INNOVATION May-June 2019

2O18 ♦ 2O19 PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS

RAPID FIELD ANALYSIS OF PETROLEUM HYDROCARBONS FOR SOIL EXCAVATION

In January 2019, EnviroSearch Ltd. and Maapera Analytics Inc. conducted a field trial of Maapera’s soil analysis technology for remediation associated with diesel fuel storage. The objective was to evaluate the technology’s performance to support field decision- making and reduce remediation costs. Each soil sample was analysed with Maapera’s near-infrared spectroscopy with proprietary machine-learning technology, and screened using an organic vapour analyser (OVA). The samples were also submitted for laboratory analysis. The OVA did not register a response to any samples, despite laboratory analysis showing greater than 20,000 parts per million of total petroleum hydrocarbons. Field-generated 3-D displays of the contaminant data allowed precise excavation of the contaminated soils. Combining near real-time data with automated 3-D visualization enabled quick decision-making to ensure closure was obtained, and over-excavation was minimized.

Project Owner: Siksika First Nation. EnviroSearch Ltd.: Ailsa Le May, P.Geo. Maapera Analytics Inc.: Preston Sorenson

DRONE-ASSISTED ENERGY AUDIT The aim of this project was to visualize energy losses in UVic’s Engineering Lab Wing by detecting air leaks from exterior windows and doors, identifying missing or poorly installed insulation panels and mapping moisture ingress using drone-based and hand-held infrared thermography. As an outcome, a temperature map of the entire building was created to determine the rate of heat transfer between the building and the outdoor air. 3-D models of each individual room in the building were constructed to depict the varying temperatures and allow UVic to use calculated values for targeting repair and maintenance of the building to reduce the energy consumption, which will make the building greener. This project was the first of its kind for UVic and has the potential to serve as the solution for energy audits of all buildings. Participants: Harsh Rathod (CEO of HRG Infrastructure Monitoring Inc.), Dr. Rishi Gupta, P.Eng., Lois Tso, P.Eng., Wesley Wilson, Brendan Somers

ELECTROCHEMICAL TREATMENT OF WASTEWATER BRINES A novel electrochemical plant delivered to Mangrove Water Technologies of Vancouver uses the proprietary NORSCAND® electrolyser platform to process industrial wastewater. Detailed design, engineering, and fabrication of the 4,000 litre-per-day plant was undertaken by Vancouver companies NORAM Engineering & Constructors Ltd. and BC Research Inc. The multi-compartment electrolyser converts saline wastewater and waste gases into desalinated water and value-added chemicals for on-site and on-demand utilization. The process was originally developed by Dr. David Wilkinson, P.Eng., Saad Dara, Arman Bonakdarpour, and Alfred Lam at UBC’s Chemical and Biological Engineering Department in 2014. The concept is now being demonstrated at an industrial scale, enabled by NORAM’s recently commercialized NORSCAND® platform. The facility was installed at the Annacis Research Centre, where NORAM and BCRI provided 24-hour operations support. Funding support came from Emissions Reduction Alberta, Western Economic Diversification, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, and Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions. Project Manager: Jeremy Moulson, P.Eng.

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