Systems Design Engineering

Welcome to Systems Design Engineering at the University of Waterloo

Established over 40 years ago, the Department of Systems Design Engineering at the University of Waterloo was the first-of-its-kind in Canada, and still is, hosting the most flexible programs and interdisciplinary areas of research. Systems design covers technical, environmental, socioeconomic and political aspects of the engineering process using systems design methodology.

Our community is home to more than 700 students, 35+ dedicated faculty and supportive staff, with thousands of alumni worldwide – including some of the most successful entrepreneurs to graduate from Waterloo.  

News

  1. Aug. 2, 2018UW researchers develop artificial intelligence software to detect road problems

    WATERLOO — Potholes and deteriorating roadways are the bane of motorists and a big task for municipalities to manage.

    An artificial intelligence software system developed by University of Waterloo researchers can simplify road maintenance to flag defects early, saving taxpayers money and drivers headaches.

    "It would make everybody's lives a lot better," said John Zelek, an engineering professor at Waterloo.

  2. Aug. 2, 2018University of Waterloo researchers develop new system to detect pothole problems

    Local researchers at the University of Waterloo have developed a new artificial intelligence system to detect problems with roads.

    Currently it can take up to 24 people to go through about 13,000 images a day looking for potholes. But the new research suggests computers can do majority of the work faster, and with more accuracy.

    All the computer needs is images of the roads that can be taken using something as simple as a smart phone, and then their algorithm will do all the work.

  3. July 31, 2018Systems Design Student's Work on AI for Understanding Metal Integrity Published in Nature Communications

    Devinder Kumar, and Ph.D. student in Systems Design Engineering under the supervision of Alexander Wong, Canada Research Chair in the field of artificial intelligence, has found a better way to identify atomic structures, an essential step in improving materials selection in the aviation, construction and automotive industries. The findings of the open-access study, published in the journal Nature Communications, could result in greater confidence when determining the integrity of metals. Read more

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