Grant: Applied Research Tools and Instruments Grants

Information and communications technology (ICT) is the defining technology of our age. However, the ordinary user of telecommunications is probably unaware of the impressive ICT infrastructure that exists beyond their home, office, or organization. This infrastructure reliably manages the trillions of bits of information (data, video, voice) flowing every second between users around the world via Local Area Networks (LAN), Metropolitan Area Networks (MAN), Wide Area Networks (WAN), and Cloud networks. Algonquin College has a state-of-the-art fiber-optic telecommunications networks lab (called the Optophotonics Lab). This lab represents a microcosm of the hardware and software infrastructure that makes modern telecommunications happen. This includes optical fiber communications, at industry standard transmission rates counted in tens of Gigabits per second. The lab is unique among Canada's colleges and universities and is valued at approximately $5million. This lab enhances the applied research activities at the College by allowing faculty researchers, their students, as well as ICT company partners to perform equipment testing and 'traffic engineering' studies aimed at improving quality of service of the optical communications networks. In order to enhance these research efforts the College seeks to acquire monitoring equipment tailored for the lab. The proposed equipment includes optical spectrum analyzers and multiservice test modules that will act as a live 'window' into the network. They will enable precise, real-time display of data flows and network performance. This equipment will accelerate studies using the network and will improve the efficiency of applied research while enhancing the attractiveness of the lab in the eyes of industry partners.