Ontario Tech University Research Lab Reports on Smart Technology for Safety and Health
Dr. Khalid Elgazzar, Canada Research Chair in the Internet of Things (IoT) at Ontario Tech University, presented research findings from the university's IoT Research Lab on August 19, 2025. The research covers smart technologies developed for road safety, health monitoring, and other applications, with collaborative studies conducted in Durham Region school zones and on wearable health devices.
Dr. Elgazzar's presentation included details of projects aimed at using technology to monitor and improve safety and care in local communities. These efforts are described in the context of existing and proposed collaborations with local authorities, such as Durham Region, making the findings directly pertinent to those living in and around Clarington.
According to Dr. Elgazzar, the IoT Research Lab is exploring several uses of smart technology. Recent projects include AI-powered radar and camera systems to monitor speed in high-risk driving areas and smart cameras at intersections to adjust traffic lights and give priority to emergency vehicles. The lab is also developing wearable patches to track cardiac activity in real time and devices to detect early signs of agitation in dementia patients. In agriculture, the research involves smart sensors for monitoring soil health, crop conditions, and local weather patterns.
Research in Durham Region school zones focused on locations equipped with automated speed enforcement (ASE) cameras. During the warning period before ASE activation, 36 percent of vehicles exceeded the speed limit. When ASE was active, that figure dropped to below 14 percent. After ASE ended, violations rose again by 12.5 percent but remained lower than during warning periods. Dr. Elgazzar said these results indicate a sustained change in driver behaviour in school zones.
In the area of health, Dr. Elgazzar reported that the lab is working on wearable sensors combining visual data with physical signals to detect agitation in people with dementia before escalation. The lab is also developing remote electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring devices for early alerts in individuals with chronic heart conditions.
Dr. Elgazzar stated that privacy and data security are central in developing these new technologies, with measures in place for anonymous data processing, algorithm validation for bias, and strong protection of personal information.