Merrina Zhang

Roles and responsibilities

Senior Research Engineer

Current research and/or projects

Climate Resilience of Winter Roads; Rail Transportation; Electrification of Transit; Public Transportation Connectivity and Optimization; Fibre Optic Sensing for Rail Thermal Stress Management

Education

B. Sc. Mechanical Engineering, Queen's University (2000)

Certification/Licenses/Trades

Professional Engineer, Ontario, License #100051118 (2006 to present)

Key publications

  1. Holt, D., Zhang, M., and Jimenez, I., “Toronto Transit Commission’s Electric Bus Trial Performance Analysis”, National Research Council Canada, 2022 (AST-2022-0016, 140 pages)
  2. Zhang, M., Roghani, A., and Chenier, S., “Development of a framework to review winter roads climate vulnerability”, Transportation Association of Canada 2022 Conference and Exhibition, October 2022, Edmonton
  3. Ravensbergen, L., Elgeneidy, A., Zhang, M., and Jimenez, I., “Accessibility by public transport for older adults: A systematic review”, Journal of Transport Geography, July 2022
  4. Ravensbergen, L., Van Liefferinge, M., Elgeneidy, A., Zhang, M., and Jimenez, I., “Accessibility by public transport for older adults: A systematic review,” Network on European Communications and Transport Activity Research 22 Conference, July 2022, Toronto
  5. Zhang, M., Roghani, A. and Chenier, S., “Winter Road Climate Risk and Vulnerability Research 2021-2022 Update,” National Research Council Canada, 2022 (AST-2022-0018, 119 pages)
  6. Zhang, M., Jimenez, I., Holt, D., and Liu, A., “Electrification of Transit in a Canadian Operating Environment”, National Research Council Canada, 2022 (AST-2022-0017, 54 pages)
  7. Zhang, M., Jimenez, I., Ravensbergen, and L., Van Liefferinge, M., “Meeting Older Canadians’ Mobility Needs via Public Transportation,” Celebrating the Success of Women in STEM Symposium: Pushing the Frontiers of Research through Collaboration, 2022
  8. Zhang, M., and Chenier, S., “A Review of Winter Roads Climate Vulnerability,” Celebrating the Success of Women in STEM Symposium: Pushing the Frontiers of Research through Collaboration, 2022
  9. Zhang, M., Jimenez, I., Abebe-Jiri, H., and Christensen, M., “Electrifying Transit in Canada,” Celebrating the Success of Women in STEM Symposium: Pushing the Frontiers of Research through Collaboration, 2022
  10. Zhang, M., and Roghani, A., “The Consideration of a Changing climate for Rail Infrastructure and Operations”, Canadian and Cold Regions Rail Research Conference, November 2021, Virtual
  11. Zhang, M., “Canada-European Trade Corridor Review of Research and Development Needs and Opportunities,” National Research Council Canada, 2021 (AST-2021-0037, 40 pages)
  12. Sun, F., Hoult, N., Butler, L., and Zhang, M., "Distributed Monitoring of Rail Lateral Buckling Under Axial Loading", Journal of Civil Structural Health Monitoring, July 15, 2021
  13. Zhang, M., Roghani, A., Hill, L., and Barrette, P., “Development of a Winter Road Climate Risk and Vulnerability Review Framework,” National Research Council Canada, 2021 (AST-2021-0034, 89 pages)
  14. Zhang, M., and Hill, L., “Auto-Idle and Auto Shutdown in Off-Road Construction Equipment Final Report,” National Research Council Canada, 2021 (AST-2021-0033, 47pages)
  15. Zhang, M., and Roghani, A., “Laboratory Testing Report of Stress Measurement Technologies for Rails”, National Research Council Canada, 2021 (AST-2021-0009, 35 pages)
  16. Barker, C., Hoult, N., and Zhang, M., "Development of an Axial Strain Measurement System for Rails", Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilities, Volume 35 Issue 1, February 2021
  17. Zhang, M., and Chenier, S., “Development of a Climate Vulnerability Review Framework for Winter Roads,” Celebrating the Success of Women in STEM Symposium: Turning Challenges into Opportunities, 2021
  18. Zhang, M., Roghani, A., Hoult, N., Barker, C., and Charbachi, P., "Fibre Optic Sensing for Thermal Stress Measurement," AREMA 2020, September 2020, Dallas, Texas, USA
  19. Gu, L., Zhang, L., Bao, X., Zhang, M., Zhang, C., and Dong, Y., "Detection of thermal strain in steel rails with BOTDA," Applied Sciences, 2018, 8; 2013; doi:10.3390/app8112013
  20. Barker, C., Hoult, N., and Zhang, M., "Longitudinal Strain Monitoring of Rails Using Distributed and Discrete Sensors", 9th European Workshop on Structural Health Monitoring, 2018
  21. Zhang, M., Roghani, A. and Barker, C., "Track Research: Longitudinal Rail Stress Management Gap Analysis Research Report (Phase 1)”, National Research Council Canada, 2018 (ST-R-TR-0099, 32 pages)
  22. Zhang, M., and Lamb, R., “Test Report: Environmental Testing of Moving Target Vehicle,” National Research Council Canada, 2018 (ST-GV-TP-0068, 36 pages)
  23. Huang, W., Toma, E., Ladubec, C., Liu, Y., Zhang, M., Steiginga, L., and Schenk, Z., “Evaluation of Tank Car Sloshing Effects on Rail Safety”, National Research Council Canada, 2017
  24. Zhang, M., and Toma, E., "Risk Engineering for Transportation Workshop Summary and Gap Analysis", National Research Council Canada, 2017
  25. Zhang, M., Huang, W., Toma, E., and Liu, Y., “The Study of Definition of Key Routes for the Transportation of Dangerous Goods by Rail in Canada”, Transport Canada, 2016 (Protected B, 76 pages)
  26. Gavillet, P., Zhang, M., and others, “Aviation Investigation Report A13Q0098:
  27. Forced Landing following Fuel Exhaustion”, Transportation Safety Board of Canada, 2016
  28. Zhang, M., Huang, W., Toma, E., and Liu, Y., “Marshalling Guidelines for Safe Operations of Trains”, Transport Canada, 2016
  29. Hendry, M., Roghani, A., and Zhang, M., “Assessment of a Technology for the Measurement of Rail Track Deflections”, Railway Ground Hazard Research Program, 2016 (RDIMS9113219, 16 pages)
  30. Zhang, M., “Test of Fuel Quantity Measuring System”, Transportation Safety Board of Canada, 2015 (LP154/2013, 20 pages)
  31. Ledoux, J.M., Gavillet, P., and Zhang, M., and others, “Aviation Investigation Report A13H0002: Collision with water”, Transportation Safety Board of Canada, 2015
  32. Tomm, M., Tavernini, J., Zhang, M., and Guertsman, V., “Aviation Investigation Report A13W0120: Engine Failure after Takeoff and Collision with Terrain”, Transportation Safety Board of Canada, 2015
  33. Zhang, M., “PLB Activation Test”, Transportation Safety Board of Canada, 2014 (LP052/2014, 16 pages)
  34. Zhang, M., “Feathering System Examination”, Transportation Safety Board of Canada, 2014 (LP161/2013, 16 pages)
  35. Zhang, M., Ladubec, C., Magel, E., and MacKenzie, I., "Rail Winter Operability Research and Development Needs in Canada", Transport Canada, 2014 (TP14845E, 27)
  36. Hutchinson, D.J., and Zhang, M., “Railway Ballast Durability Assessment”, Transport Canada, 2012 (TP15241E, 13 pages)
  37. Zhang, M., “Railway Ground Hazard Research Program: Phase 2 Research Plan”, Transport Canada, 2011 (TP15246E, 28 pages)
  38. Grenier, L., MacIntyre, I., Davidson, I., Nimmo, G., Zhang, M., Lalonde, P., Blesser, J., Andrukaitis, E., Thibodeau, C., and Cormier, A., “An Integrated Approach Towards Electric Drive Transportation: The Role of Space R&D”, International Astronautical Federation - 59th International Astronautical Congress, 2008
  39. Grenier, L., MacIntyre, I., Davidson, I., Nimmo, G., Zhang, M., Lalonde, P., Blesser, J., Andrukaitis, E., Thibodeau, C., and Cormier, A., "An Integrated Approach Towards Electric Drive Transportation", 6th International Energy Conversion Conference, 2008
  40. Zanganeh, K., and Zhang, M., “Canadian Capabilities in Clean Fossil Fuels Technology and Mercury Emission Reductions”, China Workshop on Mercury Control from Coal Combustion, 2005

Previous work experience

  • Senior Engineer Specialist (May 2014-May 2015), Transportation Safety Board (TSB), Ottawa
  • Senior Research Engineer (2007-2017), Transport Canada (TC), Ottawa
  • Mechanical Engineer (2004-2006), Natural Resources Canada, Ottawa

International experience and/or work

  • Project Engineer (2003), CAPS Australia Ltd., Perth (Australia)   
  • Field Engineer (2000-2003), Bombardier Transportation, Kingston, ON/Las Vegas (USA)/Vancouver, BC/New York City (USA)/Perth (Australia)
Merrina Zhang

Merrina Zhang

Engineer
Automotive and Surface Transportation
2320 Lester Road
Ottawa, Ontario K1V 1S2
Preferred language: English
Other(s): French
Telephone: 613-998-8884

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Expertise

Energy, Environment, Sustainability, Mapping, Natural Hazards, Safety and Security, Sciences, Technology, Transportation