Selkirk Innovates — Advanced Computing

Smart
Kootenays

Developing practical technology solutions for real-world problems — AI systems, IoT, automation, data analysis, and custom digital infrastructure for businesses and organizations across the Kootenay region.

Explore Projects Get in Touch
Artificial Intelligence
IoT Systems
Data Science & Modelling
Custom Infrastructure
20+
Industry Partners
35+
HQP Trained
15+
Applied Research Projects
$3.3M
Expansion Investment

What We Build

Projects

From computer vision in lumber mills to forensic field apps, climate modelling, and regulatory AI — our work spans industries and disciplines.

Climate Risk Tools for Infrastructure

Tools to estimate climate-related risk for bridges, roads, transformers, drainage systems, dams, and dikes. The Risk Analysis Calculator — free and publicly available — helps planners test whether future conditions will exceed design thresholds.

Risk Analysis Policy & Planning Public Tool
Partners: Climatic Resources Consulting · Columbia Basin Climate Source

Bodytag — Forensic Field App

Bodytag.app is a web application for tracking and inventorying human remains and personal effects in natural disasters and conflict zones. Built for demanding field conditions, it prioritizes robustness and reliability where connectivity and resources are limited. The app has attracted significant interest from the international forensics community.

Web App Field Deployment Humanitarian Tech
Partner: Forensic Guardians International

Peak Industries — Board Grading System

A machine vision prototype for grading wood offcuts used in finger-jointed engineered studs. Combining machine learning, photogrammetry, and LiDAR, the system automates grading decisions that were previously done by hand — reducing labour, improving consistency, and increasing throughput on the production line.

Machine Vision LiDAR Photogrammetry
Partner: Peak Industries

Kalesnikoff — Lumber End-Grain Vision

A machine vision system deployed on a mass timber assembly line to detect board end-grain orientation and automatically signal a flip when needed. Involved machine learning, stochastic modelling, optimization, PLC integration, and automation — with three student co-ops on the team.

Computer Vision PLC Integration Industrial AI
Partners: Kalesnikoff · Peak Renewables

Climate Modelling & Downscaling

Machine learning approaches that improve the resolution of climate projections in mountainous terrain — producing the LCAP (Localized Climate Analysis and Projection) software for realistic local climate estimates to support community planning.

Machine Learning Climate Science Geospatial
Partners: Climatic Resources Consulting · City of Edmonton · Province of Nova Scotia

Teck Resources — Environmental Monitoring

Two early-alert systems for air quality and sound pollution at industrial smelter and fertilizer operations. Air quality monitoring combines existing sensors and webcams to detect leaks via data science; sound pollution monitoring uses microphones and machine learning to flag problem sounds around the facility and nearby town — improving response times and supporting regulatory compliance.

Environmental AI ML Monitoring Sensor Fusion
Partner: Teck Resources

Lidar Floorplan & Scanning

A 2D lidar-based system paired with a custom mobile app and cloud sync to generate accurate square footage estimates and automated floorplans — fast for operators and affordable for clients in the real estate sector.

Lidar Mobile App Cloud Sync

Field Data Collection & Custom Apps

Custom tools that improve field workflows, data integrity, and reporting. Includes an app that standardized field data collection, strengthened chain of custody, and enabled real-time cloud-backed access to company data for environmental consultants.

App Development Data Integrity Field Ops
Partner: Steer Environmental Associates

Smart Kootenay Digital Mobility

A regional smart mobility platform focused on safer travel and lower emissions — including snowplow tracking, road condition updates, route safety information, and transportation alternatives such as bus, carpooling, and ridesharing.

Smart Cities IoT Transit

COVID Rapid Response Team

An economic recovery program that paired student interns one-on-one with small businesses in Nelson and the West Kootenays hit by COVID-19. Teams assessed digital presence and deployed websites, e-commerce solutions, and system integrations — transferring skills and tools to improve long-term digital resilience.

Tech Transfer Digital Recovery SME
Partners: City of Nelson · Chamber of Commerce · Community Futures · KAST

Demystifying Complex Regulation

A novel system to organize, interpret, and evaluate complex regulatory documents for an industry-specific application. Combining graph theory, data abstraction, and natural language processing, the approach makes dense regulatory content machine-readable and queryable — a proof-of-concept with plans for broader generalization.

NLP Graph Theory Regulatory Tech

Who We Work With

Partners & Funders

We collaborate with regional industry, government, and national research institutions.

Kalesnikoff
Peak Renewables
Peak Industries
Teck Resources
Forensic Guardians International
City of Nelson
Nelson & District Chamber of Commerce
Community Futures Central Kootenay
KAST
Climatic Resources Consulting
Province of Nova Scotia
City of Edmonton
Columbia Basin Climate Source
Steer Environmental Associates
PacifiCan
Columbia Basin Trust
D-Pace
TRIUMF
Mitacs
Province of British Columbia
NSERC
NRC IRAP
Innovate BC
The Selkirk Technology Access Centre (STAC) is expanding through a combined $3.3 million investment from PacifiCan, D-Pace, TRIUMF, Mitacs, the Columbia Basin Trust, and regional industry leaders — positioning the West Kootenay as a hub for advanced manufacturing, ion source innovation, and AI-enabled industrial systems.

Who We Are

Advanced Computing
at Selkirk Innovates

Smart Kootenays is the public-facing identity of the Advanced Computing team within Selkirk Innovates — the applied research and innovation arm of Selkirk College in Nelson, BC.

We develop practical technology solutions for real-world problems, spanning AI-driven workflows, IoT systems, automation, advanced data analysis, software development, and custom digital infrastructure for businesses and organizations across the region.

Our work connects regional industry partners with the expertise of Selkirk's researchers and student interns — helping great ideas become real products and services ready for commercialization.

Artificial Intelligence
Machine learning, computer vision, and AI-driven automation for industrial and commercial applications
IoT & Embedded Systems
Sensor networks, edge computing, hardware interfacing, and real-time data infrastructure
Data Science & Modelling
Scientific modelling, climate analysis, computational physics, and advanced data pipelines
Software & Infrastructure
Custom applications, APIs, automation, and digital infrastructure for business workflows

The People

Our Team

The researchers, interns, and assistants behind the work.

Jonathan Doyle

Jonathan Doyle

Research Lead

Faculty researcher leading the Advanced Computing team. Expertise spans scientific modelling, computational physics, data science, supercomputing, and experimental measurement.

Ryan Bradshaw

Ryan Bradshaw

Researcher

Researcher with a focus on applied computing solutions and technology integration for regional industry partners.

MT

Matthew Tran

Research Intern

Research intern contributing to software development, data pipelines, and applied computing projects across the team.

LP

Leeza Perehudoff

Research Assistant

Research assistant supporting applied computing and data projects for the Advanced Computing team.

Past Members

We're grateful to everyone who contributed to this team.

Tanmay Deshpande
Lucas Spielman
John Curry
Jake Cushway
Brad Pickering
Halle Koyanagi
Owen Thurston
Denis Gauthier
Ross Tieman
AJ Roberts
Sam Walters
Guus Lammers
Andrew Petten
Satinder Singh
Beth Hanna
Jackson Berry
Liam Bontkes
Derick Revane
Damien Hodsall
James Price
Tristan Parece
Oliver MacNaughton
Louis Herry
Shane Hainsworth
Judi Anani
Brent Machado
Laura Siemens
Alex Lassooij
Anthony Argatoff
Rafe McDonald
Ben Marken
Timothy Fang
Martin Lou

Let's Work Together

Get in Touch

Have a problem that might benefit from a technology solution? We'd love to hear about it.

jdoyle@selkirk.ca

Nelson, BC — Selkirk College, Selkirk Innovates