Why Instrumentation & Measurement is Critical in Underground Construction and What Challenges it Faces
Speaker: Dr. Michael Gard, Charles Machine Works, Perry, Oklahoma, USA
Date: Thursday, September 15, 2011
Time: Registration, Refreshments and Networking: 06:30 p.m.; Seminar: 07:00 p.m. – 08:15 p.m.
Location: Algonquin College, Room B156, B-Building, 1385 Woodroffe Ave., Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Parking: No fee after 5 p.m. at the Parking Lots 8 & 9. Please respect restricted areas.
Admission: Free. Registration required. To ensure a seat, please register by e-mail contacting: Branislav Djokic
Organized by: IEEE Ottawa IMS, PES, and RS Chapters, Ottawa Educational Activities, and IEEE Algonquin College Student Branch
Contact: Branislav Djokic, Wahab Almuhtadi, or Cameron Hunt
Abstract: This Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) is a construction technique used to emplace utilities without trenching or digging. Although borehole creation is a mechanical process, surprisingly complex electronics and software are needed to locate, detect and avoid existing utilities; plan the borepath; determine depth; steer the drill string; and control the machine. The primary tools for routine field operations rely on magnetic field measurements and are significantly constrained by power limitations, physical demands of the construction environment, and a difficult, highly variable, and unpredictable medium (soil, sand, gravel, and rock). This presentation introduces the basic physics, technology, and techniques employed in obstacle location and borepath tracking; reviews recent experimental research involving data telemetry and unconventional applications of the industry’s magnetic field technology; reviews the current state of ground penetrating radar (GPR) in HDD applications; and touches on some difficult and unanswered problems still awaiting solutions.
Autonomous Aero-Visual and Sensor Based Inspection Network for Asset Monitoring
Speaker: Dr. Arun Somani, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
Date: Thursday, September 22, 2011
Time: Registration and Networking: 06:00 p.m.; Seminar: 07:00 p.m. – 08:00 p.m.
Location: Algonquin College, Room T129, T-Building, 1385 Woodroffe Ave., Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Admission: Free. Registration required. To ensure a seat, please register by e-mail contacting: Wahab Almuhtadi at almuhtadi@ieee.org
Organized by: IEEE Ottawa Communications Society, Broadcast Technology Society, and Consumer Electronics Society (ComSoc / BTS / CES) Joint Chapter, IEEE Ottawa Power Engineering Society Chapter (PES), and IEEE Algonquin College Student Branch (ACSB)
More information: Cameron Hunt, Abdul Al-Azzawi, or Wahab Almuhtadi
Abstract: This talk introduces a theoretical and experimental program to develop the inspection and fault detection technology needed to integrate MAVs for persistent intelligence, reconnaissance, maintenance and surveillance for obscured or logistically challenging assets in non-urban environments. The design is explained using a context of heterogeneous deployment of wireless sensors for real-time asset monitoring by anticipating exceptional conditions and building the system to cope with them. The system converges towards an error-free state with self-stabilization, the ability to fall back to a safe mode in a financially feasible manner. This sophisticated mechanism requires a real-time capacity estimation capability to sustain the quality-of-service, which can be achieved by a distributed sensor network. We discuss issues in design and information propagation in such sensor clustered topology, optimization for power-aware networking, and link and node capacity assignment to achieve the desired goals.
Nuclear Power Plant Incident in Fukushima, Japan – a Canadian Perspective
Speaker: Fred Boyd, Canadian Nuclear Society, Canada
Date: Friday, September 23, 2011
Time: Registration, Refreshments and Networking: 06:30 p.m.; Seminar: 07:00 p.m. – 08:15 p.m.
Location: Algonquin College, Room B156, B-Building, 1385 Woodroffe Ave., Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Parking: No fee after 5 p.m. at the Parking Lots 8 & 9. Please respect restricted areas.
Admission: Free. Registration required. To ensure a seat, please register by e-mail contacting: Branislav Djokic
Organized by: IEEE Ottawa IMS, PES, and RS Chapters, Ottawa Educational Activities, and IEEE Algonquin College Student Branch
Contact: Branislav Djokic, Wahab Almuhtadi, or Cameron Hunt
Abstract: An illustrated account of the consequences of the major Richter scale 9 earthquake and ensuing huge tsunami of 11 March 2011 on the nuclear power units at the Fukushima Dai-ichi plant in Japan. This presentation will focus primarily on the most significant events at the plants that led to fuel failures and release of radioactive substances. The extent and nature of those releases will be noted. The action of the Japanese government and the reaction of the international community will be mentioned. A very brief introduction to nuclear power will be offered for those who have not taken “Nuclear 101” and, in conclusion, the action of the Canadian regulator including some comparisons of the design of the Fukushima reactors and CANDU.
Communications for the Smart Grid
Speaker: Dr. Stephen Bush, Researcher at General Electric Global Research, Niskayuna, NY, USA
Date: Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Time: Registration and Networking: 06:00 p.m.; Seminar: 07:00 p.m. – 08:00 p.m.
Location: Algonquin College, Room T129, T-Building, 1385 Woodroffe Ave., Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Admission: Free. Registration required. To ensure a seat, please register by e-mail contacting: Wahab Almuhtadi at almuhtadi@ieee.org
Organized by: IEEE Ottawa Communications Society, Broadcast Technology Society, and Consumer Electronics Society (ComSoc / BTS / CES) Joint Chapter, IEEE Ottawa Power Engineering Society Chapter (PES), and IEEE Algonquin College Student Branch (ACSB)
More information: Kristjan Solvason_Brown, Abdul Al-Azzawi, or Wahab Almuhtadi
Abstract: Electric power grids around the world are rapidly evolving to make more extensive use of communication technology. New intelligent electronic devices are being developed and deployed in which communications is becoming a ubiquitous and natural part of power systems allowing new forms of collaborative behavior. An analogy is often made between the interconnection of personal computers many decades ago resulting in the rise of the Internet and what is happening within the power grid today. However, the power grid is a large and complex machine with many aspects; it comprises a very broad set of topics. This hour-long talk will begin with a review of power systems and focus upon emerging communications capabilities within the power grid including: metering and demand-response, distributed generation, fault detection isolation and restoration, and a brief overview of emerging standards. We will end with a discussion of more speculative innovations that may impact the smart grid further into the future.
Organized by: IEEE Ottawa PES, and IEEE Algonquin Student Branch
Date & Time: March 30, 2011. 5:00pm to 8:30pm
Location: Queen’s University, Walter Light Hall, Room-302 19 Union Street, Kingston, Ontario K7L 3N6
Contact: Kristjan Solvason-Brown, Patrick Couture, Abdul Al-Azzawi, or Wahab Almuhtadi
IEEE Student Professional Awareness Conference SPAC 2011
Organized by: IEEE Carleton Student Branch, IEEE uOttawa Student Branch, and IEEE Algonquin Student Branch
Date & Time: Thursday, March 10, 2011, 6:00 PM – 10:30 PM
Location: Fairmont Chateau Laurier, Ottawa, ON., Canada
Parking: Free
Admission: Early Bird Tickets Special!: IEEE Members*:$10 ,Non-members:$15
Regular Tickets (March 4th + Door) New Prices!: IEEE Members*:$15 Non-members:$20
Regular Tickets: IEEE Members*:$20 Non-members:$25
Registration: by dropping by the IEEE Carleton Student Branch or IEEE UOttawa Student Branch
Details: http://www.ieeespac.ca/
Contact: Avinash Kothapalli, Davy Zou, Daphne Ong, Kristoffer, or Kristjan Solvason-Brown
Abstract: IEEE Student Professional Awareness Conference (SPAC) is a formal dinner event that aims to bridge the gap between students and their career goals. SPAC offers students and employers a unique opportunity to network with each other in a professional environment along with professionals and academics representing the field of Engineering.
Click here for more info about the event.
More information: Kristjan Solvason-Brown, Abdul Al-Azzawi, or Wahab Almuhtadi
Beyond Engineering Series: Non-traditional Career Paths
Organized by: IEEE Ottawa EiT and IEEE Algonquin Student Branch
Date & Time: Wednesday, February 16, 2011, 6:00 PM
Registration and Networking: 05:30 p.m.; Seminar: 06:00 p.m. – 08:30 p.m
Location: Algonquin College, Room P303, P-Building, 1385 Woodroffe Ave., Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Parking: Free after 5:00 PM in parking area #9
Admission: Free, Registration required. To ensure a seat, please register by e-mail contacting: thamelenee@ieee.org
Details: http://ottawa.ieee.ca/eit/
Abstract: Engineering/Science degrees can enable many career paths, some of which are non-traditional paths. Through this seminar, we would like to open your eyes for other career options including law, entrepreneurship, finance and academics.
Click here for more info about the event.
More information: Emily Chen, Kristjan Solvason_Brown, Abdul Al-Azzawi, or Wahab Almuhtadi