The introduction of the use of Tire Pressure Control Systems (TPCS) to improve the productivity of the Canadian trucking industry is gaining momentum. The imposition of seasonal load restrictions (SLR) on the thaw-weakened secondary roads interrupts the transportation of raw materials to processing facilities For the forestry industry in particular, this has very significant impacts on productivity and costs. FPInnovations-Feric Division (Feric) has investigated the potential for TPCS-equipped trucks to travel with full, legal loading during the SLR period without accelerating road wear and tear. The TPCS monitors and adjusts the inflation pressure of the trucks’ tires while driving and allows the operator to optimize the inflations for changes in loading, travel speed, or road quality encountered in the trip. This thesis describes an investigation to determine whether TPCS can be used to mitigate traffic generated damage to secondary roads and also reduce the need to implement load restrictions. The project involves a partnership with the Ontario Ministry of Transportation Ontario (MTO), Forest Engineering Research Institute of Canada (FERIC), Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) and the Centre for Pavement and Transportation Technology (CPATT) located at the University of Waterloo. The thesis will describe the methodology, design, and instrumentation of the two test sites which are located in Dryden, Ontario and Chapleau, Ontario. In addition, repeated Portable Falling Weight Deflectometer (PFWD) testing is being carried out at these sites and the initial results of this examination and associated impacts of the environment and traffic on the road will be presented. This study also involves looking into the reliability of using the portable FWD, offering a lower cost alternative instead of the trailer mounted FWD to monitor pavement strength for the identification the SLR period. The use of innovative sensors and data collection techniques are proving to be very informative and are advancing pavement engineering knowledge. Moreover, the thesis is aimed at exploring the possibilities of achieving the current objectives of the government DOTs such as TPCS potential for addressing the timber industry in crisis, reduced road maintenance budgets, and global warming increasing road damage.

Every day, a new publication on information systems highlights about Cloud of Things (CoT) vulnerabilities; in most of these publications, vulnerability is quoted as the most substantial barrier for CoT realization. However, formulating a justifiable appraisement of the actual vulnerability impact on CoT is difficult because in many of these publications, the term security “vulnerability” is stated incorrectly as a threat or the publication does not discuss CoT-specific vulnerabilities. To achieve a well-founded understanding of CoT vulnerabilities, this literature review identifies the major vulnerabilities and their security controls and to identify any gaps for future research. A systematic literature review (SLR) approach using 58 articles is considered for this review. Based on this review, a taxonomy is created to classify the existing CoT vulnerabilities and security controls. This literature review identifies and discusses similarities and differences among various vulnerability issues and solutions. Most reviews previously performed were limited to the threats to the application interface and virtualization level, whereas this SLR thesis expand to the vulnerabilities in connectivity and things level of CoT. This study emphasize the importance of a clear definition of cloud of things vulnerabilities and to facilitate better understanding and assessment of CoT vulnerabilities to build more secure systems.

Afin de comprendre pourquoi tous les nouveaux projets de tramways en cours de développement au Canada sont réalisés en mode partenariat public-privé (PPP) plutôt que grâce au mode traditionnel (gestion publique) utilisé par le passé, cette recherche porte sur trois projets de tramways présentement en cours de réalisation (Edmonton, Ottawa et Toronto). À l’aide de trois études de cas, nous explorons l’argumentaire entourant chacune des décisions menant au choix du mode de gouvernance PPP ainsi que la forme prise par ce PPP. Nous démontrons que dans tous les cas, il est possible d’observer les mécanismes du transfert de politique, tant volontaire que coercitif. Nous croyons que le transfert de politique peut donc fournir un élément de réponse à notre question. De plus, l’argumentaire utilisé par les acteurs locaux pour justifier le choix du mode PPP, bien que semblable sur plusieurs points, comporte tout de même une combinaison de justifications unique à chacun des cas, ce qui nous laisse croire que le PPP est un instrument de politique polyvalent. Ces constats démontrent l’intérêt de prendre en considération les transferts de politique au niveau municipal et non seulement les transferts qui prennent place entre les États nationaux. To understand why all new light rail projects under development in Canada are carried out in public-private partnership (P3) rather than through the traditional mode (public administration) that prevailed in the past, this research explores three light rail projects currently underway in Edmonton, Ottawa and Toronto. We study the arguments surrounding each decision leading to the choice of P3 governance. We show that in all cases, it is possible to observe the mechanisms of policy transfer, whether voluntary or coercive. Moreover, the argument used by local actors to justify the choice of P3, although similar in several respects, still forms a unique combination of justifications for each case, which leads us to believe that P3s are a versatile policy instrument. These findings demonstrate the importance of taking into account policy transfer at the municipal level and not only transfers that take place between national states.

Afin de comprendre pourquoi tous les nouveaux projets de tramways en cours de développement au Canada sont réalisés en mode partenariat public-privé (PPP) plutôt que grâce au mode traditionnel (gestion publique) utilisé par le passé, cette recherche porte sur trois projets de tramways présentement en cours de réalisation (Edmonton, Ottawa et Toronto). À l’aide de trois études de cas, nous explorons l’argumentaire entourant chacune des décisions menant au choix du mode de gouvernance PPP ainsi que la forme prise par ce PPP. Nous démontrons que dans tous les cas, il est possible d’observer les mécanismes du transfert de politique, tant volontaire que coercitif. Nous croyons que le transfert de politique peut donc fournir un élément de réponse à notre question. De plus, l’argumentaire utilisé par les acteurs locaux pour justifier le choix du mode PPP, bien que semblable sur plusieurs points, comporte tout de même une combinaison de justifications unique à chacun des cas, ce qui nous laisse croire que le PPP est un instrument de politique polyvalent. Ces constats démontrent l’intérêt de prendre en considération les transferts de politique au niveau municipal et non seulement les transferts qui prennent place entre les États nationaux. To understand why all new light rail projects under development in Canada are carried out in public-private partnership (P3) rather than through the traditional mode (public administration) that prevailed in the past, this research explores three light rail projects currently underway in Edmonton, Ottawa and Toronto. We study the arguments surrounding each decision leading to the choice of P3 governance. We show that in all cases, it is possible to observe the mechanisms of policy transfer, whether voluntary or coercive. Moreover, the argument used by local actors to justify the choice of P3, although similar in several respects, still forms a unique combination of justifications for each case, which leads us to believe that P3s are a versatile policy instrument. These findings demonstrate the importance of taking into account policy transfer at the municipal level and not only transfers that take place between national states.

No description available.

Silicon Carbide (SiC) is a wide-bandgap (WBG) semiconductor materialwhich has several advantages such as higher maximum electric field, lowerON-state resistance, higher switching speeds, and higher maximum allowablejunction operation temperature compared to Silicon (Si). In the 1.2 kV - 1.7kV voltage range, power devices in SiC are foreseen to replace Si Insulatedgatebipolar transistors (IGBTs) for applications targeting high efficiency,high operation temperatures and/or volume reductions. In particular, theSiC Metal-oxide semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET) – which isvoltage controlled and normally-OFF – is the device of choice due to the easeof its implementation in designs using Si IGBTs.In this work the reliability of SiC devices, in particular that of the SiCMOSFET, has been investigated. First, the possibility of paralleling two discreteSiC MOSFETs is investigated and validated through static and dynamictests. Parallel-connection was found to be unproblematic. Secondly, drifts ofthe threshold voltage and forward voltage of the body diode of the SiC MOSFETare investigated through long-term tests. Also these reliability aspectswere found to be unproblematic. Thirdly, the impact of the package on thechip reliability is discussed through a modeling of the parasitic inductancesof a standard module and the impact of those inductances on the gate oxide.The model shows imbalances in stray inductances and parasitic elementsthat are problematic for high-speed switching. A long-term test on the impactof humidity on junction terminations of SiC MOSFETs dies and SiCSchottky dies encapsulated in the same standard package reveals early degradationfor some modules situated outdoors. Then, the short-circuit behaviorof three different types (bipolar junction transistor, junction field-effect transistor,and MOSFET) of 1.2 kV SiC switching devices is investigated throughexperiments and simulations. The necessity to turn OFF the device quicklyduring a fault is supported with a detailed electro-thermal analysis for eachdevice. Design guidelines towards a rugged and fast short-circuit protectionare derived. For each device, a short-circuit protection driver was designed,built and validated experimentally. The possibility of designing diode-lessconverters with SiC MOSFETs is investigated with focus on surge currenttests through the body diode. The discovered fault mechanism is the triggeringof the npn parasitic bipolar transistor. Finally, a life-cycle cost analysis(LCCA) has been performed revealing that the introduction of SiC MOSFETsin already existing IGBT designs is economically interesting. In fact,the initial investment is saved later on due to a higher efficiency. Moreover,the reliability is improved, which is beneficial from a risk-management pointof-view. The total investment over 20 years is approximately 30 % lower fora converter with SiC MOSFETs although the initial converter cost is 30 %higher. / Kiselkarbid (SiC) är ett bredbandgapsmaterial (WBG) som har flera fördelar,såsom högre maximal elektrisk fältstyrka, lägre ON-state resitans, högreswitch-hastighet och högre maximalt tillåten arbetstemperatur jämförtmed kisel (Si). I spänningsområdet 1,2-1,7 kV förutses att effekthalvledarkomponenteri SiC kommer att ersätta Si Insulated-gate bipolar transistorer(IGBT:er) i tillämpningar där hög verkningsgrad, hög arbetstemperatur ellervolymreduktioner eftersträvas. Förstahandsvalet är en SiC Metal-oxidesemiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET) som är spänningsstyrd ochnormally-OFF, egenskaper som möjliggör enkel implementering i konstruktionersom använder Si IGBTer.I detta arbete undersöks tillförlitligheten av SiC komponenter, specielltSiC MOSFET:en. Först undersöks möjligheten att parallellkoppla tvådiskretaSiC MOSFET:ar genom statiska och dynamiska prov. Parallellkopplingbefanns vara oproblematisk. Sedan undersöks drift av tröskelspänning ochbody-diodens framspänning genom långtidsprov. Ocksådessa tillförlitlighetsaspekterbefanns vara oproblematiska. Därefter undersöks kapslingens inverkanpåchip:et genom modellering av parasitiska induktanser hos en standardmoduloch inverkan av dessa induktanser pågate-oxiden. Modellen påvisaren obalans mellan de parasitiska induktanserna, något som kan varaproblematiskt för snabb switchning. Ett långtidstest av inverkan från fuktpåkant-termineringar för SiC-MOSFET:ar och SiC-Schottky-dioder i sammastandardmodul avslöjar tidiga tecken pådegradering för vissa moduler somvarit utomhus. Därefter undersöks kortslutningsbeteende för tre typer (bipolärtransistor,junction-field-effect transistor och MOSFET) av 1.2 kV effekthalvledarswitchargenom experiment och simuleringar. Behovet att stänga avkomponenten snabbt stöds av detaljerade elektrotermiska simuleringar för allatre komponenter. Konstruktionsriktlinjer för ett robust och snabbt kortslutningsskyddtas fram. För var och en av komponenterna byggs en drivkrets medkortslutningsskydd som valideras experimentellt. Möjligheten att konstrueradiodlösa omvandlare med SiC MOSFET:ar undersöks med fokus påstötströmmargenom body-dioden. Den upptäckta felmekanismen är ett oönskat tillslagav den parasitiska npn-transistorn. Slutligen utförs en livscykelanalys(LCCA) som avslöjar att introduktionen av SiC MOSFET:ar i existerandeIGBT-konstruktioner är ekonomiskt intressant. Den initiala investeringensparas in senare pågrund av en högre verkningsgrad. Dessutom förbättrastillförlitligheten, vilket är fördelaktigt ur ett riskhanteringsperspektiv. Dentotala investeringen över 20 år är ungefär 30 % lägre för en omvandlare medSiC MOSFET:ar även om initialkostnaden är 30 % högre. / <p>QC 20170524</p>

3D LiDAR people detection and tracking applications rely on extracting individual people from the point cloud for reliable tracking. A recurring problem for these applications is under-segmentation caused by people standing close or interacting with each other, which in turn causes the system to lose tracking. To address this challenge, we propose Kernel Density Estimation Clustering with Grid (KDEG) based on Kernel Density Estimation Clustering. KDEG leverages a grid to save density estimates computed in parallel, finding cluster centers by selecting local density maxima in the grid. KDEG reaches a remarkable accuracy of 98.4%, compared to HDBSCAN and Scan Line Run (SLR) with 80.1% and 62.0% accuracy respectively. Furthermore, KDEG is measured to be highly efficient, with a running time similar to state-of-the-art methods SLR and Curved Voxel Clustering. To show the potential of KDEG, an experiment with a real tracking application on two people walking shoulder to shoulder was performed. This experiment saw a significant increase in the number of accurately tracked frames from 5% to 78% by utilizing KDEG, displaying great potential for real-world applications.  In parallel, we also explored HDBSCAN as an alternative to DBSCAN. We propose a number of modifications to HDBSCAN, including the projection of points to the groundplane, for improved clustering on human groups. HDBSCAN with the proposed modifications demonstrates a commendable accuracy of 80.1%, surpassing DBSCAN while maintaining a similar running time. Running time is however found to be lacking for both HDBSCAN and DBSCAN compared to more efficient methods like KDEG and SLR. / <p>Arbetet är gjort på plats i Tokyo på Chuo Universitet utan samverkan från Umeå Universitet såsom utbytesprogram eller liknande.</p><p>Arbetet är delvis finansierat av Scandinavia-Japan Sasakawa Foundation.</p><p>Arbetet gick inte under vanlig termin, utan började 2023/05/01 och slutade 2023/08</p>