MSpace

MSpace is the University of Manitoba’s Institutional Repository. The purpose of MSpace is to acquire, preserve and provide access to the scholarly works of University faculty and students within an open access environment.

 

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Open Access
3D 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, Youngjin
This 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.
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Open Access
The 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, Nicola
North 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.
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Open Access
Investigation 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, Natasha
Functional 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.
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Open Access
Une recherche collaborative favorisant l’intégration de l’oral lors de la formation initiale en mode virtuel
(2023) Cormier, Gail; Morneau, Marie-Josée
Les protocoles sanitaires engendrés par la pandémie de la COVID-19 ont limité les possibilités d’échanges et de discussions en salles de classe (Carpentier et Sauvageau, 2021) et entre collègues. Pourtant, la communication orale est une composante incontournable dans le processus d’apprentissage (Hattie, 2017). Au printemps 2021, en tant que professeures à la Faculté d’éducation à l’Université de Saint-Boniface, nous avons entamé une recherche autoethnographique collaborative (Taylor et Coia, 2020) pour faire valoir notre évolution professionnelle dans le contexte d’enseignement en mode virtuel. Plus spécifiquement, le but était d’analyser nos choix pédagogiques favorisant les compétences de l’oral chez nos étudiants. Nos vignettes se portent ainsi sur nos objectifs et questions quant à l’utilisation de l’oral dans les activités de formation initiale, nos adaptations pédagogiques successives et nos pistes d’amélioration. Nous croyons qu’une importance accordée à l'oral dans la formation initiale offre des opportunités de co-construction du savoir, de développement langagier, cognitif et pédagogique et contribue à la vitalité linguistique du groupe minoritaire (Plessis-Bélair et al., 2017; Swain et Watanabe, 2013). Nous cherchions à bonifier nos pratiques pédagogiques et ainsi mieux former les futurs pédagogues.
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Open Access
Design and Manufacture a Murphy Bed Lock for Wood Products Unlimited (WPU)
(2024-07-23) Lee, Michelle; Davis, Nicole; Patrick, Dylan; Kosasi, Marko; Petkau, Don; White, James; Jacobson, Natasha
A Murphy bed is a foldable bed frame that can be vertically stored against a wall when not in use to save space. Wood Products Unlimited (WPU) is a Canadian-based manufacturer that makes and sells a Murphy bed product, the Embed. WPU wants a locking mechanism designed for the Embed that customers can choose to purchase with the Embed as an optional add-on. The purpose of the locking mechanism feature is to enhance overall safety and help avoid misuse of the Murphy bed. A few key features of the locking mechanism include a 12V DC power supply that will power a keypad and two solenoids. Each solenoid and its electrical circuit are protected by a steel case mounted at each corner of the bottom rear bed frame to increase the strength and durability of the attachment of the solenoids to the bed. The locking mechanism works by allowing authorized users of the bed to lock and unlock the Murphy bed using the keypad. When the bed is in the closed position, the extended solenoid pins restrict bed movement and lock it upward. The authorized user can use the keypad to control the solenoids and retract the pins so the Murphy bed can be lowered to the open position. If the authorized user wants the bed to be locked in the open position, they would have to reuse the keypad to re-extend the solenoid pins outward, which would lock the bed in the open position. Custom modifications will be made to both solenoids, such as a pin extension connected to the pin armature. A prototype testing rig was manufactured to simulate the forces that will be exerted on the locking mechanism and to observe the positioning of components during movement. The testing rig was used to ensure minimal force is experienced by the solenoid and to verify it will not be damaged at the armature or mounting point. The locking mechanism design had to be complete and functional within eight months and cost under $200 CAD to manufacture. The budget constraint was met but the validation results of the application of the locking mechanism onto an Embed were left unresolved due to time constraints. If the locking mechanism is successful, this design would position the Embed as the sole Murphy bed on the market with this unique capability, providing WPU with a competitive advantage over other manufacturers.
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Open Access
Win-Shield Combined Biometric and Chemical Sensor System
(2024-07-23) Boticki, Luka; Alam, Anas; Arnold, Mathew; Luong, Hazel; Jacobson, Natasha
The Win-Shield combined biometric and chemical sensor system is a capstone and proof-of-concept project done by the Biosystems Engineering Students of the University of Manitoba over the course of 8 months. The project aims to enhance the safety of isolated industrial workers by providing simultaneous real-time monitoring of vital signs and exposure to hazardous chemicals to both the wearers and their supervisors. Currently, there are no commercially available products designed with these all of these functions for industrial purposes, as most are only intended for recreational or hospital purposes. The system comprises of three subsystems, including a comfort pad with biometric sensors, a chemical sensor unit, and an ESP32ESP32 Devkit microcontroller to process data from the sensors. It can integrate seamlessly into a universal headband to be worn under a welding mask. Key features include: • Having a light weight of 500 grams or under. • Broad applicability fitting 85% of the Canadian population. • Precise vital signs monitoring with temperature accuracy within 0.3°C and 2%. • Heart rate and blood oxygenation accuracy exceeding 97% and 98.85% respectively (Sari et al. 2021). • Alarming chemical exposure thresholds align with 15-minute short term exposure guidelines set by the Government of Manitoba. The design has been verified by various tests resembling CSA standard verification procedures as much as possible under the constraints of time, budget, and resources. For the temperature sensor, immersion in an ice water bath alongside a high-accuracy thermometer assessed accuracy and response time. The heart rate and blood oxygenation sensor has been benchmarked against a smartwatch due to its biometric accuracy. Humidity sensor testing involved controlled environments using salt mixtures to establish fixed relative humidity. Gas sensors have undergone calibration, followed by simple bump testing and limited time response tests, in which they were exposed to triggering gas concentrations within known environments to evaluate response times. The testing section of the report extends its focus to physical tests for the overall system. Environmental temperature, drop, and vibration tests were conducted to ascertain potential impacts on system operation. These tests collectively ensure a robust assessment of the sensor system's reliability and functionality in diverse conditions. Lastly, the limitations that were found to have impacted the design process have been summarized, along with suggestions for potential solutions to these limitations. Additionally, potential next steps for developing this project have been included should the project continue into further design iterations.
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Open Access
Final design report for roof shingle made from ground tire rubber (GTR) fibres to withstand Winnipeg weather
(2024-07-23) Tymchen, Cassandra; Zimberg-Collins, Corey; Oeltjenbruns, Kate; Slobodian, Hunter; Petkau, Don; Topping, Aidan; White, James; Jacobson, Natasha
The objective of this project was to design a shingle using recycled ground tire rubber capable of withstanding Winnipeg, MB weather conditions. Our team developed and tested various rubber and additive mixtures to assess their strength and durability under specific conditions. Of the mixtures that seemed promising during initial testing phases, they were then subjected to weather simulations representing 1 in 25-year storm conditions in Winnipeg. The final stage involved creating full-scale prototypes using a mold designed by the team, which ultimately determined the project’s success. Despite initial promising results, unexpected failures occurred during the full-scale production phase, resulting in inconclusive findings regarding shingle viability. Further testing and refinement are necessary to meet the client’s requirements and to address the challenges that were encountered during this project. Recommendations for future research and improvements include optimizing the materials used, enhancing the appearance of the shingles to better suit the aesthetic desires of the client, improve efficiency by manufacturing a different mold, process optimization such as incorporating an injection mold and exploring liquid mixture formulations, and researching the feasibility and economic factors in mass-producing shingles using the proposed materials.
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Open Access
Typha Growing Media
(2024-07-23) Semenko, Kristen; Lubi, Hannah; Cockwell, Jayda; Calista, Kiara; Petkau, Don; White, James; Topping, Aidan; Jacobson, Natasha
The indoor floricultural industry faces increasing pressure to reduce its reliance on current unsustainable resources, such as peat and coco coir, for use in soilless potting mixes. Typha, commonly known as cattails, may represent a more sustainable alternative for the cultivation of ornamental plants and flowers. Its suitability is further justified by the local availability, quick grow time, and harvesting benefits of these wetland plants in Manitoba. Three distinct growing media have been designed by subjecting existing shredded Typha plants to specific combinations of three processing methods. These methods have individually been shown to mitigate the challenges with previously tested Typha-based media, as cited in literature, such as a low water holding capacity and high nitrogen immobilization. The benefits of each are as follows: • Composting, to increase the available nitrogen for plant uptake, • Milling, to reduce the particle size, and • Pasteurizing, to eliminate pathogens. The proposed Typha Media Designs incorporate these processing methods to investigate their unique benefits. The three Media Designs are as follows: 1. Media Design 1 (MD1): [REDACTED] 2. Media Design 2 (MD2): [REDACTED] 3. Media Design 3 (MD3): [REDACTED] Verification of the success of each Media Design was assessed by 11 passing criteria, or technical specifications, selected based on the properties of peat and other commonly used growing media. None of the three Media Designs passed all criteria; however, [REDACTED] showed the greatest overall improvement when compared to unprocessed, shredded Typha. Alongside the verification testing, germination and grow trials were performed to further validate the results, utilizing a peat-perlite mix as the control. In the germination trials, media containing [REDACTED] performed best with higher numbers of germinated plants. Varying trends were observed in the grow trials. The trial conducted in a vertical hydroponic wall, which accommodated the media in net cups with a diameter of two inches, exhibited the best results in [REDACTED] and [REDACTED] , while the other, conducted in a greenhouse, displayed better outcomes in [REDACTED]. Moving forward, further research into composted Typha-based media is recommended, including testing growth in larger commercial plant pots, [REDACTED], an assessment of a flower’s full growth cycle solely in Typha-based media, and a full project cost-benefit analysis to ensure economic viability. The results from technical specification testing, germination trials, and grow trials show that, while this Typha-based media does not entirely replicate peat, it may be a viable option for use as a soilless growing media. Testing based on the proposed recommendations will further the success of this media as it nears entry into the market as a local and sustainable growing media for floriculture growers.
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Open Access
Final Design Report for a STEM Exhibit about Green Aviation Fuel Alternatives for the Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada
(2024-07-23) McMillan, Camryn; Olapade, Daniel; Petkau, Don; Topping, Aidan; White, James; Jacobson, Natasha
The Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada (RAMWC) along with industry partners EnviroTREC and WestCaRD, identified the need for a STEM based exhibit focused on sustainable aviation fuels. This initiative aligns with the global shift towards environmentally friendly energy sources, transitioning from convectional fuels like gasoline and kerosene to potential greener alternatives including lithium-ion batteries, biofuel, and liquid hydrogen. Through an interactive, STEM based exhibit, visitors will have the opportunity to learn about these fuel options and their underlying concepts. To ensure a successful exhibit design, several technical specifications and constraints were outlined prior to developing a solution. These included size and accessibility dimensions, performance requirements, inclusion of tactile components, and a significant “wow” factor. These predefined objectives guided the development of the design solution, which is composed of three distinct components that make up the entire exhibit: a historical timeline, a specific energy station, and a CO2 emissions station, each incorporating STEM principles through visual and hands-on experiences. The timeline provides a rich history about the evolution of aviation fuels. For the specific energy station, it allows visitors to gauge the specific energy of different aviation fuels by propelling planes along a track. The emissions station offers an interactive demonstration of CO2 output of various aviation fuels, enabling visitors to visualize and compare emissions through a fog display. The prototype of the conceptual solution was tested against the established specifications to ensure the creation of a successful design. The dimensions of the prototype were tested for public accessibility and passed. Additionally, the exhibit’s content was evaluated for understandability, targeting various comprehension levels to ensure that the STEM principles are clear to the visitors. Using a text scoring system, the prototype achieved a 6th grade reading level of comprehension. “Wow” factor and user friendliness of tactile components were assessed via survey with museum visitors. The feedback indicated that while the exhibit’s design was easy to use and engaging, it could benefit from additional elements to truly inspire and captivate visitors. Following evaluation of the prototype, several enhancements were proposed to the RAMWC that could improve the exhibit’s design. Replacing the chalkboard with a smart touchscreen board would allow for unlimited storage of visitors’ ideas on green aviation fuel, which can also be shared as a display when the screen is idle. Additionally, the exhibit could be optimized for efficiency through changes that include adopting a modular design for easy updates, incorporating a drainage at the emissions station to eliminate mold risk, and utilizing materials that are both lightweight and robust. To improve accessibility, incorporating auditory or tactile feedback would assist those who are visually impaired, and incorporating QR codes could deepen the educational experience. The RAMWC exhibit represents a dynamic fusion of education and innovation, igniting curiosity and fostering learning about sustainable aviation fuels.
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Open Access
Inert Evaporation Process System
(2024) Hall, Austin; Harvey, Jacob; Hawthorne, Katherine; Kum, Ryan; Petkau, Don; White, James; Topping, Aidan; Jacobson, Natasha
The National Research Council of Canada (NRC) conducts experiments that evaluate the biodegradation capabilities of anaerobic (oxygen-free) bacteria sourced from sewage sludge. These studies contribute towards a potential solution to the global plastic pollution crisis. A key step in these experiments is drying the sludge to the required solids content outlined in the experiments while maintaining the viability of the anaerobic bacteria in the sludge. The current drying process the NRC employs is inadequate as it is non-anaerobic and time-consuming. Team 2’s objective was to design, build and test a proof of concept (POC) design for an inert evaporation system in addition to designing a full-scale system that can anaerobically and efficiently evaporate sewage sludge. Both designs must be capable of drying municipal sewage sludge from 2% to 30% solids content under anaerobic, inert, and temperature-controlled conditions. The report details the POC design that was built and tested for the project. The POC prototype focuses on a single tray evaporation system. Using the POC to dry the sludge, an evaporation rate exceeding the target rate of 0.118 kg/hr was determined with key parameters measured throughout the process including oxygen and humidity content of the tray environment, gas flowrate, temperature, and tray weight. The report also recommends a full-scale inert evaporation system design that meets the NRC’s target specifications and constraints; however, the further testing using the POC is highly recommended to refine the design. Using nitrogen gas to maintain an anaerobic environment and dry the sludge, the full-scale design includes an insulated anaerobic chamber, dehumidification, nitrogen gas recycling, and PLC automation to conserve energy and efficiently evaporate sludge.