News

New joiner - Dr Xiaoming LEI

Dr Xiaoming Lei earned his Ph.D. degree from Tongji University in 2021, following the completion of his master’s and bachelor’s degrees at Chang'an University in 2017 and 2014, respectively. Before his current role as a Research Assistant Professor at PolyU, he served as a Postdoctoral Fellow at PolyU from 2022 to 2024. His current research focuses on developing AI-driven methods to integrate monitoring and inspection data into the modeling, assessment, digitalization, and management of grouped bridges and infrastructure systems affected by deterioration, hazards, and climate change. Dr Lei has joined us on 1 Dec 2024.  

The 4th International Symposium of Water Disaster Mitigation and Water Environment Regulation cum the 14th South China Sea Tsunami Workshop

The 4th International Symposium of Water Disaster Mitigation and Water Environment Regulation cum the 14th South China Sea Tsunami Workshop were successfully held in Hong Kong from 29 November to 2 December 2024. This joint event was co-organized by The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Sichuan University, Sun Yat-sen University, Research Institute for Sustainable Urban Development (RISUD), Research Institute for Land and Space (RILS), and supported by IAHR-HK Chapter, IAHR-China Chapter and relevant government departments of Hong Kong SAR. The four-day event, themed "Coastal and Urban Resilience under Climate Change," brought together 208 participants from 21 countries and regions to explore five key topics: "Extreme Weather under Climate Change", "Water-related Disasters", "Infrastructure Resilience", "Hydro-environment and Eco-hydraulics", and "AI and IoT Applications". The event commenced with welcome addresses from Prof. Xiangdong Li (Dean of the Faculty of Construction and Environment, DoRISUD) and Prof. Xiaoli Ding (DoRILS). A total of 43 plenary and keynote speeches were delivered by distinguished experts in hydraulic and environmental engineering. These insightful presentations fostered in-depth discussions on cutting-edge issues such as monitoring and forecasting extreme climate events, mitigating water-related hazards in the context of climate change, and enhancing water environment management. Valuable recommendations were provided for strengthening infrastructure resilience and integrating data science into water engineering practices. Additionally, the conference featured 73 oral presentations and 39 posters, showcasing the latest research and injecting fresh momentum into synergistic innovation and sustainable development in this field. This joint event offered fresh perspectives and innovative solutions for tackling climate change and enhancing coastal and urban resilience. It significantly bolstered international collaboration and innovation in water resource management and disaster prevention. We extend our heartful gratitude to all the speakers and participants for their active contributions, which were instrumental in making this event a resounding success towards global cooperation and innovation in water disaster mitigation, water environment management, and climate change adaptation.  

PolyU CEE Webinar Series: Exploring the Properties of Granular Materials under Varied Saturation Conditions

Dr Kai LIU Kevin delivered a seminar with the topic of “Exploring the Properties of Granular Materials under Varied Saturation Conditions” on 11 December  2024. It was co-organized with HKIE Civil Division and Geotechnical Division. Find the full version of the webinar in the below link: https://youtu.be/g1EWme3EipM  

CEE PhD Student Received “Best Student Award” at the 2024 International Geomechanics Conference

Congratulations to Mr Shupeng Chai, CEE PhD student supervised by Dr Qi Zhao, on receiving the “Best Student Award” at the 2024 International Geomechanics Conference, held on 18 – 20 November in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, with the presentation titled “New Insights into Stress Conditions on Rock Discontinuities in Laboratory Shear Tests”.  The 2024 International Geomechanics Conference is a top-tier platform to exchange geomechanics knowledge and experience, to connect global expertise and know-how with regional challenges, and to showcase the role of geomechanics for sustainability and energy efficiency. Mr Shupeng Chai also won the second prize in the special session for student presentation contest with the presentation entitled “Carbon Storage in Deep Rock Mass and Carbon Utilization in Mine Wastes towards Net Zero Carbon Emissions”.  Kudos to our talented student for his remarkable performance in the 2024 International Geomechanics Conference! We look forward to witnessing his continued success and growth in the future! For more information about the conference, please visit https://www.igsevent.org.  

CEE Members Secured 2024 Basic Research Fund by Shenzhen Natural Science Foundation

Congratulations to Dr Liming Chen and Dr Renji Wu, CEE postdoctoral fellows supervised by Dr Ling Jin and Prof. Yong Xia respectively, whose projects were being approved by the Shenzhen Natural Science Foundation and granted a funding of RMB 300,000 under 2024 Basic Research Fund – General Programme. This funding primarily supports researchers in conducting in-depth and systematic innovative research in established fields or areas with a solid foundation, aiming to promote breakthroughs in several important domains or scientific frontiers. This achievement not only demonstrates CEE researchers’ competence, but also reflected their unwavering commitment to research innovation and excellence. Once again, kudos to Dr Chen and Dr Wu, and we look forward to the positive impact their groundbreaking research will bring to our living environment.   Awardee Supervisor Project Title Funding (RMB) Dr Liming Chen (Postdoctoral Fellow) Dr Jin Ling Spatiotemporal Variation and Evolutionary Mechanism of Marine Structural Corrosion Damage Based on Image Recognition 300,000 Dr Renjie Wu (Postdoctoral Fellow) Prof. Yong Xia Viability Heterogeneity of Plastisphere Pathogenic Bacteria in Coastal Waters of Shenzhen 300,000  

Dr Wei Ma Secures HK$2.9 Million from Smart Traffic Fund 2024

We are thrilled to announce that Dr Wei Ma, Assistant Professor of CEE, has been awarded $2.9 million from the Smart Traffic Fund 2024. His innovative project, titled “Parking Garage Vacancy Prediction Services in Hong Kong: AI-enabled Solutions for Enhanced Reliability and Extensibility”, aims to revolutionize the parking experience in Hong Kong. Dr Ma’s project seeks to develop a deep learning-based service that predicts parking vacancy for off-street car parks throughout Hong Kong. By harnessing the power of artificial intelligence and integrating big data with real-time information, this service will not only predict parking vacancy but also estimate queuing times for fully occupied garages. This groundbreaking initiative is set to significantly reduce the cruising time for motorists, ultimately enhancing road efficiency and contributing to a more sustainable urban environment.  Congratulations to Dr Ma on this remarkable achievement and we look forward to the positive impact his research will have on the community and the future of smart traffic management in Hong Kong.  For more details regarding Smart Traffic Fund 2024, please refer to https://stf.hkpc.org:8443/stf/#background. 

CEE Alumni Received the Women in Green Building Leadership Award from World Green Building Council

We are thrilled to announce that Ms Grace Kwok, CEE Outstanding Alumni, has been honored with the prestigious "Women in Green Building Leadership Award" of the Asia Pacific Leadership in Green Building Awards 2024, under the nomination of the Hong Kong Green Building Council (HKGBC). The award was announced by the World Green Building Council (WorldGBC) to showcase achievements and recognize innovators adhering to sustainable practices and fostering climate resilience.  Ms Grace Kwok, Chairman & Executive Director of Allied Sustainability and Environmental Consultants Group Limited, graduated from CEE with BEng (Hons) Environmental Engineering in 1998. With over 23 years of experience in sustainable design and green building projects across Hong Kong and the Asia-Pacific region, Ms Kwok has been at the forefront of driving positive change in the field of sustainable development. Her efforts not only contribute to the enhancement of green practices but also inspire others to create a more eco-conscious built environment. Her outstanding contributions to the community and her alma mater have been recognized previously when she was awarded the Outstanding Alumni Award in Professional Achievement by PolyU Faculty of Construction and Environment (FCE) in 2023. As the CEE family, we extend our warmest congratulations to Ms Grace Kwok for this well-deserved recognition. Her achievements not only reflect her personal dedication and expertise but also encourage us all to strive for excellence within the green building sector. More details of the award can be found at https://worldgbc.org/ap-leadership-awards. 

CEE Departmental Visit -Shun Lee Catholic Secondary School (15 Nov)

A group of 30 students from Shun Lee Catholic Secondary School visited CEE on 15 November 2024 (Friday). Dr Andy Y. F. Leung, Associate Head of CEE, provided an introduction to the admission information of BEng (Hons) in Civil Engineering and BEng (Hons) in Environmental Engineering and Sustainable Development and shared insights into recent developments of the civil engineering industry to the group.  Following the programme talk, the students toured the Hydraulics Laboratory and the Transport and Highway Engineering Laboratory, where they gained a clear understanding of hydraulic system and road building materials through the demonstration of laboratory equipment and experiments.  They thoroughly enjoyed the visit and expressed great interest on civil and environmental engineering.  

Prof. Hai Guo Appointed as Chairman of the Australia-China Centre for Air Quality Science and Management in Hong Kong SAR

Congratulations to Prof. Hai Guo, Professor of CEE, on his appointment as the new Chairman of the Australia-China Centre for Air Quality Science and Management (ACC-AQSM) in Hong Kong SAR, starting in 2024. The ACC-AQSM, launched on 5 December 2014, brings together leading research universities from Australia and China in the field of air quality science and management. Over the past decade, the center has played a pivotal role in advancing air quality improvements in China, providing essential support for air pollution control efforts. The annual meeting of the ACC-AQSM was successfully held at the Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences in Beijing on 31 October 2024 with Prof. Tao Wang, Chair Professor of CEE, Prof. Hai Guo and Dr Yu Wang, Research Assistant Professor of CEE, attended the meeting. Both Prof. Wang and Prof. Guo shared their insights on urban and regional air pollution during discussions on new goals and future research directions. With the intensification of air pollution control efforts, the challenges facing China's atmospheric environment have become increasingly complex. As the new Chairman of the ACC-AQSM in the new phase, Prof. Guo will serve Hong Kong members wholeheartedly and promote in-depth cooperation in the field of atmospheric environmental protection. It is hoped that Australia and China will continue to strengthen their collaboration, expand the center's reach, attract more international research talent, and jointly tackle future challenges. For more information about the meeting, please visit http://www.accaqsm.com/the-2024-annual-meeting-of-the-australia-china-centre-for-air-quality-science-and-management-was-hosted-by-the-chinese-research-academy-of-environmental-sciences.  

CEE One-Day Seminar Innovating Towards a Sustainable Built Environment

The CEE One-Day Seminar – Innovating Towards a Sustainable Built Environment was successfully held on 23 November 2024, attracting over 280 participants, including alumni, industry partners and students, joining the day filled with ground-breaking ideas of innovative and sustainable approaches to shape a greener future for the built environment. The seminar was graced by keynoted speaker Ir Ricky Lau, alongside with nine distinguished speakers, including Ir Dr Johnny Cheuk, Ir Prof. Kwok Fai Chung, Ir Dr Goman Ho, Ir Hailong Liu, Ir Prof. Chi Sun Poon, Dr Alessandro Stocchino, Prof. Jin-Guang Teng, Mr Eddie Tse and Ir Ricky Wong. Our keynote speaker, Ir Ricky Lau, delivered an enlightening speech, highlighting the pivotal role of fostering innovation in creating a carbon neutral environment as well as underscoring the importance of embracing both sustainability and development. A special Thank You to all our esteemed speakers for sharing the expertise and insights on their respective fields, all aligned with the common goal of paving the way for a more sustainable future. Congratulations to Ir Ricky Wong for being honored with the Outstanding Alumni Award of CEE 2024, recognizing his exceptional contributions to both the department and the field of civil engineering. The seminar also featured the award presentation ceremonies to the winners of the Asia-Pacific Design for Safety Award Competition organized by the Research Centre for Design for Safety of CEE, and the CEE Entry Scholarships Awardees who attained HKDSE with flying colours.  We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all speakers and participants for contributing to a dynamic and insightful seminar, igniting a spark towards a greener and more sustainable future. We look forward to a closer collaboration among the government, industry and academia to overcome challenges ahead and continue the journey towards a thriving and safe future.