NRC Annual Report 2001-2002

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N R C – F R O M D I S C O V E R Y T O I N N O V A T I O N...Reducing aircraft noise in homesNRC-IRC researchers have developed a computertool that lets the user hear how noise changeswithin a building as an aircraft passes by. The toolallows the user to assess the effects of changing abuilding location and construction details on theacoustic comfort of occupants. City planners anddevelopers can now optimize the use of thevaluable real estate around airports as well asassess the impact of airport extensions, newairplanes and changes in air traffic patterns.NRC’s ocean engineering R&DNRC works with marine regulatory bodies, marinesystem designers, manufacturers and operators andthe defence community to ensure that Canada’socean engineering businesses and operations aresafe, environmentally friendly and competitive.Research at the NRC Institute for Marine Dynamics(NRC-IMD) provides industry with a unique concentrationof knowledge, facilities and technologies tosolve engineering challenges related to Canada’socean environments.Bergy bits and bumper carsNRC-IMD carried out a field program to investigatethe impact of ships colliding with small icebergs in2001. At NRC’s request, the Captain of the CCGSTerry Fox commanded a voyage that went against16With the strongest icebreaker hull in theCanadian Coast Guard’s fleet, the CCGSTerry Fox was the perfect vessel for NRC’sice-ship interaction research.NRC continued its research into lifeboatevacuation capabilities. Research includedan evaluation of the “Twin Falls Davit”system used on floating and fixedinstallations to determine the best heightof deployment, platform clearance andorientation.everything he’d been trained to do: he deliberatelyrammed his 88-metre vessel into small icebergs.NRC used the icebreaker like a high-tech bumpercar to gather first-hand information on the effectsof collisions with bergy bits – house-sized icebergsthat are hard to see in rough weather and often goundetected. As oil and gas development and tankertraffic off Canada’s east coast increases, the informationfrom this research will help oil companiesbetter design tanker hulls. It will also help definethe guidelines that set out the sizes of “bergies”that are safe to strike and the speeds at whichships can safely travel.
Wave impact and scaling – better shipdesign and safetyOcean waves exert a variety of loads on ships’hulls. Accurately predicting these loads helpsresearchers understand the amount of load a ship’sstructure is able to withstand. NRC-IMD is workingwith DND’s Defence Research EstablishmentAtlantic to study hydrodynamic load data, usingnumerical simulations applied to a naval frigateand a vehicle ferry. The objective is to help shipdesigners meet requirements for maximumstrength with minimum weight and cost in 2001.Safer lifeboat evacuationand rescue researchAn NRC research program to evaluate lifeboatevacuation capabilities as a function of weatherconditions and to develop appropriate measuresof performance, moved into its final stages in2001-2002. Studies assessed the entire lifeboatlaunch process – from lowering and splash downto sail away – and evaluated the performance ofan evacuation system used on a fixed petroleuminstallation. As a result of this research, NRC hasapplied for a patent for a launch-wave synchronizingtechnology. The research will also be used inthe development of new performance-based regulationsfor evacuation systems.Advances in information andcommunications technologiesD i s c o v e r yThe information and communications technologies(ICT) sector contributes some $58 billion toCanada’s GDP and represents more than 6 percentof the total economy. In 2000, the sector employedover 580,000 people, nearly 4 percent of economywideemployment. ICT expenditures on R&Dreached over $5 billion in 2001, accounting formore than 45 percent of total private sector R&D inCanada. NRC’s R&D continued to play a vital, crosssectorrole in 2001-2002 with major advances inhardware, software, information processing, andfundamental enabling and next-generation technologies.Human-computer interactionprogram underwayThe NRC Institute for Information Technology(NRC-IIT) has set up a multi-disciplinary humancomputerinteraction (HCI) program, bringingtogether expertise in human factors, computingscience, information science, experimental psychologyand cognitive psychology. Research is nowunderway with the private sector, government anduniversities to investigate key issues in HCI. NRC isalso spearheading the initiative to form a nationalHCI research community. One project has alreadyresulted in the “Nouse” program, which allowspeople to use a camera to control a computermouse by moving their head. A number of prototypeapplications have been developed that havepotential for the gaming industry, persons withdisabilities and surveillance.17S C I E N C E A T W O R K F O R C A N A D A
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NRC Annual Report 2001-2002

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