Synopsis

This project discusses the issue of drowning deaths related to falling through ice in Canada and the need for a system that can warn users of ice conditions that cannot support a vehicle. Between 1991 and 2000, approximately 9% of all drowning deaths in Canada were directly related to falling through lake ice, with 66% of these fatalities involving a vehicle falling through an ice surface. Therefore, a solution is needed that is cost-effective, visually appealing, easy to use, and adaptable to multiple vehicles, including cars, trucks, transport trucks, snowmobiles, and all-terrain vehicles. To ensure adherence to ice safety guidelines provided by various governmental regulatory bodies, such as the Infrastructure Health & Safety Association (IHSA), any proposed solution must be conscious of the Indigenous communities that heavily rely on ice roads for transportation and resource importation. Ice depth measurement techniques, both destructive and non-destructive, were investigated as options for potential solutions. Research was also performed on the mathematical modeling of ice strength, based on features such as temperature, optical traits, and the history of ice behavior in the region. Additionally, a survey was conducted to understand the needs of the consumer stakeholder group, with 78 respondents helping to focus the scope and constraints of the project, providing cost limits and user feature priorities. After extensive ideation and solution investigation techniques, such as using sticky-notes and house of quality templates, two viable solutions were developed: using a small drone to scout ahead of the user and mounting a piezoelectric transducer-based device to the user's vehicle to measure the ice thickness using acoustic pulses. After evaluating both potential solutions using a weighted evaluation matrix, the piezoelectric transducer design was selected. In conclusion, this project highlights the importance of developing solutions that are effective, cost-efficient, and adhere to safety guidelines. By taking into account the needs of different stakeholders and evaluating potential solutions, the project team was able to develop an effective solution that could help prevent drowning deaths related to falling through ice in Canada.