TMU researchers receive infrastructure funding from Canada Foundation for Innovation

August 29, 2023

Seven researchers from the Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science and one researcher from The Creative School received infrastructure funding.

Seven Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) researchers have received infrastructure awards from the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) to support their innovative projects. From developing practical technologies for indoor drones to designing high-quality, sustainable packaging for food delivery, the projects will receive support to acquire foundational research infrastructure through the John R. Evans Leaders Fund (JELF). This funding was awarded to six researchers from the Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science and one researcher from The Creative School.

“TMU is pleased to congratulate all the researchers receiving this investment by Canada Foundation for Innovation,” said Steven N. Liss, vice-president, research and innovation at TMU. “These projects demonstrate the leadership of our faculty that are investigating, designing and commercializing innovative technology to solve critical real-world challenges.”

Development of Autonomous Drones for Indoor Environments

Aerospace engineering professor Guangjun Liu is developing innovative and practical technologies for indoor drones. The drones have potential applications in industry, health care and household settings for tasks such as the efficient and safe delivery of small items. In collaboration with SOTI Aerospace, professor Liu will research motion planning, navigation and control with dynamic obstacle avoidance for indoor environments. He will also investigate integrated flight performance optimization and battery power management as well as autonomous landing and recharging.

Emissions' Characterization of Alternative Fuels at High Pressures

Aerospace engineering professor Ahmet Emre Karataş is investigating alternative fuels to mitigate climate change and improve air quality. Professor Karataş will study flame and soot formation characteristics of alternative fuels such as hydrogen and ammonia blended with more traditional fuels. He will optically study soot emissions at high pressures, similar to the conditions in practical engines. This research will lead to reduced emissions from alternative fuels, improving health outcomes.

Maternal Fetal Diagnostics

Electrical, computer, and biomedical engineering professor Dafna Sussman’s research focuses on maternal-fetal imaging for monitoring and diagnostics in high-risk pregnancies. She has created an anatomically correct motion fetal phantom using innovative biomaterials that can be used to rapidly develop fetal MRI sequences and post-processing techniques without the need for human participants. Professor Sussman will next work on devising reliable and reproducible synthesis techniques for the phantom components. She will also develop a novel MRI pulse sequence for imaging fetal metabolism and unique software for automatic and accurate analysis of fetal MRIs. This research will improve fetal medicine and solidify Canada's position at the forefront of diagnostic imaging innovation.

Towards Resilient Buildings Under Different Wind Scenarios

Civil engineering professor Haitham Aboshosha will examine the resiliency of buildings under three major wind scenarios: hurricanes, thunderstorms and tornadoes. The behaviour of buildings under the influence of thunderstorm gust winds is not fully understood nor considered within existing building codes. This lack of information is a problem as storm frequency and intensity are expected to increase in relation to climate change. Professor Aboshosha will construct a one-of-a-kind wind tunnel that can model each type of wind flow within the unit. Researchers will use the wind tunnel to generate building aerodynamics databases that will lead to the development of an analysis platform and a simplified analytical approach, revolutionizing the industry and enabling the design and construction of safer high-rise and low-rise buildings.

Advanced and Rapid Fabrication Platform of Electrode Structures for Fuel Cells and Electrolyzers

Chemical engineering professor ChungHyuk Lee is designing and testing alternative electrode structures for fuel cells and electrolyzers to enable a society powered by clean energy. So far, there has been limited success in commercializing alternate electrodes for fuel cells and electrolyzers because of complex fabrication processes that work reasonably well in the lab but are challenging to scale up. Professor Lee will develop a facile and robust electrode fabrication process and automated testing capabilities for higher screening throughput. Professor Lee’s research will also focus on developing next-generation materials for enhanced performance and durability of fuel cells and electrolyzers.

Development of Collapsible Returnable Packaging for Direct-to-Consumer (D2C) Product Distribution project

Graphic Communications Management professor Jonghun (Jay) Park will address sustainability and food quality challenges in the food e-commerce industry by developing collapsible returnable packaging (CRP) for perishable food distributed in direct-to-consumer channels. CRP can help reduce the environmental impact of the food industry by eliminating single-use packaging and decreasing waste and losses from damaged products. Professor Park’s Sustainable Packaging Research Lab (SuPaR Lab) will investigate and test physical hazards to perishable food during the distribution process, such as vibration and compression, and test the environmental performance of CRP. With this project, he aims to establish optimal structural design practices for fresh produce and create practical solutions for designing CRP that can be used for other fragile products.

Affordable Living Integrated Residential Testbed (ALIRT)

Architectural Science professor Jenn McArthur will develop and test smart home technologies in the Affordable Living Integrated Residential Testbed (ALIRT). ALIRT will embed a full-scale model studio apartment in professor McArthur’s CFI-funded Smart Campus Integration and Testing Lab, enabling research into residential applications of smart technologies to complement the lab’s commercial and institutional building testbed. This project will help drive innovation and decarbonization in the building sector by optimizing building performance while enhancing affordability and the health and comfort of residents and other building users.

Combined, the CFI funding for these projects totals $932,000. Read more about the CFI John R. Evans Leaders Fund (external link) .