“The CASCON 2024 conference will showcase a variety of engaging Workshops and Tutorials.”, Join us on November 11th to 13th, 2024,Toronto/ York university
1st DITA workshop at CASCON will look back on the DITA CREATE program's accomplishments and the success of its graduates. This workshop will also explore future directions in IoT and cyber-physical systems research, with program alumni and industry collaborators sharing their experiences and perspectives on the evolving field of IoT.
Workshop Agenda:
13:30 - 15:00 (90 minutes)
- Welcome and Opening Remarks
Speakers: Marios Fokaefs & Marin Litoiu (15 minutes) - Industry Presentation #1
Speaker: [Mohammadreza Rasolroveicy], Title: [Bridging Worlds: My Transition from DITA to IBM Data Security] (25 minutes) - Industry Presentation #2
Speaker: [Caroline Quinn], Title: [An overview of a DITA experience as a master's student at the intersection of computer science and building science] (25 minutes) - Student Presentation
Speaker: [Mo Adel Abdelghany], Title: [CampusGo: Augmented Reality Indoor-Outdoor Navigation through a Campus Digital Twin
] (25 minutes)
15:00 - 15:30
Coffee Break
15:30 - 16:45 (75 minutes)
- Industry Presentation #3
Speaker: [Josh Sahota], Title: [From Academia to Industry: Leveraging Research Skills for Career Success and Industry Insights] (25 minutes) - Roundtable Discussion: "Industry-Academia Collaboration and CREATE Programs"
(50 minutes)
Bridging Worlds: My Transition from DITA to IBM Data Security
Mohammadreza Rasolroveicy, IBM
Abstract: How do you transform academic theory into a product that can thrive in a competitive industry? My journey with DITA wasn’t just about attending workshops or writing papers—it was about constantly pushing boundaries. During the PhD journey, I navigated the uncharted space between academia and industry, turning my PhD research into a real-world product, which was industrialized and implemented for Maple Leaves Entertainment's NFT marketplace. But the real challenge? Balancing research with the relentless pace of
industry expectations. I worked across disciplines, collaborated with industry experts, pitched ideas, and iterated fast. Conferences, networking, and intense problem-solving pushed me past my comfort zones and gave me the tools to innovate beyond theory. Now, at IBM Data Security, I apply the same research-driven rigor to develop solutions that matter—where innovation isn’t optional but essential. This presentation is for anyone ready to challenge themselves, go beyond conventional thinking, and learn what it takes to bridge the worlds of academia and industry. Buckle up—it’s not a smooth road, but it’s worth the ride.
Bio: Mohammadreza Rasolroveicy received the Ph.D. degree in computer engineering from Polytechnique Montréal, Montreal, Canada, in 2022, and subsequently worked as a postdoctoral fellow at York University in Toronto, Canada in 2023. He is currently a software developer in the DevOps team at IBM Data Security, where he leverages his expertise to streamline operations, fortify system reliability, and drive innovation. His research interests span software quality, cloud computing, blockchain performance, and self-adaptive systems.
DITA experience as a master's student at the intersection of computer science and building science
Caroline Quinn, Carbonsight
Abstract: An overview of a DITA experience as a master's student at the intersection of computer science and building science. I participated in the the DITA program from 2018-2020 during my master's studies at TMU and was offered the opportunity to participate in a number of research efforts and complete an internship with a multinational building automation company in their R&D department. Through these activities, I explored how my research could be applied in academia and industry. Since graduating from my master's I have grown my role from a product manager to the director of innovation of a start-up working at the intersection of decarbonization and buildings. I lead a team working to build out our API which offers parametric energy modeling and AI solutions for identifying decarbonization opportunities in buildings. We hope to integrate our API in a variety of ways across the building industry including those who sell IoT devices. The DITA experience shaped my master's education and has been relevant to my career since graduating.
Bio: Caroline is the Director of Innovation with Carbonsight. Caroline leads the R&D efforts of an AI engine to support Autocase's newest offering, Carbonsight. Carbonsight leverage AI capabilities to help users rapidly calculate the energy impact of decarbonization measures for existing buildings and understand which building features are most relevant to decarbonization. Caroline has a BSc in computer science and MASc in building science. Prior to focusing her efforts on AI development Caroline worked on a bespoke carbon tracking tool for a multinational tech firm, and has additional professional experience working on the development and customization of business systems. Caroline has been published in Automation and Construction , and Advanced Engineering Informatics on the topic of data ontology to support the smart and ongoing commissioning of buildings. She has presented at the CIB W78 International Council for Research and Innovation in Building and Construction 2019, Greenbuild International 2023, and the CIFE Summer Program 2024.
From Academia to Industry: Leveraging Research Skills for Career Success and Industry Insights
Josh Sahota, IBM
Abstract: This presentation dives into my personal journey starting with school, small business, and transitioning into the corporate world. I will share real-world examples that highlight how the research method and skill set has benefited my career and how these skills have provided insight to IT VPs, CISOs, and CIOs. Furthermore, we will discuss some industry trends and insights that may help you succeed in the job market.
Bio: This presentation dives into my personal journey starting with school, small business, and transitioning into the corporate world. I will share real-world examples that highlight how the research method and skill set has benefited my career and how these skills have provided insight to IT VPs, CISOs, and CIOs. Furthermore, we will discuss some industry trends and insights that may help you succeed in the job market.
CampusGo: Augmented Reality Indoor-Outdoor Navigation through a Campus Digital Twin
Mo Adel Abdelghany, DITA Masters student
Abstract: Geolocated services can play a significant role in enhancing user experiences, in complex environments like complex campuses, for onboarding new employees and students and guiding tourists and visitors. This motivation is driving research and development in the area of geolocated augmented reality (AR) navigation but the field is still quite young. CampusGo is a software platform designed to provide a coherent suite of services to enable the development of AR-enabled, smart-campus applications, including (i) integration of a variety of multi-modal data about the campus, such as building architectural diagrams and 3D models of buildings, people's profiles, offices and labs, landmarks and events; (ii) indoor and outdoor path-planning services; (iii) real-time navigation support; and (iv) engaging web and mobile front ends. In this paper, we present the overall system architecture and describe our early experience with deploying and beta-testing CampusGo on a university campus.
For more information about the conference, please visit: https://cascon.ca/workshops/#DITA
