Reaction All Years

Project Description:

The Ottawa Homicide Project is being conducted in partnership with Crime Prevention Ottawa (CPO) and the Ottawa Police Service (OPS). Essentially, we hope to uncover links between the geographical locations where homicides are taking place in our city and their proximity to various community-serving agencies – such as pharmacies, safe injection (also referred to as supervised consumption or supervised injection) sites and homeless shelters – and high-traffic social areas with a higher likelihood of patron intoxication – such as bars and liquor stores. In so doing, we are examining many different factors related to the context within which Ottawa homicides are occurring and have occurred over the past ten years (see Gallery Images for an example linking context and the five Ottawa geographic zones with the highest concentration of homicides).

This project has been conducted as a collaborative effort between the team lead (a student in the Victimology program), the Victimology Research Centre (VRC), and a team of students from the Bachelor of Public Safety (BPS) program. This group of students possess specialized knowledge and skills in creating interactive maps using geographic information systems (GIS) mapping technology. The GIS map our research team has created will add a visual element linking homicide locations to the various community destinations described above.

The VRC intends for this research to be ongoing. Our previously conducted research – including Ottawa homicide data spanning the years 2014-2020 and presented at 2020’s Victim and Survivors of Crime Week (VSCW) event – linked homicide concentrations with the postal codes in which they occurred. This earlier stage of the project was featured in the local media, including the CBC Ottawa series “All in a Day” and CTV Ottawa cable news.

The focus of this research team, however, has been expanded to include the years 2010-2020 with our data spanning an entire decade to give us a more comprehensive view of Ottawa homicide trends. With this continuation of the research, we hope to enlighten the public that it is not just postal codes that determine a neighbourhood’s risk of experiencing homicide. In the spirit of preventing the stigmatization of any given neighbourhood, we also wish to address the reality that sometimes, homicides are random occurrences with absolutely no connection to where they took place. That is, it is important to keep in mind that sometimes homicides are driven by relationships, not location.

In June, members of our research team will present a final report to the CPO board and community partners from the Byward Market Business Improvement Area (BIA) and Lowertown Community Association addressing outreach strategies for homicide prevention and present an ongoing database. What we wish to do is report the data to provide the community with a tool to use at their discretion in order to optimize their own safety in the spirit of prevention.

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Project Description:

In this era and society where new concepts and new applications of AI and robotics are increasing at lightning speed. Robots have become or another way an integral part of human life. With the same concept, we thought why not make and robot which can serve at a restaurant just like any normal restaurant waiter. Here this robot – ASR (automatic serving robot) can do just the same work as any other waiter. This bot charges up overnight and when the kitchen starts, with a touch on its input screen this bot activates and reaches its designated position waiting for kitchen staff to put plates in the inner compartment of the robot. Here 4 plates could be put at a one-time serving. When plates are put at position a signal has been triggered which activates the plate selection array to select on which table this plate should be delivered. There are features on the touch panel like whether delete the selection or confirm, go button to sent the bot for serving, restart button to boot up the whole system again. And manual control button transfers all auto control to manual control.
Once the sequence of the plate and its respective table is set, the robot goes to those tables, opens up the glass door of the compartment and prints a message on the screen to take the plate from inside and once the plate has been taken it wishes the customer with “ bone appetite “ message. The bot does this with all the plates until all plates have been served. Once that’s done it comes back to the kitchen and waits for the next round to begin. Bot travels based on preloaded data where encoder motor sends fixed pulses and microcontroller counts them and decides how much it has travelled and how much distance is left to travel and in which direction to travel. In all this travel its bot has some safety features too. Such as ultrasonic sensors which trigger interrupt and stops the bot whenever something comes too close to the bot. Two infrared sensors let manual control take over auto control. This feature is also helpful when moving robots for maintenance. Not only the technical features are all up to the mark but aesthetic perspectives are also been fulfilled with dynamic design.
We won’t say that this is the limit for this flexible design. Changing code for different applications and changing infrared to Bluetooth or adding tracks instead of wheels also removing inner compartment and putting a complete refrigerated system, also adding vacuum cleaning at the bottom and another system at the top body, this all could be done with not so big changes.
Our target audience varies wildly like from a single institute to an individual user. Many restaurants can use our project in multiple units. Hospitals can use as entities to travel instruments or medical; items from one place to another. It can also be used as an erred runner in-house. While travelling it can be used as a storage unit with the attached or detached function of the refrigerator. Offices can use it for errands like coffee for employees or move multiple files/records from one place to another. If asked by the user, the unit could be made with the function of suction to clean the floor.

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Project Description:

She is an avid outdoor adventure enthusiast sharing her passion via telesummits. The telesummits are designed for outdoor adventure enthusiasts alike interested in sharing their experience and knowledge from traveling, outdoor activities, as well as favorite tips and products to a targeted audience with the same love for all things outdoors.
Ms. Findlay is interested in expanding her brand into the e-commerce industry creating a one stop shopping for customers alike to find all the necessary products to get started enjoying outdoor adventures.

She requested expert help to have enhancements made to her e-commerce web application. The enhancements mainly encompass major changes in terms of the general design of the application, as well as the addition of significant features to the store functionality. The team is also required to address any existing issues or lacking features that are critical to the operability of the ecommerce application and improve the security of sensitive features such as user accounts and administrative functions.

The team has updated the web application with new UI design to be more customer friendly. We also updated the web application with new features and functions including:
• Store page with all items for sale
• Product filter options to customize the items shown
• Feature to add products to the cart for purchase
• Cart page with feature to add, remove and modify items in the cart
• Checkout feature to purchase selected items. Either via a guest checkout or by creating a user account
• Payment options include PayPal and credit cards
• Customers can manage their user accounts

The e-commerce store is developed utilizing PhpStorm in tandem with the PHP Laravel framework. Laravel is a Model-View-Controller framework that streamlines the development of web applications within the PHP language. The other service we use is XAMPP service, which allows for hosting of the web application and the MySQL database schema locally on the development device currently used.
For the deployment of the website, we have migrated the database server to PostgreSQL. We also use Heroku as our cloud hosting server.

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Project Description:

WritePub offers several features to work with eBooks both individually, as well as in collaboration with other users. These features include a writer tool, a reader, and a built-in message system with which users can interact with each other. One of the primary ways in which users can interact and work together is by adding each other on projects and using the message or inbox system to inform one another of changed work. The eReader and eWriter are where the primary functionalities lie. Inside the writer, you’re able to split your work into chapters, change font and style, add images and much more, all with the goal of finalizing your project before it needs to be published. Once you’re ready to view the final project, you simply import the downloaded .epub file to the eReader, and are able to view what the project would look like to anyone else reading it. Finally, a location labeled as profile, where the user can display some of their most proud books, and other information like their name and short descriptions. With future plans to implement a user forum, where users can publicly display their creations to anyone else, and receive feedback from them too, WritePub is the perfect place for writers of any calibre to create their masterpieces, and show it to their friends and colleagues.

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Project Description:

The Lynx De-icing robot is a small form autonomous de-icing tank. The system navigates to the area to be cleared of ice utilizing the LIDAR sensor technology, which, combined with a so-called Robotic Operating System, identifies the robot’s surrounding and sets a route to avoid obstacles.

The prototype we have created can carry a payload of 50lbs. This allows it to have a robust chassis, extended operation time, large payload, heavy duty treads, and carry a high-capacity battery. All of this provides the Lynx minimal downtime, and the ability to respond to ice events immediately, precisely, and maximizing de-icing application.

With these features and by utilizing 3D printed manufacturing, we hope to provide a robust, flexible, and cost-effective solution to localized de-icing operations.

3D printing allowed our team to manufacture custom parts cheaply, allows further experimentation with the Lynx’s parts, provides ease of assembly and allows it to have treads with replaceable pads. This last feature opens up the option to repair only the damage or worn pads or be able to swap pads without fully disassembling the treads.

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Project Description:

The robot arm uses an Arduino, stepper motors, a belt system, gears and 3d printed parts to perform its function. The robot arm swings out from under the table and makes two 90 degree rotations so that it is perpendicular to the table. The light will then extend out a little and the robot will then sweep across the table. The arm will then return back the its starting position and return under the table until further usage. The arm will be unable to be activated while a user is nearby as a safety precaution.

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Project Description:

Our application is a mobile app for River Oak Skating rail, a company based in Ottawa, Ontario. The application is made to accompany the RiverOak website – RiverOak.Ca – and provide their clients with the accessibility and ease of use and include many other features found on the website. It will also provide more dynamic data to automate tasks for the client and improve the user experience.

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Project Description:

Etched is developed to be a mobile application directed at parents with the requirement of Text file saving, Image Saving, Collage UI, giving parents the ability to create a journal of memories of their kids either retrieving the images and images they have saved into the database or manually select themselves from their own gallery and typing the text in themselves to give the user more control of how things should look within the journal. Once the journal has been completed the user will be given a choice of Saving the journal up to their own database storage.
An issue the application could face going forward for the client is having to pay more money for more database space due to all the images, text files and journals within the database. The workaround is once the user chooses to either save or print the journal, the journal will be removed from the database making the application no longer responsible for what occurs afterwards saving money for the client and allowing the application to run faster without having to process or load more resources.
This application is focused on benefiting anyone who wants to create a journal or a collage of memories with the ability to do so anywhere without the user of papers, only needing any type of network connection either Wi-Fi or Data.

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Project Description:

In partnership with the Bruyere Institute, Algonquin College Electrical Engineering Technology students were tasked with finding a solution to tracking the mobility of their recovering patients. As a result of this request, the idea of a primitive Fitbit design that attaches to the leg was the best solution to produce accurate results. For it to see testing phases, it must be comfortable for the patient to wear and be easily accessible.

The initial phase of the project had multiple iterations over the course of the first year, however, issues arose. Due to COVID-19, the group was unable to bring the project to completion. With the new team taking over the project, the requirements for the scope were modified. Changes to the scope from the previous year’s group included the unit being self-powered, rechargeable and featuring an easy-to-read display. The earlier designs were a successful proof of concept for their design; however, a final iteration was never completed and could not be continued.

After extensive research, simulation, and personal component testing, the team created our first design. Using risk management strategies, we created a PCB test board. This test board allowed the team to practice creating a PCB for the first time, while verifying the power and communication circuits separately.

Creating a device that must be mounted on a patient’s leg created a new challenge for the team. Not only must the device perform well, but it must also not cause pain, irritation, or be too heavy for our most vulnerable patients. A housing and mounting for the device had to provide easy access to check the steps taken.

Coding the sensitivity of an accelerometer to track the steps proved another important factor that was critical to the project’s success. Dealing with patients of all heights and movement ability means that the sensitivity of the device is important. It must be able to detect and record the light steps that may or may not be completing a full movement of the leg.

This project connected major concepts in the program, showing a real-world application of the material. Keeping an open dialogue on all aspects of the design process ensured the team could consider new risks that may have been missed in other environments where you are working under pressure. The team was able to bring all their skills to the table to create a final product.

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Project Description:

This project resulted in a PI Processbook troubleshooting graphical display for the HVAC Systems Technician at Algonquin College. This display monitors multiple components of the ACCE Air Handling Unit 6.1. It uses real-time sensor tag values from the college’s Building Automation System to display and compare data. Data is displayed through graphs and labels for easy monitoring and is compared in the VBA editor to trigger flags. The flagging conditions are as follows:

-If the Occupancy is on for more than 24 hours.

-If the lead cooling compressor does not change from week to week.

-If the air temperature increases after cooling.

-If the air temperature is greater than the setpoint by 5 degrees Celsius or more.

-If a cooling coil turns on more than 4 times per hour.

If a flag is triggered, the corresponding LED will turn red which notifies the Technician that something is wrong. By using this display, the Technician can monitor the Air Handling Unit remotely and see when equipment is malfunctioning.

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