University Professor Elizabeth Edwards (ChemE) has been named an Officer of the Order of Canada, one of the country’s most prestigious honours. The second cohort of new appointees for 2020 was announced today by Governor General Julie Payette (ECE MASc 9T0).
As the Canada Research Chair in Anaerobic Biotechnology, Edwards is a pioneer in advancing the understanding of anaerobic microbial transformation processes and translating that knowledge into technologies for groundwater bioremediation — the use of microorganisms to degrade and detoxify dangerous chemical pollutants. She is also developing new microbial processes for wastewater treatment, particularly anaerobic digestion to recover methane for energy.
Edwards developed an anaerobic microbial consortium (KB-1) that is remarkably effective at dechlorinating two of the world’s most common and persistent groundwater pollutants, tetrachloroethene and trichloroethene.
Through SiREM, a highly successful spinoff company founded in 2002 to market microbial cultures and monitoring tools for bioremediation, KB-1 has been deployed at more than 760 sites worldwide by organizations ranging from NASA to Fortune 500 companies. SiREM continues to collaborate with Edwards and her team to develop microbial cultures capable of degrading other types of contaminants, such as hydrocarbons, pesticides and herbicides.
In addition to her own research achievements, Edwards was the driving force behind the creation of BioZone, a one-of-a-kind research and training centre at the interface of engineering, environmental science and biology at U of T. BioZone is home to more than 100 faculty, students, research personnel and industrial partners with a wide range of expertise, from microbiology and computational methods to chemical and biomedical engineering. Edwards has served as its director since its launch in 2011.
Edwards’ contributions have been recognized with many of Canada’s most prestigious research awards, including the Killam Research Fellowship, the NSERC Synergy Award for Innovation, the Kalev Pugi Award from the Society of Chemical Industry Canada, and the Killam Prize in Engineering. She is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the Canadian Academy of Engineering and the Royal Society of Canada. In 2019 she was named a University Professor, U of T’s highest academic rank.
“Professor Edwards’ cutting-edge research, as well as her leadership in creating unique cross-disciplinary research and training initiatives, have made U of T a leading hub for the development of novel biotechnologies to address urgent environmental challenges,” says U of T Engineering Dean Chris Yip. “On behalf of the Faculty, my warmest congratulations to her on receiving the Order of Canada, one of the country’s highest civilian honours.”
If the shoe fits, wear it — but what if you’re shopping online, as so many people are these days? Xesto, a startup with roots in the University of Toronto Early Stage Technologies (UTEST) program, has a solution through a collaboration with researchers in The Edward S. Rogers Sr. Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering (ECE).
The company, in collaboration with a team of graduate students from ECE, has developed software that uses iPhone’s FaceID camera to accurately size your feet. Xesto’s free iOS app made its debut in early December, in time for the gift-giving season.
The procedure for the consumer is very easy: take four different pictures of your foot, press a button and it’s done.
“That’s the magic behind it,” says Jeffrey Qiu (ECE MASc candidate). He, along with grad students Najah Hassan (ECE MASc candidate) and Jungson Shao (ECE MEng candidate), is working behind the scenes on the 3D-scanning technology. “The user doesn’t need to know what mathematical transformations are reconstructing the foot from point cloud frames.”
Hassan explains. “Point clouds are similar to pixels. What pixels are to 2D, point clouds are to 3D. With different point clouds across time you can arrive at an image with depth.”
Both Qiu and Hassan, who are supervised by ECE Chair Professor Deepa Kundur, have been interested in this technology — which lies at the intersection of computer vision, image processing and differential geometry — since their undergrad days.
Since any 3D printing, scanning or visualization technology can benefit from point cloud reconstruction, Qiu and Hassan’s early notions of possible applications gravitated toward the large and the expensive: health care, self-driving cars, even space exploration. Stepping out of the classroom and into the world of entrepreneurship has been enlightening.
“What really stood out for me at Xesto,” Hassan says, “was that they were using something so innovative and new at a level that could impact the everyday consumer. I didn’t think of using it for anything other than cars! That blew me away.”
Xesto — named after the Galician word for “gesture” — began in 2015 as a project in touchless human computer interaction, specifically in gesture recognition and hand tracking. This all changed with the 3D-depth camera added to iPhone X in 2017.
Already with one patent and another pending, Xesto’s algorithms have managed to come within 1.5 mm of accuracy. Xesto takes this measurement and cross-references with the sizing guidelines of over 150 different shoe brands to fine-tune its predicted fit.
Co-founder and CEO Sophie Howe says that Xesto’s acceptance into UTEST “was a pivotal moment in its evolution. It was our entry to the U of T startup community, which has provided us with an incredible amount of resources and a launchpad that enabled our growth.”
Howe has a background in finance and economics while co-founder Afiny Akdemir is working toward his PhD in applied mathematics at U of T. The core team was assembled through their U of T relationships, including former and current students from Professor Kundur’s lab.
The collaboration with ECE researchers was enabled by the Ontario Centres of Excellence (OCE) Voucher for Innovation and Productivity (VIP) program which supports R&D collaborations between companies and universities.
“The startup ecosystem in Toronto is vibrant, thanks in large part to partnerships between industry and academia,” says Kundur. “Programs like OCE’s VIP program help to build bridges between the two and catalyze the economic benefit to companies while providing important experiential learning opportunities for the students.”
Qiu and Hassan both remark on how inspiring it’s been to see young entrepreneurs, not much older than themselves, turn technical and business expertise into a fully executed vision.
“The ECE research ecosystem is rich because of the tremendous opportunities available through our partnerships,” says Kundur. “Working closely with startups such as Xesto provides a unique catalyst for research innovations that lead to rapid tech transfer.”
In early October, the direct-current (DC) microgrid in the Energy Systems Lab at The Edward S. Rogers Sr. Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering (ECE) passed its final commissioning stage and became fully operational. It provides ECE researchers and students with access to commercial-scale solar arrays and energy storage facilities and — importantly — with the ability to collect real-time data.
“The microgrid forms the backbone of future DC research within our laboratory,” says Professor Peter Lehn (ECE). “It’s a golden opportunity to develop cutting-edge solutions for current societal needs, especially in the area of sustainability.”
Microgrids are distributed energy grids that have their own generation sources, storage units and load; they generate power from a cluster of local sources and thus suffer less transmission loss than centralized AC power grids. The proximate nature of the microgrid means it can better integrate renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind, with battery energy storage systems and emerging DC loads.
In addition, many modern loads — such as LED lighting, high efficiency air conditioners and ventilation fans — demand DC energy as their input, which traditionally had to be converted from AC, incurring energy loss.
“The DC microgrid is a local, fully autonomous power system with ability to seamlessly exchange power with the AC utility when needed,” says Lehn. “It’s cheaper and more efficient. For example, electric vehicle fast chargers powered by DC microgrids can achieve huge charging powers without need for costly upgrades to the existing AC utility infrastructure.”
He adds, “For the future architecture of distributed energy resources, look to DC microgrids.”
The one in the Energy Systems Lab gives us a glimpse of this future. Many of the microgrid’s vital processes are housed in a nondescript cabinet called the DC Microgrid Protection Panel, which an untrained eye might walk by.
“That panel is the heart and soul of the whole system,” says Afshin Poraria, Manager, Energy Systems Lab. “This is where every signal from subcontrollers and various detection devices converge. This collection of data is then used for decision-making and monitoring. It gives us a clear window into the operation and health of the entire system.”
This project has taken many paths and involved many players, both internal and external. Alumnus Lauri Hiivala (ElecE 6T5) and his wife Jean Hiivala donated funds that were put towards the lithium-ion battery. ARDA Power supplied the DC microgrid platform, and in January 2019 WorleyParsons came on board as consultants.
All were enthusiastic partners and helped deliver a rarity for any university: a stand-alone, self-sufficient unit.
“This project is the first of its kind in the university research setting,” says Michael Cantin, Vice President of Operations, WorleyParsons, “and is attributable to the vision of the University of Toronto and the unique microgrid technology provided for the project by ARDA Power.”
“The DC microgrid is an example of what’s possible through the strong commitment and dedication of ECE professors, staff and alumni,” says Professor Deepa Kundur, Chair of ECE. “This exceptional infrastructure enables us to advance research, and inspire and more innovatively train future leaders in the field of sustainability.”
Poraria, who proposed the project long ago and helped see it through many hurdles, reflects on the intervening years: “This is the result of great collaborative work. It’s very exciting to see it finally come to fruition.”
Work is underway in Professor Shoshanna Saxe’s (CivMin) lab to create the world’s largest detailed database of construction materials used in buildings and transport infrastructure.
“Materials are the biggest driver of cost and environmental impact on a construction project,” explains Saxe, whose work investigates ways to align infrastructure provision with sustainability. “But we tend to do a pretty weak job of both understanding what materials we use, and of designing infrastructure projects to increase efficiency.”
Saxe’s team hopes to use the database to find policy and sustainable design opportunities for future projects at a range of scales, from an individual building to a whole neighbourhood, or even an entire city.
“Thoughtful design would make a big impact towards reducing material use, and in becoming better caretakers of both our natural and built worlds,” adds Saxe, who is among five U of T Engineering researchers to be awarded Canada Research Chairs (CRC) today.
Established in 2000, the federal program invests in recruiting and retaining top minds in Canada. It supports research in engineering, natural sciences, health sciences, humanities and social sciences. U of T’s total allotment of research chairs in the CRC program is the largest in the country.
As the new Canada Research Chair in Sustainable Infrastructure, Saxe says the title enables her to accelerate the database project.
“It has allowed me to build out a team of great researchers from the undergraduate, postgraduate and postdoctoral level — all working together towards a shared vision of a more sustainably built environment,” she says, “It will also, I hope, attract more people to work with us.”
Professor Ali Hooshyar (ECE)’s research also focuses on finding sustainable solutions — his work investigates renewable energy systems and smart grids.
Power generation has been consistently ranked as the largest driver of global greenhouse gas emissions. A major obstacle in reducing its environmental impact is remedying the key differences between wind/solar energy and conventional power plants.
“These differences can render the control and protection devices of power grids ineffective, and so they have led to major disturbances and outages in the past few years,” says Hooshyar. “This undermines the future viability of power grids using renewable energy — unless a complete overhaul of control and protection devices are carried out.”
Hooshyar’s team is developing the next generation of control and protection devices to ensure compatibility with green energy systems. And as the new Canada Research Chair in Electric Power Systems, Hooshyar says his title will help raise awareness beyond the power system protection community about the operational challenges of integrating renewable energy sources.
“It will also facilitate recognition of our research group within industry,” adds Hooshyar. “And the financial resources of the CRC program will help to attract gifted researchers to our group.”
The five U of T Engineering researchers to have new or renewed Canada Research Chairs are:
- Birsen Donmez (MIE), Canada Research Chair in Human Factors and Transportation (renewed)
- Ali Hooshyar (ECE), Canada Research Chair in Electric Power Systems (new)
- David Lie (ECE), Canada Research Chair in Secure and Reliable Systems (new)
- Radhakrishnan Mahadevan (ChemE), Canada Research Chair in Metabolic Systems Engineering (new)
- Shoshanna Saxe (CivMin), Canada Research Chair in Sustainable Infrastructure (new)
“The Canada Research Chair program opens up opportunities for innovation and industry collaboration, making it possible for our researchers to improve the lives of Canadians, and beyond, in areas such as sustainability and data privacy,” says Ramin Farnood, Vice-Dean, Research at U of T Engineering. “I congratulate our new and renewed CRCs.”
Professor Ning Yan (ChemE) has been elected a 2021 Fellow of the Engineering Institute of Canada, in recognition of exceptional contributions to engineering and service to the profession and society.
Yan is the University of Toronto Distinguished Professor in Forest Biomaterials Engineering and the former Chair in Value Added Wood and Composites. She is an internationally recognized leader in the use of renewable biomass as feedstock to develop sustainable bio-based products, replacing fossil fuel-derived chemicals and materials. Her group was the first to develop a process to synthesize bio-based epoxy resins using bark extractives to replace toxic bisphenol A. Companies around the world are pursuing commercial applications of such bark biorefinery processes.
Yan has led major collaborative initiatives for advancing sustainable technologies. She recently established the multidisciplinary Low Carbon Renewable Materials Centre at U of T, with the mandate of facilitating cutting-edge research promoting the circular economy, reducing plastic waste and developing green technologies.
Yan’s work has resulted in 13 patents/invention disclosures and collaborations with industry partners around the world, as well as numerous awards. She has delivered more than 100 invited talks, distinguished seminars and keynotes, and has provided expert advice to the Canadian government on supporting innovation in the forestry sector. She has developed state-of-the-art educational programs in sustainable chemical engineering and has trained more than 140 engineers and researchers.
“Professor Yan has been a trailblazer in developing environmentally friendly bio-based products which are helping to make a number of industries more sustainable,” says U of T Engineering Dean Chris Yip. “On behalf of the Faculty, my warmest congratulations to her on this well-deserved recognition.”
The Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering (MIE) is launching a new course to train students in additive manufacturing, commonly known as 3D printing. Launching in Winter 2021, it is the first course of its kind at U of T.
MIE1724: Additive Manufacturing in Engineering Applications focuses specifically on the rapidly evolving and lucrative field, which generates upwards of $13 billion in yearly revenue and is applicable to numerous sectors.
The course is the creation of alumnus Ali Radhi (MIE PhD 1T9), who wanted to provide a graduate-level specialized class that looks at the process of designing and building cost-effective and timely products using novel materials and hardware.
Radhi spoke to MIE’s Kendra Hunter about the new course and preparing today’s students for the design and fabrication of complex structures.
What inspired you to create this course?
At MIE, I have been involved in the design of lightweight structures and saw there was room to further bridge the fields of materials and manufacturing through a new course. A recent trend in 3D printing is to produce complex structures using materials with properties not usually found in nature, such as invisibility cloaks, and I wanted to address this while giving singular focus to the field of additive manufacturing, 3D printing and their respective applications. Professor Tobin Filleter’s MIE 1744: Nanomechanics of Materials provided inspiration in expanding this area of knowledge and from there, MIE1724 took shape.
What can students expect from this course?
The course introduces various types of additive manufacturing approaches, including multi-material 3D printing, micro/nano additive manufacturing and 3D bioprinting. MIE1724 is also designed to show the limitation of selected additive manufacturing methods. Characterization of additive manufacturing parts is included as a major course outcome. It helps students to integrate design for additive manufacturing aspects in industry product fabrication.
Students get to learn about new 3D printing technologies, and how they are applied to solve problems in security, automation, and more.
The course will first introduce the concept of 3D printing, and then will move into computer-aided design (CAD) for additive manufacturing. Currently, students can request parts to be 3D printed through the Myhal Centre’s Fabrication Facility but once it is safe to do, they will be able to receive training to use the facility for their own education and research.
How does this course benefit degree and career options?
3D printing is now the primary method of prototyping. More recently, it became the sole method for end-use part production for highly complex structures and/or material content. Dedicated post-secondary education in 3D printing helps fill the talent gap in additive manufacturing as global revenue from these technologies has jumped from $4 billion to $13 billion from 2014 to 2018.
Additive manufacturing shortens design and production processes by enabling companies to streamline prototyping activities, alter supply chains, and evolve end-product manufacturing. The market is growing at a rapid pace and people with a specialization in additive manufacturing will be in demand.
Did you design MIE1724 strictly as an engineering course for engineering students?
No, in fact this course is open to all U of T students. 3D printing is of great interest to many fields such as medicine, architecture and dentistry. The course is structured to highlight the technology’s potential, process and applications in those fields and much more. The course also addresses unique fields, such as textiles and cosmetics, and how this technology can be applied. Additionally, the areas of information science, education and graphic design also benefit with over 250 applications of additive manufacturing that can be incorporated into their daily use of technology.
How did your PhD studies at MIE help you develop the skills to create MIE1724?
The PhD program provided a lot of exposure to state-of-the-art fabrication technologies. 3D printing was one of those avenues, and I took part in design projects and competitions that employed such technologies within the facilities at U of T. Furthermore, the teaching assistant and instructor opportunities from the University helped me to identify the knowledge gap in 3D printing from U of T’s broad list of advanced courses. During my PhD studies, collaboration with fellow research groups aided my own research through sharing of knowledge with my network as well as training in high- tech research facilities.
MIE1724 was inspired by Professor Filleter and Professor Eric Diller’s (MIE) research — both were helpful and supportive in providing insights for a proper scope and delivery for the course. Associate Chair of Graduate Studies for MIE, Professor Murray Thomson (MIE), provided support to address student expectations and Maximiliano Giuliani, Senior Facility Supervisor at the Myhal Centre for Engineering Innovation and Entrepreneurship, provided input on expected knowledge and training for students before using his facilities for 3D printing.