Innovative Projects Realized

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.

Grain-Aware Video Quality Assessment and Encoding Optimization in Streaming Media Applications

Analog and digitally synthesized film grain is widely seen in pristine visual content as part of the creative intent of content producers. However, in streaming media applications such as online video-on-demand and live video broadcasting, grain demands excessive amounts of bandwidth to transmit the video streams from the server to the consumer devices while maintaining the quality-of-experience of end viewers. This MITACS project aims to largely reduce the bandwidth requirement to transmit such content by a series of studies on grain-aware video quality assessment and encoding optimization by exploiting a mixture of methodologies including perceptual and statistical modeling, and artificial intelligence. Six internship students from University of Waterloo will work closely with the technical staff members at SSIMWAVE Inc., an IMAX company based in Ontario, to develop novel technologies. The research outcome is expected to help strengthen SSIMWAVE and IMAX’s global leadership in the media and entertainment industry.

Emplacement, structural controls, and pegmatite crystallization in fertile temporal windows in the Winnipeg River-Cat Lake pegmatite field, Manitoba, Canada

This projects aims to understand the mechanisms responsible for lithium mineralization associated with hard rock in Manitoba, Canada. Lithium is seen as critical for the decarbonization of our economy and as such it is vital that we understand its origins and be able to predict where to find more in a sustainable way. Another objective of the research is to provide tools for exploration companies to be more efficient in their prospects. The interns will benefit from interacting with industry and academia elevating their skills in these types of mineral deposits and carry the knowledge obtained during this project to other parts of Canada where lithium is also sought after.

LAMP assay development and qPCR validation of inoculum monitoring of diseases in field crops

According to the literature, up to 75% of all fungicide applications are either off-target or are applied where no disease is present. Paramoria Agri-Science aims to reduce that by providing farmers with real-time monitoring of disease-causing spore populations, such that pesticides are applied on an as-needed basis, rather than as-feared. Currently, Paramoria uses quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) to quantify the amount of disease present in the field. While highly accurate, qPCR requires a lab and cannot handle soil contamination without expensive post-processing. By switching to loop assisted mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), this test can be done in-field with minimum post-processing required. The intern will assist us in designing, testing and validating our switch from qPCR to LAMP.

Tractor cab re-design to support partially-autonomous agricultural machines

In recent years, the task of operating an agricultural tractor has changed in large part due to the introduction of
new technologies. Perhaps the greatest change is related to the introduction of auto-steer technology that
negates the requirement to constantly have one’s hands on the steering wheel of the tractor. The current
configuration of the tractor cab is based on the assumption that the steering wheel needs to be prominently
featured in the centre of the cab with the driver seated in a forward-facing position. In this project, we will
attempt to determine potential changes to the layout of the cab environment that might better support the tasks
being undertaken by today’s farmer who is operating and monitoring partially-autonomous agricultural
machines. The intern will use task analysis techniques to gain an understanding of the operator’s tasks; this
information will inform a conceptual design that will be fabricated with assistance from the partner’s shop staff.
Finally, the intern will conduct an ergonomic evaluation of the novel cab design.

Dry wearable graphene-based electrodes for multi-lead ECG signal acquisition fabricated by printing technologies

Our proposed research project aims to develop flexible, wearable sensors for monitoring heart health using advanced materials such as graphene and flexible printed electrodes. These sensors will be integrated into a comfortable and non-invasive wearable device that can continuously monitor and track the wearer’s heart health through ECG readings. The device will be designed to provide real-time alerts to the wearer or their healthcare provider if any concerning heart abnormalities are detected. By using these advanced materials, we hope to develop a device that is both highly sensitive and durable, with the potential to revolutionize the way we monitor and manage heart-related conditions. This technology has the potential to improve early detection and management of heart-related diseases, such as atrial fibrillation, which can lead to serious health complications if left untreated. By providing individuals with a non-invasive, user-friendly device for continuous heart monitoring, we hope to contribute to the development of more effective and accessible healthcare solutions.

Performance d’un fuselage intégré hybride en régime transsonique

En 2015, la NASA, Boeing et Pratt & Whitney ont entrepris des études expérimentales et numériques pour calculer les performances d’un fuselage intégré hybride (HWB), désigné N2A-EXTE 0009H1, pour tous les régimes de vol, dont celles en transsonique. Le but de ces études était de vérifier un concept d’intégration moteur avec cette cellule d’avion non-conventionnelle. Le but du stage est de reconstituer dans un modèle CAO (Catia V5) la maquette utilisée pour ces études antérieures en se basant sur les documents publiés par ces trois organisations. Le modèle doit être construit en partie sous forme paramétrique de façon à que le modèle soit prêt à une mise à jour automatique selon les choix de paramètres décidés par un utilisateur(trice) ou une boucle automatique d’optimisation de formes aérodynamiques autour des moteurs.

Une fois le modèle CAO obtenu, des simulations numériques de l’écoulement seront obtenu à l’aide d’un solveur fluide (StarCCM+ ou autre), suite à la discrétisation du volume fluide autour du modèle de l’avion à l’aide d’un générateur de maillage (Pointwise ou autre). L’étude portera sur l’équilibrage de l’avion en tangage au moyen de surfaces de contrôle disponibles au bord de fuite.

Alouette – ML demand prediction platform for SMEs

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) face challenges such as inflation, supply chain disruption, and extreme weather, resulting in missed orders, overstocking, or understocking. Traditional forecasting methods based on seasonality and trend cannot provide accurate market demand, leading to inefficiencies and sales losses. The proposed research project aims to develop a machine learning-based demand prediction platform. The platform will analyze large amounts of data from internal and external sources, identifying difficult patterns and relationships to provide accurate market demand predictions in real-time. Apana will integrate with this platform as the “Software-as-a-Service” model. This will enable SMEs to perform real-time analysis of incoming data for their own demand forecasting. The overall objective of this project is to establish Apana as the go-to data hub for SMEs to manage their retail operations. We aim to grow our business based on the scale of users and the extension of different types of data services.

Évaluation de l’effet antinociceptif des opioïdes courant chez les poissons en utilisant le modèle de la shuttle box

L’objectif de ce projet est de trouver des médicaments antidouleurs pour les poissons en observant leur
comportement dans une eau à température variable. Le but est de différencier un effet analgésique d’un effet
sédatif des médicaments testés en analysant la vitesse de nage des poissons. Les mesures seront effectuées à
distance à l’aide d’une caméra et d’une analyse par ordinateur sans interaction humaine afin de limiter le stress
des poissons. Ultimement, ce projet de recherche permettra d’améliorer la prise en charge des conditions
douloureuses chez les poissons, qui peuvent survenir lors de maladie, de traumatisme avec des congénères ou
suite à des interventions humaines. Dans un Aquarium, il est important de préserver le bien-être des poissons de
la collections et de prolonger leur durée de vie par des chirurgies au besoin. Les résultats de l’étude serviront
donc aussi les besoins des pensionnaires de l’Aquarium de Montréal.

Assessing Support Needs of Tenants in Two Ottawa Community Housing Buildings

Some people living in social housing are at risk of losing their housing. This is due to serious mental illness, substance use, neurocognitive decline, physical frailty, disabilities, or other issues, along with an absence of adequate support. Ottawa Community Housing has approached researchers at the University of Ottawa to conduct a study to learn more about the needs of these tenants and to help identify the resources and services that can be drawn upon to assess, place, and support these clients. The current study will provide OCH with data to inform its next steps in advocating for system change around housing selection, placement, and conditions, and securing supports for tenants at risk of losing their housing. The research will also inform the social housing field where concern over this issue is mounting but there has been a very limited amount of research.

Development of a Performance Measurement and Quality Improvement Strategy at Ottawa Salus

Ottawa Salus is a non-profit corporation who have served the Ottawa community for over 40 years. They have over 100 staff members delivering supportive housing and mental health services to the community. The organization creates opportunities for adults living in the community with mental health and substance use issues to live independently. To achieve this, they have a strong commitment to improving the quality of their services. The goals of this project are to first make a committee of several people from the organization and consult with them during the project. The intern will conduct interviews with different staff members about how they use quality improvement information (e.g., client surveys). Finally, in consultation with the committee, the intern will produce recommendations for what the organization can do to develop a quality improvement strategy.