Newsletter OF the Faculty of engineering and design W inter 2010 Transforming a village Students take on the Batawa Initiative

Students go Extreme Blue Gift creates a new lab Challenging the Wii Message from the dean ngineering and design are disciplines driven by societal needs, so naturally Eengineers and designers must be closely engaged with the communities they serve. Civil engineers are keenly aware of the people their structures must safeguard; biomechanical engineers the joy of patients whose mobility has been restored; architects create spaces in which the drama of life is played out. Whether working with industry partners, research collaborators, philanthropists, granting agencies, mentors or clients, we are connected to the needs—and dreams— of our community. In this issue of Ingenious, that is most obvious in the work that architecture and industrial design students are doing to revitalize a small town. The Batawa Initiative is an innovative approach that utilizes the skills of our creative students to enhance both their education and the community. Community connections are also emphasized through the partnerships the Faculty forms to address the pressing needs of society. Tony Bailetti is leading a high-tech community initiative to help fledgling companies commercialize communications-enabled applications (read about Coral CEA on page 12); the interdisciplinary Sustainable Energy Research Centre brings together experts from Message from the dean Message from engineering and design and the Faculty of Public Affairs (page 9); and researchers across Canada, including a Carleton team, are working to harness technology to enhance healthcare (page 10). Over the past months, I have had numerous occasions to be reminded of Carleton’s connection to the community—and the impact our alumni and partners have on the university. As construction on the engineering building progresses, I am meeting with corporations and individuals to secure their support for our specialized laboratories and classrooms, equipped with the latest technologies for teaching and research. Alumnus Dipak Roy was the first donor to lend his expertise and financial support to this endeavour, and his story is presented in this issue. Events such as the Forum Lecture Series, which brings leading architects to for public lectures, and the ID Seminar Series are opportunities for our Faculty to welcome the community into our realm and to share our passion for learning and discovery. We welcome alumni, too, particularly through the activities of the Carleton University Alumni Association which has chapters in architecture, industrial design and engineering. I invite you to reconnect with the Faculty of Engineering and Design—not only through these pages, but by becoming involved as a career mentor to young alumni, a supervisor of a student intern through the co-op program, a member of an advisory board, an alumni chapter volunteer. Together, we create a stronger community.

Rafik Goubran, PhD/87, PEng FSC Label – PortraitDean, FacultyArtwork of Engineering Matrix and Design

FSC Label Artwork FSC_Labels_English FSC_Labels_Portrait On the cover Improving existing FSC_Labels_PPC FSC_Labels_PNCnature trails, and FSC_Labels_PPBW FSC_Labels_PNBW Newsletter PortraitOF the Faculty / Positive of engineeri /n gColour and desig (PPC)n Portrait /transforming Negative / Colour them(PNC) in Portrait / Positive / Black & White (PPBW) Portrait / Negative / Black & White (PNBW) carleton.ca/engineeringdesign/ the winter, is one way Editorial Advisory Board Carleton students are Dean: Rafik Goubran, PhD/87, PEng revitalizing Batawa. Associate Dean (Research): Fred AfaghFSC_100_PPC.EPS FSC_100_PNC.EPS FSC_100_PPBW.EPS FSC_100_PNBW.EPS Senior Development Associate: CorrieFSC_100_PPC.JPG Hobin, BA/02 FSC_100_PNC.JPG FSC_100_PPBW.JPG FSC_100_PNBW.JPG FSC_100_PPC.TIF FSC_100_PNC.TIF FSC_100_PPBW.TIF FSC_100_PNBW.TIF Director, Advancement Communications: Ryan Davies Editor: Amanda CertCosten no. XXX-XXX-XXX Cert no. XXX-XXX-XXX Cert no. XXX-XXX-XXX Cert no. XXX-XXX-XXX Design: Richard Bootsma

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Cert no. XXX-XXX-XXX Cert no. XXX-XXX-XXX Cert no. XXX-XXX-XXX Cert no. XXX-XXX-XXX The gift of entrepreneurism A dvancement news

ike most entrepreneurs, Dipak Roy started a company Lin his basement. Freshly minted with a Carleton PhD in electrical engineering, Roy founded Interactive Circuits Systems Ltd. in 1978. By the time he sold the company in 2003 to General Electric, Interactive Circuit Systems had become a global enterprise specializing in high-end data acquisition and digital signal processing serving the de- fence and aerospace markets. And like most entrepreneurs, Roy, MEng/74, PhD/77, didn’t rest on his laurels. He promptly formed D-Ta Enter- prises Inc. to invest in technology companies around the world, including SensorCom Inc. and Personica Inc. Roy can spot good investments. His undergraduate edu- cation in engineering and computer science in India and graduate work in Canada have given him an international perspective and the practical know-how to see the poten- tial of technology. As a charter member and director of The Indus Entrepreneurs (Ottawa), Roy provides mentoring, education and networking opportunities to foster entre- preneurship, giving him experience in spotting talent and the potential of human resources. Roy’s latest investment is in Carleton. With his wife Tara, Dipak and Tara Roy are the first donors to the new engineering BCom/76, Roy is donating $100,000 and equipment to create building being constructed near the Rideau Canal. “I learned a great deal from Carleton. I owe my success to Carleton,” he says. the Dipak and Tara Roy Advanced Sensor Processing Labo- ratory, to be housed in the engineering building currently under construction. computing platform and research-related acoustic and RF “Carleton has changed my life, both business-wise and sensors, students will be able to explore a variety of ad- my personal life,” he says about giving back to his alma vanced applications that were previously hindered by the mater, where he met Tara. complexities of hardware interfacing. When the lab opens in 2011, it will provide students Roy says there’s not much research being done on sensor in systems and computer, electronic, and biomedical processing in Canada and he would love to see Carleton engineering with the opportunity to collect and study become a national leader in this type of engineering. In real-world sensor data, a critically important step in the addition to his gift, Roy expects D-TA Systems to provide development of next generation Radio Frequency (RF) and financial and technical support to graduate students in- acoustic multi-channel applications, including wireless volved in specific research areas. communications, radar, sonar and medical imaging. “My intent is more than just lab-specific. I want to create a The signature piece of equipment will be the D-TA centre of excellence in sensor processing,” Roy says. “Car- Systems Multi-Sensor Interface. Once connected with a leton is the right place to do it.”

The Dipak and Tara Roy Advanced Sensor Processing Laboratory is the first classroom or lab to be named in the engineering building currently under construction. The financial support of alumni, corporate partners and friends of the university will be crucial in transforming the building from bricks and mortar into an impressive centre of learning. Thanks to funding from the provincial and federal governments, Carleton was able to begin construction on the canal-side building but donations are essential to provide the additional resources and industry-leading equipment required for leading biomedical, aerospace, and sustainable and renewal energy engineering. Contact Corrie Hobin, senior development associate, at 613-520-2600, extension 1031, or [email protected] for more information on how you or your company can make a difference.

3 S tudent success

Batawa’s rebirth

hat happens when a company town loses its com- adhering to sustainable practices. Wpany? In the case of Flint, Michigan, deindustrial- Diana Isaza Shelton, now a student in the master of design ization brought urban decay and rising crime, depicted in program, was one of the team leaders managing the logistics Michael Moore’s film Roger & Me. of the industrial design team. The group’s main goal was to In Batawa, a planned hamlet in southeastern Ontario, envision year-round operation for the ski hill facilities. the closure of the Bata Shoe Company in 1999 and loss “Industrial design is not just about designing products, but of 1,500 jobs led to a slow decline of the town. With 300 also about systems and services,” says Isaza Shelton, who residents, the village was largely ignored by Quinte West saw great potential in designing for an entertainment facility. politicians and developers. “We had to work together to keep all the ideas connect- ed and to fulfill the needs of the client and especially “Being in Batawa gave this project a breadth one those of the community,” she says. “Mrs. Bata gave us the freedom to big and encouraged us to can’t get in the studio. It’s not about a grade when address the future needs of society. She was keen to you’re dealing with people’s feelings and their sense bring design into the town as something special.” Ashleigh Abraham and Julia Pascutto, both fourth- of community.” Diana Isaza Shelton year architecture students, worked on ideas to recycle and rejuvenate the five-storey shoe factory and plan And then Sonja Bata, widow of the shoe company’s for a city that aims to double in population. founder, developed a plan of action. “Compared to academic models, listening to the needs and After acquiring 1,500 acres of property and establishing the concerns of actual people made me realize we couldn’t begin Batawa Development Corporation in 2005, Bata began plan- to think of building something without understanding how ning how to support the village economically and bring the it would affect individuals in the community,” says Abraham. community together. Her aim is to create a model sustainable “We were given an opportunity to contribute to a great com- community—and she wants Carleton’s help to achieve it. munity and make it even better.” For six weeks, 17 architecture and 10 industrial de- “It was nerve racking,” says Pascutto. “The project wasn’t sign students visited Batawa, developing visions for the about marks; it is the reality for the people of Batawa vacant factory, the ski hill and chalet, a system of nature and I wanted them to get excited about it. The experience trails, and expanded housing. Their goal was to provide brought a human scale to architecture.” year-round tourism destinations and economic opportu- At the end of the project, the students presented their nity while building on the strength of the community and work not only to the client—Bata and the Batawa Devel-

4 Winter 2010 S tudent success

(From left) A concept for a new recreational area in winter, featuring an ice rink; and in summer, a splash pad. The design team for the top of the ski hill modelled a multi-platform observatory.

opment Corporation—but to the community. An annual ration plans to further develop and implement some of the solstice celebration was the perfect occasion to invite resi- ideas presented. Abraham and Pascutto are also maintain- dents to the factory for a display of the students’ work. ing their connection to the village through a studio course “The biggest challenge was time,” says Abraham. “At each on housing at Carleton. The studio uses Batawa as the tar- stage our ideas were just begining to take shape and by the get community for projects on refabricated and modular end of the project, I wanted to contribute even more.” housing , a sustainable house built to last 1,000 years, and More is being done, as the Batawa Development Corpo- how social housing works in an established community. Imagine the possibilities Using sustainable development practices and partnering competition to populate the trail with unique seating. with the community, Carleton students were challenged to •Create picnic areas and expand educational opportunities at create a village that is beautiful by nature and design. All the dinosaur dig. development will strive for a silver LEED rating under the •Since all residents must leave the village to do grocery shopping, U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED for Neighbourhood a community market was a priority. A vertical greenhouse Development program. Some of the ideas include: reaching through all five storeys of the factory provides community gardening space and a main floor market lets locals •A double-platform structure at the top of the ski hill to be sell produce, and becomes an artisanal hub. A restaurant on the used as an observatory, community gathering place and top floor can feature local bounty, and a cooking school can help educational space. families make the most of what they grow. •A system of ponds at the foot of the ski hill for snow making •A glass recycling plant in the factory reduces what gets will eliminate the need to draw water from the Trent River shipped out of the village and provides material for a glass and will manage spring run-off. The ponds then create a blowing studio. recreational area, with skating and snow mazes in winter, and •Create a “knowledge hub” by providing Carleton and other an idyllic spot to picnic and play in the summer. A natural schools with satellite space in the factory. filtration process provides clean water for recreation and an •Creating a greenbelt around the village requires higher education about water systems. density housing and infrastructure rejuvenation, including a •Improve the existing trails with a way-finding system, village centre with a civic square, retail services and offices, solar- and wind-powered lighting, and fitness installations. and play areas for children. The factory could house time-share Introduce a memorial trail, and hold an annual furniture design apartments for tourists.

5 Into the Blue ust as Facebook or Blogger ads and time spent on technical dead-ends Jtailor the product they pitch to you minimized. based on content of the page you’re “The project was far more than reading, business e-mail might soon programming,” says Lalonde. “We were suggest helpful graphs, charts and other in charge of the whole product. That reference documents based on keywords meant getting creative in our thinking, in the message. Making business learning where to compromise, how

S tudent success intelligence easily accessible was the aim to integrate ideas, and to have a result of two Carleton students participating in within the deadline. When we made a IBM’s Extreme Blue Canada Program. four-minute pitch at IBM headquarters Matthew Bisson and Patrick Lalonde, in New York, we wanted a product that both in their final undergraduate year added value to the company.” of software engineering, were among The team delivered. Lalonde and the 20 students out of 563 applicants Bisson both have jobs lined up with IBM who made the cut for the internship on a related project upon graduation; program. Extreme Blue gives students Lalonde has accepted a part-time an opportunity to work on projects position there while in school. designed to analyze emerging business Both students had previous co-op needs and the technologies that can work experience with IBM prior to solve them. applying to Extreme Blue and credit Patrick Lalonde’s exposure to the upper As part of a four-person team at the their exposure to a dynamic workplace echelons of IBM and the opportunity to influence technology through the Extreme IBM software lab in Ottawa, Bisson with preparing them for the internship. Blue program has inspired him. “I want to and Lalonde developed a project “University teaches us to think and get to that level,” he says. called Insight from idea to prototype. solve problems, and co-op adds the Designed to provide an interface practical skills,” says Bisson, whose between existing business intelligence placements at IBM saw him work on technology and email and instant the Modeler product, messaging programs, Insight provides the Eclipse Platform User Interface, and a bridge that links data essential to prototyping new functionality for the a business (such as sales charts or BlackBerry at IBM Cognos Software. inventory) to electronic discussions Lalonde began his co-op experiences about business. working with business intelligence “Business intelligence can be technologies with RBC in and overwhelming in volume, so people Statistics Canada in Ottawa before might be reluctant to use it if they working with CGI Consulting on a have trouble finding the parts that web application migration project are relevant to them,” says Bisson. and the IBM Canada Lab to create a A product like Insight can make metadata editor plug-in for the Eclipse business intelligence more accessible environment. by including relevant data based on “I keep exploring what else there is,” keywords in an e-mail thread, by not says Lalonde of his co-op placements. requiring a user to launch another “There are so many appealing areas, program or search manually, and by co-op helps me explore them and capturing the collaboration for future refine my interests. Extreme Blue also reference. “Our challenge was to added business into the mix, so an MBA bridge the technologies and remove or Carleton’s technology innovation Used to co-op placements that involved barriers to access.” management program might be in my existing projects with specifications and Operating like a small start-up future.” code in place, Matthew Bisson faced a new company, the team created a viable challenge in Extreme Blue in developing a business case for the project, testing project from inception to prototype. “Tech- nology is useless unless it fills a need,” he the usefulness of the idea with clients Fast fact... says. “We spent the first few weeks deter- and the feasibility of the technical task Interested in hiring a co-op student? mining what customers want.” and timelines. With only 15 weeks from Discover how the co-op advantage brainstorming to presentation to IBM can benefit your company by visiting executives, priorities had to be clear carleton.ca/co-op.

6 Winter 2010 S tudent success

Players perfect their dance moves by mirroring the fast- changing poses in the student-developed game Posemania. Multiple sensors worn on the arms and legs measure the SNAP to it! wearer’s position against the required pose.

f you’ve ever broken a sweat playing funding from NSERC. has actually performed the required IDance Dance Revolution, you know After 18 months of development, swing, jump or run. that video games and fitness aren’t the Sensor Networks for Active Play “Probably the biggest challenge with such an impossible combination. (SNAP) won an international competi- SNAP was learning what the acceler- But the urge to be a literal arm chair tion by IndieCade, and was showcased ometers were actually capable of han- athlete when playing the Nintendo Wii in Los Angeles at the world’s premier dling. Learning all of the limitations of is too much for many to resist. With a video game conference, E3 Expo. the hardware was crucial for avoiding flick of a wrist, players can compete in large problems later on and wasting tennis and other virtual sports with- time on insignificant or impossible out even standing up. work,” says Fox. Researchers in the information Now studying computer animation technology program want to get video at Sheridan College, Fox credits the BIT game players on their feet. By creating program and two summers she spent a series of sensors worn on the arms working on SNAP with shaping her and legs to track a player’s position career goals and enhancing her resume. and movements, the team is making “The BIT program gave me a defini- virtual exercise a whole new game. tive direction of where I want to go in Begun as a term project by a team of the field of computer animation. I prefer undergraduate students who wanted aspects like modeling and lighting, and to create a more active gaming experi- because of the diverse knowledge base ence than Wii’s tennis, the potential The system works by placing an in this program, I have ample career op- of the wearable sensor network was accelerometer to measure tilt and portunities,” she says. “Before even com- developed further under the guidance acceleration into each sensor on a pleting my degree, I had three research of assistant professor Anthony White- person’s body, and relaying those papers published, and have had work head, BCS/96, PhD/04. positions back to the gaming system. that I’ve contributed to shown at many Originators Kaitlyn Fox, BIT/09, Thanks to training data collected prestigious conferences.” and Nick Crampton, BIT/09, were from volunteers by Fox, the system As for the future of SNAP, White- paired with Joe Tuen, BIT/09, and compares a player’s body position to head is continuing the research, master’s student Hannah Johnston, the snapshots of information taken examining gesture recognition of BIT/08, to continue the research and from users performing the same compound motions and applications develop a prototype with research motions to determine if the player for physiotherapy.

7 Building the future with renewable energy by Emily Ridlington

or Cynthia Cruickshank there is Cruickshank’s research focuses on the Fa world of possibilities when it experimental evaluation and numerical comes to designing energy-efficient modeling of energy systems. Her pri- buildings. mary research interests include the de- “Developing efficient, cost-effective sign and optimization of solar thermal and reliable solutions for the world’s systems, energy efficient and net-zero

esearch news R esearch energy requirements is a pressing energy buildings, and renewable energy issue accelerated by concerns of research and technology development. climate change,” says Cruickshank, She hopes to broaden the scope of a new assistant professor in the her work to include investigations Photo: Brigitte Bouvier Department of Mechanical and Aero- related to advanced buildings, includ- space Engineering. ing energy efficient and sustainable As the newest member of the Sustain- energy concepts for commercial and her undergraduate degree, Cruickshank able and Renewable Energy Engineering residential applications. was the QSVT composites manager, (SREE) program, Cruickshank will par- Cruickshank is a fourth-year thesis responsible for building the body and ticipate in the development, delivery and advisor for a low-energy housing project aeroshell of the first two-seater solar expansion of the new course curriculum. focusing on developing cost-effective vehicle in Canada. She saw her hard She hopes to provide a teaching environ- and efficient methods to reduce the total work put to use when she participated ment rich with examples and illustra- energy consumption and the peak elec- in the 2001 and 2003 American Solar tions, guest lectures and field trips. trical demands of houses. In the winter Challenges and the 2003 World Solar “The SREE program is an incredible term, she will be teaching a third-year Challenge in Australia. opportunity to engage students in an applied thermodynamics course. “My interest in the team was area that is growing at an exponen- Cruickshank’s interest in renewable spawned from my love for any type of tial rate. Being part of the program energy was sparked 10 years ago by her hands-on project where I can apply from the start is an opportunity of a involvement with the Queen’s Univer- engineering concepts and work in a lifetime,” she says. sity Solar Vehicle Team (QSVT). During competitive, team environment.”

Cooling sensors a hot issue by Tara Jackson

or Winnie Ye, arriving back at Carleton When powerful electronics run at fast FUniversity marked a homecoming of speeds, the temperature of the electrical sorts. The Carleton grad has returned to components rises, putting on-chip campus as the newest assistant professor photonic components at a high risk of in the Department of Electronics and a unstable performance. If the thermal newly minted Canada Research Chair in stability factor is resolved, then the nano-scale IC design for reliable opto- potential of computers, mobile phones electronics and sensors. Fresh from the and artificial intelligent systems could postdoctoral research experience at MIT increase exponentially, offering nearly and Harvard, Ye says she’s pleased to be limitless options for use. back at her alma mater, helping to train a “In the sensor applications, my research new generation of engineers. is critical in making devices that are “Carleton is such an energizing, immune to temperature changes, and will supportive place and it’s great to be be attractive for use in extreme weather working among such well-known people in the Arctic and Africa,” explains Ye. in my field,” says Ye, who weighed her Photo: Brigitte Bouvier “The improved functionality, reliability and options carefully before deciding to pursue Ye’s primary research field is photonics, usability will be applicable to daily life.” her career in Ottawa. It was the chance to a science that studies how light interacts Once the athermal solution is fully work alongside other optics experts within with matter. Her research directly affects developed, Ye plans to apply it to an Carleton, the National Research Council, the commercialization of opto-electronic advanced nano-sized opto-electronic and the Canadian Photonics Fabrication integrated circuits, where photonic and biosensor necessary for low-cost and Centre, and the opportunity for innovative electronic components are brought highly effective detection of small electronics research that cemented her together on a single chip to promote quantities of specific chemical compounds choice of Carleton. faster speed and higher performance. indicating diseases and viruses.

8 Winter 2010 change challenges we face today and in the future.”

In addition to leading a R esearch news number of public-private domestic and interna- tional projects involving the application of energy efficient and clean energy technologies for housing, buildings and communi- ties, Sinha has been in- volved in a range of indus- try-government programs to enhance the export of A new home for sustainable value-added, energy-effi- cient and environmentally responsible energy research housing to Japan, the United Kingdom, China and other international markets. He spent several years in the private arleton alumnus Robin Sinha “This research will establish Car- sector working on energy efficiency Creturns to lead the newly estab- leton as a global leader in research projects and worked with the Canada lished Sustainable Energy Research and teaching programs in the area of Mortgage and Housing Corporation to Centre (CSERC) that will focus on sustainable energy and help tackle develop innovative energy solutions innovative ways to reduce energy the social, economic, legal and politi- for housing in the far North. consumption, research on emerging cal dimensions of clean and renew- CSERC complements other devel- renewable energy sources such as able energy solutions,” says Sinha, opments at Carleton including the wind, solar and biofuels, and strate- BEng/83, CSERC’s executive director. hiring of a new sustainability officer gies for the effective and responsible A former deputy science and tech- and the 2008 launch of the Bachelor use of traditional, non-renewable nology director within the CANMET of Engineering in sustainable and sources of energy. Energy Technology Centre of Natural renewable energy engineering. Mas- The centre integrates both technol- Resources Canada, Sinha is inspired ters degrees in sustainable energy ogy and policy, combining expertise to share his expertise with a new engineering and sustainable energy from the Faculty of Engineering and generation of students. “This new policy are in the works and the Azrieli Design and the School of Public Policy workforce will be critical to deliver School of Architecture and Urbanism and Administration while reaching out the necessary technology solutions offers a major in conservation and to other faculties at Carleton. we will need to address the climate sustainability. Meet the teachers

The Faculty of Engineering and Design welcomes vulnerability assessment and design of Canada’s critical its newest teachers and researchers who share our infrastructure both at home and abroad at the Canadian commitment to an outstanding experience of learning, Explosives Research Laboratory. His activities included the discovery and innovation for students. research into blast load-structure interaction and the behaviour of structural element under blast loads. Now his research includes Glenn McRae, professor, Department of Mechanical and critical infrastructure protection, blast threat risk assessment, and Aerospace Engineering the effects of explosions on the built environment. Formerly an adjunct research professor, McRae joined the faculty at Carleton this summer after working as a senior Mohammad Rayhani, assistant professor, Department of scientist at Atomic Energy of Canada Limited since 1986. Civil and Environmental Engineering His expertise and research interests cover a broad range, Rayhani brings more than a decade of professional including corrosion and surface science; interaction of geotechnical engineering experience to Carleton. His radiation with matter; applied statistical failure analysis; research delves into many geotechnical fields, including photochemistry; and laser-isotope separation. McRae will play analysis and design of foundations, underground excavations, a key role in the continuing development of educational and embankments and slopes; physical modeling of landfill research activities in nuclear engineering at Carleton. barrier systems; desiccation cracking of clay liners and covers; mitigation of natural hazards caused by earthquakes; seismic Abass Braimah, assistant professor, Department of Civil site response and soil-structure interaction in urban areas; and and Environmental Engineering fault rupture propagation in soils. Before joining Carleton, Braimah was responsible for blast

9 Enhanced technology for improved healthcare

nurse arrives at work. Her Black- Bruyère Hospital, “but hSite will ABerry ringer is switched off as she bring them together for the first time. enters the hospital and the device be- We want to develop a smart infra- gins to wirelessly track her movements. structure that seamlessly offers intel- Her fingerprint gives her access to the ligence, dependability, ease of use and floors and medication stores she needs. flexibility to meet the requirements of When she picks up a computer tablet a clinical environment.” to read a patient’s chart, she gets the Carleton’s team of Goubran, Dorina information from sensors in the bed Petriu, PhD/91, and Peter Liu from the

esearch news R esearch about the patient’s mobility, and when Department of Systems and Computer she hands it to a radiologist, x-ray im- Engineering and Frank Knoefel, vice- ages appear. If a patient goes into car- president of Medical Affairs, Clinical diac arrest when she is nearby, she’ll be Information and Support at Bruyère alerted that she is needed and if she is Continuing Care, is focused on signal closest to the available crash cart. processing and user interface, includ- Gone are the loudspeaker announce- ing software applications and senor ments that set other patients on edge, “In the simplest terms, hSITE is systems. Colleagues at McGill Univer- the rush of too many medical person- about getting the right information to sity are leading the development of nel to a patient’s room, the scramble the right people at the right time,” says wireless systems and network archi- to locate equipment. Instead there is Rafik Goubran, PhD/87, dean of the Fac- tectures and the University of Toronto smoother workflow, timely informa- ulty of Engineering and Design. While it is identifying clinical requirements tion and improved patient care and sounds straight forward, the volume of and workflow. safety. It’s not reality yet, but Carleton data to be acquired and analysed in a With the recent announcement of researchers are working on it. hospital setting is staggering—and the five-year funding from the Natural The Healthcare Support through In- systems needs to be reliable, compat- Sciences and Engineering Research formation Technology Enhancements ible and hospital grade. Council and the support of numer- (hSITE) project envisions an advanced “The technologies aren’t necessar- ous industrial and clinical partners, communications system and infra- ily new,” says Goubran, whose own hSITE researchers can begin to offer structure that will transform critical research has produced a sensor-filled technology solutions for the problems and home care contexts. smart apartment at the Elisabeth in health care delivery.

universities participating. Canada’s urban infrastructure was h u “Two-thirds of Canada’s popula- constructed prior to the adoption of S ake it p! tion lives in major urban centres modern seismic design provisions where a significant earthquake is in the 1970s and many of these have he Geological Survey of Canada probably Canada’s greatest potential been found to be deficient.” Tranks Ottawa-Gatineau third natural disaster. Ottawa is among Over the next five years, in partner- in Canada as an urban area most them,” says David Lau, professor of ship with the Geological Survey of at risk of an earthquake. On aver- civil engineering and director of the Canada, City of Ottawa and Public age residents feel an earthquake of Ottawa-Carleton Bridge Research Works and Government Services intensity III or higher once every Institute. “A high percentage of Canada, researchers and graduate three years—that’s enough shaking to students at Carleton will conduct be felt indoors, with objects swinging research to ensure critical infra- and rattling. Located far from active structure—hospitals, schools and tectonic plate boundaries, the region bridges—remain operational after a is unlikely to experience a devastat- seismic event. ing earthquake so popular in disaster Co-leaders Lau and Dariush Mo- movies, but it does face the risk of tazedian of the Department of Earth damaging earthquakes. Sciences, will work with colleagues To help identify, assess and Heng-Aik Khoo, Ted Sherwood and mitigate urban earthquake risks in Siva Sivathayalan on earthquake haz- Canada, the Natural Sciences and En- ard mapping, ground motion predic- gineering Research Council is fund- tion and earthquake modeling, safety ing the Canadian Seismic Research assessment and performance predic- Network, headquartered at McGill tion of structures, and retrofit and University. Carleton is one of eight upgrade of deficient structures.

10 Winter 2010 Design visionaries A n October, two Carleton students took home 2009 Ottawa wards IUrban Design Awards for their school projects. Michael Tomlin, who studies industrial design, received an award of merit for his innovative Cascade public drinking fountain for people and pets. Nicholas Pangallo from the Azrieli School of Architecture and Urbanism received the same for his theoretical project along Rideau Street in Ottawa. The project, called Urban Nature, features a range of residential units. It proposes ground-floor commercial space, institutional uses and a rooftop garden. The winning entries will compete in the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada’s 2010 urban design awards, which will be announced in the spring. Alumni also took home nods: James A. Colliza, BArch/76, won an award of excellence for a low-rise urban infill project with the Chamberlain Offices and Barry J. Hobin, BArch/74, won an award of excellence for Mackay House, a mid-to-high- rise urban infill project. Ottawa’s first Children’s Garden, created by community volunteers in Old Ottawa East and students in Carleton’s Alternative Spring Break program, received a special prize from the jury.

Michael Tomlin’s Cascade public drinking fountain caters to people of all heights and even pets. The design received an award of merit from the Ottawa Urban Design Awards.

Paving the way

bd El Halim, professor and chair of the Department of Civil Aand Environmental Engineering, has dedicated his career to transportation research. From the fields of transportation engineering and the use of geosynthetics in civil engineering ap- plications to asphalt pavements and the invention of the asphalt roller AMIR, El Halim has shaped Canada’s transportation sector. In October the Transportation Association of Canada present- ed him the Award of Academic Merit in recognition of his long- term contribution to the advancement of the academic field and to the development of tomorrow’s transportation leaders. A former director of the Centre for Geosynthetics Research Information and Development, El Halim has lectured and con-

sulted around the world, and has received many awards for his Photo: British Columbia Ministry of Transportation Infrastructure and contributions to the development and practice of transportation (From left) Shirley Bond, minister of transportation and infrastructure (B.C.); Abd El Halim, recipient of the Award of engineering. Recently he was appointed a member of the execu- Academic Merit; and John Baird, federal minister of transport, tive editorial board of the Journal of Transportation Security. infrastructure and communities. Alumna takes award oyra McDill, BEng/79, MEng/80, PhD/88, has used her al Engineers and Professional Engineers Ontario on November 21. Mexpertise in thermal-mechanical numerical analysis to McDill’s research focuses on ways to apply thermal-mechanical help keep Canada competitive in the global economy and her numerical analysis to such manufacturing processes as welding. gifts as a ground-breaking educator and mentor to inspire Numerical analysis is widely used in new product and process colleagues and students alike. For exemplary service in her development in the aerospace, automotive and rail equipment field, community and profession, McDill has received a 2009 industries. Techniques developed by McDill have been used by Ontario Professional Engineers Award. international researchers and by such companies as Volvo and A professor of mechanical engineering and associate chair of Bayer. McDill was the first woman to complete a doctoral degree undergraduate studies for the Faculty of Engineering and Design, in mechanical engineering at Carleton. She previously received the McDill will receive the award from the Ontario Society of Profession- 2002 YM-YWCA Women of Distinction Award in education.

11 Getting to market

f there is strength in numbers, then the Coral CEA approach to Icommercializing communications-enabled applications is sure to turn fledging companies into heavyweights. The non-profit organization—founded by Carleton University, IBM, Nortel, Eclipse and the Information Technology Association of Canada—enhances News and events the partnering process and brokers deal flow to the advantage of its members to provide ‘out-of the box’ technology that marries network capabilities and intelligence with IT applications to create entirely new user experiences. “Coral CEA’s mission is to create and grow new knowledge-economy-based companies and jobs,” says Tony Bailetti, executive director of Coral CEA and associate professor in the Department of Systems and Computer Engineering and the Sprott School of Business. “The goal is to help member companies succeed in the face of daunting global competition and to accelerate the transition of their innovation from idea to cash.” Faculty and graduate students in Carleton’s Technology Innovation Management program are taking the lead in advancing knowledge about communications-enabled applications and building the capacity of skilled knowledge workers. In October, the Ontario government announced it will provide up to $9.3 million to Coral CEA to help companies develop and market CEA in a matter of weeks instead of months and years. “This new venture will take the commercialization of information and Coming events communications technology to a new level in the global marketplace,” says The Forum Lecture Series brings lo- Carleton President Roseann O’Reilly Runte. “It is a great example of Carleton cal, national and international archi- at work, as it incorporates innovation, location, community engagement and tects to Ottawa to educate students, solutions to real-world problems.” faculty and the general public about IBM and Nortel Networks made a combined $15.3-million in-kind the profession and the impact that contribution to Coral CEA to establish the Coral CEA Sandbox. Companies architecture has on design. Unique in working with Carleton researchers can use the Sandbox to experiment and Ottawa, the free lectures take place develop global market offerings for which customers are willing to pay. The at the National Gallery of Canada. Sandbox provides out-of the-box technology to members who can then network Hear from Ottawa architects Jack with other partners around the world to create new products and applications. Diamond, New York-based Marion Coral CEA is implementing a commercialization approach that does not give Weiss, and Carleton graduate Peter an advantage to any one company. This business ecosystem approach builds Buchanan. Visit carleton.ca/archi- on the successful Carleton-led Lead to Win and Talent First programs and tecture/alumni-and-friends/forum- the results of Competing in Open Environments, a joint industry-university lecture-series for the complete research program, all of which Bailetti has led. schedule.

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12 Winter 2010