| Current Projects 
Green Building Technologies SAIT Lead: Applied Research and Innovation Services, School of Construction Collaborators: EnerVision, Avalon Master Builder, industry partners Start/End: October 2008 / Summer 2009 Background: To be part of Building Green means new ways of thinking about common building practices. It means seeing the house as a system.
Research shows that the various parts of a house work together as a system that interacts with both the surrounding environment and the occupants. The overall comfort, durability and energy efficiency of a house depends on how well the system works. Objectives: To build a series of transportable laboratories or single family residential homes reflecting the Calgary climate zones in an attempt to: - create a group of high performance houses that push the barriers of conventional construction to define both a Near Zero and Net Zero residential envelope energy standard for Western Canada.
- explore Building Integrated Solar Thermal and Solar Storage
- hire nationally recognized green building project leads and attract international green building researchers and technologists
The homes will be: - monitored for energy efficiency, renewable energy technologies, green building materials, and market viability
- constructed within a larger "greenhouse", a pre-engineered membrane structure
Outcomes: - support for companies bringing innovative green building technologies, products, programs, systems and services to market quickly
- integration of Construction, Design, Research, Building Science, Technology, Mechanical and Electrical and Performance Modeling into curriculum
- quantification of energy savings using a least-cost optimization approach
Related Links: EnerVision
Avalon Master Builder
Net Zero Energy Home Coalition
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
Alberta Solar Decathlon
Drake Landing Solar Community
Gluten-Free Recipe Development SAIT Lead: School of Hospitality and Tourism Collaborators: Start/End: July 2008 / September 2008 Background: Celiac disease is one of the most common chronic health disorders in western countries. It is a lifelong, genetic disorder affecting children and adults in which the absorptive surface of the small intestine is damaged by a substance called gluten. There is no cure for celiac disease and treatment is strict adherence to a gluten-free diet for life.
Gluten is found in flour and wheat and is the agent that helps bread and other baked goods bind, preventing crumbling. It is widely used in the production of many processed and packaged foods, making them unsuitable for those who require a gluten-free diet. Such a diet is recommended not only for people with celiac disease, but for those with autism, colitis, irritable bowel syndrome and arthritis. Objectives: While many gluten-free recipes exist, the end product is traditionally very heavy, dense and lacking in taste. The researchers are aiming to: - develop products that compare in taste and texture to regular baking,
- increase the shelf life of gluten-free products developed, and
- produce a commercially viable bun recipe that can be frozen and par-baked.
Outcomes: - Develop quality and convenient gluten-free recipes for SAIT's School of Hospitality and Tourism, and
- create a cookbook to be used within SAIT's Highwood Dining Room, for teaching and learning purposes and for the larger community.
Related Links: Canadian Celiac Association
Quantum Key Distribution - A SAIT Polytechnic and University of Calgary Research Collaboration SAIT Lead: School of Information and Communications Technologies Collaborators: University of Calgary, General Dynamics Canada Start/End: April 2007 / April 2012 Background: The security of current public-key based encryption methods is based on the unproven principle that finding the encryption key requires tremendous computing effort. These techniques are vulnerable to sudden advances in computer technology, faster code-breaking algorithms, and the potential development of a quantum computer.
Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) is an application of Quantum Information Technology that provides a totally secure method of exchanging keys that can be used to perform encryption with guaranteed security.
This technology is already being used in very limited and specialized applications but requires significant development before it can be widely deployed. Objectives: To increase the performance and consequent commercial viability of QKD by: - developing QKD to the point where it can operate at very high bit rates over extended internetworks
- building a test bed that can be used for research and industrial development
Outcomes: - Connection between the University of Calgary and SAIT labs using existing (dark) optical fiber
- Expansion of network to include General Dynamics Canada so that more complex internetworking issues can be explored
- Faster and more robust QKD through investigation of different techniques in a point-to-point topology
Related Links: Institute for Quanutm Information Science at the University of Calgary
General Dynamics Canada
SAIT Centre for Innovation Information Technology Solutions (CIITS) SAIT Lead: Applied Research and Innovation Services Collaborators: Alberta Innovation and Science; Western Economic Diversification Canada; Microsoft; WellPoint Systems Inc., Cisco Systems; HP Canada; DIRTT Environmental Solutions; MEMX Corporate; Tripp Lite; Enfocom; D-Link Networks; Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters (CME) Start/End: September 2005/ongoing Background: Small to medium enterprises (SMEs) have often been reluctant to adopt new information technology solutions because of concerns around going live without prior testing and fit of the applications with business practices. The Centre is a non-profit, vendor-neutral collaboration between SAIT Polytechnic, the governments of Alberta and Canada and industry partners who will work together to address these concerns. Objectives: To provide SMEs with a secure pre-adoption simulation, testing and training environment, where they can develop IT solutions prior to implementation, together with Information Technology Solutions Providers. To decrease the cost and risk of implementing new technology and to accelerate the adoption of new technology solutions. Outcomes: - Acceleration of technology adoption
- Reduction of operational costs while improving customer service
- Better management of globalization and outsourcing
- Opportunity for applied student practicums within the Centre
Related Links:
Southern Alberta Intellectual Property (SAIP) Network SAIT Lead: Applied Research and Innovation Services Collaborators: UofC/University Technologies International; Mount Royal College; Red Deer College; NSERC; CIHR; SSHRC Start/End: June 2005/May 2008 Background: University Technologies International/University of Calgary, Mount Royal College, Red Deer College and SAIT Polytechnic joined forces in 2005 to create the Southern Alberta Intellectual Property (SAIP) Network. The Network draws on the collective knowledge of it's members in the area of intellectual property mobilization. This collaboration will increase the benefit to Albertans of our growing investment in research. The Network will work together to enhance technology commercialization projects by extending value-added services from our institutions, to those in the Network and to industry partners. Objective: To build awareness, support innovation, and develop skills and expertise in technology transfer within member institutions that will lead to commercialization. Outcomes: - A technology transfer and commercialization cluster in Southern Alberta
- Increased knowledge and expertise in technology transfer and intellectual property
- Intellectual property mobilization best practices - cooperative demonstration projects
- Educational seminar series and annual conference for faculty, staff, students, industry and government
Related Links:
Enerplus Innovation Centre SAIT Lead: Applied Research and Innovation Services Collaborators: Enerplus Start/End: Fall 2009/ongoing Background: Small to medium enterprises (SMEs) in Western Canada, in particular, face challenges in a number of stages of the entire process of translating ideas into the successful technology adoption that they depend upon to: - Enhance the productivity/efficiency and lower the cost of manufacturing and use of technology in operations
- Improve the quality of the products they deliver
- Introduce new products or technology
These constraints can compromise their growth and competitive position in both Canadian an global markets. SAIT Polytechnic is uniquely positioned to offer a solution to SMEs by leveraging and enhancing its applied research capabilities, strengthen trades and technology, and track record of applied research projects with industry, to provide the facilities, resources and applied research know-how to overcome barriers that SMEs face. Objective: To design and build a facility that will provide applied research capabilities for SMEs in energy, manufacturing and construction sectors. Outcomes: - Facilities, resources and know-how for companies to cost-effectively select, develop, evaluate, fine-tune and adopt new technology in a vendor neutral environment
- Convenient access to focused and unencumbered experts and resources to guide and support clients throughout the process of identifying and making technology changes required getting from idea to operational adoption faster and more-effectively
- Support to easily develop or fine-tune technology/equipment that is part of their own process; to improve productivity, increase capacity and enhance quality, etc.
- An industrial scale facility in their clients’ backyard to showcase their products
- A recognized facility to validate their product performance in an environment that can duplicate their clients’ field conditions
SpeechLab Development Project SAIT Lead: School of Information and Communications Technologies Collaborators: Southern Alberta Intellectual Property Network (SAIPN), University Technologies International (UTI) Start/End: March 2007/October 2007 Background: In 1999/2000, SpeechLab was developed and implemented in-house for broadcast speech training, replacing an expensive hardware-based speech lab. It utilized SAIT’s desktop and laptop computer labs, with each student purchasing their own low-cost microphone headset. SpeechLab is an excellent alternative to a hardware-based speech lab, which costs up to ten times as much as a PC desktop or laptop lab, yet can only be used for a single function. In 2005, a major redesign was completed, and over 50 enhancements were added, and the application was renamed SpeechLab 2.0. Since its implementation, six instructors and over 500 students have used SpeechLab effectively. OBJECTIVES: To develop a speech training product with serious commercial potential, incorporating features that enable the technology to be applied to sectors beyond broadcast speech training. For example, helpdesk and reception practice, or pronunciation for specialized vocabularies such as legal and medical. The program can also be effective for evaluating practice sales and marketing pitches, or as an aid to teaching public speaking and acting. Outcomes: The outcomes of the proposed project will be an enhanced version of SpeechLab, benefiting SAIT students in the classroom, and software with heightened commercial potential.
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