Applied Research Province: British Columbia

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Cloud Mapping for Forestry Planning

Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping of forestry resources is moving from desktop to the cloud with assistance from Selkirk College.

Selkirk College’s Geospatial Research Centre (SGRC) conducts applied research, develops applications, and delivers Selkirk’s Advanced Diploma and Bachelor of GIS programs. The research centre has experience developing sophisticated web-based map services. A local forestry software company, Valhalla, approached SGRC for assistance expanding its suite of software designed to help the British Columbia forest industry to manage harvesting operations, production and sales of lumber to domestic and international markets.

The software can run on both the desktop and in the cloud. Valhalla has customized its software for forest operators in southeastern B.C., however, core elements have applications that could be used across the global forest industry. Forestry instructors are working closely with BOS Forestry and research team members to model forest workflows and identify where geospatial software tools could add value.

“This joint project with the Selkirk Geospatial Research Centre has provided a great opportunity to engage with our industry advisory group, staff and faculty at the college to enhance the geospatial aspects of our technology roadmap and development plans for BOS Forestry,” says Grant Sutherland, CEO of BOS Forestry.

The project required a development server that collaborators and BOS clients could all access. Fortunately, the SGRC was able to use the free services in the DAIR cloud. As part of the CANARIE system, DAIR provides excellent bandwidth as well as built-in tools and resources. This is the SGRC’s first exposure to development in the cloud. As software applications move to the cloud, this experience will equip SGRC researchers and Selkirk GIS instructors for the future.

Partner(s): BOS Forestry
Funded by: Applied Research and Development (ARD) Grant

About Selkirk College

Nestled in one of the most spectacular locations in Canada, Selkirk College mirrors the communities it serves. With an eclectic economy built on primary industry,... Learn more
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Simulating Olympic Sports

An exciting new sports innovation idea will bring the Olympic experience of bobsled racing and canoe kayaking to B.C families this spring. Camosun College’s applied research centre, Camosun Innovates, is playing an important role in supporting the success of the new Richmond Olympic Experience developed in partnership with VROX Sport Simulation.

VROX is the company behind the research and development of new sports simulators. Camosun Innovates and the Camosun Technology Access Centre (CTAC) were hired by VROX to design and fabricate bobsled, sit-ski, and canoe kayak shells to work with motion capture platforms to create state-of-the-art sports simulators. These simulators are unique and will be an important part of the interactive rides soon to open at Richmond Olympic Experience (ROX) in Richmond BC.

This project allowed Camosun to hire a new graduate from the Mechanical Engineering Technology program to work with CTAC, designing and fabricating three exciting rides. In addition, this project has expanded Camosun’s capabilities of fabricating composite molds utilizing the college’s 5 Axis milling equipment. Involvement with this project has encouraged the Mechanical Engineering Department to expand its curriculum to include advanced composite manufacturing.

Camosun College’s expertise and technology allowed VROX to develop the new technology they required for a spring opening of Richmond Olympic Experience. For a taste of this interactive experience, click here.

The Richmond Olympic Experience (ROX) will be a highly interactive visitor experience celebrating the Olympic Spirit, the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (when Richmond was an Olympic Venue City), and the history of sport in Richmond. The ROX will have three floors of gallery space featuring displays, interactive media, and hands-on sporting simulations – offering visitors the experience of what it’s like to participate in an Olympic Sport.

Industry: Manufacturing
Funded by: Technology Access Centre (TAC) Grant

About Camosun College

Camosun College is located in beautiful Victoria, British Columbia. Our two campuses serve approximately 18,000 learners a year in certificate, diploma, bachelor’s degree and continuing... Learn more
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Biological Pest Control for B.C. Blueberries

Huge numbers of insect predators and parasitoids are reared each year by the biological control industry to control agricultural insect pests in greenhouses.

Although more than 200 of these products are available globally, their use for management of pests on field crops is rare. Douglas College in New Westminster, British Columbia has tested the efficacy of predator releases to control the blueberry aphid, Ericaphis fimbriata, a serious pest of highbush blueberries in B.C. A recent research project was undertaken in partnership with the British Columbia Blueberry Council and Applied Bio-nomics Ltd., a producer of biological control agents.

The applied research project tested the effectiveness of two possible insects to act as biological pest control agents for B.C. blueberries. The brown lacewing, Micromus variegatus, is a relatively new product for aphid biological control while the predatory midge, Aphidoletes aphidimyza, is a well-established product that has been used successfully on many crops worldwide. Researchers released both predators at organic blueberry farms and recorded dramatic declines in aphid populations after releases. These predators show enormous potential to provide an effective alternative for aphid management and establish a new market for biological control products in field crops.

Brian Spencer, President of Applied Bio-nomics Ltd. says, “Our industry is perched on the brink of expanding traditional markets from protected crops into field crops. The Douglas College project on blueberry aphid will enable wider adoption of our sustainable pest control products in field agriculture. Because of this thoughtful and careful research, we have recently entrusted Douglas College to help us develop another product, Amblyseius fallacis, that will have similar acceptance and relevance for the field crop community.”

Industry: Agriculture | Food
Funded by: Applied Research and Development (ARD) Grant

About Douglas College

Founded in 1970, Douglas College provides educational experiences that challenge, enlighten and open doors to lives of passion and purpose. It is the largest degree-granting... Learn more
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Greenhouse Lighting for Winter Growing

Strong consumer demand for locally grown produce has created economic opportunities to develop lighting and heating technologies that allow vegetables to be grown year-round. The College of New Caledonia (CNC) is working with technology companies to develop lighting and heating solutions for local producers in central British Columbia.

In 2013, the college collaborated with QuantoTech Solutions Ltd., a lighting engineering company based in Vancouver, to research and develop a cost-effective LED lighting system that allows plant producers to customize light intensity and spectrum in their greenhouses to optimize lighting throughout the plant crop cycle.

“In our experience every grower has different lighting needs,” said Alycia van der Gracht, Manager of Operations and Supply Chain at QuantoTech. “Partnering with CNC allows us to evaluate a local grower’s facilities and crops so that we can make the best lighting recommendation. CNC is also involved with deployment and provides ongoing support and evaluation as our LED lights continuously improve.”

Since developing and testing the prototypes, the research team has been collaborating with a local community organization, Baldy Hughes Therapeutic Community, to test the technology in an operational greenhouse growing a range of vegetables and herbs over the winter using supplemental LED lighting. More than 40 college students from Marketing, Trades, and Natural Resource programs have been involved in the research and development work, including prototype development and testing, market research, and recording plant responses to LED lighting.

Industry: Agriculture
Funded by: National Research Council - Industrial Research Assistant Program

About College of New Caledonia

The College of New Caledonia (CNC) has played an important role in training and educating residents in northern B.C. since 1969. Along with being one... Learn more