IEEE Vancouver Section Centennial Awards

On its 100th Birthday, IEEE Vancouver Section honoured its most influential contributors. Centennial awards distinguished members who have been influential in the development of Canadian technology, keeping the Vancouver Section or the IEEE vibrant and flourishing. The contributions of four Professors with the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering were acknowledged.

Professor Emeritus Hermann Dommel was recognized for his outstanding contributions to Electromagnetic Transients Simulation. Dr. Dommel is the pioneer of electromagnetic transient analysis and EMTP. He developed basic formulation and developed the first computer based program to study fast transients phenomena throughout electrical systems. He has also made monumental contributions to various fields in electrical engineering such as Optimal Power Flow. His world-wide recognition started with his classic 1969 IEEE paper titled “Digital Computer Solution of Electromagnetic Transients in Single – and Multiphase Networks”.

IEEE Vancouver recognized Professor Victor Leung for his outstanding contributions in wireless networks and mobile systems. He has made ground-breaking contributions in the areas of mobility and location management, radio resource management, medium access control and quality of service provisioning. Industry and academia have benefited from Dr. Leung’s research and development in wireless networks and mobile systems for 30 years. He has published more than 500 articles in refereed journals and conference proceedings and his work has been cited more than 3200 times. His papers on dynamic call admission control and dynamic location management set new directions in the field.

The Centennial award was given to Professor José Martí for his outstanding contributions to education and research in simulating multiple infrastructures including electric power systems. José Martí advanced the state-of-the-art power system transient simulators in several areas. More recently, his work includes the development of a system simulator that integrates the interdependencies and flow of resources among multiple infrastructure systems (e.g., power system, water system, transportation system, ICT system, etc.). This tool is currently being applied in three broad areas: 1) Analysis and design of integrated energy (heat and electricity) systems with multiple sources of conventional and alternative generation; 2) Development of energy self-sufficient economically prosperous communities; and 3) Development of decision support tools for optimal response during large disaster situations.

Professor Rabab Ward was recognized for her outstanding contributions in the areas of signal detection, image encoding, compression, recognition, restoration and enhancement, their applications to cable TV, HDTV, medical images, infant cry signals and brain computer interfaces. Dr. Ward has published hundreds of technical publications, and holds six patents related to cable television picture monitoring, measurement and noise reduction. Applications of her work have been transferred to U.S. and Canadian industries. Dr. Ward has made important contributions to Women in Engineering having been one of the founders of the Society for Canadian Women in Science & Technology.

Centennial Awards also acknowledged the work of:

– Dr. John MacDonald, “For a lifetime of contributions to digital systems, remote sensing, space technology, renewable energy and the Canadian advanced technology sector”

– In memory of Thurb Cushing, “For leadership in development of the telecommunications industry in British Columbia”

– Dr. James McFarlane, “For a lifetime of contributions to underwater vehicles and robotics and the Canadian advanced technology sector”

– In memory of Dr. Harry Ellis, “For lifetime contributions to the understanding of the transient and dynamic electromechanical stability of electrical power systems”

– Dr. Arkady Tsisserev, “For an IEEE Vancouver Section member outstanding contributions to Codes and Standards Development & Electrical Engineering”