Research Partnerships and Innovation

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Recap: March 29 Heavy Vehicle Technology Workshop

April 5, 2012

A packed room of over 60 people – including stakeholders from all corners of the Manitoba transportation sector – was on hand this past Thursday, March 29 for the Heavy Vehicle Technology Workshop at the Victoria Inn in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Applied Research & Commercialization (AR&C), in collaboration with the National Research Council Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP), WESTEST, and the Vehicle Technology Centre, created the daylong workshop, which shared the latest in heavy vehicle design and manufacturing available to industry.
From breakthrough GPS-guiding technology in snowplows to light-weighting vehicles with hybrid composite technology, our speakers treated attendees to a diverse set of informative and entertaining presentations. And the audience gave back too, with each presentation sparking discussions that showed a clear interest in the future of the heavy vehicle industry in Manitoba and beyond. These questions spilled over to some valuable networking time, where guests connected and shared ideas.
We’d like to thank all speakers, delegates, and official supporters for helping make the workshop a success. We’ll be making presentations from the workshop available online soon. In the meantime, please check out our event website for speaker bios and session descriptions.
Photos from the event are below:

Heavy Vehicle Technology Workshop on March 29

February 8, 2012

You are invited to learn from, and network with our line-up of local, national, and international experts in the fields of Heavy Vehicle Manufacturing and Design.  This is also your opportunity to interact and network with current and prospective suppliers and partners in attendance, while learning about the latest techniques, projects, capabilities, and opportunities in your field.

Applied Research & Commercialization at Red River College (AR&C at RRC), the National Research Council’s Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP), the Vehicle Technology Centre, and WESTEST have teamed up to create this comprehensive Manitoba Workshop.  The most critical and timely aspects of Heavy Vehicle Manufacturing and Design will be covered along with discussion of how Manitoba’s industry members can advance environmental sustainability, while raising the their competitiveness and productivity.
The Workshop is being designed to meet the needs of engineers, business developers, technicians, technologists, instructors and researchers working in the field of Heavy Vehicle Technology, with a focus on original equipment and component design and manufacturing.
When: March 29, 2012 from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Where: The Victoria Inn, Winnipeg, MB
Registration: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/222437
Cost: $125 + GST – Includes breakfast, lunch, snacks and beverages
Specific topics that the Workshop aims to cover include:

  • 3D Modeling
  • Automation and Robotics
  • Advanced design
  • Agri-machinery
  • CAD software
  • Environmental sustainability
  • Large vehicle electrification
For a complete list of topics, and future information on speakers and scheduling, head over to the Heavy Vehicle Technology Workshop page on the AR&C website:
http://www.rrc.ca/index.php?pid=7914

For more information, please contact:
Brent Wennekes, Technology Transfer and Communications Manager
Applied Research & Commercialization
Red River College
bwennekes@rrc.mb.ca   |  204.631.3323
Thanks to our Official Supporters!




 
 
 

 
 

HETC is One of Manitoba’s First LEED® Education Facilities

January 20, 2012

It’s one of the largest industrial training facilities in Manitoba, and it’s also now officially one of the province’s most environmentally-friendly buildings.
Red River College is happy to announce its Heavy Equipment Transportation Centre (HETC) has become one of the first education centres in Manitoba to receive LEED® certification from the Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC).
Located on the College’s Notre Dame Campus, this 60,000 square foot complex combines academic and industrial functions, with nine classrooms available for theoretical instruction, and a large shop area that replicates a typical work environment in the transportation and trucking industry.
“HETC is a model for development of new learning facilities, “,” said Stephanie Forsyth, President of RRC. “It provides us with modern, flexible space for training programs and applied research, while simultaneously minimizing our impact on the environment.”
HETC includes several sustainable features that are uncommon for a large industrial building:

  • Geothermal heating and cooling – A groundwater loop system provides partial heating and cooling of the facility.
  • Natural heating – SolarWall systems collect the sun’s energy to preheat outdoor air before it ventilates classrooms.
  • Daylight views – More than 90% of regularly occupied spaces have direct views of the outdoors.
  • Native vegetation – Plants surrounding the building require little maintenance, are drought resistant, and help control stormwater runoff.
  • Recycled and regional content – More than 25% of building materials have recycled content, and 35% of materials are from Manitoba, Saskatchewan or North Dakota.

Compared to a standard structure of the same size, HETC’S efficient heating and cooling systems produce a 50% reduction in energy use, a 72% reduction in space heating, and a 54% reduction in operating costs. It has been certified as LEED® Silver.
“The CaGBC is proud to award Red River College with a LEED Silver certification,” said Thomas Mueller, President and CEO of the Canada Green Building Council. “It is very exciting to see colleges demonstrating such a high level of environmental and social responsibility. Post-secondary institutions have a leadership role in their communities and for their students to educate and showcase “sustainability in action.”
The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System® encourages and accelerates global adoption of sustainable green building and development practices through the creation and implementation of universally understood and accepted tools and performance criteria.
For more information, or to book a tour of HETC, see www.rrc.ca/hetc.

Red River College Hosts 2nd Air Barrier Rodeo Workshop

January 13, 2012

On your mark, get set, assemble.
Red River College (RRC), alongside The Manitoba Building Envelope Council (MBEC), and the Manitoba Chapter of the Canada Green Building Council (MBCaGBC), is excited to be holding the 2nd Air Barrier Rodeo workshop.
The Centre for Applied Research in Sustainable Infrastructure (CARSI) at RRC’s Notre Dame Campus will once again play host to a day of competition and exploration of the latest in design, installation and performance of multiple air barrier assemblies.
The Rodeo will consist of amaximum of ten teams of four, tasked with the design and installation of their air barrier assembly onto a pre-assembled 8’x6’ wall panel that will include an expansion point, masonry ties, window, duct, HVAC (heating, venting, and air conditioning), and junction box penetrations. The assemblies will then be tested for air and water leakage. The winning teams will be issued a prize based on each type of air barrier material category.
Teams may consist of any number of combinations of professionals or students such as architects, engineers, technologists, contractors, sub-trades, or other industry members involved in the design, management, or installation of air barrier assemblies. Participants can register in teams of up to four people. Individuals or groups of two and three will be paired with other participants.
Technical representatives from leading North American manufacturers will be on-hand, working with each team to ensure the assembly is designed and installed correctly, and to ensure an air and watertight assembly. Participants will have the opportunity to engage with these professionals and gain valuable hands-on experience as they compete for the right to be crowned air barrier champions.
DATE
Wednesday, February 8th, 2012 – all day
LOCATION
Red River College Notre Dame Campus, 2055 Notre Dame Campus (CARSI Building)
COST
Individual Registration: $150.00
Team Registration (4 participants): $600.00
STUDENTS
Individual Student Registration: $100.00
Team Registration (4 participants): $450.00
The full-day workshop includes continental breakfast, lunch, and one event pass for each participant to the MBCaGBC follow-up lunch event at Manitoba Hydro on March 6, 2012.
To register, please email admin@mbcagbc.org.
The deadline for registration is February 1, 2012.
Video of last year’s competition is below:

RRC All-Electric Bus Project Nears Phase One Completion

January 11, 2012

Winnipeg’s first all-electric transit bus is almost ready to hit the streets.
Last April, Red River College (RRC), in partnership with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, New Flyer Industries, and Manitoba Hydro, announced its plans to develop an all-electric transit bus and charging system. The system would be developed in the first year of the three-year project and tested in Manitoba for two years after.
With spring just a few months away, the system is almost ready for the testing phase.  CJOB recently interviewed Thomas Small, a mechanical engineer at New Flyer about the scope of the project, the progress so far, and some of the challenges involved.
“We’re developing something that will be the future,” said Small in the interview.
“I hope to see every city have this ability to be able to run electric busses.”
Full video of the interview can be seen below:

In addition to the $1 million it is contributing to the electric bus project, the Province of Manitoba is investing $100,000 into the creation of the Electric Vehicle Technology & Education Centre (EVTEC) at RRC. When complete, EVTEC will be a demonstration site for future all-electric and plug-in hybrid-electric vehicle projects, such as the all-electric bus development.
For more information on the all-electric bus project and EVTEC, please visit the link below:
http://www.rrc.mb.ca/index.php?pid=5859&mid=10757&rid=1192

Research Director Speaks Before Senate Committee

December 7, 2011

Ray Hoemsen, RRC’s Director of Applied Research and Commercialization, will speak before the Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources at its hearings in Winnipeg today.
Hoemsen will outline how the applied research capabilities of the College have been supporting innovation in advanced transportation and energy, including:

  • The plug-in hybrid electric vehicle cold weather testing project.
  • Our work with MCI to design a more energy-efficient bus prototype.
  • Our partnership with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and New Flyer to develop an all-electric transit bus.
  • The creation of the Electric Vehicle Technology and Education Centre at the Notre Dame Campus.

“Supporting applied research to adapt, adopt and improve existing technologies and put these technologies into commercial use is one key element to support a Canadian energy strategy,” he said.
Hoemsen is the first representative from a Canadian college or polytechnic to speak before the Committee during its current round of hearings across Western Canada.
The Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources is examining the current and future state of Canada’s energy system. For more information, see www.canadianenergyfuture.ca.

Post-Event Recap: Nov. 23 Lunch & Learn with Dr. Noruziaan

November 25, 2011

A full house was on hand to watch Dr. Bahman Noruziaan give his talk on non-destructive testing at Wednesday’s Lunch & Learn.
Dr. Noruziaan, an instructor with Civil Engineering Technology, discussed some of the issues involving the aging of ever-increasing complex buildings and infrastructure in developed countries. The talk included discussion on applicable non-destructive testing (NDT) methods and structural health monitoring (SHM) technologies.
Red River College (RRC) staff, students, and members of the local sustainable infrastructure community engaged in discussion and offered suggestions on how to advance the study and implementation of NDT at the College and across Canada. The passionate exchange showed that Dr. Noruziaan has identified an area in need of development in the world of sustainable building infrastructure.
Our thanks go out to Dr. Noruziaan and to all those in attendance.
Photos of the event are below.

Nov. 23 Lunch & Learn: Non-destructive testing with Dr. Noruziaan

November 15, 2011

 
Join Red River College staff, faculty, and students, along with other members of the region’s sustainable infrastructure community to be introduced to the issues related to the aging of ever-increasing complex buildings and infrastructure in developed countries (i.e. Canada and the U.S.,) and the needs of industry in mitigating the adverse effects of infrastructure deterioration.
 
 
 
 
Also to be discussed, will be:

  • the most applicable non-destructive test (NDT) methods, as well as structural health monitoring (SHM) technologies;
  • the role of academic institutions in responding to industry needs; and
  • the steps that Red River College continues to take to meet the needs of the civil engineering profession in this critical area.
About the Speaker:
Dr. Noruziaan has been an instructor at the Department of Civil Engineering Technology of Red River College for the past six years. He obtained his PhD degree in civil engineering with a major in structural engineering from Carleton University. His field of expertise is finite element method and dynamic analysis of structures.  He holds the P.Eng designation in the Province of Ontario with his Manitoban P.Eng designation pending.
Dr. Noruziaan has studied the behavior of composites, made partly of recyclable materials like composite bars, plastic wood, glass concrete, and rubber concrete. He has also studied the applications of health monitoring in infrastructure management and maintenance.
He was the technical coordinator of a study group that reported on the standardization of bridge parapets and roadside barriers to the Government of Hong Kong. He has experience in geotechnical and structural engineering, analysis of geotechnical lab reports, deign of steel frames, power transmission lines and concrete foundations. With a few years of industrial experience in the high-tech industry, another field of his interest is the applications of information technology in civil engineering.
Time: 12:00 p.m. – 12:45 p.m.
Venue: Red River College, 2055 Notre Dame Ave., Room A137
Please register by Monday, Nov. 21, 2011
Please register by contacting:
Brent Wennekes
Technology Transfer & Communications Manager
Applied Research & Commercialization
Red River College
bwennekes@rrc.mb.ca
 
 

New Funding Supports Student Research in Sustainable Buildings

November 9, 2011

 
Applied Research & Commercialization (AR&C) is pleased to announce that Red River College (RRC) students can apply for and receive grants of up to $5,000 (plus the cost of materials) to conduct applied research on improving the energy performance of commercial and/or institutional buildings.
This grant program is possible due to the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) which, through its College and Community Innovation Program, awarded RRC $2.3M to establish and support the research program of the Sustainable Infrastructure Technology Research Group (SITRG).
“The NSERC SITRG Student Innovation Awards are an excellent opportunity for students to get hands-on research experience in what is increasingly becoming one of the most important and cutting-edge aspects of building design, construction, and operation,” says Rob Spewak, Research Manager for AR&C.
The projects are required to focus on one or more of four main research areas: building envelopes, building performance monitoring, mechanical and renewable energy systems, and reducing the embodied energy of building materials.
“We hope to build on the success of our existing faculty-focused Research Innovation Fund (RIF) to provide a similar platform for student innovation and applied learning,” said Spewak.  “And we already have a solid base of tools, facilities, and knowledgeable staff available to assist them with their projects.”
All RRC students in good academic standing are eligible for this award.  They may work individually or in teams of up to four members and each member can receive up to $5,000.  Each individual or team will be asked to find a suitable project advisor. The annual budget for the NSERC SITRG Student Innovation Awards is $200,000, not including any necessary funding for instructor release time.
“We are available to support the students throughout the application and project idea creation process,” says Spewak.
Since this is an open competition – there is NO DEADLINE, therefore applications can be submitted at any time. The application form also has detailed project and funding guidelines as well as contact information for additional support.
“A critical commitment tied to the NSERC award is the active engagement of RRC faculty, staff, and students in applied research projects related to improving the energy performance of commercial and institutional buildings,” said Ray Hoemsen, Director of AR&C at Red River College.  “So we encourage all members of the RRC community to contact our office with their project ideas.”
Project Contact:
Rob Spewak, EIT
Research Manager, AR&C
rspewak@rrc.mb.ca
 

RRC Completes PHEV Cold-Weather Adaptation and Testing

November 8, 2011

 
Red River College (RRC) recently completed three-year testing of plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) technology at its Advanced Transportation and Energy Centre.

The demonstration project, one of the largest of its kind in Canada, involved participation of instructors from the RRC automotive program and Applied Research & Commercialization (AR&C) staff.  Instructors from the RRC automotive program converted 10 Toyota Prius cars to operate as PHEV using Hymotion Plug-in Conversion Modules (PCMs) from A123Systems Inc.
RRC used one of the vehicles, while the Vehicle and Equipment Management Agency (VEMA) of the Province of Manitoba, Manitoba Hydro, Manitoba Public Insurance, and the City of Winnipeg used the others. The vehicles operated in the vicinity of Winnipeg for three years while undergoing monitoring.
One of the purposes for the demonstration was to test the effectiveness of PHEVs in a cold-weather environment, such as Manitoba’s, and to make cold-weather adaptations as necessary. AR&C staff performed cold-weather monitoring and upgrades to the vehicles.
“The cold-weather improvements undertaken at Red River College turned out to be a critical success factor for the Manitoba PHEV Demonstration,” said Robert Parsons, who acted as the Project Manager for the demonstration and is the Secretary/Treasurer of the non-profit Centre for Emerging Renewable Energy Inc., which acted as administrator.
“Without these modifications, vehicle failures and reduced performance would have resulted.”
Parsons reported the cold-weather findings of the project at the IEEE 2011 Electrical Power and Energy Conference in Winnipeg during October. For more information about cold-weather modification of PHEVs please visit the following link:
http://www.rrc.mb.ca/files/file/appliedresearch/2011IEEE.pdf
The Province of Manitoba provided funding for the Manitoba PHEV Demonstration.

RRC Polytech campuses are located on the lands of Anishinaabe, Ininiwak, Anishininew, Dakota, and Dené, and the National Homeland of the Red River Métis.

We recognize and honour Treaty 3 Territory Shoal Lake 40 First Nation, the source of Winnipeg’s clean drinking water. In addition, we acknowledge Treaty Territories which provide us with access to electricity we use in both our personal and professional lives.

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