University Of Waterloo Research Articles

A Pilot Study of Instrumented Unbonded Concrete Overlay in Toronto

Unbonded concrete overlays provide structural rehabilitation and can be cost effective when the existing pavements are highly distressed and/or removal of existing pavement layers is not desirable. This paper describes a pilot study, which involves a three way partnership between the University of Waterloo, the Cement Association of Canada and the City of Toronto, to evaluate and document the performance of the first instrumented unbonded concrete overlay in Canada. The rehabilitation area is located at a heavily-trafficked intersection on Bloor Street and Aukland Road in the City of Toronto. The large volumes of bus traffic from the nearby subway station caused significant damage to the pavement structure. The rehabilitation design was composed of placing an unbonded concrete overlay on Bloor Street and replacing the section on Aukland Road with full depth exposed concrete. Twelve strain gauges are embedded in the concrete layer and they are strategically located along the wheel paths of the buses. The sensors are being monitored to assess long-term performance of the concrete overlay and the full depth concrete subjected to traffic and climatic loads. This paper outlines the design parameters, site conditions, and material properties of the overlay. The construction and full-scale instrumentation of this project are described, followed by preliminary analyses of up-to-date performance records.

Opportunities and Obstacles for an Embedded STS Program in Engineering

The “Embedded STS Program” is a model for teaching the ethics of engineering and technology via instructors from a Science and Technology Studies (STS) program housed directly within an Engineering department. Our institution, the University of Waterloo, has an embedded STS-like program under another name, the Centre for Society, Technology, and Values (CSTV). In this paper, we share the results of a qualitative survey completed by 43 students recruited from seven of the CSTV courses offered in 2022. These results provide context as to obstacles and opportunities in the embedded program related to curricular, institutional, and cultural dimensions. We conclude there is a need for resources and leadership to manage the curricular and cultural obstacles that hinder (1) students in applying knowledge on ethics and social impacts across educational and professional contexts and (2) institutions in drawing upon STS expertise for teaching engineering and technology ethics.

Does fast- or slow-running time make us happier: a tribute to Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi

This article is written as a tribute to Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi (1934–2021), whose Experience Sampling Method and ideas about the relationship between time passage and optimal experience (flow) laid the ground for the analyses of the effects of perceived passage of time, time pressure, and social rhythms of life on the feelings of happiness. Popular literature abounds with statements that the accelerated rhythms of modern life are taxing us emotionally. This article examines findings that justify both our intuitive fears of the accelerated rhythms of modern life and findings about people’s apparent enjoyment of fast-running time. Data for the analyses in the article are taken from the 2003 Experience Sampling Survey of Time Use and Well-Being, conducted at the University of Waterloo in Canada, and from Canada’s 2010 General Social Survey.

Adaptive and soft constrained vision-map vehicle localization using Gaussian processes and instance segmentation

The accurate and reliable localization is crucial for the safe performance of autonomous vehicles in uncertain and complex environments such as urban areas. Thus, this paper contributes by presenting a feature-based localization framework for autonomous vehicles where segmented map features are used for designing soft and adaptive constraints for Particle Filtering. After obtaining features of landmarks (light poles) in instance-based segmented images acquired from a monocular camera, vehicle-to-landmark distances are predicted using Gaussian Process Regression models (GPR). Both mean and variance (uncertainty) outputs of Gaussian Process models were used to implement adaptive soft constraints. Experimental results over the WATonoBus from the University of Waterloo confirm that the use of the proposed constraints improves the vehicle states estimation. Using instance segmentation increases the vehicle-to-landmark distance prediction accuracy by 27% and keeps the real-time processing capability of the proposed approach. Besides, the proposed approach reliably localizes the vehicle in very noisy conditions using only a monocular camera, even with a reduced number of landmarks, reducing the localization Euclidean error from 2.55 m to 0.97 m when compared to an unconstrained Particle Filter.

How to Implement a Data Analytics and Emerging Technologies-Enabled Accounting Curriculum

ABSTRACT As technological advancements reshape the accounting profession, the School of Accounting and Finance (SAF) at the University of Waterloo integrated Data Analytics and Emerging Technologies (AET) into its curriculum. This initiative equips students with essential and advanced AET skills, employing tools like spreadsheets, Tableau, Alteryx, R, Python, RPA, and blockchain. This paper builds on our experiences to provide a framework to help educators integrate AET into the accounting program at their institutions. We outline the strategic development and implementation challenges experienced in developing our program. JEL Classifications: M41.

Digital Academia: Exploring Students' Attitudes on Online Learning

COVID-19 necessitated higher education institutions to adopt online learning for traditional undergraduate students. The implementation of online learning attained praise, especially from socially anxious students, yet it also enhanced hardships for others. The present study qualitatively explored undergraduate students’ attitudes toward online learning and the outcomes of the return to in-person learning on social anxiety. The sample comprised 1058 (Mage = 19.86, SD = 3.53 years) undergraduate students from Carleton University and the University of Waterloo. Results from thematic analysis revealed that most students preferred in-person learning for its numerous advantages including self-improvement, socialization, traditional university experience, and higher education quality. Moreover, a large proportion of respondents indicated traditional learning could hinder socially anxious students due to adjustments in course delivery, social connections, decreasing mental well-being, COVID-19 fears, and deficiencies in social skills. Findings will be discussed on strategies to support students using different learning modalities.

The AutoICE Challenge

Abstract. Mapping sea ice in the Arctic is essential for maritime navigation, and growing vessel traffic highlights the necessity of the timeliness and accuracy of sea ice charts. In addition, with the increased availability of satellite imagery, automation is becoming more important. The AutoICE Challenge investigates the possibility of creating deep learning models capable of mapping multiple sea ice parameters automatically from spaceborne synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imagery and assesses the current state of the automatic-sea-ice-mapping scientific field. This was achieved by providing the tools and encouraging participants to adopt the paradigm of retrieving multiple sea ice parameters rather than the current focus on single sea ice parameters, such as concentration. The paper documents the efforts and analyses, compares, and discusses the performance of the top-five participants’ submissions. Participants were tasked with the development of machine learning algorithms mapping the total sea ice concentration, stage of development, and floe size using a state-of-the-art sea ice dataset with dual-polarised Sentinel-1 SAR images and 22 other relevant variables while using professionally labelled sea ice charts from multiple national ice services as reference data. The challenge had 129 teams representing a total of 179 participants, with 34 teams delivering 494 submissions, resulting in a participation rate of 26.4 %, and it was won by a team from the University of Waterloo. Participants were successful in training models capable of retrieving multiple sea ice parameters with convolutional neural networks and vision transformer models. The top participants scored best on the total sea ice concentration and stage of development, while the floe size was more difficult. Furthermore, participants offered intriguing approaches and ideas that could help propel future research within automatic sea ice mapping, such as applying high downsampling of SAR data to improve model efficiency and produce better results.

SPEctacle Correction for the TReatment of Amblyopia (SPECTRA): study protocol for a prospective non-randomised interventional trial in adults with anisometropic/mixed mechanism amblyopia

IntroductionAmblyopia is a neurodevelopmental vision disorder typically affecting one eye, resulting in compromised binocular function. While evidence-based treatments exist for children, there are no widely accepted treatments for adults. This...

Interfacing DNA and Aptamers with Gold Nanoparticles: From Fundamental Colloid and Interface Sciences to Biosensors

Comprehensive SummaryInterfacing DNA oligonucleotides and DNA aptamers with gold nanoparticles has generated numerous functional hybrid materials for sensing, self‐assembly and drug delivery applications. Our lab has been working in this area for 15 years. In this article, the current understanding of the adsorption of DNA to gold nanoparticles is summarized, and related applications in bioconjugation of DNA to gold surface is described. In addition, problems of using gold nanoparticles to signaling aptamer binding are discussed. Finally, re‐selection of aptamers for previously reported targets using the library‐immobilization method is reviewed. What is the most favorite and original chemistry developed in your research group?My most favorite and original work is the study of biointerface chemistry between DNA oligonucleotides and gold nanoparticles enabling rapid DNA bioconjugation by lowering the pH and freezing.How do you get into this specific field? Could you please share some experiences with our readers?My PhD training was focused on catalytic DNA for the detection of metal ions, when I used gold nanoparticles to signal the reactions catalyzed by DNA. When I started my independent career in the University of Waterloo in 2009, I realized that there were many fundamental issues regarding gold nanoparticles and DNA to be studied. My first teaching assignment was a course named ‘Surfaces and Interfaces’. By teaching this course, I learned a lot of surface science concepts that were later used in my research. That was the starting point for me to set up my own research program in this area.What is the most important personality for scientific research?Curiosity, careful observation, critical thinking, and keep trying.How do you keep balance between research and family?Research and personal life don’t have to be always in conflict. New ideas may spark when I am in a relaxed family environment.What are your favorite journals?Journal of the American Chemical Society, Angewandte Chemie International Edition, Nucleic Acids Research, Analytical Chemistry, Langmuir.What are your hobbies?Running; traveling; watching movies.

Preface: 5th International Symposium on Frontiers of Economics and Management Science (FEMS 2024)

It was a great pleasure to welcome you to 5th International Symposium on Frontiers of Economics and Management Science (FEMS 2024), which had been held successfully during April 13-14, 2024 in Macao, China. The organizing committees are very grateful indeed to the presence of Prof. W. Wang who from Central China Normal University, and Prof. W. Yue from University of Bedfordshire. We also wish to thank the plenary and invited speakers: Prof. S, Karsten from University of Waterloo, Canada, Prof. G.S. Liu from Hunan University, Prof. S. Zhu from Wuhan University, Prof. P. Wang from Guangzhou College of Commerce. FEMS 2024 had gained respect in the scientific community with consistent hard work of its organizers. The objective of publishing this proceedings is to record, acknowledge, and share the cherished contribution made by the symposium participants. With our warmest regards, Conference Committees

The sustainability and social entrepreneurship fellowship: transdisciplinary and multicultural problem-based engineering education

AbstractThe nine-week Sustainability and Social Entrepreneurship Fellowship at the University of Waterloo addressed urban habitation sustainability in London, Ontario, via a multicultural, trans-disciplinary approach. Undergraduate engineering students addressed housing and transportation environmental and social sustainability, guided by expert lectures and fieldwork. The program highlights the importance of diversity in engineering education and the need for structured cultural and educational management. Students proposed engineering solutions to sustainably improve the housing development process.

A Brief Survey on the Categorical Semantics for Geometry of Interaction In Memory of Phil Scott

Philip Scott, better known to his friends and colleagues as Phil, was a Professor of Mathematics at the University of Ottawa (Canada). Sadly, Phil passed away 1 after a long battle with cancer - which he bravely fought till the very end - on 18 December 2023 at the age of 76. Phil was born on 27 December 1947 in Leeds (UK). When Phil was still a baby, his family moved to North Carolina (USA), where he spent his childhood. He went on to study mathematics at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (USA), before moving to Canada in the 1970s. Phil did his Ph.D. at the University of Waterloo (Canada), supervised by Denis Higgs, and obtained his doctorate in pure mathematics in 1976. Phil joined the Mathematics Department at the University of Ottawa in 1982, eventually becoming Professor Emeritus, and remained there until his passing.

STRUCTURE OF THE HIGHER EDUCATION APPLICANTS’ ACADEMIC INTEGRITY COMPETENCE

The article analyzes various aspects of the academic integrity problem facing higher education students. An overview of the main state documents on the specified problem has been made: laws, codes, regulations, letters, methodological recommendations, etc. The points of view regarding the relevance and essence of the problem are based on the publications of domestic and foreign scientists. Attending online webinars and lectures on the sought-after problem on the Coursera and Prometheus platforms, familiarization with the scientific and practical conference programs, online courses on teaching academic integrity, surveying the teachers’ and students’ results on awareness of the issue of academic integrity lead to the conclusion about the relevance of the problem and the feasibility of its research. The study of scientific articles over the past five years allows to state that the problem of the academic integrity competence structure of higher education students remains relevant, but insufficiently researched, which has negative impact on the effectiveness of its formation. The concept of the academic integrity competence is clarified, and its structure based on the National Qualifications Framework (2020) is substantiated. We believe that the above-mentioned competence should consist of four sub-competencies; knowledge in academic integrity in the field of education, skills in academic integrity in the field of education, communication based on the principles of academic integrity in the field of education, responsibility and autonomy in compliance with academic integrity in the field of education. The structure of each of the subcompetencies, which consists of microcompetencies for a specific level of education and for each of the training courses, is defined according to the Academic Integrity Competency Resource Map (University of Waterloo, 2023). For example, sub-competency 1 “Knowledge in the field of academic integrity in education” covers 4 microcompetencies, the first of which is “Knowledge in the field of academic integrity in education” for undergraduate (first, second, third and fourth years), for master’s (first and second years), and postgraduate studies (first and second years). Subcompetencies two, three and four are similarly structured. The next step in the study of the mentioned problem is to specify the content of each of the microcompetencies.

Teaching concepts of acoustics in air—Part 3, reverberation

This paper has been written to participate in the “Education in Acoustics” session at the 2024 joint conference of the Canadian Acoustical Association and the Acoustical Society of America. It is written to build on Parts 1 and 2 of this series and similarly contains materials extracted from 30 years of teaching to Architects at the University of Waterloo and Dalhousie University in Halifax. Part 1 dealt primarily with sound propagation in air and the concepts of longitudinal wave motion, speed, frequency and wavelength and related effects which relate to what we perceive as pitch. Part 2 expanded on those concepts by discussing superposition and the definition and measurement of sound pressure, decibels and the decibel scale and how to manage decibels, all of which we perceive as loudness. Part 3 deals with reverberation, which is arguably the most important aspect of how sound propagates in indoor spaces. It affects both our ability to communicate and how we experience and perceive the quality of the acoustical environment. Practical demonstrations are provided to enhance learning of the concept of Reverberation. These include “hands on” demonstrations including physical experimentation, an audio demonstration and written materials to advance the concept.

The relationship between the agriculture and agro-industrial complex' development and the rural areas' sustainable development, including the social infrastructure's development

Vertinova A.A. [Methodology for assessing the level of co-development of universities and the region as an ecosystem]. Regional'naya ekonomika i upravlenie: elektronnyi nauchnyi zhurnal, 2021, no. 2. (In Russ.) URL: Link Navrotski A.V., Shakhovskaya L.S., Matcovskaya J.S. [The role of supporting regional universities in socio-economic development of Russian territories]. Izvestiya Volgogradskogo gosudarstvennogo tekhnicheskogo universiteta = Izvestia Volgograd State Technical University, 2017, no. 2, pp. 8–15. URL: Link%20-%202017.pdf (In Russ.) Baeva O.N. [Evaluating return on education at regional level]. Upravlenets = The Manager, 2013, no. 2, pp. 64–69. URL: Link (In Russ.) Nikitina E.V., Chistnikova I.V., Orlova A.V. [Economic potential of regions and assesment of efficiency of its use]. Nauchnye vedomosti Belgorodskogo gosudarstvennogo universiteta. Seriya: Istoriya. Politologiya. Ekonomika. Informatika = Belgorod State University Scientific Bulletin. History. Political Science. Economics. Information Technologies, 2012, no. 13, pp. 60–65. URL: Link (In Russ.) Ogurtsova E.V., Perfileva O.V., Firsova A.A. [Indicators of the university’s contribution to the innovative development of the region]. Universitetskoe upravlenie: praktika i analiz = University Management: Practice and Analysis, 2017, vol. 21, no. 4, pp. 53–62. (In Russ.) URL: Link Trencher G., Nagao M., Chen C. et al. Implementing Sustainability Co-Creation between Universities and Society: A Typology-Based Understanding. Sustainability, 2017, vol. 9, iss. 4. URL: Link Uyarra E. Conceptualizing the Regional Roles of Universities, Implications and Contradictions. European Planning Studies, 2010, vol. 18, iss. 8, pp. 1227–1246. URL: Link Bramwell A., Wolfe D.A. Universities and Regional Economic Development: The Entrepreneurial University of Waterloo. Research Policy, 2008, vol. 37, iss. 8, pp. 1175–1187. URL: Link Ponds R., Van Oort F., Frenken K. Innovation, Spillovers and University–Industry Collaboration: An Extended Knowledge Production Function Approach. Journal of Economic Geography, 2010, vol. 10, iss. 2, pp. 231–255. URL: Link Nechaeva M.L., Zhdankina I.Yu., Udalov F.E. [Inter-municipal cooperation as a tool for the development of regional municipal entities]. Regional'naya ekonomika: teoriya i praktika = Regional Economics: Theory and Practice, 2022, vol. 20, iss. 6, pp. 1052–1077. (In Russ.) URL: Link Sibiryaev A.S. [Rural development: results and methodology of ongoing scientific research]. Vestnik NGIEI = Bulletin NGIEI, 2023, no. 6, pp. 129–137. URL: Link (In Russ.) Shamin A.E., Zueva S.V. [Sustainable development of rural areas in the regional economy of the country]. Vestnik NGIEI = Bulletin NGIEI, 2022, no. 1, pp. 101–111. (In Russ.) URL: Link

Dorm-preneurship as Entrepreneurial Living and Learning: An Educational Design Ethnography

Entrepreneurship residence halls/dorms have been appearing on more and more campuses, especially in the United States and Canada. However, there is a very thin knowledge base on which to construct and design these expensive campus facilities/programs. Sometimes called “dormcubators,” these facilities/programs are linked to both the university business incubation (UBI) and living-learning communities (LLC) movements. As a result, the design and delivery of these hybrid spaces/programs can be oriented toward achieving economic (i.e., starting companies), social (i.e., building communities), and/or educational (i.e., entrepreneurial learning) outcomes. Prior research on other kinds of post-secondary LLCs suggests that the intended outcomes are also likely accompanied by unintended negative consequences for students and faculty. To understand how various dorm-preneurship program designs have worked in practice, this paper applies an ‘educational design ethnography’ approach to four different residential entrepreneurship programs at the University of Waterloo, Canada. The key finding is that problems arise when dorm-preneurship programs lack any link to educational/curricular outcomes and focus only on economic objectives or social ones. Four design principles are developed to guide research and development of similar programs in other contexts.

Capitalist political economy and the political economy of capitalisms: 2022 Rik Davidson/Studies in Political Economy Book Prize

In 2022, Heather Whiteside of the University of Waterloo was recognized with the Rik Davidson/Studies in Political Economy Book Prize for her book Capitalist Political Economy: Thinkers and Theories (Routledge, 2020). This article is an edited version of the book prize talk that she delivered at the Canadian Political Science Association’s 2023 Annual Meeting, held at York University in Toronto. Professor Whiteside summarizes the book briefly and presents some recent works on the political economy of capitalisms, specifically regarding proprietary settler colonialism and Coast Salish capitalism.

Four-state discrete modulation continuous variable quantum key distribution based on hardware synchronization

<sec>In the case of continuous-variable quantum key distribution (CV-QKD) systems, synchronization is a key technology that ensures that both the transmitter and receiver obtain corresponding data synchronously. By designing an ingenious time sequence for the transmitter and receiver and using the peaking value acquisition technique and time domain heterodyne detection, we experimentally realize a four-state discrete modulation CV-QKD with a repetition rate of 10 MHz, transmitting over a distance of 25 km. With well-designed time sequence of hardware, Alice and Bob can obtain corresponding data automatically without using numerous software calculation methods.</sec><sec>The secure key rates are calculated by using the method proposed by the Lütkenhaus group at the University of Waterloo in Canada. In the calculation, we first estimate the first and the second moment by using the measured quadratures of displaced thermal states, followed by calculating the secret key rate by using the convex optimization method through the reconstruction of the moments. There is no need to assume a linear quantum transmission channel to estimate the excess noise. Finally, secure key rates of 0.0022—0.0091 bit/pulse are achieved, and the excess noise is between 0.016 and 0.103.</sec><sec>In this study, first, we introduce the prepare-and-measure scheme and the entanglement-based scheme of the four-state discrete modulation protocol. The Wigner images of the four coherent states on Alice’s side, and four displaced thermal states on Bob’s side are presented. Second, the design of hardware synchronization time series is introduced comprehensively. Third, the CV-QKD experiment setup is introduced and the time sequence is verified. Finally, the calculation method of secure key rate using the first and the second moment of quadrature is explained in detail. The phase space distribution of quadratures is also presented. The secret key rate ranges between 0.0022 and 0.0091 bits/pulse, and the equivalent excess noise are between 0.016 and 0.103. The average secret key bit rate is 24 kbit/s. During the experiment, the first and the second moment of the quantum state at the receiver end are found to fluctuate owing to the finite-size effect. This effect reduces the value of the secure key rate and limits the transmission distance of the CV-QKD system.</sec><sec>In conclusion, four-state discrete modulation CV-QKD based on hardware synchronization is designed and demonstrated. The proposed hardware synchronization method can effectively reduce the cost, size, and power consumption. In the future, the finite-size effect will be investigated theoretically and experimentally to improve the performance of system.</sec>

Co-designing action-oriented mental health conversations between care providers and ageing Canadians in the community: a participatory mixed-methods study protocol

IntroductionThe mental health of ageing Canadians is a growing concern, particularly post-pandemic. Older adults face systemic ageism and mental health stigma as pervasive barriers to seeking needed mental health support,...

ExTech 2023, Celebrating 25 Years of Innovation in Extraction Technologies

The 25th anniversary of ExTech, the International Symposium for Advances in Extraction Technologies, was held on the beautiful island of Tenerife, Spain, from July 18–21, 2023. The honorary chairman of the event was Janusz Pawliszyn, who founded ExTech in 1999, at the University of Waterloo, in Ontario, Canada.