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A.U.G Signals Ltd (AUG) team made a visit to Manila (Philippines) in December, 2016 to demonstrate AUG’s latest innovations in Environmental Monitoring.

On Dec 15, 2016, Dr. George Lampropoulos, President & CEO, of A.U.G. Signals Ltd (AUG) met Ms. Gina Lopez – Secretary (i.e. Minister) of Philippines’ Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and discussed about the environmental monitoring in Philippines.

On Dec 16, 2016, AUG team had a meeting with eleven delegates from the DENR. These delegates from DENR included Ms. Suky Lim- Associate to the Secretary and Mr. Gilbert Gonzales- Director, Environment Management Bureau. This meeting was chaired by Professor Marlo Mendoza- Undersecretary (i.e. Deputy Minister) for Policy and Planning of DENR.

AUG successfully presented its innovative products for intelligent online water and real-time ambient air quality monitoring– TRITON Intelligent Water Surveillance and AirSENCE respectively. AUG and DENR had a valuable discussion about the technology capability and the benefits it can bring to the Philippines. AUG looks forward to expanding its market reach through a collaborative partnership with Philippines, enabling healthier life, safe drinking water and environment conservation & sustainability.

A.U.G. Signals in Greece is participating in the WaterSpy project along with eight other consortium across Europe. This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 731778. The project is an initiative of the Photonics Public Private Partnership (www.photonics21.org).

Pervasive and on-line water quality monitoring data is critical for detecting environmental pollution and reacting in the best possible way to avoid human health hazards. However, it’s not easy to gather such data, at least not for all contaminants. Currently, water utilities rely heavily on frequent sampling and laboratory analysis in order to acquire this information. For the situation to be improved, portable and high-performance devices for pervasive water quality monitoring are required. Such devices should expand current limitations in detecting contaminants, transcending today’s paradigms, and bridging different technologies available, allowing on-line monitoring of possible contaminants.

WaterSpy addresses this challenge by developing water quality analysis photonics technology suitable for inline, field measurements. WaterSpy technology will be integrated, for validation purposes, to a commercially successful water quality monitoring platform, in the form of a portable device add-on. WaterSpy will be used in the field for the analysis of critical points of water distribution networks. This will be demonstrated in two different demo sites in Italy.

 

The Honourable Carolyn Bennett, Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs, announced over $4 million in funding for an expansion of the Keewaytinook Okimakanak (KO) Safe Water Project in Northwestern Ontario First Nations communities. This expansion means that the Project will now help eliminate boil water advisories for 19 First Nations communities.

A.U.G. Signals Ltd. (AUG) is proud to support this project with its innovative technology- TRITON- Intelligent Water Surveillance^TM (TRITON). Early in 2017, TRITON will be installed in fourteen First Nations communities, including Bearskin Lake, Cat Lake, North Caribou Lake, Sachigo Lake, Slate Falls, Kingfisher Lake, Wapekeka, Wawakapewin, Wunnumin Lake, Kasabonika Lake, Lac Seul, Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug, Muskrat Dam and Pikangikum.

Through this project, AUG’s intelligent online water quality monitoring system will enable these communities to detect and estimate the concentrations of target waterborne contaminants in their drinking water distribution networks in real-time.

By placing monitoring systems at strategic locations, such as water treatment plants, community centres and schools, local water operators can issue alerts and advisories within minutes to minimize the scale and public health consequences of waterborne outbreaks and facilitate the reduction of contaminants present in the drinking water distribution systems. AUG’s technology offers a way to enhance drinking water infrastructure while building capacity at both the individual and community levels.

In addition to this state-of-the-art hardware, the 14 First Nations communities involved in the KO Safe Water Project expansion will gain permanent, full‐time employment opportunities for local personnel for maintenance and support of the systems. Training and coordination for the expansion will be organized through four Tribal Councils: Windigo First Nations Council, Shibogama First Nations Council and Independent First Nations Alliance—all based in Sioux Lookout—as well as Keewaytinook Okimakanak Council in Balmertown.

Please visit the following link to listen to the full podcast of CBC’s “World at Six” on the Safe Water Project expansion: “Safe Water Project Featured on CBC World at Six”

A.U.G. Signals Ltd. (AUG) has established a partnership with University of Toronto researchers through Southern Ontario Water Consortium (SOWC) for real-time, continuous monitoring of disinfection by-products (DBPs) at a water treatment facility in Smiths Falls, Ontario.

Like other treatment facilities, Smiths Falls has experienced operational challenges dealing with increased levels of trihalomethanes, or THMs, as chlorine used in the disinfection process reacts with organic materials in water. The plant already monitors THMs beyond the minimum requirements, but AUG’s technology will add real-time readings on an hourly basis using advanced sensing technologies.

Over the 18-month project term, and in collaboration with researchers at the University of Toronto and plant operators, AUG will test its remote photonic sensing system in a real-world operating environment in Smiths Falls. By monitoring levels of THMs continuously, AUG aims to offer a user-friendly advisory tool that will help plant operators optimize their treatment parameters to minimize formation.

For the original article on SOWC, please visit: A.U.G. Signals, U of T Researchers Partner to Trial New Drinking Water Monitoring Technology

As part of the Ontario-China Research and Innovation Fund (OCRIF) program, A.U.G. Signals Ltd.  (AUG) has partnered with the University of Toronto and Peking University in Beijing to develop a new network of air monitoring sensor systems. The team from AUG and Prof. Maosheng Yao from Peking University recently attended the OCRIF forum on May 16^th. It was an informative and enlightening day full of guest speakers, industry panels and meetings with a variety of Chinese technology investors, Canadian innovators and other research groups, With support from the Ontario and Chinese governments, AUG’s project is off to a strong start.

The AUG team Professor Maosheng Yao also visited their collaborators at the University of Toronto. Prof. Greg Evans and his research team form an integral part of this collaborative project to develop an innovative air sensor network to monitor pollution in cities around the world. These visits strengthen the bonds between both countries and improve our capability to work across borders. AUG is excited to be a part of the OCRIF program and believes its partnerships on this project will not only lead to improved technologies, but better, safer, cleaner communities in Ontario and China too.

On March 22, 2016, Consuls for Science & Technology from the Consulate General of the P.R. of China in Toronto Mr. Jianlei Shen and Mr. Shanlue Wu, together with senior policy advisor Ms. Sandy He-Easton from Minister of Economic Development, Employment and Infrastructure (MEDEI/MRI) visited A.U.G. Signals Ltd. (AUG).

The ongoing collaboration on innovative air quality monitoring technology among AUG, Peking University and University of Toronto were discussed in detail during the visit. This collaboration is a joint effort to develop a portable air monitoring sensor network, incorporating a low-cost multi-parameter array and a novel bioaerosol sensor to generate valuable air quality data from Toronto and Beijing for air pollution control. The potential expansion of this joint development was also discussed.

For the press release on the Consulate website, please visit: 驻多伦多科技领事调研空气污染监测合作项目进展

From November 5 to 13, A.U.G. Signals Ltd. (AUG) visited four cities in China – Nanjing, Shanghai, Hong Kong and Beijing – with Premier Kathleen Wynne for the trade mission.

The mission focused on the science and technology, cleantech and agriculture sectors, as well as partnerships in health care and education. Throughout the mission, AUG met with both business and political leaders to strengthen trade and science and technology collaborations between Ontario and China.

Along with the Premier, Minister of Economic Development, Employment and Infrastructure Brad Duguid, Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and International Trade Michael Chan, and MPPs Han Dong, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities, and Soo Wong, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Community and Social Services were also present for this mission.

AUG is excited to expand its TRITON- Intelligent Water Surveillance’s reach and implementation across China, providing effective monitoring and security for drinking water.