2017 – IEEE Communications Society Ottawa Chapter

RF Spectrum Challenges in the Age of Netflix and Self-Driving Cars

Speaker: Nikhil Adnani, CTO, ThinkRF
DATE: Monday December 5, 2017
TIME: Refreshments, Lunch, and Networking: 11:30 a.m.; Seminar: 12:00 p.m. – 01:30 p.m.
PLACE: The Marshes Golf Club, 320 Terry Fox Drive, Kanata. View Map
PARKING: Free parking available.
ADMISSION: Open to all, free of charge. Registration is required by e-mail. Space is limited:
REGISTRATION: Register here, or contact Eric Karmouch ekarmouch@marchnetworks.com.
MORE INFO: Ottawa ComSoc/CESoc/BTS Chapter website, or contact almuhtadi@ieee.org

Abstract
Over the past decade we have been witnessing a wireless revolution. The way we communicate with each other has been changed forever with the proliferation of smartphones and other wireless devices. How we consume audio and video has evolved as streaming technologies such as Netflix, YouTube and Spotify have replaced traditional TV, DVDs, and CDs. Soon, even the way we get around will look different as autonomous vehicles relying on communications from thousands of sensors become technologically and commercially viable. Looking ahead, the potential is there for new applications that we canâ€™t even begin to imagine.
All of this is exponentially driving the demand we place on the wireless spectrum. To address this, wireless engineers and scientists are having to push the boundaries and come up with more creative use of the limited RF spectrum resources that are available.
Advanced modulation techniques, increasing bandwidths and higher frequencies are just some of the methods used to address the spectrum challenge. And as we continue to ask more and more of the spectrum around us, we also need to develop new ways to measure and monitor these signals. This talk will review the growing challenges associated with using, measuring, and monitoring the radio spectrum during this period of incredible innovation.

Bio
Dr. Nikhil Adnani is currently the Chief Technology Officer at ThinkRF. During his career he has worked on a number of different radio and wireless technologies. At ThinkRF he works on wideband radio receivers for spectrum and signal analysis applications. Nikhil has a BSc and MSc from the University of Manitoba and a PhD from Carleton University, all in Electrical Engineering.

The Autonomous Network – Technology and Politics

Speaker: Phil Rackus, Director of Product Management, CENX
DATE: Monday November 5 , 2017.
TIME: Refreshments, Lunch, and Networking: 11:30 a.m.; Seminar: 12:00 p.m. – 01:30 p.m.
PLACE: The Marshes Golf Club, 320 Terry Fox Drive, Kanata. View Map
PARKING: Free parking available.
ADMISSION: Open to all, free of charge. Registration is required by e-mail. Space is limited:
REGISTRATION: Register here, or contact Eric Karmouch ekarmouch@marchnetworks.com.
MORE INFO: Ottawa ComSoc/CESoc/BTS Chapter website, or contact almuhtadi@ieee.org

Abstract
Continued growth of bandwidth and QoS hungry applications combined with competitive pressure on ARPU have created an environment where service providers are towards a completely integrated assurance model â€“ both to increase operational efficiencies and to improve mean time to resolution of network and SPIT faults. The operational model however is still domain, and even vendor, specific â€“ both for good reasons and bad. This discussion will focus on realistic approaches to creating a highly integrated end to end assurance model that still respects technical and political domain boundaries.

Bio
A product and technology strategist, Phil has been involved in many of Ottawaâ€™s most interesting technology innovations over the last 20 years. An alumni of Bell Labs research, a founding member of N-able technologies (acquired by Solarwinds) and a key member of intrepreneurial projects at Corel, Alcatel-Lucent and Nokia, Phil brings a keen insight into the commercial and technology challenges facing the industry today and tomorrow.

Measurement, Control and Protection in a Robust Smart Grid with a Reference to Energy Management Systems for Smart Buildings in a Smart

Speaker: Dr. Anura Jayasumana, Professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Colorado State University, USA
DATE: Thursday October 19, 2017
TIME:11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
PLACE: NRC, M-36, Kelvin Room, 1200 Montreal Road, Ottawa, ON Canada K2G 1V8 .
PARKING: at the Visitors’ Parking.
ADMISSION: Free. Registration required. To ensure a seat, please register by e-mail contacting: Branislav Djokic or Wahab Almuhtadi.
MORE INFO: Ottawa ComSoc/CESoc/BTS Chapter website.

Abstract
The smart grid is a modern electric system. It has its own architecture, communications, sensors, metering, automation, computing hardware and software to improve the efficiency, reliability, flexibility and security of the electric power supply system. In particular, the smart grid, when fully deployed, will facilitate the (i) increased use of digital information and measurement, control & protection technologies, (ii) deployment and grid-integration of distributed energy resources (DERs), (iii) operation of demand response and energy efficiency programs, and (iv) integration of consumer-owned smart devices and technologies.
The smart grid requires advanced control at both component and system levels. Different non-linear controls, such as back-stepping control, feedback linearization, model predictive control, and sliding mode control are applied to control DERs, and their grid integration. Another control technique gaining application in the smart grid space is based on multi-agent systems (MAS) which provide autonomy, reactivity and proactivity. MAS are complex systems composed of several autonomous agents with only local knowledge and limited abilities, but are able to interact in order to achieve a global objective. As speedy communication facilities, such as fibreoptics, microwave, GSM/GPRS, 3G/4G are becoming the integral parts of the functioning smart grid, the integration of MAS in smart grid applications is becoming simple and feasible. This lecture focuses on the measurement & control issues of the smart grid and how MAS can provide an efficient tool to address such issues. In addition, an overview of the related challenges and opportunities for energy efficient building operation and management with deployment experience in the US will be provided, click here.

Bio
Professor Saifur Rahman is the founding director of the Advanced Research Institute (www.ari.vt.edu) at Virginia Tech, USA where he is the Joseph R. Loring professor of electrical and computer engineering. He also directs the Center for Energy and the Global Environment (www.ceage.vt.edu). He is a Life Fellow of the IEEE and an IEEE Millennium Medal winner. He is the president-elect of the IEEE Power and Energy Society (PES) and will serve in this role in 2018 and 2019. He was the founding editor-in-chief of the IEEE Electrification Magazine and the IEEE Transactions on Sustainable Energy. In 2006 he served on the IEEE Board of Directors as the vice president for publications. He is a distinguished lecturer for the IEEE Power & Energy Society and has lectured on renewable energy, energy efficiency, smart grid, electric power system operation and planning, etc. in over 30 countries. He served as the chair of the US National Science Foundation Advisory Committee for International Science and Engineering from 2010 to 2013. He has conducted several energy efficiency related projects for Duke Energy, Tokyo Electric Power Company, the US Department of Defense, the State of Virginia and the US Department of Energy.

Role of Smart Building Energy Management Systems in the Development of a Smart City

Speaker: Professor Saifur Rahman, Director, Virginia Tech Advanced Research Institute, USA
DATE: Thursday October 19, 2017
TIME: Refreshments/Registration/Networking: 06:00 p.m.; Seminar: 06:30 p.m. – 07:30 p.m.
PLACE: Ciena Optophotonics Lab (room T129), School of Advanced Technology, Algonquin College, 1385 Woodroffe Ave, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K2G 1V8.
PARKING: No fee after 5:00 p.m. at the Visitors’ Parking Lots 8 & 9. Please respect restricted areas.
ADMISSION: Free. Registration required. To ensure a seat, please register by e-mail contacting: Wahab Almuhtadi.
MORE INFO: Ottawa ComSoc/CESoc/BTS Chapter website.

Abstract
The demand of electrical energy is increasing drastically and electricity consumed in small and medium sized buildings in India is growing at a high rate. Therefore, there is a need for smart buildings or zero energy buildings. In India, most of the electrical equipment in small and medium sized buildings are operated manually in the sense that there is no automation for monitoring and control of air conditioning, plug loads and lighting systems. As a result, the lot of electrical energy is wasted. It is also observed that the power factor often drops below acceptable ranges with increasing inductive loads which causes circuit currents to reach unacceptable limits.
BEMOSS (Building Energy Management Open Source Software) using ICT devices and integrated with renewable energy can provide a cost-effective solution for the aforesaid problem and would be helpful in the development of smart buildings and smart cities in India.
This lecture will provide an in-depth understanding of the challenges and opportunities for energy efficient building operation and managementd, click here.

Personal Creativity – An Interactive Workshop

Speaker: Inez Dekker, University Lecturer, Researcher, and Public Speaker
DATE: Monday October 2, 2017
TIME: Refreshments, Lunch, and Networking: 11:30 a.m.; Seminar: 12:00 p.m. – 01:30 p.m.
PLACE: The Marshes Golf Club, 320 Terry Fox Drive, Kanata. View Map
PARKING: Free parking available.
ADMISSION: Open to all, free of charge. Registration is required by e-mail. Space is limited:
REGISTRATION: Register here, or contact Eric Karmouch ekarmouch@marchnetworks.com.
MORE INFO: Ottawa ComSoc/CESoc/BTS Chapter website, or contact almuhtadi@ieee.org

Abstract
As Engineers and Scientists you have challenges that are both wide in scope and bound by critical limitations as well. Modern creativity research suggests that the flexibility and focus required for such complex challenges can be strengthened and toned through apparently unrelated creative activities. Drawing from current scientific research and evidence emerging from several domains of study, this interactive workshop explores the psychology of creativity, your beliefs about what creativity is, and how exploring your personal creative spark can have a positive impact on your personal and professional development. Workshop takeaways focus on specific tips that will empower you to 1) Learn about the science of creativity, 2) Develop your awareness to enable greater creativity (personally and professionally), and 3) Build on different tools, skills, and knowledge to unleash your creative side.

Bio
Inez Dekker is a believer in life-long learning, development, and se! lf-discovery. After running a family business for several years, she started university at the age of 39, earning a BA (Psychology), and an MA (Organizational Psychology), and also took courses in the PhD Management program, all from Queen’s University in Kingston. She taught university courses for eight years at the Queen’s School of Business, Athabasca University, and the Sprott School of Business, including the Psychology of Personality, Organizational Behaviour, Organizational Culture, Leadership, and more. For the past 10 years, Inez has been engaged in personnel research for the Canadian military. To satisfy her own need to express herself through original art and craftwork, she has explored a variety of mediums. She writes and performs original poetry, has competed at the Canadian Festival of Spoken Word, and continues to be active in the Lanark County Live Poets’ Society (LiPS).

Data Centric Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Applications

Speaker: John Clarke, Product Manager, Data Management Systems, General Dynamics Mission Systems Canada
DATE: Monday September 4, 2017
TIME: Refreshments, Lunch, and Networking: 11:30 a.m.; Seminar: 12:00 p.m. – 01:30 p.m.
PLACE: The Marshes Golf Club, 320 Terry Fox Drive, Kanata. View Map
PARKING: Free parking available.
ADMISSION: Open to all, free of charge. Registration is required by e-mail. Space is limited:
REGISTRATION: Register here, or contact Eric Karmouch ekarmouch@marchnetworks.com.
MORE INFO: Ottawa ComSoc/CESoc/BTS Chapter website, or contact almuhtadi@ieee.org

Abstract
Product Manager, Data Management Systems, General Dynamics Mission Systems Canada
The research and development team at General Dynamics Mission Systems is evolving our intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance application to ensure that it can keep pace with the rapidly evolving ISR field. Airborne military sensors are growing increasingly capable, and commercial and open source intelligence data is now widely available and of very high quality. To modernize our system has meant exploring new approaches. The presentation will describe the ISR mission, and cover some of the new development approaches, including moving a monolithic application towards data centric microservices, using open source tools to manage and present geographic data, containerization of services to allow rapid deployment and high reliability, and machine learning to improve the workflow for operators.

Bio
As Product Manager, Data Management Systems, John Clarke provides direction, vision and leadership for the system at the heart of the airborne surveillance and comma! nd and control platforms produced by the Air and Naval business unit of General Dynamics Mission Systemsâ€“Canada. John joined General Dynamics in 2002 having spent twelve years at Bell Northern Research. Prior to assuming his current role, John was the software development manager for the Data Management System for the Airbus H225M helicopter, designed to perform land and naval surveillance missions for the Polish armed forces. Previous to his role on the Polish program, John has held a number of project management and software management positions throughout the company, including the design and development of a self defense system for helicopters and the control software for a remotely operated underwater vehicle deployed with the Swedish Navyâ€™s stealth corvette. John holds a Bachelor of Computer Engineering and Management from McMaster University. He lives in Stittsville, Ontario with his wife, daughter and son. General Dynamics Missi! on Systemsâ€“Canada is one of Canada’s leading C4ISR and defence and security electronics companies, with a worldwide reputation for excellence in the production of technology-based, integrated solutions for land, airborne, maritime and public safety applications. With state-of-the-art facilities in Ottawa, Calgary and Halifax, the company’s success is based on strong systems engineering experience, ongoing investment in research and development and collaboration with commercial and military systems industry leaders.

“Resiliency by Design” – Dynamic Categorization Working Session

Speaker: Steven Woodward, CEO, Cloud Perspectives
DATE: Tuesday August 1, 2017
TIME: Refreshments, Lunch, and Networking: 11:30 a.m.; Seminar: 12:00 p.m. – 01:30 p.m.
PLACE: The Marshes Golf Club, 320 Terry Fox Drive, Kanata. View Map
PARKING: Free parking available.
ADMISSION: Open to all, free of charge. Registration is required by e-mail. Space is limited:
REGISTRATION: Register here, or contact Eric Karmouch ekarmouch@marchnetworks.com.
MORE INFO: Ottawa ComSoc/CESoc/BTS Chapter website, or contact almuhtadi@ieee.org

Abstract
While the term ‘resiliency’ is frequently used, it is seldom defined, clarified or used in a meaningful context. This leads to rework, costs exceeding budgets, frustration and most importantly, solutions that do not provide the resiliency that was required by the business. The technology storms continue to form and merge, including Internet of Things, Software Defined Everything, Block Chain, Fog Computing and Cloud Computing. In order to provide or consume trusted and resilient services, the solutions must be clarified, planned, designed and governed accordingly. Resiliency can take many forms; performance, security, integrity and even personal safety. We will identify some foundational elements and considerations, then a working taxonomy mind-map will be provided to highlight some resiliency categories. During the session specific resiliency subjects of interest will be identified by the attendees and further “mindmaps” will be generated to express specific resiliency considerations. The working activities provide an opportunity to network and exchange ideas that will build resiliency as the technology storm front continually advances.

Bio
Steven Woodward is CEO of Cloud Perspectives, located in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. He is a member of the National Institute of Standards for Technology (NIST) cloud computing working groups (under the US Department of Commerce), a co-leader of the Cloud Audit and Cloud Carrier sub-groups, while contributing to Standards, Reference Architecture, SLAs, Security, Broker and Services topic areas. Steven is also a Director of the Cloud Security Alliance Canadian Chapter, a member of the ISO/ IEC SC7 (software systems) and SC38 (cloud and distributed processing) and chair of IFPUG’s (ISO 20926 software sizing) ISO Committee. He fosters collaboration and cooperation within and between standards groups (ISO/IEC, IEEE, IFPUG, TMFORUM, ITU-T, CSA, OMG) to clarify and quantify realistic expectations for cloud computing and the controls that build trust. His previous IEEE presentations included: SOSE in Maui, HONET in Northern Cyprus and EPEC in Ottawa. He has several published chapters in software metrics books, edits and frequently contributes articles to various communities, and is frequently interviewed by research companies. Steven’s education, advisory, planning and execution services have resulted in saving millions of dollars, while mitigating risks, for private and public sector organizations around the world.

The Rise of the Industrial Drone

Speaker: Ian Glenn, CEO/CTO, ING Robotic Aviation Inc.
DATE: Tuesday July , 2017
TIME: Refreshments, Lunch, and Networking: 11:30 a.m.; Seminar: 12:00 p.m. – 01:30 p.m.
PLACE: The Marshes Golf Club, 320 Terry Fox Drive, Kanata. View Map
PARKING: Free parking available.
ADMISSION: Open to all, free of charge. Registration is required by e-mail. Space is limited:
REGISTRATION: Register here, or contact Eric Karmouch ekarmouch@marchnetworks.com.
MORE INFO: Ottawa ComSoc/CESoc/BTS Chapter website, or contact almuhtadi@ieee.org

Abstract
This talk will focus on the transformative impact of drones on mapping and charting, as well as, for inspection and monitoring tasks. Modern industrial drones provide the ability to provide highly accurate mosaics, point clouds, DEMs, and DSMs of areas of interest in the single digit centimetre resolution range. These bundled solutions accomplish so much more than traditional methods – cost effectively and safety. ING Robotic Aviation is focused on data-driven robotic aviation delivered in harsh conditions globally. The company has flown drones the equivalent of 81 times around the planet since 2008. Ian will highlight with real world examples the possibilities that these disruptive technologies now offer. From wildlife to wind turbines, industrial drones are transforming many sectors.

Bio
Ian has led the creation of Canada’s most dynamic growth sector – unmanned aviation. His leadership in the field started over two decades ago, driving the creation of national drone standards with Transport Canada to enable the creation of the industry. Along the way he launched UVS Canada, the organization that grew into Unmanned Systems Canada which is Canada’s national sector organization. As the Chief Executive and Chief Technology Officer of his company, ING Robotic Aviation, over the past 15 years he has developed and integrated UAV systems and provided services across the globe in harsh conditions including war zones. ING Robotic Aviation often has undertaken technically difficult projects that moved the regulatory yardstick forward by demonstrating safe, robust, and validated results that served to expand the operational envelope for all the civil and commercial sector. ING has also been highly and consistently visible as a sponsor of student activities. As a pioneer of industrial drones, he has created new markets and capabilities introducing UAVs to the resource, agriculture, forestry, utility, film, construction, and defence and public safety sectors. Ian is a true pioneer in a technology and aviation emergence that will happen only once in our professional lifetime. He has grasped this evolution, and expended considerable energy in guiding it for the benefit of all Canada.

Topology Preserving Maps: A Localization-Free Approach for 2-D and 3-D IoT Subnets

Speaker: Dr. Anura Jayasumana, Professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Colorado State University, USA
DATE: Wednesday June 14, 2017
TIME: Refreshments/Registration/Networking: 06:00 p.m.; Seminar: 06:30 p.m. – 07:30 p.m.
PLACE: Ciena Optophotonics Lab (room T129), School of Advanced Technology, Algonquin College, 1385 Woodroffe Ave, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K2G 1V8.
PARKING: No fee after 5:00 p.m. at the Visitors’ Parking Lots 8 & 9. Please respect restricted areas.
ADMISSION: Free. Registration required. To ensure a seat, please register by e-mail contacting: Wahab Almuhtadi.
MORE INFO: Ottawa ComSoc/CESoc/BTS Chapter website.

Abstract
In Driven by higher potency and lower cost/size of devices capable of sensing, actuating, processing and communicating, the Internet of Things and of everything promises to dramatically increase our ability to embed intelligence in the surroundings. Subnets of simple devices such as RFIDs and tiny sensors/actuators deployed in massive numbers in 2D and complex 3D spaces will be a key aspect of this emerging infrastructure. Most techniques for self-organization, routing and tracking in such networks rely on distances and localization in the physical domain. While geographic coordinates fit well with our intuitions into physical spaces, their use is not feasible in complex environments. Protocols based on geographical coordinates do not scale well to 3D either. We present a novel localization-free coordinate system, the Topology Coordinates (TC). Interestingly, geographic features such as voids and shapes are preserved in the resulting Topology-Preserving Maps (TPMs) of 2-D and 3-D networks. Ability to specify virtual cardinal directions and angles in networks is a radical change from the traditional approaches. A novel self-learning algorithm is presented to provide network awareness to individual nodes, a step toward large-scale evolving sensor networks. Application of TCs to social networking will be illustrated, click here.

Bio
Anura Jayasumana is a Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Colorado State University, where he also holds a joint appointment in Computer Science. He is the Associate Director of Information Sciences & Technology Center at Colorado State. He is a Distinguished Lecturer of the IEEE Communications Society. His research interests span high-speed networking to wireless sensor networking, and anomaly detection to DDoS defense. He has served extensively as a consultant to industry ranging from startups to Fortune 100 companies. He received the B.Sc. degree from the University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Electrical Engineering from the Michigan State University. Prof. Jayasumana has supervised 20+ Ph.D. and 50+ M.S. students, holds two patents, and is the co-author over 250 papers. He is the recipient of the Outstanding Faculty Award from the Mountain States Council of the American Electronics Association.

A 101 to Machine Learning using Python

Speaker: Chris Allison, Senior Coordinator, GC2.0 Tools at Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat
DATE: Tuesday June 6, 2017
TIME: Refreshments, Lunch, and Networking: 11:30 a.m.; Seminar: 12:00 p.m. – 01:30 p.m.
PLACE: The Marshes Golf Club, 320 Terry Fox Drive, Kanata. View Map
PARKING: Free parking available.
ADMISSION: Open to all, free of charge. Registration is required by e-mail. Space is limited:
REGISTRATION: Register here, or contact Eric Karmouch ekarmouch@marchnetworks.com.
MORE INFO: Ottawa ComSoc/CESoc/BTS Chapter website, or contact almuhtadi@ieee.org

Abstract
Machine Learning, a method of teaching computers to learn and make predictions based on data without being explicitly programmed, is a core part of predictive analytics and key technologies like image recognition, self-driving cars, unsupervised data analytics and search / recommendation engines. Featured in more MOOC’s than you can shake a stick at, machine learning is taking off – and Python has one of the top ML ecosystems around! Chris Allison will present an introductory primer on machine learning using Python’s Scikit-Learn and Gensim. Code and examples included!.

Bio
As a driven, passionate and creative leader and change agent, Chris Allison’s career, skills and experiences span across public service, private interests and personal goals. Chris’ goal is to reimagine and revitalize the public service – transforming it into an organization that can meet and exceed the needs and expectations of Canadians. Over the past 15 years Chris has worked on immigration enforcement, investigated war crimes, patrolled Toronto with the Toronto Police Service, conducted surveillance and counter smuggling activities with as an RCMP officer, participated in public relations duties in Japan, managed national security activities with the Canada Border Services Agency, developed legislation, regulations and policy on import, export and cross-border law enforcement operations, contributed to the re-writing of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, created and lead a community of passionate managers in Public Safety Canada, worked to improve the traveler experience with the CBSA and currently lead the Government of Canada’s enterprise social network and wiki – working to build a single, collaborative and high performing public service to better serve Canadians. Driven and imaginative, Chris has reverse mentored three Deputy Ministers on innovation and technology on the Deputy Minister Committee on Policy Innovation, reimagined and built new ways to improve the traveler experience and acted as a catalyst for change – driving innovation in policy thinking, service delivery, information management and collaboration. An avid Python developer, Chris has built web apps, event simulations, conducted social network analysis, graphed and analyzed social media, analyzed big data with Spark, built machine learning classifiers and used natural language analysis to directly improve his organizations. As per his Twitter bio, Chris is focused on GoC leadership, community, culture, creativity and innovation. He is a geek, gamer, Python developer and storyteller.

Challenge Everything: Why Audacity Is the Key to Long-Term Growth in Technology Companies

Speaker: Stuart Russell, CTO & Co-Founder, You.i TV
DATE: Tuesday May 2, 2017
TIME: Refreshments, Lunch, and Networking: 11:30 a.m.; Seminar: 12:00 p.m. – 01:30 p.m.
PLACE: The Marshes Golf Club, 320 Terry Fox Drive, Kanata. View Map
PARKING: Free parking available.
ADMISSION: Open to all, free of charge. Registration is required by e-mail. Space is limited:
REGISTRATION: Register here, or contact Eric Karmouch ekarmouch@marchnetworks.com.
MORE INFO: Ottawa ComSoc/CESoc/BTS Chapter website, or contact almuhtadi@ieee.org

Abstract
Success in technology comes down to identifying and taking advantage of inflection points – but doing so is easier said than done, especially if you’re in a position where you’re already successful. The technologies that succeed in the long run are the ones that have the audacity to challenge the status quo, and take advantage of the recurring patterns of innovation. Stuart Russell has experience doing this with multiple technologies in multiple companies, including his current role as CTO and co-founder of You.i TV. When he was building You.i Engine with his team, they challenged multiple accepted beliefs, about everything from GPUs to engine toolsets to platform design and development conventions. The result has been a product that’s powering some of today’s leading TV interfaces, and wins out against more traditional approaches frequently. He’ll bring this experience to his presentation, which will break down the innovation inflection points using historical and current examples, and provide you with a framework for how to look for and identify your next audacious move. It’s the real key to long-term, sustainable success in the technology industry, and will power the next wave of technology innovation in Ottawa, in Canada and the world.

Bio
Stuart Russell is the Co-founder of You.i TV, and the creator of the technology on which the company is based. An expert in optimized computer rendering algorithms and physics, Stuart is more than just a software engineer or designer – he is a software innovator. Stuart has invented and patented software technology including rendering engines and emulators, and has won numerous software and business awards and accolades, including multiple wins of Best Software by Smartphone Magazine (then known as PocketPC) and an Ernest C. Manning nomination.

Telecommunication Engineering as Distinct Education Discipline – Reflections on the TEE Movement and Project ISTEE

Speaker: Dr. Tarek S. El-Bawab, Professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Jackson State University, USA
DATE: Wednesday April 12, 2017
TIME: Refreshments/Registration/Networking: 06:00 p.m.; Seminar: 06:30 p.m. – 07:30 p.m.
PLACE: Ciena Optophotonics Lab (room T129), School of Advanced Technology, Algonquin College, 1385 Woodroffe Ave, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K2G 1V8.
PARKING: No fee after 5:00 p.m. at the Visitors’ Parking Lots 8 & 9. Please respect restricted areas.
ADMISSION: Free. Registration required. To ensure a seat, please register by e-mail contacting: Wahab Almuhtadi.
MORE INFO: Ottawa ComSoc/CESoc/BTS Chapter website.

Abstract
In this talk, we discuss the telecom community efforts which led to recognition of telecommunication engineering (TE) as a distinct education discipline in the US. These efforts, concluded by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, Inc., (ABET) approval of its new Criteria for Electrical, Computer, Communications, Telecommunication(s) and Similarly Named Engineering Programs on November 1, 2014. We reflect on the history of the Telecommunication Engineering Education (TEE) initiative and movement (2008-2014) which resulted in this development. We discuss the impact of progress in Network Science and Engineering on modern Telecommunications, and examine these developments in light of other changes in the arena of engineering education in the US, and the rest of the world. The talk will look into the work that needs to be done to capitalize on these development and the roles of numerous stake holders. For example, Telecom is an area of high standardization activities and the new discipline requires course(s) and innovative instruction methods to fill a knowledge gap in this arena. We shall discuss efforts excreted in this regards through joint efforts of the US Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Technology (NIST), IEEE, and US academia.
To view the talk, click here.

Bio
Tarek S. El-Bawab led the Telecommunication Engineering Education (TEE) initiative and movement (2008-2014), which resulted in recognition of telecommunication engineering as a distinct ABET-accreditable education discipline on November 1, 2014. He is the first recipient of the IEEE Communications Society’s (ComSoc) Education Award, due to this work (2015). The citation of this award reads: “for outstanding contributions to the definition, and to the accreditation criteria, of modern communication/telecommunication engineering education; and for making changes to our education system that benefit our community, society, and the profession.” Dr. El-Bawab research interests include telecommunications, network architectures, optical networks, performance analysis, enabling electronic/photonic technologies, telecom standards, and engineering education. Currently, he is with the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Jackson State University (USA). Before this he was with Alcatel-Lucent (USA) as a Project Manager with the Network Strategy Group (CTO organization). Earlier, he was involved in networking research with a number of organizations, including Alcatel-Lucent (USA); the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Colorado State University (USA); and the Department of Electronic Systems Engineering, University of Essex (UK). Before this he led large-scale international telecommunication projects in the Middle East for 10 years. He is Member of IEEE-Eta Kappa Nu (HKN) and an IEEE ComSoc Distinguished Lecturer. He has more than 70 scholarly journal/conference papers and patents. His book Optical Switching is one of the most comprehensive references in its subject. He is the Editor of Springer’s Series: Textbooks in Telecommunication Engineering, and the Associate Editor in Chief (AEiC) of the IEEE Communications Magazine. Tarek has served IEEE and ComSoc in numerous capacities. He is Board Member of the IEEE Educational Activities Board (EAB), and of the EAB’s Committee on Global Accreditation Activities (CGAA). He is member of ComSoc’s Educational Services Board (ESB). He served as member of the Board of Governors, Director of Conference Operations, and member of the Online Content Board (OCB) of ComSoc (2014-2015). He is a founding/active member of several ComSoc technical committees, and served as Chair of the Transmission, Access, and Optical Systems (TAOS) Technical Committee for two terms. He has served as symposium chair, workshops Chair, and organizer in several ICC/Globecom Conferences, and organized/chaired the ICC/Globecom International Workshop on Optical Networking Technologies (IWONT) for 10 years. Tarek is also member of the IEEE Computer, Electron Devices, and Photonics Societies. Dr. El-Bawab has a B.Sc. in electrical engineering, and a B.A. in history, both from Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt. He holds an M.Sc. in solid state science from the American University in Cairo, and an M.Sc. in telecommunications and information systems from the University of Essex, UK. He obtained his Ph.D. in electrical engineering from Colorado State University.

Internet of Things – Things You Need to Know

Speaker: Walter Knitl, Principal, Praxiem
DATE: Tuesday April 4, 2017
TIME: Refreshments, Lunch, and Networking: 11:30 a.m.; Seminar: 12:00 p.m. – 01:30 p.m.
PLACE: The Marshes Golf Club, 320 Terry Fox Drive, Kanata. View Map
PARKING: Free parking available.
ADMISSION: Open to all, free of charge. Registration is required by e-mail. Space is limited:
REGISTRATION: Register here, or contact Eric Karmouch ekarmouch@marchnetworks.com.
MORE INFO: Ottawa ComSoc/CESoc/BTS Chapter website, or contact almuhtadi@ieee.org

Abstract
The Internet of Things (IoT) is upon us and with it the beginnings of the biggest techno-socio-economic paradigm shift since the printing press. It will touch us all irrespective of our sphere of endeavour or way of life. It’s poised to deliver great benefits, but also some cautionary side effects. So what is it? The answer is likely coloured by your background, biases and your first touchpoints with IoT, resulting in many siloed perspectives. Individual silos may separately hold that IoT is mainly about sensors, or data, or 5G, or machine learning, or security risk, or social risk, and so on. A hardware designer’s silo is different from the data scientist’s, which is different from that of the government policy wonk. Ever hear of “to a hammer everything’s a nail” or “six blind men and the elephant” – it also applies to IoT. This seminar breaks down the siloes by exploring the full IoT space through its several dimensions, and its impacts.

Bio
Walter Knitl is the principal at Praxiem – a consultancy helping clients with the discovery and delivery aspects of getting their innovations to market in the form of products or services. He is a proponent of the Internet of Things as a lever for economic growth and social good. To that end, he is an organizing team member of the IoT613 conference, and curates the Internet of Things eXchange Ottawa website. Walter has a record of successful ICT product introductions at Ottawa technology companies including Ericsson, Nortel, Mitel, Ontario Centre for Microelectronics and Bell-Northern Research. His extensive experience consists of both business roles including Product Management, Account Management and Commercial Management, as well as technical roles in software and hardware R&D and telecommunication standards development.

Catching Bad Guys with Math: Real World Data Science Use Cases for Cyberattack Detection and Prevention

Speaker: Stephan Jou, CTO, Interset
DATE: Tuesday March 7, 2017
TIME: Refreshments, Lunch, and Networking: 11:30 a.m.; Seminar: 12:00 p.m. – 01:30 p.m.
PLACE: The Marshes Golf Club, 320 Terry Fox Drive, Kanata. View Map
PARKING: Free parking available.
ADMISSION: Open to all, free of charge. Registration is required by e-mail. Space is limited:
REGISTRATION: Register here, or contact Eric Karmouch ekarmouch@marchnetworks.com.
MORE INFO: Ottawa ComSoc/CESoc/BTS Chapter website, or contact almuhtadi@ieee.org

Abstract
There is a lot of buzz about the potential of data science, machine learning and analytics in cyberattack and advanced persistent threat (APT) threat detection, but what are the techniques and tools in use and working in the real world? Properly implemented, data science can be a highly effective tool against APT, cyberattacks, and fortify an organization’s interior defense. Our distinguished speaker, Stephan Jou leads the technology and data science teams at Interset, a leading edge Ottawa company that has developed an award-winning solution, based on machine learning, to detect and prevent cyberattacks. This seminar shall describe the feature engineering, mathematical models, visualizations, development techniques and open source tools in real world implementations developed over the past two years, illustrated through four real-world customer examples. The information and techniques will be presented with visualizations, real (anonymized) data, and accessible descriptions of the mathematics, so that deep experience in statistics or mathematics is not required. Attendees will learn about how data science has been used to detect data theft from a manufacturing company, insider theft in a military defense contractor, system admin data loss in a life sciences company, and compromised account detection in a media company.

Bio
Stephan Jou is CTO of Interset, a leading edge cybersecurity company that uses machine learning and behavioral analytics to provide unprecedented insight into how corporate intellectual property is being attacked, moved, shared and utilized. Jou was a Technical Architect, Research Staff Member and Sr. Manager at IBM’s Business Analytics Office of the CTO. In his career at Cognos and IBM, he has architected and lead the development of over ten 1.0 Cognos and IBM products in the areas of cloud computing, mobile, visualization, semantic search, data mining and neural networks. A frequent speaker, Stephan has also contributed to the Verizon Data Breach Investigation Report and ISSA Magazine on the use of data science in cybersecurity. Jou holds a M.Sc. in Computational Neuroscience and Biomedical Engineering, and a dual B.Sc. in Computer Science and Human Physiology, all from the University of Toronto. He has held advisory positions on NSERC Strategic Networks and is involved in setting goals for NSERC Strategic Research Grant research topics in the areas of analytics and security.

A Compact Dual-Band Beam-Sweeping Antenna Based on Active Frequency Selective Surface

Speaker: Dr. Qingsheng Zeng (qzeng@eecs.uottawa.ca)
DATE: Friday February 10, 2017
TIME: 10:00 am – 12:00 pm. Refreshments will be served.
PLACE: University of Ottawa School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS) SITE Building, Room SITE 5084, 800 King Edward Ave., Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1N 6N5.
ADMISSION: Free. Registration required. To ensure a seat, please register by e-mail contacting: Qingsheng Zeng or Wahab Almuhtadi.
MORE INFO: Ottawa ComSoc/CESoc/BTS Chapter website.

Abstract
A dual-band beam-sweeping antenna based on two independent cylindrical active frequency selective surfaces (AFSS) is proposed in this work. This antenna is composed of a dual-band omnidirectional monopole antenna operating at 2.45 GHz and 5.2 GHz and two cylindrical AFSS screens. The dual-band omnidirectional monopole antenna is designed as a radiation source surrounded by the proposed two cylindrical AFSS screens. The unit-cells of the two proposed AFSS screens consist of two metallic crosses connected by a pin-diode vertically. By switching the pin-diodes, the transmission and reflection characteristics of unit-cell of two AFSS are investigated, respectively, at their own operating frequency. This leads to the variation of radiation pattern when the cylindrical AFSS screens are loaded around the monopole antenna. Therefore, by
switching the pin-diodes with specified combinations, the dual-band beamforming antenna with multiple discrete states can be achieved at 2.45 GHz and 5.2 GHz.
To view the talk, click here.