Advancing Engineering Research
U of T Engineering drives positive change. Building on a legacy more than 150 years in the making, we are challenging what’s possible and pushing the limits in pursuit of a better future. Our Defy Gravity campaign will help accelerate the work of promoting healthy societies, creating sustainable and thriving global communities and designing intelligent machines for good.
Adopting EVs now will improve air quality, human health
A new study from U of T Engineering suggests that large-scale adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) could lead to significant population-level health benefits.
The team used computer simulations to show that aggressive electrification of the U.S. vehicle fleet, coupled with an ambitious rollout of renewable electricity generation, could result in health benefits worth between US$84 billion and 188 billion by 2050.
“If we buy more internal combustion vehicles now, we will be locking ourselves into those tailpipe emissions for years to come," says Professor Marianne Hatzopoulou (CivMin).
“We need to start on the path to a healthier future today.”
How AI can enhance precision and efficiency in metal 3D printing
Researchers at U of T Engineering, led by Professor Yu Zou (MSE), are leveraging machine learning to improve additive manufacturing, also commonly known as 3D printing.
In a new paper, published in the journal Additive Manufacturing, the team introduces a new framework they’ve dubbed the Accurate Inverse process optimization framework in laser Directed Energy Deposition (AIDED).
The new AIDED framework optimizes laser 3D printing to enhance the accuracy and robustness of the finished product. This advancement aims to produce higher quality metal parts for industries, such as aerospace, automotive, nuclear and health care, by predicting how the metal will melt and solidify to find optimal printing conditions.
“We still need to decarbonize the power generation system, but we should not wait until that process is complete to get more EVs on the road. We need to start on the path to a healthier future today.”
– Professor Marianne Hatzopoulou (CivMin)
Leg muscles could be an early warning system for heart failure
U of T Engineering researchers have found that studying blood flow in leg muscles may help detect cardiovascular disease earlier compared to standardized tests.
In research published in Discover Medicine, Professor Hai-Ling Margaret Cheng (BME) and her team used advanced MRI scanning techniques to show that in diabetic rats, problems in blood flow regulation in the leg muscle appeared months before similar issues were seen in the heart.
Advancing quantum research
Professor Li Qian (ECE) is a key principal investigator on three new quantum research projects funded by NSERC and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). These include a collaboration with researchers at the University of Bristol to study how principles and paradigms from classical optical networks can be adapted for quantum networks.
In March, Professor Hoi-Kwong Lo (ECE) and PhD student Amita Gnanapandithan discovered hidden multi-dimensional side channels in existing quantum communication protocols.
Who benefits from bike lanes?
Using a machine learning model, U of T Engineering researchers generated maps of future bike lane networks along major Toronto streets, optimized according to both efficiency and equity. In all scenarios, bikes lanes along Bloor West were a key component of the network.
“Those bike lanes benefit even people who don’t live near them and are a critical trunk to maximizing both the equity and utility of the bike network,” says Professor Shoshanna Saxe (CivMin).