ENGINEERING - 2015
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YOUR INNOVATION. OUR EXPERTISE. YOU SHOULD EXPECT YOUR LAWYERS TO LOOK BEYOND THE OBVIOUS AND EXPLORE NEW POSSIBILITIES. IT’S WHAT WE DO EVERY DAY AT MILLER THOMSON. We understand the unique challenges faced by businesses in the high-tech and tech innovation sectors - and we’re perfectly situated to help. Miller Thomson’s Kitchener-Waterloo office has been a trusted partner to the region’s business community for over 155 years. Today, we have grown to be part of a national firm with over 450 lawyers in 11 offices across Canada, offering the national reach and complete range of legal services to support all aspects of your business. Located in the heart of the region’s technology cluster, Miller Thomson provides creative, practical and costeffective solutions to our clients’ varied legal needs. Local knowledge, breadth of expertise and an unyielding commitment to service excellence enable us to help you achieve your business objectives. For more information, contact: Christine Jonker Business Development Manager 519.593.2398 cjonker@millerthomson.com
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
4 5 6 10 11
Addressing Complex Environmental Challenges One Project At A Time
Tomorrow’s Transportation Leveraging Big Data To Make Smarter Decisions
Nano Nano Cleaning Toxic Water
Tenant Directory Research + Technology Park University of Waterloo
Putting a World Class Engineering Education to Work
There are millions of engineers working in the economy today, and we’ll need millions more over the coming decades, for jobs and technologies we’ve not yet dreamed of.
HAIL TO THE ENGINEER Carol Stewart, David Johnston Research + Technology Park University of Waterloo and Immediate Past President and Founder, Association of University Research Parks Canada, www.aurpcanada.com
Waterloo Region is renowned for producing world-class engineering talent. Engineers educated at the University of Waterloo are in high demand around the globe, and are central to the start up and technology ecosystem that has become an integral part of our Region’s brand identity. In this issue of Watch, we pay tribute to the engineers here at the David Johnston Research + Technology Park. • I n “Nano Nano” we meet the brilliant founders of H2Nano and learn how they are using revolutionary nanotechnology to clean contaminated water supplies. www.rtpark.uwaterloo.ca @RTPARKUW DESIGN: BLUEGIRL, WRITER: IGNITION, PHOTOGRAPHY: ONE FOR THE WALL © 2015 Watch Magazine is a publication of the David Johnston Research + Technology Park. All rights reserved. Reproduction without written permission from the David Johnston Research + Technology Park is strictly forbidden.
•W e learn more about an exciting new collaboration between three technology firms – Miovision, Brisk Synergies and Ecopia – all of whom had their beginning at the Waterloo Accelerator Centre. •W e chat with Dr. David Major, one of the founders of GeoSyntec, a global environmental engineering firm with deep roots in Waterloo Region, and; •W ith the help of Christine Moresoli, Associate Dean, Co-operative Education & Professional Affairs, University of Waterloo, we take a proud look at University of Waterloo’s world-class engineering coop program, examining its growth and impact.
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GEOSYNTEC CONSULTANTS, ACCELERATOR BUILDING
L to R: Evan Cox, M.Sc., Principal (Geosyntec) • Todd McAlary, P.Eng, Ph.D., Principal (Geosyntec) • Michaye McMaster, M.Sc., Principal, Branch Manager (Geosyntec)
David Major, Ph.D., Principal, Managing Director (Savron) • Peter Dollar, Associate, Managing Director (SiREM) Karen Berry-Spark, M.Sc., Principal (Geosyntec) • Tom Krug, P.Eng, M.Sc., Principal (Geosyntec)
Addressing Complex Environmental Challenges One Project At A Time
For many years, industry marched to its own drumbeat, producing products and resources for the business and consumer markets with little care or forethought regarding the environmental consequences of its actions. Today however, our society benefits from stricter environmental protection laws and an elevated collective social consciousness about the environment and the need to protect our fragile ecosystem from industrial contamination. Established in 1983, Geosyntec Consultants is a specialized consulting and engineering firm focused on solving the complex problems involving our environment, natural resources and civic infrastructure. The firm’s 1000+ engineers, scientists and technologists serve a broad spectrum of industries including oil and gas, refining, chemical and petrochemical, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology, diversified manufacturing, electric power utility and solid waste management sectors, to local governments, regional authorities, state agencies and US federal department and agencies. “The environment business has its unique challenges,” says Dr. David Major, Principal at Geosyntec Consultants and a founding member of the firm’s Canadian office. “Everyone likes to make dinner, but no one wants to clean up. Within the sector, our clients
continue to deal with a lot of historical legacy issues, related to environmental contamination and cleanup.” Geosyntec, with its strong track record for innovation, scientific/ engineering bench strength (25% of staff have PhDs and 50% have Masters many in cross disciplines), and close research collaborations with academic institutions such as the University of Waterloo, have set the firm up to be a leader in environmental clean up and prevention. Areas of specialization include ground water assessment and remediation, industrial water supply and wastewater management, vapour intrusion, brownfield redevelopment planning and design, and geohazard response and mitigation. Clients include such brand names as Amgen, BP, Boeing, DuPont, General Electric, NASA, and Lockheed Martin. In addition to helping its clients deal with their most pressing environmental concerns, Geosyntec has adopted its own green remediation strategy to minimize the environmental footprints associated to the clean up of contaminated sites. It actively looks for opportunities for CO2 emission reduction, water preservation, use of renewable resources and other measures to minimize environmental impact and protect the health and safety of workers and the surrounding community. “It is important that in conducting our business, we also lead by example through our own environmental stewardship,” says Major. VIST: http://www.rtparkwatch.com/December2015 for an extended version of this article.
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MIOVISION, BRISK SYNERGIES, ECOPIA
Tomorrow’s
“
Transportation
Instead of tearing up roads and building big capital projects, transportation officials in municipalities are looking to leverage Big Data to make smarter decisions about our transportation infrastructure. It’s a business challenge three Waterloo companies with a direct Accelerator Centre connection are looking to solve through a newly formed partnership.
Urban planners and transportation leaders need living breathing visualizations of their cities to address short term problems and better plan for the future.
”
“Today cities have very little data on the performance of their transportation infrastructure,” explains Kurtis McBride, CEO and founder of Miovision, a Waterloo Region based global leader in traffic systems technology. “When a city starts a new transportation project, they often map and model the traffic for that particular area, but after the project is complete the data model is thrown out and/or becomes obsolete.” Miovision, an Accelerator Centre (AC) graduate, has partnered up with current AC startups Brisk Synergies and Ecopia to build a solution allowing a city to use data capture, visualization and analytics to create a real-time image of itself. The three companies are now actively working on multiple pilot projects for North American cities. Technologies from the three companies come together to form an intelligent transportation system. Miovision’s Spectrum wirelessly connects into traffic cabinets located within a city’s intersections, capturing and connecting intersection traffic data to the cloud. Using WIFI pinging between different locations, Spectrum devices create unique anonymous identifiers for different vehicles. That data is fed into Brisk Synergy’s analytic engine to determine the real-time flow of traffic. Then Ecopia generates highly detailed maps from satellite imagery allowing cities to simulate and visualize traffic flow scenarios. The partnership between the three companies speaks to the strength of Waterloo Region’s ecosystem, says Paul Salvini, CEO of the Waterloo Accelerator Centre. “Right within this community, we have some of the best talent in the world taking on the most complex and challenging problems. The fact Miovision has been able to collaborate with two of our current startups and fellow University of Waterloo alums to realize its vision for an intelligent transportation system is truly fantastic.” VIST: http://www.rtparkwatch.com/December2015 for an extended version of this article.
KURTIS MCBRIDE CEO, MIOVISION YUANMING SHU FOUNDER, ECOPIA
CHARLES CHUNG CEO, BRISK SYNERGIES ENGINEERING - 2015
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H2NANO, UNIVERSITY OF WATERLOO
Nano Nano At the size of just one billionth of a metre, a nano is a very, very small thing. However, the potential for research and at this atomic scale is absolutely huge, as properties of materials can radically change when their size approaches that of a few tens or hundreds of atoms. The University of Waterloo is leading the world in the development of nano-materials, nano-electronics, nanoinstrumentation and nano-biosystems that will ultimately and fundamentally change the world. It is also producing some of the most exciting startups to appear on the Waterloo technology landscape. H2nanO, a startup founded by Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology research chair Dr. Frank Gu and PhD candidates Stuart Linley and Tim Leshuk, had its start in Gu’s research lab when the team was initially experimenting with using magnetic nanoparticles to “light up” the location of cancer tumors during an MRI. “One day Frank came into the lab and proposed the idea of using the same kind of magnetic nanoparticles to clean contaminated water,” Tim recalls with a grin. “I remember thinking to myself that this was a terrible idea.”
TIM LESHUK CO-FOUNDER OF H2NANO
VIST: http://www.rtparkwatch.com/December2015 for an extended version of this article.
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Turns out it was an exceptional idea. Here’s how it works. Recyclable nanocatalysts are wrapped in a titanium dioxide coating and introduced into a contaminated water source. They are then exposed to sunlight (or UV light), which serves as the energy source. The reaction of the coating plus the energy source then destroys the water contaminant, and the nanocatalysts are drawn back out of the water to be recycled and reused. The approach is able to attack even the most microscopic of contaminants in our water supply that traditional chlorinebased water treatments can’t touch, eliminating everything from traces of estrogen to illicit drugs. After treatment, the water is pure enough to drink. In the short term, H2nanO’s team is targeting an immediate and high exposure environmental concern - cleaning the toxic water contained in oil sands tailings ponds, and have been proving the process works in the lab using shipped-in tailing ponds water.
Nano technology cleaning toxic water: before and after
“
We have proven the approach works,” says Stuart. “That’s no longer the question. Now we’re focused on how it works on a large scale when we’re dealing with 100s of thousands of gallons rather than volumes of 500 litres. For engineers who are used to working with nanos, thinking big is a really new and fun challenge to have.
”
STUART LINLEY CO-FOUNDER OF H2NANO
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N CONSTR •
terminal in Waterloo to the Fairview Park Mall tra terminal in Kitchener. Stage 1 also features 17 ki of adapted bus rapid transit (aBRT) from the Ains Street transit terminal in Cambridge to the Fairvie Mall transit terminal in Kitchener. Stage 2 will see Region convert the aBRT line to LRT, creating a 37-kilometre route of LRT across the three urban – Cambridge, Kitchener and Waterloo. The Regio building ION aBRT. Construction of ION aBRT st in July 2014 and the service will begin operating spring of 2015.
Closure of Borden, between Charles and Courtland, starting October 29, 2014. Work will cease once winter weather arrives, at which point Borden will open to through traffic on a granular road surface. Temporary sidewalk closures near the active work area; signs will direct pedestrians to alternative routes. Temporary safety barrier and fencing installation. GrandLinq Contractors work crews will be on-site to help facilitate the movement of traffic and construction vehicles.
CONSTRUCTION ION CONSTRUCTION •
ING IN ARKIN CONSTRUCTION AHEAD
• •
RKING PARKING Let’sIN Build This! IN Building a light rail transit (LRT) service to support planned growth in the region is an enormous undertaking and we recognize that this work may cause some temporary inconveniences. We will strive to keep any disruption to a minimum.
About GrandLinq
In March 2014, GrandLinq was awarded the con design, build, finance, operate and maintain ION Waterloo Region. GrandLinq is a partnership of P Group, Meridiam Infrastructure, Aecon, Kiewit an The design and construction of ION will be carrie by GrandLinq Contractors, a joint venture of Aec Kiewit under a subcontract with GrandLinq.
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If you have a question or wish to speak with us about construction, please contact us. A GrandLinq Contractors representative will respond within one business day and will work with you to address any question or concern.
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ENGINEERING - 2015
The Waterloo Region Small Business Centre is an excellent resource for entrepreneurs and business owners providing information, guidance and seminars for those who are starting or growing their business. Our business advisors provide free and personalized consultations for all business sectors.
www.waterlooregionsmallbusiness.ca or call 519.747.6265 to attend a seminar, discuss your business idea, or to see how the Waterloo Region Small Business Centre can assist you at any stage of business! CONTACT BETH ESENBERGS SMALL BUSINESS ADVISOR EMAIL: beth.esenbergs@waterloo.ca
WATERLOO CITY CENTRE 100 REGINA ST SOUTH PHONE: 519.747.6265
YKFW1061_UW_WatchMagHalfPgAd_2015-HiRes.pdf
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ENGINEERING - 2015
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DAVID JOHNSTON RESEARCH + TECHNOLOGY PARK DIRECTORY 10 |
ABEX Accelerator Centre AGFA Alaunus Alert Labs Inc. ALIGNED Insurance Bidvine Inc. BioSensive Technologies Brisk Synergies Bykart Canadian Water Network Capacity Canada CISCO Conrad Business, Entrepreneurship & Technology Centre Consumer Kinetics Inc. Digital Governance Group Ecopia Tech Corporation Education Credit Union Eleven-X Inc. Emerging Star Investment Group Incorporated Enflick English Never Stops ENVionX Find Bob Ltd. FTD Highrise Inspection GainX Inc. GamerLink Geosyntec Consultants Grip Films HH Development Ltd. Huawei iKlyk Inc. In the Chat Communications Institute for Quantum Computing International Tabacco Policy Evaluation Project iSports Development Kids & Company Kineris Inc. Kinesthesiac Knowledge in Development Knowledgehook Inc. Konectera KTS Global Incorporated LiveApp (Silicon W) Miller Thomson LLP MyLocal (Sociavore) Nanotechnology Engineering National Research Council - IRAP Navtech, Inc. NeuRecall Inc. Not Your Child Corporation O2 Canada Ontario Centres of Excellence OpenText Pervasive Dynamics Inc. Phoyo Labs Propel Centre for Population Health Impact Reactor SAP Shapefactory Inc. Silqe Inc. Sixfactors Inc. SmartAd Social Venture Partners SSIMWave Inc. StreetCast StressWell IQ Inc. Takumitek Inc. TrafficSoda Universal Quantum Devices Vidya Consulting Inc. Visibull Inc. VIV Life Group WatSec Wingo Mobile Inc. (Scorena)
ENGINEERING - 2015
abexinsurance.com acceleratorcentre.com agfa.com alaunus.com alertlabs.com alignedinsuranceinc.com bidvine.com earosmart.com brisksynergies.com bykartsoftware.com cwn-rce.ca capacitycanada.ca cisco.com uwaterloo.ca/conrad-business-entrepreneurship-technology cartsmart.com digitalgovernancegroup.com ecopiatech.com ecusolutions.com eleven-x.com emergingstar.ca enflick.com englishneverstops.com envionx.com findbob.io ftdhighrise.com gainx.ca gamerlink.gg geosyntec.com gripfilms.ca hhtiming.com huawei.com iklyk.com inthechat.com uwaterloo.ca/institute-for-quantum-computing itcproject.org isportsdevelopment.com kidsandcompany.com kineris.com kineris.com/#/home languageuseinventory.com knowledgehook.com konectera.com ktsglobal.ca getliveapp.com millerthomson.com mylocalapp.ca uwaterloo.ca/nanotechnology nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/eng/irap navtech.aero neurecall.com notyourchild.com o2canada.com oce-ontario.org opentext.com pervasivedynamics.com acceleratorcentre.com/client/phoyo-labs uwaterloo.ca/propel acceleratorcentre.com/2015/08/the-acannounces-major-expansion go.sap.com openscad.org silqe.com sellento.com smartadbox.com socialventurepa tners.org ssimwave.com acceleratorcentre.com/client/streetcast stresswelliq.com acceleratorcentre.com/client/takumitek-inc trafficsoda.com uqdevices.com vidyaconsulting.com visibull.tv liveviv.com watsec.co scorena.ca
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CO-OP EDUCATION, THE UNIVERSITY OF WATERLOO
L to R: Tori Grootjen, Kharthik Ramanathan,
“
Eddie Murakami, Christine Moresoli - Associate Dean, Co-op Education, & Professional Affairs, Engineering, University of Waterloo, Michelle Liauw, Luke Elliott, Lu Yang
Co-op takes our students into industry, it provides them with the opportunity to learn on the job.
”
Putting a World Class Engineering Education to Work The history of co-op education is deeply entwined with the University of Waterloo story. Early on, it was a key distinction for the University. Today, it remains key differentiator and is the largest postsecondary co-op of its kind in the world.
founders. Ira Needles, then president of B.F. Goodrich Canada campaigned his industry counterparts to hire Waterloo co-op students, and the first co-op employers were construction companies, as the first class of 74 University Waterloo engineers – all participating in co-op – were Engineering was the University of trained in mechanical, civil, chemical and Waterloo’s first established faculty. In 1957, electrical disciplines. By 1962, there were the founders of University of Waterloo, Ira over 300 employers on board with the Needles, J. Gerald Hagey and Rev. Cornelius co-op program, including Canadian Pratt Siegfried, heard the call for Canada’s need & Whitney Aircraft Company, Kaufman for engineering and to ensure the engineers Rubber, Kimberly-Clark Pulp and Paper the University graduated had strong hands Company, Turnbull Elevator Company and on learning developed the very unique Union Carbide Canada. concept of co-operative education. Today, University of Waterloo attracts the The first co-op placements were best and brightest of students and its cosupported through the efforts of the
op program, the very best of employers. Co-operative Education and Career Action (CECA), now considers more than 6,300 organizations active co-op employers for 17,600+ work terms annually including many leading Fortune 500 brands, who travel to Waterloo to seek out engineering. “We stand in a class of our own in the world,” says Christine Moresoli, Associate Dean, Co-operative Education & Professional Affairs, University of Waterloo. “We have no comparators in terms of the size and scope of the co-op program we run. University of Waterloo is very industry connected, and that strength is based on what we’ve built through co-op.”
VIST: http://www.rtparkwatch.com/December2015 for an extended version of this article.
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