Have you ever wondered what lies underground?
Seneca's Applied Research recently teamed up with Toronto-based BFI Energy Group to create a high-tech tool for just that kind of exploration.
Without so much as putting a shovel into soil, the researchers were able to use technology to mine data and interpret exactly what resources lie beneath the earth.
"We were looking for a non-destructive technique in order to see what's going on under the earth's surface," said Amir Moslemi, Professor, School of Software Design & Data Science and the Principal Investigator.
Just as an ultrasound can be used to interpret what's going on in a human body, seismic wave analysis can be used to understand what's happening in the earth. However, traditional methods of this sort of exploration are expensive, time consuming and have varying degrees of accuracy.
That's why BFI Energy Group, which specializes in oil, gas and rare mineral research and development, asked Seneca to help develop an AI tool that can identify resources.
Seneca worked with BFI Energy Group on a research project to help find natural resources. Research Assistants Zubeka Dang and Anna Briskina, Principal Investigator Amir Moslemi and Research Assistant Jason Li (left to right) created an AI tool to analyze earth science data. (Abhishek Chari/Seneca Polytechnic)
Mr. Moslemi and the research assistants, Anna Briskina, Zubeka Dang, Jason Li and Solmaz Heidar Nassab all of whom are students in the four-year Honours Bachelor of Data Science and Analytics program worked on the project.
The research involved gathering seismic modelling data, geological information and maps among other details and putting it all into formats that would be compatible with AI algorithms.
Next, they worked on developing an AI tool to predict the characteristics of various resources by measuring layers, dimensions and sound waves from the earth science data provided. This was a matter of trial and error that involved training the tool for accuracy and efficiency.
Peyman Moghaddam, Director, BFI Energy Group
Throughout the research, which went from February until the end of August, the team met regularly with Peyman Moghaddam, Director, BFI Energy.
"The team was fantastic," Mr. Moghaddam said, adding he was impressed with the calibre of the research. "The students are absolutely brilliant."
Mr. Moslemi agreed and said the research was a great opportunity for the students to use and develop their skills, which are in high demand as companies look for experts in coding with AI experience.
In fact, the project was so successful, it's been written up for academic journals and was recently published in Applied Sciences MDPI.
The combination of experience and having a published paper, with the entire team's name on it, should bode well for the students, Mr. Moslemi said.
Ms. Dang, a fourth-year student who worked on the project, said it was an excellent experience.
"I had the chance to apply what I studied in data science and to use it in a real project," she said. "I learned a lot about new technologies."
She was so inspired that she's decided to pursue a master's degree in computer science.
In the meantime, plans are underway for BFI Energy to do a follow-up study with Seneca in the new year.
"The ultimate goal is to have software and services we can sell as a company," Mr. Moghaddam said.
