Electronic Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

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All theses from 2011 to the present are in this collection, as well as some from 2010 and earlier years.

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Confidence in dynamic assurance cases
(2026) Diemert, Simon; Weber, Jens
Assuring safety- and security-critical systems is a necessary activity, both prior to deployment (at “design-time”) and during system operation (at “run-time”). The need for assurance is heightened as these systems increasingly depend on artificial intelligence and adaptation strategies to handle uncertainty in their operating environments. Assurance Cases (ACs) that incorporate structured arguments and supporting evidence are an important tool for establishing trust in critical systems. Modern ACs are not static documents: they are increasingly viewed as dynamic models of “through-life” assurance and are used for decision-making at both design- and run-time. These Dynamic Assurance Cases (DACs) incorporate dynamic sources of evidence and “live” data from development activities or operations (e.g., safety performance indicators). However, a question arises during their use: “are we confident in the claim(s) made by this version of the case?” While several methods exist to assess confidence in ACs, there is limited knowledge about their adoption by practitioners. Additionally, there are several limitations of quantitative methods, including: 1) an inability to consider the impact of dynamic aspects on confidence; 2) an inability to account for dialectic reasoning (i.e., “de-featers”); and 3) challenges related to subjectivity, interpretability, precision, and modelling nuanced reasoning. The overall objective of this work is to develop a new confidence assessment method that is grounded in the needs of practitioners and addresses the limitations mentioned above. Towards this objective, the main contribution of this dissertation is a new mixed (qualitative and quantitative) method for AC confidence assessment called Certus. With this method, confidence in an AC is modelled using vague, but linguistically meaningful, expressions (e.g., “I have very high belief that this claim is true”). A domain specific language is used to describe the propagation of belief through a structured argument to produce an overall belief valuation for the AC. Certus supports dialectic reasoning and can condition belief assessments on the availability of evidence and the value of performance indicators. The use of the language is guided by a methodology that integrates with the existing practices for developing (D)ACs. A denotational semantics for the language provides a formal basis for assessment. The language and method are evaluated through a series of analyses and a case study to demonstrate that they possess properties related to trustworthiness, including: propagation stability, sensitivity, expressivity, scalability, and applicability to DACs.
An innovative framework for next activity prediction using process entropy and dynamic attribute-wise transformer for business process monitoring
(2026) Zare, Hadi; Najjaran, Homayoun
In the field of Business Process Management (BPM), accurately predicting the next activity in an ongoing process is critical for improving operational efficiency, optimizing resource allocation, and enabling proactive decision-making. Although recent advances in machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) have significantly improved predictive performance, several key challenges remain. These include: (i) the limited transparency of deep learning models when applied to datasets that may not require such complexity; (ii) the reliance on trial-and-error methods for selecting suitable models across diverse event logs; and (iii) the underutilization of attributes that can carry valuable information for prediction. Building on these identified gaps, this thesis is motivated by two central research questions: (1) How can predictive models be designed to effectively capture the complexity and variability inherent in modern event logs? and (2) How can organizations systematically determine the most suitable predictive models for their specific process characteristics? To address the first question, this thesis introduces a novel predictive architecture called the Dynamic Attribute-Wise Transformer (DAW-Transformer). The model enhances predictive capability by extending the standard transformer architecture through the integration of multi-head attention and a dynamic windowing mechanism tailored to each dataset. This design captures long-range dependencies across multiple event attributes, offering a richer and more detailed representation of process behavior and improving the model’s ability to generalize across heterogeneous logs. To address the second question, an Entropy-Driven Model Selection Framework is proposed. This framework employs process entropy as a quantitative indicator of event log complexity, enabling adaptive model selection that balances predictive accuracy and interpretability. By aligning model choice with dataset variability, it overcomes the limitations of existing approaches that apply a single predictive model indiscriminately across all process types, regardless of their structural diversity. The effectiveness of the proposed methods is validated through comprehensive experiments on six publicly available event logs across domains such as healthcare, logistics, and public administration. Results demonstrate that the DAW-Transformer achieves superior performance, particularly on high-entropy processes, where activities exhibit greater variability, while interpretable models such as Decision Trees perform competitively on low-entropy, structured processes. These findings highlight the value of aligning model complexity with process entropy and underscore entropy’s role as a guiding principle for model selection in predictive business process monitoring. In summary, this thesis contributes to: (1) improving interpretability and reducing trial-and-error model selection via an Entropy-Driven Model Selection Framework; (2) mitigating attribute underutilization through the DAW-Transformer; and (3) conducting comprehensive evaluations across diverse datasets. Together, these contributions enhance predictive accuracy, strengthen interpretability, and establish a data-driven foundation for adaptive model choice.
Reinforcement learning-based model predictive control for uncertain systems with application to robot manipulators
(2026) Lu, Tianxiang; Shi, Yang
Model-based control strategies often lead to performance degradation or even failure when implemented in practice since practical systems are subject to external disturbances and model uncertainties. Model predictive control (MPC) is also among these strategies. However, MPC is known to be capable of providing optimal control performance for constrained systems by solving an associated optimization problem. An essential component for constructing the MPC optimization problem is the prediction model which in many cases is the priori known physical model of the controlled system. To make MPC an effective method for practical systems with external disturbances and model uncertainties, adaptive MPC methods aim to obtain a satisfactory prediction model and thus control performance by performing system identification during the online control process. Despite the effectiveness of adaptive MPC, its intrinsic conservativeness leads to the development of other MPC frameworks that apply various techniques to provide robustness to the disturbed system with uncertainties. Reinforcement learning (RL) is one of the representative schemes that can be combined with MPC for safety guarantees and performance enhancement. In general, there exist three ways to combine RL and MPC. The first is to use RL to learn the optimal MPC parameters such as weighting matrices, constraint margins, and disturbance model parameters with the maximum long-term reward. The second applies MPC to check the safety of the actions generated by RL during the online control process. The last focuses on adopting MPC to generate the data for the offline training process of RL. In this dissertation, we mainly focus on the first way of combining RL and MPC to design novel reinforcement learning-based MPC (RLMPC) methods. Chapter 1 presents an overview of conventional MPC, adaptive learning-based MPC, RLMPC schemes along with classical control frameworks for robot manipulators. Chapter 2 introduces preliminary results on MPC implementation for linear and nonlinear systems as well as robot manipulators. Chapter 3 proposes a robust data-driven MPC for linear systems with mixed uncertainties via on-policy RL method with theoretical guarantees. Based on the proposed closed-loop MPC scheme, the on-policy SARSA algorithm is correspondingly chosen among various RL algorithms to construct a safe RLMPC framework with guaranteed recursive feasibility and closed-loop stability. Comprehensive comparative studies further demonstrate the advantages of better control performance and larger region of attraction over several well-established robust MPC and RLMPC methods. Building on Chapter 3, Chapter 4 develops an off-policy RLMPC approach for nonlinear systems with an integrated triggering mechanism. A quasi-dynamic event-triggered mechanism is incorporated into the proposed RLMPC framework to effectively reduce the overall computational load resulted from the parameter update by the off-policy RL. The resultant event-triggered RLMPC method is able to enhance the control performance while maintaining the closed-loop stability with guaranteed recursive feasibility and marginal conservativeness. Chapter 5 and Chapter 6 investigate the application of RLMPC schemes to robot manipulator with relatively simple structures and complex multi-joint structures, respectively. In Chapter 5, a variant of RLMPC methods proposed in Chapter 3 is further developed for manipulators with accessible dynamic model however subject to both model uncertainties and external disturbances. Therefore, the on-policy SARSA RL algorithm is again utilized to construct the policy for updating the uncertain Coriolis and centrifugal matrix, as well as the potentially imperfect feedback control gain. A case study on a planar robot manipulator with two revolute joints shows the capability of achieving better closed-loop performance under the proposed method. Chapter 6 presents the experimental results of applying a RLMPC scheme to the trajectory tracking problem of a practical robot manipulator: UR-10e. Considering the ability to provide real-time control actions, the trajectory tracking task is converted to the consecutive waypoint reaching task to further facilitate the design of a lightweight RLMPC framework. Two trajectories are adopted in the experimental validation to demonstrate superior performance under the proposed method over conventional MPC and classical soft actor-critic method, especially in the presence of relatively large model mismatch. Lastly, Chapter 7 concludes this dissertation and introduces potential future research directions.
Scripts and screens: A cross-cultural analysis of gendered dating advice in short-form video content on Instagram and Red
(2026) Huang, Jindi; Garlick, Steve
This thesis examines how short-form dating advice videos shape contemporary understandings of dating, relationships, and romantic behaviour on social media. Focusing on Instagram Reels and the Chinese platform Xiaohongshu (Red), the study explores how dating content creators construct and circulate knowledge about heterosexual relationships in digital environments. Using a qualitative comparative approach, the research analyzes twenty short videos by four creators across Instagram and Red. The analysis combines thematic analysis and critical discourse analysis, while drawing on Foucault’s concepts of power, knowledge, and discourse, Simon and Gagnon’s sexual script theory, and feminist perspectives. The findings identify three key themes: gender roles and dating scripts, strategy-based advice and discourse patterns, and cross-cultural comparisons. While many short videos frame the dating advice as empowering, traditional heterosexual scripts continue to shape expectations around women’s emotional labour and relational behaviour.
Modelling nanocomposite dielectrics - polarization and inclusions at the atomic scale
(2026) Adluri, Archita; Paci, Irina
This thesis details the computational investigations into molecular-nanoparticle based nanocomposite dielectric candidate materials. Mainly silver-based nanoparticles under 32 atoms in metal-oxide and polymer model materials to understand how encapsulation affects local and bulk dielectric function and how to model such candidates. Chapter 1 introduces the ideas behind molecular nanoparticles (MNP) and functional dielectrics at the sub-100nm range. Emphasis on bridging gaps present in the literature at present and potential novel uses between atomic-doping and traditional larger nanoparticles. Chapter 2 delves into theory and background as this is an entirely theoretical and computational thesis. An explanation of both static and optical dielectric starting from electronic structure and ending in a comparison of methods. Further computational details provided in relevant next chapters. Chapter 3 contains details of the major topic of this thesis: How to model a molecular nanoparticle inclusion in a solid-state dielectric. The candidates of Ag inclusion and MgO candidate metal-oxide were modelling using Car-Parinello Molecular Dynamics to obtain a size and shape correlation in nanoparticles as well as some guidelines for computing charge distribution and quantum of polarization effects. Chapter 4 contains details of the optical polarization of Ag-PVDF nanocomposites with a focus on interacting particles and non-homogeneity in MNP distribution. This project aimed to move towards a more realistic model with two nanoparticles interacting at various distances. Chapter 5 is an attempt to push the boundaries of highly detailed molecule-level polarization calculations and a discussion on their usefulness without experimental backing. Chapter 6 summarizes this thesis followed by some QuantumEspresso code and parameters used.
Gardens on the edge: Estuarine root gardens as places of tangible heritage and Indigenous futurity
(2026) Maurice-Hammond, Isabelle K.; Mathews, Darcy
Estuarine root gardens are Indigenous plant stewardship landscapes on the Pacific northwest coast of North America. The plants that were principally cared for in these coastal sites–Pacific silverweed (Argentina egedii (Wormsk.) Rydb.; syn. Potentilla pacifica (L.) Howell), springbank clover (Trifolium wormskioldii Lehm) and northern rice-root lily, Fritillaria camschatcensis (L.) Ker Gawl)– were eaten by Indigenous Peoples from northern California to Alaska. In certain areas, generations of Indigenous Peoples cared for and altered the soils, hydrology, and ecology of high estuarine marshes to maximize the growth and output of these nutritionally, spiritually, and economically important plants. Though stewardship methods and the location of some of these places are still known by Indigenous Knowledge Holders, descendant communities, and researchers (primarily in coastal British Columbia, Canada), the extended dismissal of Indigenous plant stewardship practices by settler ethnographers and archaeologists has resulted in a chronic under-representation of these places in the archaeological record of British Columbia. Furthermore, tangible remnants of Indigenous estuarine stewardship–in the form of legacy ecosystems and cultural soils–is not currently seen as sufficient evidence in categorizing these places as archaeological sites. This has implications for their protection under current provincial Heritage and Conservation (HCA) legislation, as well as the ability of descendant communities to reconnect with these culturally significant places and foods. Finally, identifying estuarine root gardens, and contributing to eco-cultural restoration efforts, is occurring within a context of ongoing and cumulative colonial violence to Indigenous territories, with estuaries particularly at risk. Understanding and addressing these complex factors is key to the successful restoration, renewal, and creation of stewarded places. Ultimately, this dissertation aims to address the disconnect between the (often limited and fragmented) archaeological study of estuarine root gardens and the importance of these landscapes for Indigenous heritage, food sovereignty and security, and cultural reconnection through the Indigenous-led restoration and renewal of food systems. In doing so, I present and tests a series of novel and interdisciplinary methods to identify estuarine root garden sites and better understand their post-stewardship trajectories, accounting for eco-cultural context, present day ecologies and hydrologies, and cumulative colonial impacts. Combining archaeological excavations, ecological monitoring, and pedological analysis, I examine two estuarine root gardens (and comparative periphery, or control sites) occurring in different eco-cultural contexts. The first, at Tl’chés, is a Lək̓ʷəŋən/Songhees root garden that was no longer known by descent communities and knowledge holders, making it the first of its kind to be formally identified in Coast Salish territories. The second, at the mouth of the Gwa’ni (Nimpkish) River, is a known ‘Na̲mg̲is Kwakwaka'wakw estuarine root garden site which has been documented by non-Indigenous researchers since the 19th century, offering a rare glimpse at more than a century of changing use and occupation patterns in the area. A third estuarine root garden at Tsinwilht’as (Anderson) Creek in ʕaaḥuusʔatḥ Nuu-chah-nulth territories was investigated as part of an Archaeological Impact Assessment (AIA) by Stafford (2020). As such, the methods described in this paper could not be replicated there. However, the thoroughness of Stafford’s (2020) investigation provides important comparative data, helping illustrate both the similarities and differences of estuarine root gardens located in different eco-cultural areas, as well as an example of best archaeological practice in the field of Cultural Resource Management (CRM). Overall, the methods applied during this research demonstrated that 1) estuarine root gardens continue to support distinct ecological assemblages shaped by past Indigenous stewardship, though the ecological trajectory of these places vary based on local hydrological, cultural, and climactic factors. 2) Estuarine root garden soils are morphologically and chemically distinct, with heightened levels of organic matter and available soil phosphorous (P). As such, they can best be understood as cultural or Indigenous soils, developed in situ to increase garden productivity and access to preferred long, straight roots and rhizomes. 3) Archaeological signatures at estuarine root gardens are variable; as such, archaeologists need to expand their arsenal when investigating a potential estuarine root garden site. These considerations, furthermore, should be rooted in engagement with the communities to which these places belong. 4) Finally, estuarine root gardens are living archaeological sites. As such, they are places with profound ties to the communities that built and cared for them, a relationship that extends into the future. Developing a better understanding of estuarine root garden formation has implications for the community-driven restoration of these places, often occurring in contexts where coastlines have been altered by ongoing and cumulative settler colonial impacts.
GPU-based lock-free mesh reduction using deterministic vertex clustering
(2026) Hanif, Khizra; Chester , Sean
The growing demand for real-time rendering and processing of complex 3D models in film production, gaming, and scientific visualization has exposed the limitations of CPU-based mesh simplification techniques. While S-Weld ensures deterministic clustering, its sequential execution makes it unsuitable for large-scale meshes. The multi-core P-Weld improves performance through lock-free multi-threading but remains constrained by CPU core count and memory bandwidth. To address these issues, this thesis presents a GPU-accelerated vertex clustering framework that extends the deterministic behavior of P-Weld to a fully parallel and memory-adaptive GPU architecture. The work begins with a direct CUDA port of P-Weld and introduces an On-the-fly neighbor evaluation method that performs clustering without storing explicit adjacency lists, followed by a fully GPU-resident sparse voxel-grid framework for efficient processing of large meshes. Shared-memory caching, warp-synchronous centroid updates, and sparse neighbor filtering are used to minimize redundant computations and improve parallel efficiency. Existing GPU-based libraries, such as FRNN and cuNSearch, were evaluated but found unsuitable for large irregular meshes on consumer laptops. A custom sparse grid-based neighbor search was therefore developed to perform efficient ε-neighborhood queries entirely on the GPU within limited VRAM. The proposed pipeline was evaluated on five benchmark meshes, including Bunny, Lucy, Thai Statue, Manuscript, and the point cloud LiDAR dataset using various clustering thresholds. The GPU versions achieved identical results while providing a 10-26× speedup, improving the scalability of vertex clustering for large 3D mesh simplification. In summary, this thesis presents the first deterministic GPU extension of vertex clustering, introducing a memory-efficient sparse-grid neighbor search and a fully parallel pipeline that reproduces accurate results, advancing scalable and reproducible mesh simplification.
Changes in sleep quality and quantity in concussed athletes with the application of 3D-MOT (Neurotracker): A pilot study.
(2026) Schaaf, Angelina; Stuart-Hill, Lynneth Ann
Individuals recovering from a concussion often experience sleep complications affecting their sleep quality and quantity, which may prolong their recovery and symptoms experienced following a concussion. This pilot feasibility study aims to examine the effects of 3D-MOT (specifically Neurotracker) on sleep quality and quantity in concussed athletic populations (18-35 years old). The study used a multiple-subject design and collected sleep data from 3 concussed adults (3M). The study collected 3 nights of sleep data before and after 10 Neurotracker sessions over 5 weeks. All participants in this study experienced decreases in REM and deep sleep following 10 Neurotracker sessions. After 10 Neurotracker sessions, performed twice a week for 5 weeks, all participants experienced an increase in perceptual and cognitive performance. Two of the three participants experienced an increase in the number of symptoms and perceived post-concussion symptom severity collected from selfreporting measures using the Post-Concussion Symptom Scale (PCSS). As this is a small sample study, no definitive conclusions can be drawn. The findings from this study provide observational trends if 3D-MOT, specifically Neurotracker, may affect sleep quality and quantity in concussed adults and increase perceived PCSS. This study recommends future research examining the effects in a larger sample but provides insight into the potential effects of 3D-MOT on sleep quality and quantity.
Revitalizing Hupač̓asatḥ navigational knowledge: Mapping the waters of settler-colonialism using a critical, coastal, community-based consciousness
(2026) Sayers, Alana; O'Bonsawin , Christine; Sayers, Jentery
I’m the great granddaughter of a hereditary chief, the granddaughter of a residential school survivor, the daughter of a residential school survivor, and the daughter of a mother who was part of the first wave of native women lawyers in the country as well as an elected Indian Act Band Council Chief. In my life, I carry the things that have been passed down to me throughout the generations, and I also carry the emptiness and pain of the things that weren’t. Growing up on the Hupač̓asatḥ, I witnessed multiple forms of governance, leaders, and chiefs. I saw our hereditary governance in practice alongside my mother as the elected chief of our nation. I was at meetings for modern-day treaty negotiations with other Nuučaańuł Nations; I saw native nationalism shift and change through attending native political meetings at the AFN, BC, and First Nations Summit meetings. And one of the places where I learned the most was at family dinner tables. I grew up in a really special family of strong, vocal, passionate folks who have immense love for our people. My entire life, I’ve watched most members of my family spend their lives working for the continuation of our nations and the strength of our people in lots of different ways. Things in our lives at every level were talked about: last week’s band meeting, the upcoming AFN AGM, Delgamuukw, the Haida Case, UNDRIP. Something was always going on somewhere, and my family was discussing it in depth around dinner tables. My lived experience and academic training have provided me with the foundation for the creation of the Critical Coastal Community-based Consciousness which I designed to help me better understand how settler-colonialism functions specific to myself. To do this, I attempt to map out Hupač̓asatḥ and Hupač̓asatḥ First Nation in an ocean of settler colonialism by revitalizing our navigational knowledge to guide my decolonial praxis. Or The author views this dissertation as a curation of knowledges (generational, lived experience, and academic) designed to reveal how Hupač̓asatḥ First Nation has been racialized, one of the foundations of settler-colonialism, by the Canadian state. To view these knowledges and guide the curation of them, the author developed a Critical, Coastal, Community-Based, Consciousness which she uses to present specific instances of how she has experienced colonization in the form of an intergenerational mapping space.
Efficient, secure, and intelligent wireless systems: From edge AI to network management
(0020) Chegini, Mohammad Aaron; Baniasadi, Amirali
In one sentence: this thesis makes AI efficient, secure, and explainable enough for real-time wireless systems. The vision of AI-native 6G networks is blocked by three barriers. First, state-of-the-art deep learning models are too large and power-hungry for battery-powered edge receivers, where modulation schemes can change every few milliseconds and must be classified in real time. Second, the edge hardware that hosts these models is vulnerable to physical denial-of-service attacks that degrade performance without any software breach. Third, when network faults occur, diagnosis remains a slow, manual process because existing AI systems cannot explain their reasoning to engineers. This thesis presents a unified framework that addresses all three barriers. To solve the efficiency problem, we introduce RFNet, a lightweight neural network for Automatic Modulation Classification that reduces model size by over 90% compared to standard baselines. We validate this on real hardware with Tiny-RFNet, deployed on an NVIDIA Jetson Orin Nano, where it processes the full 255,590-sample RadioML 2018.01A test set in approximately 30 s under 3 W, fast enough to track adaptive modulation changes in real time. To address the security problem, we present NoCSNet, a deep learning framework that detects thermal attacks on chip interconnects with 93.8% accuracy, catching malicious patterns that evade conventional threshold-based monitors. To enable interpretable diagnostics, we introduce TRACE, a cascaded system for 5G root cause analysis. TRACE achieves 99.65% diagnostic accuracy on the TeleLogs benchmark, outperforming even 32-billion-parameter Large Language Models (95.86%), while running in milliseconds on a single CPU and providing transparent reasoning traces that engineers can verify. Together, these contributions demonstrate that trustworthy AI for next-generation wireless requires co-design across efficiency, security, and interpretability.
Stitching together: Relationships, partnerships, and Kanyen'kéha revitalization at Tyendinaga
(2026) Brinklow, Nathan Thanyehténhas; McIvor, Onowa
Tsi Tyónnheht Onkwawén:na Language and Cultural Centre (TTO) has supported Kanyen'kéha (Mohawk) language revitalization in Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory since 2000, with adult immersion and intensive language programs offered from 2004. During this time, TTO has partnered with three Ontario universities to design and deliver full-time and part-time programs in addition to offering independent programs. This study documented this history through organizational records, administrator memories, student experiences, and textile‑based Onkwehón:we research methods to uniquely preserve a multi-dimensional organizational story. The study developed and deployed a quilting methodology grounded in Indigenous making traditions and the author’s own inheritance as a quilter. This approach positions object, process, and person in continual dialogue, and its material practices enable collective authorship, relational knowledge‑building, and meaning to emerge through the shared handling of stories and textiles. Four interconnected texts ground the dissertation at its center. The initial two papers within offer institutional perspectives: 1) an organizational history tracing TTO’s growth from grassroots language circle to community language center; and, 2) revealing the relational approach that vitally shaped and sustained post‑secondary partnerships. The third paper represents the case study of the TTO-Queen’s University joint Certificate in Mohawk Language and Culture, journeying through program development, expansion, and the tensions that can arise between community-based needs and university‑based administrative structures. The fourth text centers the students’ voices, revealing that learners seek connection to family, community, ceremony, and identity more than credentials; and highlights how university systems oriented toward individual achievement can struggle to support the collective, relational work of language reclamation. The quilt metaphorically wraps itself around the research narrating the collaborative creation of a story quilt, honoring the students, teachers, supporters, and partners who have worked over twenty‑five years to reclaim and strengthen Kanyen'kéha at Tyendinaga.
What can I hear from silence? A philosophical exploration of China’s ideological and political education in the higher education system
(2026) Huang, Yuan; Harvey, Lyndze; McDonough, Graham
Since 2020, Ideological and Political Education (IPE) has been intensified across Mainland China ’s higher education system, extending ideological governance and political value alignment across classrooms in all subjects and into teachers’ professional conduct. This thesis examines the meaning of silence in educational contexts, asking how teacher silence functions between compliance and resistance under intensified IPE governance. Drawing on Foucault’s concepts of discipline, governmentality, and subject formation, it analyzes silence as shaped by sovereign power (policies, warnings, sanctions) and productive power (surveillance routines, normalization, and self-regulation). Within this governance environment, monitoring, inspection, and evaluative mechanisms increase professional risk and encourage anticipatory self-regulation. Methodologically, the study combines philosophical inquiry with storytelling and abductive interpretation to analyze narrative scenes alongside policy texts and publicly documented disciplinary cases in this context. It argues that silence is not absence but a practice that appears in disciplinary, strategic, and ethical forms through which educators negotiate value conflict, risk, responsibility, and care. Under intensified IPE governance, silence becomes a key site through which teachers anticipate limits, regulate affect, and exercise professional judgment within politically constrained educational settings.
Condition assessment and long-term structural health monitoring of aging reinforced concrete water reservoirs
(2026) Nazari, Nasrin; Gupta, Rishi
Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) is increasingly required to ensure the safety, serviceability, and longevity of aging reinforced concrete (RC) infrastructure. According to the Canadian Infrastructure report card 2019, many municipal water reservoirs in Canada were constructed several decades ago and are approaching or exceeding their original design service life, while continuing to operate under changing environmental and loading conditions. Traditional condition assessment approaches, primarily based on visual inspection and occasional destructive testing, are limited in their ability to provide continuous, objective, and system-level insight into structural performance. This thesis presents an integrated framework for condition assessment and long-term monitoring of reservoirs, with a specific focus on an in-service reinforced concrete potable water reservoir located at Mount Tolmie in Victoria, British Columbia. The proposed framework combines finite element modeling (FEM), non-destructive evaluation (NDE) methods, wireless sensor-based SHM, and Building Information Modeling (BIM) to develop an information-rich digital representation of the structure. Seismic response analysis with fluid–structure interaction is first conducted to identify structurally critical regions and guide sensor placement. A comprehensive, coring-free multi-NDE assessment which includes infrared thermography, rebound hammer, ultrasonic pulse velocity, ground penetrating radar, and non-invasive corrosion rate and electrical resistivity measurements, is then performed over multiple field campaigns to evaluate spatial patterns, repeatability, and temporal changes in material condition. Long-term sensor data, including linear displacement, tilt gauges, and acceleration measurements, are subsequently analyzed to characterize the structure’s behavior under operational conditions and to establish data-driven thresholds for anomaly detection. The novelty of this work lies in the first application of non-invasive corrosion rate and electrical resistivity measurements using the iCOR device for the condition assessment of an operating reinforced concrete potable water reservoir, together with the use of multi-year, coring-free NDE results to inform structural condition assessment and the development of a BIM-based digital twin framework in which long-term, low-frequency SHM sensor data are continuously linked to the 3D model to enable near real-time monitoring and automated anomaly alerts for stakeholders. The outcomes of this research demonstrate the feasibility of integrating heterogeneous inspection, testing, and monitoring data into a unified digital twin model for reinforced concrete water reservoirs, supporting identification of critical zones and informed decision-making for maintenance and future monitoring of aging water infrastructure.
A visualization design study for hydrodynamic connectivity analysis in marine aquaculture
(2026) Shamshiri, Nazanin; Chester, Sean
Hydrodynamic particle tracking simulations are used in the study of connectivity between marine finfish aquaculture sites around Vancouver Island. In this context, simulation outputs are summarized as connectivity matrices showing the percentage of particles released from one farm that arrive at another within selected time periods. Although these matrices are the main reporting artifact, domain experts often interpret them together with spatial context, temporal comparisons, and directional relationships. This makes interpretation, exploration, and communication difficult, especially when results must support discussion with non-specialist stakeholders. This thesis presents a visualization design study conducted in collaboration with ocean scientists working on this aquaculture connectivity application. Through contextual inquiry, affinity-based task characterization, participatory co-design, low- and high-fidelity prototyping, and qualitative evaluation, the study investigates how interactive visualization can better support the interpretation and communication of farm-to-farm connectivity matrices derived from the particle simulations. As part of this process, the study identifies and stabilizes design requirements that capture key conditions for supporting these interpretation and communication tasks. The resulting prototype combines an interactive connectivity map, a matrix view, temporal exploration controls, threshold filtering, and exploratory clustering. In connectivity exploration mode, coordination was achieved mainly through shared temporal and threshold controls that updated values and visual encodings across views. Stronger selection-based coordination was achieved in clustering mode. Evaluation findings suggest that the prototype supported spatial interpretation of farm-to-farm connectivity, plausibility checking against expected regional flow patterns, and exploratory comparison of candidate farm groupings, while also showing that familiar matrix-based representations remained important for user trust and verification. Beyond the prototype, the thesis contributes design knowledge for interactive visualization of hydrodynamic connectivity matrices in the aquaculture management context, including the value of combining spatial and matrix-based views, the importance of preserving familiar representations while introducing new analytical views, the need to frame clustering as an exploratory rather than authoritative result, and the importance of aligning interface terminology with the abstraction of aggregated connectivity data.
Wixa̱ n's 'Wi'la Ḵ̓aḵ̓ut̕łap̓a: let’s learn together! The beautiful chaos of family learning in ancestral language reclaimation.
(2026) Willie, Ferrin Yola; McIvor, Onowa
'Masi'da sinat (what is the purpose)? The purpose of this dissertation was to explore the journey of learning and reclaiming ancestral language as a household family. G̱wayi'le'las (our Bak̕wam ways of doing things) - The methodology used in this research was a study of myself in collaboration with yuda̱xwa̱n sasa̱m (my three children) focusing on ḵ'a̱t̓ła (6) years of a simultaneous active Bak̕wa̱mk̓ala learning during my PhD program from 2019 to 2025. My work is an honoring of Kwakwa̱ka̱'wakw ways of being and utilizing autoethnography, storying and storywork. I follow the Tsepila (ceremonial dance apron making process) as a framework for this dissertation and align each step with Bak̕wa̱mk̓ala concepts that encompass my research topics. This includes: 1) building a foundational base (Alixwa̱la – preparing to leave on a journey), 2) Ties connecting Tsep to łi'laxwalłi'laxwa̱la (loved ones) - (Łaxwe'gila - gathering strength), 3) design related to family story (Ḵ̓aḵ̓ut̕łap̓a (learning together) and Sa̱nala (to be whole), 4) personalized adornments (buttons, beads, bells etc. (Ugwa̱ḵała - different), and 5) use of the Tsep in ceremony (Hase' gax̱a̱n – love gift/breath of life). I have also included: ḵ̓ina̱mida k̓ik̓ata̱'makw (many photos), sa̱pilabidu (small movies/videos), dedications to each of x̱a̱n sasa̱m (my children) and the creation of ceremonial items as part of this research process. Ḵ̓axda̱n (I found). Key findings/highlights - Despite the various challenges in learning and reclaiming an endangered coastal language it has proven to be an incredibly restorative experience for myself. While the longer-term impacts for x̱a̱n sasa̱m remain to be seen, there are benefits already showing through x̱a̱n sasa̱m and experienced by myself and others connected to this research. The biggest of these are the intergenerational healing benefits of reclaiming x̱a̱n's Bak̕wa̱mk̓ala. Lutsa̱md (to uncover something). Implications - based on this research, I observed and experienced the undertaking of reclaiming ancestral language as a worthwhile endeavour with many benefits for a family to learn collaboratively. It is the greatest source of łaxwe'gila (strength gathering) I have experienced in my lifetime. I hope this research will contribute to the restoration and collective wellness of our nation and other Indigenous people and their languages. Łaxwa̱lap̓a łi'laxwa̱la – love each other loved ones.
Offshore wind-powered carbon dioxide removal - a solid carbon initiative
(2026) Avellaneda Domene, Gerard; Crawford, Curran
If societies around the globe are to stabilise Earth’s surface temperature and prevent it from rising beyond levels compatible with human and non-human life, they must not only eliminate their current greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions but also remove accumulated emissions from the atmosphere. Of the different anthropogenic GHGs emitted, carbon dioxide (CO2) has historically and is continuing to contribute the most to the warming of the atmosphere, ocean, and land. For this reason, it is the focus of this investigation. This dissertation provides insights into and designs for two possible modular system solutions for offshore wind-powered carbon dioxide removal (CDR). The first one takes CO2 directly from the air (known as direct air capture, or DAC), and the second one draws it out indirectly through the ocean (known as direct ocean capture, or DOC). Although not studied in this work, once captured, the CO2 can be permanently sequestered via mineral trapping in mafic rocks, such as basalt formations. This is especially convenient as basalt covers most of the upper ocean crust and offers more than enough storage capacity to meet projected CDR needs. The feasibility of CO2 mineralisation in subseafloor basalt is currently being investigated by the Solid Carbon project, to which this study contributes. The prospect of storing CO2 permanently in subseafloor basalt reservoirs motivated the idea to locate the capture of CO2 offshore as well, where: the constraints on area use are more relaxed than onshore, the process can be powered by local renewable winds, and all required operating equipment can be housed on floating offshore wind turbine (FOWT) platforms. FOWT platforms are rapidly emerging technologies whose costs are less sensitive to water depth variations than more established fixed-bottom turbine platforms. As such, they are better suited for remote offshore applications, such as wind-powered DAC and wind-powered DOC. The integration of the CO2 capture (whether DAC or DOC) and wind power systems on the same floating platform can reduce operational costs, since part of the maintenance of the two can be carried out together. For the first proposed system solution, the FOWT-DAC platform, a dynamic analysis is conducted to modify as necessary and ensure that adding the DAC equipment to the moored wind platform disturbs its operation as little as possible. This is done by comparing the FOWT-DAC system’s floating stability and its fully coupled motion responses with those of the reference FOWT platform design. The research findings demonstrate good fit between the proposed system and the benchmark, suggesting that the hybrid FOWT-DAC platform behaves in a similar way to the reference system and can serve as a viable modular deployment approach. For the second proposed system solution, the FOWT-DOC platform, four design scenarios are examined. Each draws seawater from increasingly greater depths – 20 m (Case 0), 100 m (Case 1), 200 m (Case 2), and 300 m (Case 3) - with incrementally higher dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) concentrations. The energy intensity and cost of carbon capture in each case are then compared. The key finding is that, although Case 3 is the least energy intensive, it is not the most economical. This is explained by the rising linear costs associated with deeper withdrawal outweighing the benefits from seawater with correspondingly increased DIC concentration, which peaks between Cases 0 and 1, and diminishes progressively thereafter. As a result, the estimated cost is lowest for Case 2, which is almost 8% more cost-effective than Case 0. Direct air capture and direct ocean capture are two emerging CDR methods with high potential to remove CO2 from the atmosphere and could be coupled with offshore, permanent sequestration in subseafloor basalt. Although DOC is currently at an earlier stage of development than DAC, it could additionally help mitigate local ocean acidification, which together with climate change, is one of the seven planet boundaries currently transgressed. Both DAC and DOC are estimated to have similar costs of implementation, which are comparatively higher than those of many other CDR techniques. This may be an established but unfair comparison as not all CDR methods exhibit the same sequestration permanence (durability), among other key indicators. Future economic assessments should account for these differences and show the true societal cost of carbon removal across different residence times.
Transforming pedagogical practices: Exploring the impact of a multiliteracies approach on student engagement in English langauge and literature in senior high schools in Ghana and Canada
(2026) Otoo-Ansah, Deborah; Sanford, Kathy
In an increasingly multimodal and culturally diverse world, traditional approaches to English Language and Literature instruction often fail to engage students meaningfully. This study investigates how the adoption of a multiliteracies approach can enhance student engagement in senior high school English classrooms in Ghana and Canada. The research examines how literacy learning extends beyond print-based instruction to include diverse modes of communication, cultural relevance, and students lived experiences. Using narrative inquiry and autoethnographic methodologies, the study draws on the stories and classroom experiences of four educators from diverse educational and cultural contexts, alongside the researcher’s own reflective teaching journey. Narrative and thematic analysis reveal that multiliteracies practices can support engagement through multimodal learning, collaborative classroom environments, and culturally responsive pedagogy that connects instruction to students’ identities and everyday literacies. The findings also highlight challenges that complicate implementation, including standardized assessment demands, unequal access to resources, and the growing presence of digital technologies and artificial intelligence in literacy education. Overall, this study contributes to ongoing conversations about inclusive and transformative pedagogies by demonstrating the potential of multiliteracies to foster deeper engagement and more equitable learning experiences across diverse contexts
Recurrent transcriptomic states of plasma cell rich lymphomyeloid aggregates in high grade serous ovarian carcinoma
(2026) Kalaria, Shreena Nisha; Nelson, Brad H.; Nathoo, Farouk
Background: Plasma cells are emerging as prognostic markers in high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSC), yet their spatial organization and niche-associated transcriptional programs remain poorly characterized. We aimed to define plasma cell rich lymphomyeloid aggregates (LMAs) - dense immune regions enriched for plasma cells - in HGSC and define their transcriptional signatures. Given the dependence of plasma cells on niche derived signals, we hypothesized that plasma cell rich LMAs would segregate into reproducible aggregate level signatures dominated by distinct contextual programs. Methods: We profiled 14 primary, untreated HGSC tumours using a modified 10x Genomics Visium workflow to obtain spatially resolved gene expression, B-cell receptor (BCR), and T-cell receptor (TCR) data. Immune lineages were inferred at the spot level using gene signatures, and LMAs were identified using a density-based KDE/DBSCAN framework. Transcriptional programs associated with plasma cell rich LMAs were assessed by within-section differential expression and pathway enrichment. We applied a similar workflow to an external cohort of 8 HGSC tumours to assess generalizability. Results: LMAs were detected in 4 of 14 tumours (18 LMAs total), and plasma cell rich LMAs were observed in 2 tumours (5 plasma cell rich LMAs) within our internal cohort. Plasma cell rich LMAs were observed in 6 out of 8 tumours within the external cohort (13 plasma cell rich LMAs). Across internal and external cohorts, plasma-cell–rich LMAs segregated into four recurrent transcriptional signatures: (i) reduced biosynthesis/energy metabolism, (ii) stromal and extracellular matrix remodeling, (iii) antigen presentation and (iv) high biosynthesis/energy metabolism. Mixed signatures were also observed in a subset of LMAs. Significance: These recurrent LMA programs define distinct spatial immune niches in HGSC and generate testable hypotheses about how microenvironmental context may constrain or support antibody-associated immune activity. In larger clinically annotated cohorts, LMA program frequency and localization can be evaluated for association with clinical outcomes.
Assessing the feeding ecology of two myctophid species, Diaphus theta and Stenobrachius leucopsarus, using fatty acids, microscopic analysis, and DNA metabarcoding from two regions around Vancouver Island
(2026) Hobson, Eleanor; Stevens, Catherine J.; Dower, John F.
Across the global ocean, mesopelagic fishes are key components of midwater ecosystems. Myctophids dominate mesopelagic fish biomass and play critical ecological roles by transferring energy from zooplankton to higher trophic levels and by transporting carbon from surface waters to the deep ocean via the biological pump. Increasing global demand for seafood has led to growing interest in harvesting mesopelagic fish, despite a limited understanding of trophic connectivity and feeding ecology within this zone. Currently, mesopelagic trophic ecology remains poorly studied in the waters surrounding Vancouver Island, British Columbia. To address this knowledge gap, this thesis provides the first comparative investigation of feeding ecology in the myctophids Diaphus theta and Stenobrachius leucopsarus from the BC/Northern USA shelf and the Strait of Georgia (SoG). Feeding ecology was examined using lipid analysis, microscopic gut content analysis, and DNA metabarcoding of stomach contents sequencing the V4 18S and COI genes. Lipid profile comparisons between D. theta and S. leucopsarus indicate that differences in total lipid were primarily correlated with species-specific storage lipid type and buoyancy requirements. Constant levels of total lipid were noted in both regions in wax ester-storing S. leucopsarus, which utilizes lipids to remain neutrally buoyant as an inactive, semi-migrant myctophid. In contrast, total lipid in triacylglycerol (TAG)-storing D. theta exhibited greater intraspecific variation in both regions, attributed to the “quick use and replacement” properties of TAG and the greater energy requirement for this more active myctophid. Comparison of fatty acid profiles between D. theta and S. leucopsarus showed markedly different levels of saturation, with D. theta containing a greater proportion of saturated fatty acids, whereas S. leucopsarus contained more monounsaturated fatty acids. Comparisons of individual fatty acids representing carnivory, trophic level, and copepod ingestion showed both inter- and intraspecific variation along the latitudinal gradient. Microscopic gut content analysis showed a greater number of prey taxa consumed on the shelf by D. theta compared to S. leucopsarus, with copepods, euphausiids, and amphipods frequently found using this method. DNA metabarcoding of stomach content revealed the occurrence of gelatinous zooplankton in the diet of D. theta both on the shelf and in the SoG, a pattern not exhibited by S. leucopsarus in either region. Regional comparisons between the number of prey taxa found in each myctophid show a greater number of prey taxa eaten on the shelf, despite the SoG having a greater taxonomic diversity of zooplankton prey. These data provide baseline information on the feeding ecology of D. theta and S. leucopsarus from the BC/Northern USA shelf and the SoG, thus providing the foundation to assess future risks of mesopelagic fish extraction in this region.
Field observations of structurally-controlled rip currents on the west coast of Vancouver Island
(2026) Daniel, Jamie; Gemmrich, Johannes; Klymak, Jody Michael
Rip currents are strong seaward-directed flows generated by the action of breaking waves on beaches. They are considered to be one of the most dangerous coastal hazards due to their ability to quickly transport swimmers and surfers into deeper waters. Since 1936, rip currents have been studied worldwide through a variety of methods including field observations, numerical modelling, and laboratory experiments. One location in Canada where rip currents occur is the Long Beach Unit of Pacific Rim National Park Reserve on the west coast of Vancouver Island. The Long Beach Unit is a popular surfing destination and rip currents at this location have necessitated water rescues and have been responsible for injuries and deaths. In spite of the hazard they pose, rip currents have been under-researched on Canada’s west coast. Field observations of rip currents were made at two locations in Pacific Rim National Park Reserve where rip currents are controlled by the presence of rock features: Long Beach and Wickaninnish Beach. Results from visual, Eulerian, and Lagrangian datasets are combined to examine the influence of the wave field and tide on rip current occurrence, speed, and perceived strength. It is found that significant wave height has the greatest effect on structurally-controlled rip current flow, followed by mean wave period. All three rip current characteristics increase with higher and longer waves, revealing the importance of incident wave energy and increased wave set-up in driving rip current flow. These waves can be represented by two non-standard wave parameters: wave factor Wf and a proxy variable for wave energy flux. Mean wave direction and directional spread show some influence on the rip currents at both locations, in that, during the observation periods, waves favourable for increased rip current speed and strength tended to approach the beaches from certain directions. At Wickaninnish Beach higher waves approached from west-southwest with greater directional spread; while at Long Beach higher and longer waves approached from the south with narrow directional spread. Tidal elevation and motion showed little influence on rip current characteristics at Wickaninnish Beach. Results from this research will contribute to general understanding of structurally-controlled rip currents, and can be used to further improve beach safety in Pacific Rim National Park Reserve.

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