CONESTOGA COLLEGE
Tech Showcase highlights best-of-program projects

Top: Bachelor of Engineering - Electronic Systems Engineering students received the Engineering & Technology Mastercraft Award for their project, OBD2FA - OBD Two Factor Authentication. Bottom: Virtualization and Cloud Computing students received the Applied Computer Science & Information Technology Mastercraft Award for their Wildfire Detection System project.

Hosted at the Cambridge - Fountain Street campus, students from twelve programs explained and demonstrated the skills and knowledge learned over the length of their studies to a panel of industry judges, who scored on first impression, quality, skills and creativity to award honours.

Bachelor of Engineering - Electronic Systems Engineering students Noah Grant, Brandon Hauck and Wyatt Richard received the Engineering & Technology Mastercraft Award for their project, OBD2FA - OBD Two Factor Authentication. The team created a solution for car owners to secure vehicles with proximity-based two-factor authentication. The system includes an autonomous key security and on-board diagnostics (OBD) blocker to provide real-time alerts and manual override through a mobile application.

Virtualization and Cloud Computing students Christy John, Jeson Nehru, Akash Shiji, Saran Soni and Simi Thalakkodan Yohannan received the Applied Computer Science & Information Technology Mastercraft Award for their Wildfire Detection System. The group developed a low-cost IoT-based system that uses temperature, humidity, gas, flames and GPS sensors to provide real-time fire alerts via the cloud. The system delivers instant notifications to authorities and the public, enabling faster response and reduced damage.

With their top honours, the teams will be presented with Conestoga's Mastercraft Award at convocation this fall. Established in 1980 by former Conestoga president Kenneth E. Hunter, the award recognizes excellence in program-related skills and includes a Coat of Arms and monetary prize.

Bachelor of Engineering - Power Systems Engineering students Alex Da Silva, Jacob Fischer and Damian Hewitt were awarded the Engineering & Technology OACETT GVC Honourable Mention Award for their project that remotely monitors doubly-fed induction generators used in wind turbines. The preventative maintenance scheme identifies inter-turn faults, which could lead to inefficient operation, accelerated insulation deterioration and serious failure in wind turbines. Speed and current data are sent to a server and compared to expected values. An Android application retrieves the live data and displays information and abnormality warnings.

Computer Applications Development students Harkirat Kaur Bhullar, Thomas Mccavour and Sachin Sapkota were awarded the Applied Computer Science & Information Technology OACETT GVC Honourable Mention Award for their project, The Missing Middle. The group created a web application using artificial intelligence to visualize medium-density housing in real streetscapes. The goal is to build grassroots support for denser housing in communities to address affordable housing.

Conestoga's School of Engineering & Technology offers a comprehensive suite of programs with a wide range of credentials in areas that include architecture, civil, construction, mechanical and electronics. Programs feature project-based learning, co-op work experience and applied research opportunities to prepare graduates for success in their chosen fields. Conestoga was the first college in Ontario to offer fully accredited engineering degrees.

The School of Applied Computer Science & Information Technology offers leading-edge programs with a 21st-century education that prepares graduates for exciting careers in the innovative world of information and communications technology. With a strong connection to local industry, project-based and work-integrated learning enables students to solve real-world problems and engage in new technologies that empower a professional journey in a rapidly growing sector.