that empowers young adults through playful learning.

Cyclic Freeze-Thaw Behavior of Geocell-Reinforced Bases

Geocells are a type of three-dimensional honeycomb geosynthetics that are widely used to improve the performance of paved and unpaved roads by reinforcing the base/subbase courses. It is approved to benefit the long-term performance of roadways and reduction of construction cost. Although geocell has been widely used in roadway construction in cold regions, showing measurable improvements, research regarding the cyclic freeze-thaw behavior of geocell-reinforced roadways is rather scarce. A good understanding of factors influencing the cyclic freeze-thaw performance of geocell-reinforced bases is vital to the design and construction of roadways. This project aims to perform field monitoring and a series of experimental investigations of the behavior of geocell-reinforced bases subjected to the freeze-thaw cycles. The final goal is to improve the design practices for construction of the durable roadways in Canada.

Understanding the Mechanism of Probiotics for Human Health

DoseBiome has developed a new probiotic that targets several aspects of oral health: dental caries, periodontal diseases, and halitosis. This project aims to understand the exact mechanism of our probiotic’s inhibitory properties against the pathogens associated with the above diseases. DoseBiome is a new start-up in the probiotic/microbiome health sector, and this project will allow for improved technology and manufacturing processes for our oral probiotic line.

A cloud?based, multi?modal, cognitive ophthalmic imaging platform for enhanced clinical trial design and personalized medicine in blinding eye disease

Age Related Macular Degeneration is the leading cause of irreversible blindness in Canada and the industrialized world, yet there are no treatments for most patients. Tracery Ophthalmics has developed an imaging method, “AMD Imaging” (AMDI) that has generated unprecedented pictures of the retina (film of the eye) that include both known and unknown “flavours” of disease (phenotype). These complex images will be compared against an individual’s genetic makeup (their genotype) and their concurrent illnesses, medications, and lifestyle history (their epigenetics). Tracery’s imaging will help identify patients that will benefit from TMi’s drug development program, and ultimately help doctors choose which treatment will work best. During this project, we will involve medical experts and their patients to generate and amass AMDI images, evaluating them over time and against other modalities. Cloud?based computing will be leveraged to integrate image?based and structured data, genomics and large data analytic to unite global users.

Determination of emerging contaminants-loaded on sludge-based activated carbon: chemical leachability and stability

Sewage sludge wastes have been treated by diverse techniques to obtain sludge-based activated carbon (SBAC). These materials show excellent properties as sorbents of, e.g., organic pollutants, heavy metals, and nitrogen/phosphorous-based nutrients. In a previous research, the loading of emerging contaminants on SBAC has been achieved. As an extension of this work, we propose to study the leachability via chemical means and evaluate the emerging pollutants-loaded SBACs stability in rain garden soil media (RGSM).

Chemical leachability will be evaluated by batch desorption tests and desorption columns in soil media, both approaches will serve to determinate the ratio between loaded and released emerging pollutants in a laboratory scale. In fact, the stability tests of SBAC will be performed in RGSM, which will leach upon chemical triggers are applied. In collaboration with Kerr Wood Leidal (KWL), a leader company in progressive solutions for environmental process in BC, we will analyze the scalability of the processes as stabilization of SBAC in RGSM

Towards Developing Trust in Online Third-Party Reporting Systems for Survivors of Sexual Assault

Over 600,000 sexual assault happen in Canada every year, however, 95% of sexual assault go unreported. We are working towards building a research-based online third-party reporting system that will aid the reporting of sexual assault. Survivors will now have the opportunity to document their evidence and experiences and submit the report at their own convenience. VESTA is committed to building research backed technology that draws on the principles of building technology for good. In all development of technology, we will consider the broader social context of our products and services, and make this consideration part of our ethos. This means, among other considerations, taking into account the privacy concerns of potential users. VESTA will benefit from the research by incorporating the findings in our product development.