Skip to main content Skip to main navigation Skip to page-level navigation Go to the Disability Resource Centre Website Go to the DRC Booking Accommodation Portal Go to the Inclusive Technology Lab Website
The University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia Okanagan campus
Faculty of Applied ScienceSchool of Engineering
  • Programs & Admissions
    • Civil Engineering (BASc)
    • Computer Engineering (BASc)
    • Electrical Engineering (BASc)
    • Manufacturing Engineering (BASc)
    • Mechanical Engineering (BASc)
    • Graduate Degrees
    • Micro-credentials
    • Transfers
    • Outreach & Community Programs
  • Student Resources
    • Undergraduate Students
    • Graduate Resources
    • Undergraduate Capstone
    • Clubs & Associations
    • Professional Development
    • Student Feedback System
  • Research
    • Advanced Materials & Manufacturing
    • Advanced Systems & Data Analytics
    • Clean Technology & Environmental Systems
    • Health Technologies
    • Urban Infrastructure & Green Construction
    • Research Chairs & Directors
    • Postdoctoral Research Fellow Listings
    • Labs & Facilities
  • About
    • Careers
    • Contact & People
    • Forms
    • Inclusion
    • Lab & Facility Safety
    • News & Events
    • Strategic Plan & Annual Reports
  • Prospective Students
  • Current Students
  • Faculty and Staff
  • Apply to UBC
    • Undergraduate
    • Graduate
  • Contact & People
  • Donor & Alumni
  • Faculty and Staff
  • Current Students
  • Prospective Students
Home / 2023 / August / 29 / New funding paves way to improving the resiliency of Canada’s road infrastructure

About

Careers
Contact & People
Lab & Facility Safety
Forms
Strategic Plan & Annual Reports
News & Events

New funding paves way to improving the resiliency of Canada’s road infrastructure

August 29, 2023

New Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) funding seeks to ready UBC Okanagan’s SALMALIS lab to develop new technologies to improve road design and maintenance in Canada

With one of the world’s largest road networks, Canada is home to over a million kilometres of roadways that connect Canadians and power its economy. The complexity of the country’s geography and climate make safeguarding and innovating these networks paramount to Canada’s prosperity.

The Smart Analytics Lab for Modelling Advanced and Livable Infrastructure Systems (SALMALIS) at UBC Okanagan’s School of Engineering is led by civil engineering assistant professor Suliman Gargoum. Gargoum’s research focuses on the use of smart sensing technology for advanced road safety analytics and informed design and management of transportation infrastructure.

“The support from CFI will provide us with state-of-the-art tools to develop novel design charts and procedures for quantitative assessment and integration of reliability and resilience into road design,” explains Gargoum. “These tools will allow us to analyze, simulate and pioneer innovations that will ensure Canada’s road networks continue to meet the needs of Canadians.”

Research at the SALMALIS lab develops AI algorithms that analyze and assess highway features that impact reliability and resiliency such as slopes and roadside feature. The new tools will enable researchers to capture 3D data which will then be used to simulate road users and traffic under a number of variables including weather information.

“Our research team will be able to perform network-level spatial analysis of road design vulnerability,” said Gargoum. “This will help identify quickly and accurately specific areas that require upgrades or replacement — a first in Canada.”

The funding from the CFI John R. Evans Leadership Fund (JELF) will go towards the procurement of a high-resolution Mobile Laser Scanning System that includes a Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) sensor and camera.

In addition, Dr. Gargoum’s lab also received support from the B.C. Knowledge Development Fund (BCKDF) to investigate approaches to reduce costs in maintaining and improving a safe and resilient transportation network and infrastructure in British Columbia.

 

 

Posted in Research, SOESpotlight | Tagged Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI), CFI John R. Evans Leadership Fund (JELF), road design and maintenance, Smart Analytics Lab for Modelling Advanced and Livable Infrastructure Systems (SALMALIS), Suliman Gargoum

School of Engineering
Faculty of Applied Science
Okanagan Campus
EME4242 - 1137 Alumni Ave
Kelowna, BC Canada V1V 1V7
Find us on
     
Back to top
The University of British Columbia
  • Emergency Procedures |
  • Terms of Use |
  • Copyright |
  • Accessibility