FGS - Electronic Theses and Practica
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This collection contains University of Manitoba electronic theses and practica.
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- ItemOpen Access3D damage mapping and segmentation using neural radiance fields and advanced deep learning techniques(2024-07-08) Kim, Geontae; Wu, Nan (Mechanical Engineering); Fiorillo, Graziano (Civil Engineering); Cha, YoungjinThis thesis introduces a novel approach to Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) by integrating deep learning with advanced 3D reconstruction techniques, focusing on the efficient analysis of bridge structures for achieving digital twin in SHM. Traditional photogrammetry faces challenges in accurately reconstructing flat surfaces and rapidly assessing structural health. Addressing these issues, this research adopts the Nerfacto model from the Neural Radiance Fields (NeRF) within the Nerfstudio framework to enhance 3D reconstruction fidelity and utilizes strategically placed markers to improve camera pose accuracy. Additionally, the integration of the STRNet and Test Time Agumentation (TTA) significantly enhances crack detection capabilities. This approach allows for precise mapping of segmented cracks onto a 3D model of a bridge, offering a detailed and quantifiable assessment of structural damage. By combining these innovative technologies, the research provides a scalable, cost-effective solution for comprehensive structural assessments, paving the way for proactive maintenance strategies that ensure the longevity and safety of critical infrastructure. The integration of digital twin technology and detailed damage mapping in 3D also sets a new standard in the field, demonstrating substantial potential for future SHM applications.
- ItemOpen AccessThe impact of energy extraction drilling noise on three obligate grassland songbirds in the Mixed Grasslands of Alberta(2024-07-02) Triana Llanos, Maria Camila; Warrington, Miyako (Natural Resources Institute); Robinson, Barry (Natural Resources Institute); Koper, NicolaNorth American grassland birds face threats from grassland conversion to agriculture and activities like oil and gas extraction. Beyond habitat loss and fragmentation, oil and gas extraction generates noise pollution, that further affects these birds. This thesis focuses on these negative acoustic impacts by looking at the landscape-scale effects of drilling noise on the abundance and nest success of three species of declining grassland songbirds. All my focal species, Chestnut-collared longspur (Calcarius ornatus), Savannah sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis), and Sprague's pipit (Anthus spragueii), experience adverse effects associated with drilling noise in my region of interest, the Mixed Grasslands ecoregion of Alberta. For this project, I created layers that contained the location of drilling activity occurring in the ecoregion over ten years surrounded by buffers of different sizes that were leveraged from a previous study that calculated the ecological footprints around drilling noise for each species. I overlapped these layers with two types of species models and estimated the number of birds displaced because of oil and gas drilling noise. To calculate the number of nests affected, I conducted a literature search for estimates of nest density in the area and extrapolated them to the total area affected by drilling noise. The number of birds and nests affected depended on the number of drilling events, as well as the differences in bird density estimated by the models. Proportional to their population in the ecoregion, Savannah sparrows had the highest number of individuals displaced. In terms of the number of nests lost, Sprague's pipit was the most affected species. My estimates can inform the energy industry and the public about the number of birds and nests that are potentially lost to drilling operations so that they can mitigate or compensate accordingly.
- ItemOpen AccessInvestigation of functional near-infrared spectroscopy as a monitoring tool for measuring the effect of transcranial alternating current stimulation on dementia patients’ cognitive function(2024-07-17) Azarbarzin, Samaneh; Lithgow, Brian (Electrical and Computer Engineering); Mendelson, Asher (Internal Medicine); Moussavi, Zahra; Jacobson, NatashaFunctional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) is used as a non-invasive neuroimaging technique for studying the neural dynamics within the human brain. This study uses fNIRS to explore how transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) affects cognitive function in people with dementia including Alzheimer’s disease (AD). By measuring changes in blood oxygenation levels, fNIRS provides a valuable means to capture plausible post-treatment alterations in cerebral hemodynamics. Previous studies have shown individuals with dementia exhibit increased oxygen consumption during verbal fluency tasks. This suggested that they might require greater effort to compensate for cognitive deficits. Therefore, it is hypothesized that tACS intervention will potentially alleviate this increased oxygen consumption by enhancing cognitive function, resulting in reduced oxyhemoglobin level post-treatment amongst those who respond positively to tACS treatment. To investigate this hypothesis, this research involved a comprehensive examination of 29 individuals with dementia, who received both real (40 Hz) and sham tACS treatment in a double-blind cross-over randomized trial. Each tACS intervention was paired with cognitive exercises (CE) on a daily basis in two 30-minute sessions for four consecutive weeks (excluding weekends) (tACS+CE). To reduce treatment effects between intervention, each participant had a 2-5 month wash-out period between treatments. Study participants were assigned into two groups using their age and cognitive level as the stratification parameters. One group received real tACS first and sham second (R1S2), and the other group’s real/sham assignment was the opposite (S1R2). An eight-channel fNIRS device was utilized to measure blood oxygenation levels in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) before and after each treatment block, during a mental task (word production and subtraction tasks). The results of this work are in support of our hypothesis that patients with dementia showed a decrease in oxyhemoglobin level after real tACS+CE by a mean difference of 0.06µM for word production task, and a significant decrease of 0.10µM for subtraction task (p=0.04). Notably, real tACS treatment showed a higher decrease in oxyhemoglobin levels compared to the sham treatment, suggesting that real stimulation has a more significant impact on hemodynamic responses than only cognitive exercises. Analyzing changes in blood oxygenation separately for group R1S2 and group S1R2 showed a significant decrease in oxyhemoglobin levels in group R1S2 during real tACS intervention in the subtraction task (p=0.03) but not significant for the word production task. This may be attributed to the fact that dementia participants usually have a ceiling effect in word production task.
- ItemOpen AccessHip hop interior design: imagining interior environments rooted in hip hop culture(2024-06-24) Farnaghi, Farzan; Karpan, Cynthia (Interior Design); Davis Williams, Ujijji (Landscape Architecture/ Urban Planning); Espersen-Peters, KurtThe culture of Hip Hop is noticeably ingrained in twenty-first century contemporary culture, influencing everything from music, dance, fashion, and art, yet is formally non-existent in the discipline of interior design. Therefore, this practicum project aims to establish the theoretical foundations of Hip Hop interior design, a novel proposal which is informed by Hip Hop and the associated Hip Hop architecture movement. The identified theory will guide the design of The Toronto Centre for Hip Hop, a community centre for adolescents living in a disenfranchised inner-city neighbourhood in Toronto, Ontario. Towards this pursuit, context is fundamental to situate Hip Hop within its distinct historical, social, and cultural emergence. The history of American racial segregation is unravelled to clarify the role architects, designers, and city planners played in the spatial and architectural marginalization of Black people. This bigoted construction was decisive in forming the inner city or ghetto, which eventually situated post-industrial New York as the incubator for Hip Hop to emerge. Hip Hop is then analyzed from its history to its various expressions, conclusively positioning it as a culture, as opposed to merely a musical genre. This allows for its connection to space and place, exploring how space is not universal or equal to all, substantiating the pursuit of Hip Hop architecture. Subsequently, theories from the developing Hip Hop architecture movement are reviewed to connect Hip Hop with built form, conclusively supporting the proposed idea of Hip Hop interior design. The ultimate goal of this practicum project is to contemplate a new approach to interior design that focuses primarily on revitalizing marginalized inner-city communities through the ideologies of Hip Hop. The undertaking reconsiders a Eurocentric imposition of space, towards a participatory design process that prioritizes the perspectives of Black, Brown, and minority people. This approach envisions an interior design movement that attracts more people of colour to the field, expanding the boundaries of the profession with the integration of a whole new generation of diverse students, teachers, and practitioners.
- ItemOpen AccessAn autoethnographic exploration of disability and access in Manitoba correctional facilities(2024-04-05) Taiwo, Olatunde; Driedger, Diane (Disability Studies); Byrne, Sean (Peace and Conflict Studies); Hansen, NancyThis thesis examines the issue of disability and access in correctional facilities in Manitoba, aiming to shed light on the challenges faced by incarcerated inmates with disabilities and propose strategies for improving their access to essential services and facilities. The study explores the intersectionality of disability and incarceration, recognizing the unique needs and rights of disabled inmates within the criminal justice system. I begin by providing an overview of the prevalence of disability among incarcerated populations, highlighting the representation of individuals with disabilities in Manitoba prisons. I, explore various types of disabilities, including physical, sensory, cognitive, and mental health impairments. I focus on the barriers encountered to access to healthcare, education, vocational training, and other essential services that other able-bodied inmates benefit from. Reflecting on my interactions and experience with disabled inmates, I try to understand the impact of inaccessibility on their quality of life and social inclusion. I also reflect on my own personal experience related to disability, particularly how culture impacts disability and accessibility. My focus is how the Manitoba Corrections facilities are not enabling disabled people’s participation to enjoy the social benefits of corrections. This study also explores the challenges faced by correctional staff in implementing these policies and the potential for systemic improvements, comprehensive assessments, and individualized care plans to address the unique needs of disabled individuals within the correctional system.