Chairholders
Profile
Ha Nguyen
Electrical and Computer Engineering
University of Saskatchewan
Chair title
NSERC/CISCO Industrial Research Chair in Low-Power Wireless Access for Sensor Networks
Chair program
Industrial Research Chairs program
Role
Senior Chairholder since 2018
Summary
The Internet of Things (IoT) is an emerging field that refers to a network of interconnected everyday physical objects or entities such as refrigerators, cars, traffic lights, sensors and/or actuators, and even people. This communication model is expected to enable seamless integration of potentially any object with the Internet, allowing new forms of interactions between devices, or between human beings and devices. The IoT can support a wide range of applications in domains such as health care, smart cities, smart grids, pollution monitoring, transportation and logistics, factory process optimizing, home safety/security, and mining. An estimated 50 billion devices, each equipped with a communication interface and with processing and storage units, will be connected to the Internet by 2020. By 2024, the IoT industry is expected to generate $4.3 trillion in revenue across numerous sectors.
Wireless sensor networks play a key role in data acquisition and processing in the IoT. This research program aims to address critical technical issues related to signal transmission and detection, data routing, positioning and tracking in low-power, wide-area (LPWA) wireless sensor networks. LPWA technologies, the main thrust of this IRC program, offer unique features. These include wide-area connectivity not provided by legacy wireless technologies for low-power and low-data-rate devices. Their market is expected to be huge. Approximately one quarter of the overall 50 billion IoT devices will be connected to the Internet via LPWA networks employing either proprietary or cellular technologies. The results of this research program will include energy-efficient and resilient information transmission methods and techniques, and accurate and robust localization and tracking algorithms for IoT applications. Knowledge, expertise and technologies developed in this IRC program will be transferred to the industrial partner, Cisco Systems Canada, enabling a wide range of IoT applications including for the Canadian mining industry, making mine operations safer and more productive.
The rapid adoption of the IoT has created a real shortage of IoT engineers worldwide. This research program will help Canada train highly qualified personnel, specifically engineering graduates, who will be able to solve practical and critical problems concerning wireless sensor networks and IoT applications. They will possess the knowledge and skills that are highly sought after by the communications/IoT industry in Canada and worldwide.
Partners
- Cisco Systems Canada Co.
- University of Saskatchewan
Contact information
Electrical and Computer Engineering
University of Saskatchewan
