Innovative Projects Realized

Financial Education in the Arts

Sai is a startup that aims to help artists and arts organizations manage their finances more effectively. They noticed that many artists struggle with financial literacy due to the lack of financial education in their artistic backgrounds, and the pandemic has exacerbated this issue. To address these challenges, Sai is developing an integrated educational program that will offer accessible resources and tools tailored to the unique needs of the arts and culture sector. The program will include sector analysis, the development of educational materials, and the integration of these resources into the Sai platform. The expected benefit for partner organizations is to enhance their innovation activities, products, processes, or services. By providing financial management support, Sai will help artists overcome their financial challenges, which will have a positive impact on mental health and wellbeing, as well as foster a vibrant and diverse arts community in Canada.

Jessica Lim – Artificial Intelligence to detect high-potential Athletes using Biomechanics

The purpose of this project is to develop an Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Algorithm that can be used to objectively quantify the athletic potential that different athletes have both in their sport and in less-frequented sports. This AI will use the information provided regarding an athlete’s testing results to predict and quantify an athlete’s skill and potential level. A marketing proposal will also be created with collegiate groups and athlete identification programs as the target audience.

Warehouse Redesign and Reorganization Technician

as a leading provider of high-quality steel wear solutions, Trimay’s warehouse is a large facility that stores a variety of materials, including crops and plates, which require specialized storage solutions. This project targets the redesign and reorganization of the entire warehouse. The goal of our project is to re-organize the warehouse using mechanical design principles to create new racks for horizontal and vertical storage of crops and plates. The student will be responsible for helping us design and implement the new storage solutions. This will involve using tools such as forklifts, cranes, power tools, and other specialized equipment.to improve productivity, efficiency, and safety.

Tri de données et entrainement d’algorithme pour inspection de qualité et traitement de signaux analogiques

Tri de données sous la forme d’image et entrainement d’algorithme pour inspection de qualité de fermeture de sacs. Traitement de signal analogique et apprentissage machine dans le but d’améliorer la performance d’un système de pesage à haute vitesse.

Technical Process Technician & Data Management Assistant

In 2003, Bryan & Company LLP is developing the technology roadmap for the next strategic planning cycle that will bring the Company to its centennial in 2028, during the transition, Bryan & Company LLP will evaluate its technology needs and contemplate a single, more all-encompassing technology solution. the intern will work closely with the IT manager and other teams to analyze the business process, design the technological roadmap and also support the transition.

Développement d’une solution technologique pour la transition numérique d’un programme d’enseignement collégial

La transformation numérique représente un sujet d’actualité pour les entreprises (Gagnon, 2022; Lord, 2023). Celle-ci fait référence à l’investissement dans les technologies de l’information et de la communication (TIC) afin de réduire les coûts d’exploitation de l’entreprise et d’accroître la qualité des produits et services offerts (Raymond, Pelletier, Sylvestre et Uwizeyemungu, 2023). Les TIC ont ainsi un important potentiel pour les entreprises. En effet, le développement, l’implantation et l’exploitation de systèmes et d’applications basées sur les TIC permettent entre autres, de développer des systèmes de pilotage de la production, des applications de gestion intégrée de la chaîne d’approvisionnement et des applications de gestion intégrée de l’entreprise (Raymond et al., 2023). La transformation numérique est ainsi amorcée au sein de nombreux secteurs, dont les entreprises agricoles, notamment afin de leur permettre de collecter des données sur les services, la chaîne d’approvisionnement, etc. (Royer et al., 2020). C’est dans ce contexte que COlab Innovation sociale et culture numérique s’intéresse au développement d’une solution technologique permettant la gestion de machinerie et d’équipement, en collaboration avec le programme Gestion et technologies d’entreprise agricole (GTEA) du Collège d’Alma. Ainsi, le projet vise à documenter une initiative vers la transition numérique d’un département d’enseignement collégial.

Optimization of microscopic analysis of paper printed electronics

Printed electronics is a field of electronics that involves printing of electronic devices and components on a variety of substrates, including paper, plastic, and textiles. This technology uses printing techniques including inkjet printing, screen printing and gravure printing to create circuits, sensors, displays and other electronic devices. Advantages of printed electronics include low-cost production, design flexibility and compatibility with a range of materials. From the perspective of sustainable electronics, paper-based substrates are one of the most promising solutions. When silver ink is printed on paper, the solvent evaporates, leaving a layer of silver nanoparticles that are fused together to form a conductive layer. This layer can be used for a variety of applications, such as creating conductive traces for electronic circuits or antennas for RFID tags. However, there are also some challenges in characterizing of printed ink on paper leading to miss-information about its quality. Since paper contains fibers, it creates a highly roughened surface, and the traditional characterization method used for plastic-based substrates must be adopted to the needs of paper.

Crack Detection in Concrete Bridges Using Machine Learning

Transport infrastructures are the backbone of our society and bridges are the bottleneck of the transport network. Climate change resulting in higher corrosion rates, and extreme climatic events are important threats to the reliability and safety of the transport network. This has led to growing concerns for the remaining service life of infrastructure under normal service conditions and the structural resilience under extreme climate events. We will develop a reliable crack detection tool that allows to detect and quantify the presence of crack in concrete infrastructure. The specific objectives are: (1) To annotate an existing 3D point cloud database of cracked and uncracked concrete surfaces, and (2) To train and validate a deep learning algorithm to detect cracks on concrete surfaces in real time. The project will lead to a safer, quicker and more accurate method for condition assessment of concrete infrastructure.

Project Blinkem – Optical channel communication for Mixed Reality Systems

Project Blinkem is a novel approach to visible light communication, which aims to create a low-cost, scalable, and secure framework using existing technologies. The project proposes encoding data into Infrared LEDs, which can visually communicate with high-resolution image sensors on HMDs as well as a high-speed optical module. By leveraging the security benefits of visible light communication, Project Blinkem offers an inherently more secure method of communication, which can be valuable for a range of applications, including virtual reality environments and the internet of things. If successfully implemented, this approach could have a significant impact on the way we communicate and transfer data in the future.

Evaluation of wind load on tall buildings and understanding of state-of-the-art wind engineering

Jake is going to join the projects using a large-scale boundary layer wind tunnel, a thermally stratified wind tunnel, a climate chamber, and wind tunnel projects conducted at various companies if possible. Lastly, based on the understanding of wind tunnel technologies, he is going to conduct research on the evaluation of wind loading on tall buildings. This research will be focused on understanding how different wind patterns and loading will affect building dynamics situated in different environments. The goal of this project will be to develop and understanding of these affects and use that to determine safer more effective designs and harm reduction strategies.

Numerical and Experimental Analysis of the Hygrothermal Efficiency of Fully Bio-Sourced Building Materials Under Mechanical Loading

This project is a part of a collaborative research program between Canada and France, through a joint supervision thesis. The ongoing first phase in Canada involves utilizing a numerical simulation method, namely COMSOL software, to predict mass (water) and heat transfers through biobased building walls, with the incorporation of mechanical loading on the wall. However, due to the lack of necessary equipment and suitable sites, the experimental phase cannot be executed in Canada.

The first experimental assembly is a scaled-up version in a laboratory setting with a fully-controlled environment on both sides of the wall. The second assembly is a full-scale, fully instrumented building that allows for in-situ measurements. Ultimately, these measurements will be utilized to validate the accuracy and reliability of the simulations. In addition, the resulting proof of concept of bio-based walls will be an established technology to be utilized in the construction of the net-zero buildings.

Towards efficient building energy audits – An online platform for tracking multi-unit facilities

This research will aim to optimize Energy Conservation Measures (ECMs) selection, through an optimization algorithm to be implemented on an online building energy auditing platform. The initial estimates shows that the platform can reduce audit time and cost up to 70% and offers detailed live results for multi-unit residential, commercial, and institutional facilities. This platform builds upon an available database of buildings to provide a decarbonization plan to meet the demand of the province. An optimization tool that not only automates the – auditing procedure, but also utilizes energy conservation databases, their synergetic effects, and optimized selection method, will eliminate the cost barrier for many properties, particularly low-budget ones, to perform energy audits, given the financial restraints of property owners and managers. Moreover, this tool will increase the probability of implementation of recommended energy conservation measures by maximizing the return on investment as well as greenhouse gas, GHG, emission reduction. This platform ultimately promotes energy-efficient technology adoption by developing a database of potential buildings and showcasing their energy and GHG emission savings.