UVic – Page 2

Ocean Networks Canada takes its technology to the Artic

August 31, 2012 by richardd

Ocean Networks Canada has been given a five-year licence to install a cabled observatory system under the ice off in Nunavut, reports the Times Colonist.

The system uses technology that is already in use and sending real-time information from under the sea off Vancouver Island to scientists around the world.

Information about ice thickness is particularly important for people living, working and travelling in Northern Canada.

The aim is to connect the real-time data to information from satellites and other sources. The system is being tested at UVic’s Marine Technology Centre. Recent reports show the Arctic sea ice has melted to its lowest extent since 2007.

Drone aircraft coming to sky near you

August 24, 2012 by richardd

The University of Victoria’s Centre for Aerospace Research is to receive $671,500 in funding from the federal government, according to this report. The centre, located near Victoria International Airport, will research and develop unmanned air vehicle technology (that’s drones to you and me) with the intention of making the technology available for commercial use.

Unmanned aircraft can be used by farmers to check on their crops but they can also be used to monitor forest fires, isolated coast lines, ports, borders, avalanche areas, endangered wildlife environment and pipelines.

UAVs can fly up to 30 hours with a high-resolution camera attached to the undercarriage and follow a preprogrammed route.

Astronaut Julie Payette to speak at UVic

August 16, 2012 by richardd

There’s an interesting event coming up at the University of Victoria – Canadian astronaut Julie Payette will be giving an illustrated presentation on Monday August 27 at 7 p.m. in the Farquhar Auditorium.

Payette’s presentation will feature photos and video from her space flights and there will also be a Q&A . It’s free and suitable for all ages.

An astronaut and a professional electrical and computing engineer, Payette has twice left the Earth and logged more than 611 hours in space. During her mission on the space shuttle Discovery in 1993, she orbited the Earth 153 times and was the first Canadian to board the International Space Station. Payette served as mission specialist, operating the robotic Canadarm and supervising the spacewalk. In 2009, Payette served as flight engineer on the crew of the shuttle Endeavour during a mission to the space station.

Payette was chief astronaut for the Canadian Space Agency from 2000 to 2007. That’s quite the resume and it should be a fascinating evening.

Tickets must be reserved in advance. Call 250-721-8480 or go online.

UVic students develop online mapping tool for renters

July 27, 2012 by richardd

A couple of students at the University of Victoria have developed a new online mapping tool to help people looking for rental accommodation in the city. Computer Science PhD students Jamie Starke and Lars Grammel built the application for prospective renters to see where a rental property is located in proximity to work, school and transit routes in the city.

“When I was looking to rent a place here, I was frustrated by the amount of time I had to spend talking to property management companies to make sure I was aware of everything on the market,” said Starke. “Then I had to look at a map and sort out whether the location works for me. That’s when I decided to take matters in my own hands and create something that would allow users to do both easily and in one online location.”

The mapping tool was created through UVic’s Chisel group, which stands for Computer Human Interaction Software Engineering Lab. Chisel’s “primary objective is to develop tools that support people in performing complex cognitive tasks.”