Smart public toilets using Internet of things

The washrooms can be equipped with smart objects to be controlled and monitored to increase the customer satisfaction. This technology utilizes connected washroom equipment such as toilet paper, towels, soap dispensers, and water leakage sensors. In smart washrooms, the condition of the washroom is monitored and the management is informed when anything needs attention. This […]

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Rail Bulb Replacement – phase 2

The scope of this project is to develop a modern Railway signaling system using LED technology to replace the old system employing incandescent bulb. We propose a novel design and control to avoid using low-lifetime components as the existing commercial systems. The current and voltage monitoring functionalities are added to detect exactly which LED that […]

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NOWCASTING: Enhancing wind power forecasts using live observational data

The intern will develop and evaluate new algorithms to improve the accuracy of short-term wind power forecast. The algorithm will be fed with near real-time data (wind speed, wind direction, air temperature, power production, turbine availability) from wind farms in order to improve the forecast over the next 24h. Once the best algorithm has been […]

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Real-Time Modeling and Simulation of Alternative Modular Multilevel Converter Topologies

By creating real-time and hardware porotypes, the proposed research provides opportunities for better investigation of these converters and for development of advanced and effective methods for their control. The three interns that will be trained during this research partnership will gain in-depth knowledge of modern power system equipment and knowledge of the latest developments in […]

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Configuration Design, Modeling, and Simulation of the Smart Hybrid DC-AC Microgrid

The smart hybrid DC-AC microgrid is an emerging technology with remarkable potential benefits such as (i) facilitating integration of distributed energy resources and renewables, (ii) improving reliability and quality of the electrical energy supplied to the consumers, (iii) increasing the efficiency of power generation, transmission, and distribution systems, and (iv) facilitating implementation of Electric Vehicle […]

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Implementing Community Climate Action Plans in Canada: The Relationship between Implementation Structure and Outcomes

This study builds upon our previous work, to identify and confirm key structural features for the implementation of community climate action plans in Canadian communities, through examining their relationship with plan outcomes (outcomes related to the plan goals, e.g., actual greenhouse gas reductions), and partner outcomes (outcomes the partners experience, such as improved reputation). Key […]

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Fostering Best Practice in Canadian Wastewater Systems

The research project aims to determine in what ways can investment in wastewater treatment better maximize environmental and economic benefits to enable sustainable community development. The research will include identifying, and analyzing areas of economic and environmental opportunity, including improved project management, energy capture and reuse, asset management, and repurposing of waste materials (biosolids and […]

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Mushroom Harvesting System

Automatic harvesting of mushroom produce is a promising opportunity for mushroom growers to increase their revenues. This increased revenue will be obtained through savings in human labour as well as the expected increase in yield and quality due to the consistency of automated solutions compared to manual ones. Automated harvesting solutions do already exist for […]

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Optimizing Numerical Weather Prediction for Clean Energy

Modern weather forecasts are made by computers that solve the complicated equations for air motion, heat, and moisture. Different computer codes, called weather models, use different atmospheric approximations, creating slightly different forecasts. This forecast diversity is good, because the average of all forecasts is often the most accurate, and the spread between forecasts measures uncertainty. […]

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Evaluation and Identification of Gaps and Technical Challenges in Candidate Carbon Capture/CO2 Conversion Technologies

In the wake of the Paris meeting on global climate change in December of 2015 (COP21), commitments to drive down greenhouse gas emissions have escalated around the world. Man-made carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions are accepted as the largest contributor to climate change. Promising next-generation technologies for decreasing CO2 emissions are being investigated at the lab […]

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Modelling transient flow in a hydropower station

Modelling the movement of water through a hydropower station is an important tool for understanding this very complex behaviour, where water is pushed and pulled through long tunnels and spinning turbines, resulting in a vast range of pressures and speeds. There are generally two types of models: 1-dimensional (1D) models, which are simple and cost-effective, […]

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X-ray Microtomography Imaging and Finite Element Modeling of Copper-Coated Steel Corrosion Processes for Long-Term Nuclear Waste Management

Through the Mitacs internship program, the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) is partnering with Western University researchers to build confidence in the lifetime of copper-coated steel containers, proposed as one of several barriers that will keep nuclear waste contained and isolated from the environment. The intern, Ms. Thalia Standish, will simulate the corrosion of copper-coated […]

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