News

Two CEE Projects Secured RGC Research Impact Fund (RIF) 2024/25

Congratulations to Prof. Chi Sun Poon, Head of CEE, and Prof. Shao-Yuan Leu, Associate Professor of CEE, whose projects were supported by RGC Research Impact Fund (RIF) 2024/25 among the 60 proposals submitted by PolyU. The project details are as follows: Ref. No.: R5052-24 R5015-24 Name of PC: Prof. Chi Sun Poon Prof. Shao-Yuan Leu Proposal Title: Development of Modular Integrated 3D-printed Concrete Construction (MI3DC) WASTES to WINGS – Constructing a High-Throughput Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Research Platform to Facilitate Zero Carbon Air Travel in Hong Kong RGC Amount Awarded: $2,100,000 $5,700,000   In 2024/25 RIF Exercise, the RGC received a total of 175 preliminary proposals and shortlisted 40 submission of full proposals, of which 18 were selected for interview. Finally, 14 proposals with a total amount of $75 million (exclusive of on-costs) were supported by the RGC.        

Prof. Ling Jin Named to the 2025 “40 Under 40 Recognition Program” by the American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists

Congratulations to Prof. Ling Jin, Assistant Professor of CEE, for being named a recipient of the 2025 “40 Under 40 Recognition Programme” by The American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists (AAEES)!  Founded in 1955, the AAEES has more than 3,000 members and is one of the preeminent organizations for environmental engineers and scientists. This program was introduced to acknowledge exceptional individuals who have significantly contributed to the advancement of Environmental Science or Environmental Engineering within the past year, either individually or as part of a team. A nominee must be under 40 at the end of the calendar year in which they are nominated.  Prof. Jin has been working actively in the inter-disciplinary research fields between chemistry, toxicology, and microbiology as part of the global solutions to planetary health issues. He is committed to addressing critical global challenges, from air pollution and human health to marine pollution and wildlife conservation. His work on airborne fine particulate matter, microbial risks of plastic waste, and impacts of chemical pollution on threatened marine wildlife has garnered widespread recognition, with publications in renowned journals like Nature. Once again, kudos to Prof. Jin for this well-deserved recognition. We believe that his research endeavors will pave the way for groundbreaking discoveries and solutions that will have a lasting impact on environmental sustainability and one health. For more details of the programme, please refer to https://www.aaees.org/40under40.   

New Joiner – Prof. Yuner HUANG

Prof. Yuner Huang received her Ph.D. degree from Department of Civil Engineering at the University of Hong Kong in 2013. She is also a member of Institution of Civil Engineers (CEng MICE) and American Society of Mechnical Engineers (M.ASME) as well as Fellow of Higher Education Academy (FHEA). Prior to joining PolyU as an Associate Professor, she worked as a Senior Lecturer at School of Engineering, University of Edinburgh. She is an expert in structural behaviour and design, with research focus in light-gauge steel modular construction, climate resilience of buildings and adaptation in vulnerable community, and offshore energy infrastructure. Her research projects have received "Covid-19 Engineering Medal” by School of Engineering at University of Edinburgh, and feature project by the Royal Academy of Engineering Interdisciplinary Frontiers programme. Prof. Huang serves as the Associate Editor for ASME Journal of Pressure Vessel Technology, editorial board for Journal of Constructional Steel Research and Grant Committee of Royal Society UK. Prof. Huang has joined us on 1 January 2025.  

CEE Christmas Gathering 2024

The CEE Christmas Gathering, held on 19 December 2024 (Thursday), was an utter success! Bringing together a heart-warming crowd of over 420 CEE staff, former heads, and research personnel, the event was a true celebration of unity and bonds, creating a festive atmosphere filled with joy, laughter, and the spirit of togetherness. Excitement filled the air as 24 lucky individuals walked away with fabulous lucky draw prizes, while 3 table prizes added an extra sprinkle of magic to the festivities. Led by Prof. Poon, the event concluded in Christmas harmonies, spreading love and joy of the season and creating lasting memories. Embraced by the magical holiday spirit, CEE wishes you a Christmas and New Year brimming with happiness and success!   

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.