Canadian researchers, industry and government have joined forces
to develop "intelligent" systems that even Thomas Edison would
applaud (or so their proponents say).
Based on intelligent information and communications technology
(iICT), that simulates human perception, reasoning and behaviour,
these smart systems will have multiple applications in areas
ranging from water monitoring to satellite services and automobile
manufacture.
In all these sectors, iICT systems are likely to simplify, speed
up and streamline certain complex functions.
That, for instance, is the expected impact of an intelligent
water monitoring system being developed by Toronto-based AUG
Signals Ltd., a software vendor focusing on data mining
techniques.
Proponents of intelligent systems often complain the technology
has never been used extensively in water monitoring. But that's a
situation likely to change soon thanks to a new intelligent
situation assessment unit under development at AUG Signals.
A company spokesperson notes that water monitoring is an onerous
task involving municipal workers who manually take water samples
and send them to labs where they are tested for possible
contamination. "At times testing takes days and weeks, and in the
end it is not even accurate," said Gina Lorinda Yagos, business
development manager, AUG Signals. She said the intelligent system
her company is developing would perform the same task in far less
time.
The assessment system will consist of computers placed at
different locations connected to one central unit. It will use
sensor and non-sensor information.
Xia Liu, project manager at AUG Signals said the environmental
sensor will be a portable device inserted into the water system to
check for contamination. Non-sensor information will be provided by
the federal Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) and collected
through the Canadian Network for Public Health Intelligence, a PHAC
network that fosters intelligence exchange, surveillance
activities, and outbreak investigations.
"We are trying to find a way to digitize this data," said Liu,
adding that this task would be done internally by AUG, and other
data management vendors would not be involved.
The intelligent system will identify trends in water-borne
diseases. It will do this by analyzing archived water quality data.
Liu said AUG Signals has data mining tools that have been used in
other projects. "They will be used here as well."
When the prototype is completed it will be sold internationally.
George Lampropoulos, president and CEO, AUG Signals, said the
intelligent system would enhance water monitoring in cities as well
as remote areas, where contamination detection does not meet
national standards. The intelligent system, he said, would also
protect the city of Toronto against intended contamination, if (for
example) terrorists tried to poison the water system.
There are smaller projects in the US and Germany which use
simpler systems. We have taken a lead by starting this project on a
much larger scale," Lampropoulos said. "When the intelligent system
is developed and will be used by municipalities it will save them
money as they would not have to rely on laboratories or municipal
workers who do the work manually."
AUG Signals will be working with Defense Research and
Development Canada (DRDC), an agency of the federal Department of
National Defence, to provide information to municipalities who will
be the end users. Liu said the DRDC would ensure end users are not
overwhelmed with information that they would access electronically
on monitors.
Another variant of iICT technology is being used to enhance
satellite services. The existing problem in this sector is that a
number of terminals use the same satellite. In simple terms, a
terminal would be the antenna, cable and modem used to watch
television.
If one terminal is affected, say because of bad weather, it
slows down and the bandwidth usage becomes inefficient; that, in
turn, slows down all the other terminals.
The intelligent system will review algorithms from terminals'
past performance, as well as the current weather of the area, and
devise strategies to deal with the breakdown problem. "When this is
done there will be stronger signals between ground stations and
satellites.
This will ensure that more people are able to use satellite
services because the bandwidth usage will be efficient," said Abdul
Lakhani, senior specialist, broadband architecture, Telesat
Canada.
Satellite communications firm Telesat is heading this project
along with EOION Inc., an IP products provider. Both companies are
based in Ottawa.
Telesat aims to launch the intelligent satellite system by June
2007. "It will be the intellectual property of Telesat and EION. We
will market it worldwide. We hope to get buyers as, until now, no
other country has used intelligent systems in satellite
infrastructure," Lakhani said.
Not-for-profit group Precarn Inc. in Ottawa is funding both
projects. Precarn has contributed $4.9 million which is being
divided among four other projects. These include development of a
vision guided robotic system for auto parts, an advanced CT bone
analysis system, a 3D scanning system for deformable manufactured
parts, and an intelligent scheduling system for emergency
response.
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