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Facilities

Supporting the Innovation Ecosystem

Our Facilities

College of the North Atlantic maintains a number of specialized facilities for both teaching and applied research. These facilities offer a variety of services and opportunities to assist industry and communities with their innovations.

CNA Mining Innovation Network

College of the North Atlantic has developed substantial relationships with the mining industry throughout Newfoundland and Labrador and beyond based on its more than 55 year history as the primary training institution for mining sector workforce development. More recently, however, as Colleges across Canada have leveraged their industry engagement, expertise and facilities into creating hubs for applied research, CNA has strategically focused on utilizing its mining sector relationships and in-house human and physical resources to work with industry to enhance innovations in mining exploration, processing operations and outreach.

Since 2015, the College has conducted 51 applied research projects with provincial and national mining sector companies attracting over $11,500,000 in external funding ranging from short-term NRC IRAP projects to multi-year/partner NSERC projects that have, simultaneously, created dozens of paid experiential learning opportunities for CNA students positions that have led to full-time employment for our graduates. Dr. Gary Thompson, now our Dean of Sustainable Development, held an NSERC Industrial Research Chair for Colleges in Applied Mineralogy with Vale from 2011-16. From 2009-23, the College conducted over $1,400,000 in customized and continuous learning for mining sector clients. CNA hosts 2 advanced Haul Truck simulators to support heavy equipment training for the industry: one in Happy Valley-Goose Bay (underground simulator) and one in Labrador City (above ground simulator). We partner annually with the Department of Natural Resources to offer the Prospectors Course at our Bay St. George campus. Additionally, we have developed and delivered with the Labrador Aboriginal Training Partnership the Mining Foundations Program and also collaborated with the NL Prospectors Association to offer Mineral Prospecting Career Awareness Workshops.

By marshalling existing resources under the umbrella of the CNA Mining Innovation Network, we are able to offer a broad array of mining innovation services to grow what is currently a $7 billion sector in the province.

Dedicated Applied Research Laboratories

Reality Capture and Digitization Technology Access Centre (RCD TAC)

The Reality Capture and Digitization Technology Access Centre (RCD TAC) specializes in collecting, processing, and visualizing data from our suite of advanced reality capture and digitization technologies to accelerate business and community innovation. Our team of expert research and technical staff aim to leverage reality capture technologies to address real-world applications in operational environments through applied research projects with industry and community partners across multiple sectors. Our team has expertise in Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR), laser scanning, photogrammetry, geographic information systems (GIS), as well as multispectral and hyperspectral imaging. We work closely with our multi-disciplinary innovation network to increase technological literacy and adoption to help advance the profitability and efficiency of our partner businesses and communities.

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Hyperspectral Scanning Unit (HSU)

Mobile

The Hyperspectral Scanning Unit (HSU) is a mobile laboratory that offers world-class, high-resolution hyperspectral imaging capabilities over most currently accessible EM spectral ranges, spanning the Visible Near Infrared (VNIR) to the Longwave Infrared (LWIR) regions. The primary focus of the HSU will be to investigate geological materials, but there are no restrictions on the type of samples that can be analyzed from organic samples to industrial materials.

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Mineral Processing Lab

Baie Verte Campus

The Mineral Processing Lab engages the province’s mining industry to explore mineral processing challenges and their solutions.

Services include:

  • Determination of amenability of ore sample to gravity separation technology using e-GRG, GRG, GAT.
  • Thin section preparation.
  • Particle size analysis.
  • Sample collection, preparation and analysis consulting.
  • Down-hole ore identification for blast hole and RC drilling.
  • Study of placer morphology and determination of recoverability.
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Innovative Product Development Lab

Topsail Road

The Innovative Product Development Lab is CNA’s in-house design support space to support (1) faculty and students on process and product design projects and (2) assist industry partners with their design challenges. The Innovative Product Development Lab utilizes CAD design, high resolution metrology grade 3D scanning, 3D laser scanning, and 3D printing to support companies and the College community with challenging design tasks in a number of sectors including, but not limited to, mineral processing, historic sites, event management, food and beverage operations and tourism.


For more information on the Innovative Product Development Lab, please contact Randal Power at Randal.power@cna.nl.ca

Learn more about the Hyperspectral Scanning Unit

The Hyperspectral Scanning Unit (HSU) is a mobile laboratory that offers world-class, high-resolution hyperspectral imaging capabilities over most currently accessible EM spectral ranges, spanning the Visible Near Infrared (VNIR) to the Longwave Infrared (LWIR) regions. The primary focus of the HSU will be to investigate geological materials, but there are no restrictions on the type of samples that can be analyzed - from organic samples to industrial materials.

Lacks Heading
1 Prince Phillip Drive PO Box 1693
St. John’s, NL A1C 5P7
709-758-7474
Mon-Fri 8:30am-4:30pm
ar@cna.nl.ca
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