News

Visit to Environmental Protection Department Laboratories

Led by Dr Ling Jin and Dr Kai Zhou, a group of 14 CEE undergraduate students visited two laboratories in Wan Chai operated by the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) and one laboratory in Chai Wan under the GHM Greater Bay Area Institute of Urban Architecture (HK) on 27 June 2024, with the support of Environmental Conservation Fund. This tour, as part of CEE's ongoing efforts to provide students with practical learning experiences, included visits to the Aura Lab (Acoustic Laboratory), CAVE (Immersive System Laboratory), and QRLab (Quiet Renovation Laboratory). Aura Lab Showcases Noise Reduction Technologies At the Aura Lab, CEE students were introduced to EPD's products designed to reduce noise pollution, such as sound baffles made from porous materials, railway noise reduction solutions utilizing absorptive panels, and quiet pavement technologies that use specialized asphalt mixtures. The laboratory's acoustic test equipment, including anechoic chambers, reverberation chambers, and microphone arrays, demonstrated EPD's commitment to precise noise measurement and analysis. CAVE Provides Immersive Experience in Virtual Sound Environments The CAVE immersive virtual environment allowed students to experience various indoor and outdoor sound field scenarios. Participants observed the effectiveness of sound-dampening windows, which comprise two layers with absorbent materials applied, in isolating traffic noise while maintaining proper ventilation. QRLab Introduces Quiet Renovation Tools During the visit to the QRLab, students learned the impact of noise generated by standard restoration instruments, such as drills, impact wrenches, electric trenchers, and portable concrete mixers, which can produce noise levels exceeding 90 dB. The lab introduced their recently developed Quiet Renovation Tools, which is capable of reducing noise levels by approximately 20 dB during renovations. CEE looks forward to collaborating with EPD again to inspire students and allow them to expose to real-world applications of environmental protection technologies. Through fostering practical learning opportunities to students, it is hoped that the young minds can gain deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities in the field of civil and environmental engineering thus contribute to the development of innovative solutions for environmental protection in Hong Kong.  

PolyU CEE Webinar Series: Depicting Photochemical Behaviour of Gaseous Secondary Pollutants: Environment-Specific Insights and Control Strategies from Near-Explicit Chemical Mechanism Modelling

Dr Yu Wang delivered a seminar with the topic of “Depicting Photochemical Behaviour of Gaseous Secondary Pollutants: Environment-Specific Insights and Control Strategies from Near-Explicit Chemical Mechanism Modelling” on 26 June 2024. It was co-organized with HKIE Civil Division. Find the full version of the webinar in the below link: https://youtu.be/BRD0wE3NVXU  

Opening Ceremony of Research Centre for Design for Safety

We are thrilled to announce the grand opening of the Research Centre for Design for Safety (RCDfS). The opening ceremony, took place on 27 June 2024 (Thursday), attracted more than 100 participants, bringing together industry leaders, professionals, alumni, staff and students to celebrate the launch of this groundbreaking initiative. The ceremony was kicked off by a welcome address by Prof. Chi Sun Poon, Head of CEE and Director of RCDfS, followed by an in-depth presentation by Ir Dr Vincent Ho, Professor of Practice of CEE and Associate Director of RCDfS, who outlined the objectives and future plans of the research centre. The keynote speech by Mr Rex Wong, Chairperson of the CIC Committee on Construction Safety, was a highlight of the event as he shared insights on embedding safety into the DNA of construction project design. Dr Nicole Yiu, Lecturer of CEE and Associate Director of RCDfS, also made an exciting announcement about the upcoming Asia-Pacific Design for Safety Award Competition, which aims to recognize excellence in the field. The event also honoured industry advisors, sponsors, and supporting organisations, who have played a crucial role in the establishment of the RCDfS. The climax of the ceremony was a cloth-unveiling ceremony, marking the official opening of RCDfS. Attendees then enjoyed a guided tour to the centre, during which the latest technologies and the innovative work being done in the field of design for safety were showcased. The opening ceremony of the RCDfS was a momentous occasion that set the stage for a new chapter in promoting safety within the construction industry. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all participants for contributing to the success of the opening of the research centre, and we look forward to the continuous innovation and inspiration of RCDfS in the years to come.   

CEE PhD Student Received Best Poster Award at the 11th International Symposium of Geotechnical Aspects of Underground Construction in Soft Ground

Congratulations to PhD students Mr Shunxiang Song, Mr Cong Tang and Mr Yang Cheng, all under the supervision of Prof Zhen-Yu Yin, Professor of CEE, for receiving the Best Poster Award at the 11th International Symposium of Geotechnical Aspects of Underground Construction in Soft Ground (IS-Macau 2024). The conference was held on 14-17 June 2024 in Macau, China with the aim to collect information concerning the geotechnical aspects of the design, construction and analysis of deep excavations, tunnels and large underground structures in the urban environment. Student Name University Poster Title Supervisor Mr Shunxiang Song The Hong Kong Polytechnic University A Coupled CFD-DEM Investigation into Suffusion of Gap-graded Soil under Different Shear Conditions Prof. Zhen-Yu Yin Mr Cong Tang University of Macau Probabilistic Settlement Prediction and System Serviceability Assessment of Immersed Tunnel Prof. Zhen-Yu Yin (Joint supervision) Mr Yang Cheng University of Macau Hydromechanical Analysis of Slurry Infiltration with a Coupled CFD–DEM Method Prof. Zhen-Yu Yin (Joint supervision)  

Dr Xi Jiang Being Elected to the Steering Board of The ITA Young Members Group (ITAYM)

Congratulations to Dr Xi Jiang, Research Assistant Professor of CEE, for being elected to the Steering Board of the ITA Young Members Group (ITAYM) at the 2024 World Tunnel Congress (WTC), becoming the first Chinese member to hold this position since the group's inception ten years ago. More than 3000 professionals in tunnel and underground space gathered in the WTC this year, showcasing the global community's interest and investment in the future of tunnelling and underground space development.  Since its establishment in 1974, the International Tunnelling and Underground Space Association (ITA) has served as a leading global authority in the tunnelling and underground space industry, boasting 80 Member Nations and 219 Corporate or individual Affiliate Members. The ITAYM, established during the ITA General Assembly in Iguassu, Brazil, in 2014, has been a key part of the association's efforts to engage young professionals and students, providing a platform for technical exchange and professional development. Dr Jiang's election is a significant achievement not only for him but also for the representation of young Chinese professionals in the global tunnelling community. The ITA General Assembly’s approval of Dr Jiang's appointment is a testament to the ITA's commitment to embracing diverse perspectives and expertise. Dr Jiang’s presence on the steering board is expected to strengthen the ties between the Asian tunnelling communities and the international sector, paving the way for greater collaboration and shared progress in the years to come. We look forward to Dr Jiang’s continuous commitment to the international dialogue on the future of tunnelling and underground space utilization.  

CEE PhD Student Received “Best Poster Award” in the 2024 Global Chinese Environmental Protection Conference

Congratulations to Miss Jinyan Yu, CEE PhD student supervised by Dr Ling Jin, on receiving “Best Poster Award” in the 2024 Global Chinese Environmental Protection Conference (GCEPC 2024). The conference was held from 24-27 May 2024 at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU). Miss Yu’s winning poster was titled “Assessing the Quantitative Contribution of Microbial Components and Their Sources to in vitro Bioactivities of Airborne Fine Particulate Matter”. 

HKIE LTD Annual Symposium 2024 – Accelerating New Energy Transition for Transport

The 2024 Annual Symposium of Logistics & Transportation Division (LTD) of the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (HKIE), co-organized by CEE, was successfully held on 8 June 2024 (Saturday), with the theme “Accelerating New Energy Transition for Transport”. The symposium brought together more than 120 participants to exchange insights in the era of green energy for transportation.  Distinguished speakers from the industry and government agencies including Transport and Logistics Bureau, Cathay Pacific, MTR, Bravo, and Hong Kong & China Gas covered various topics on the recent innovation and development in Hong Kong and overseas. Their expertise and perspectives sparked engaging discussions and showcased innovative approaches for the transition to green energy in transport sector.  We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all participants, speakers, and organizers for contributing to a dynamic and insightful seminar. Let's continue working together to turn visions into reality and drive progress in future mobility.  More information can be found at HKIE-LTD’s LinkedIn page. 

FCE Dean’s Awards 2024

Eight exceptional CEE members have been recognized with the FCE Dean’s Award for Outstanding Achievement in Research Funding. This prestigious award acknowledges their remarkable success in securing external competitive research funding, a testament to their groundbreaking work and commitment to innovation. The achievement is a reflection of their dedication to pushing the boundaries of research and their unwavering commitment to excellence.   We extend our heartfelt congratulations to the award recipients. Their groundbreaking research will continue to shape the future of civil and environmental engineering.   Awardee Allocation Date Project Title (Funding Scheme) Prof. Zhen Leng 1 Jul 2023 Strength Formation Mechanism Characterization and Performance Optimization of Waterborne Epoxy Modified Asphalt Emulsion as A High-performance Low-carbon Paving Binder (RGC General Research Fund) 22 Dec 2023 Durable Low-carbon Asphalt Pavement Built with Recycled Waste Polyolefin Plastics through Reactive Extrusion (RGC Research Impact Fund) Prof. Yong Xia 1 Jul 2021 Temperature Behavior of Long-span Cable-stayed Bridges through the Integration of Field Monitoring and Advanced Computational Techniques (RGC General Research Fund) 22 Nov 2023 Digital Twin‒based Long-span Bridge Health Monitoring (Smart Traffic Fund) 22 Dec 2023 Enhancing energy harvesting and typhoon resilience of offshore wind turbines in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area under climate change (RGC Research Impact Fund – sub-project) Prof. Songye Zhu 1 Jul 2023 Self-centering Seismic-resistant Eccentrically Braced Frames with Superelastic Shape Memory Alloy Angles (RGC General Research Fund) 10 Nov 2023 Develop Next-generation Typhoon-resistant Deep-sea Offshore Floating Hybrid Wind-wave Energy Converters: From Coupling Load Mechanism to Vibration Mitigation Technology (NSFC/RGC Collaborative Research Scheme) Dr You Dong 1 Jul 2022 Dynamic Response and Vulnerability of Coastal Bridges Subjected to Wave Impacts using Coupled Simulation, Experiment, and Deep Learning (RGC General Research Fund) 13 Jul 2023 INTACT: Intelligent tropical-storm-resilient system for coastal cities (CEE-3) (RGC Theme-based Research Scheme – sub-project) 13 Oct 2023 Smart and Flexible Climate Change Adaptation of Coastal Infrastructure (SMACHA) (ANR/RGC Joint Research Scheme) Dr Huan-Feng Duan 1 Jul 2019 Development of a holistic transient-based method for characterizing and diagnosing different pipe anomalies in urban water supply pipeline systems (RGC General Research Fund) 5 Jan 2023 Coastal Urban Flooding under Climate Change: Evolution Mechanisms and Intelligent Analysis (RGC Young Collaborative Research Grant) Dr Shao-Yuan Leu 1 Jul 2019 Metabolites induced thermochemical lignin modification to facilitate cellulolysis of lignocellulosic substrate in anaerobic process (RGC General Research Fund) 20 Sept 2021 Reducing transmission of novel coronavirus and other infectious diseases using food waste-derived medical textiles via electrospinning for healthcare apparel and personal protective equipment (CEE) (RGC Collaborative Research Fund – sub-project) 4 Jan 2022 Study of Carbon Sequestration in Hong Kong’s Vegetation: from Present to Future Prediction under Climate Change (CEE) (RGC Collaborative Research Fund – sub-project) 1 Dec 2023 Study of Ammonia Pretreatment-Power Generation System toward Complete Valorization of Food Waste Digestate (Green Tech Fund) Dr Alessandro Stocchino 1 Jul 2022 Marine litter transport in the Pearl River Estuary and its impact on Hong Kong waters: formulation and application of a novel Lagrangian numerical model (RGC General Research Fund) 5 Jan 2023 Hong Kong Coastal HF-Radar Network (RGC Collaborative Research Fund) Dr Qi Zhao 1 Jul 2021 Direct Observation of the Evolution of Joint Surface Roughness and Associated Seismic Signatures (RGC Early Career Scheme) 1 Jul 2022 Hydromechanical fatigue of rock joints under fluctuating pore pressure: microscopic observation under micro-CT and constitutive modelling (RGC General Research Fund) 1 Jul 2023 Quantifying shear induced joint surface damage using acoustic emission and machine learning (RGC General Research Fund)

FCE Three-minute Thesis Competition 2024

The Three-minute Thesis (3MT®) Competition hosted by FCE was successfully held on 5 June 2024. Five CEE PhD students were nominated by the Department to showcase their research in three minutes and compete for the cash award on Faculty level and the opportunity to participate the competition on University level. Congratulations to Ms Xu Shujie, Ms Wang Zhuowei, and Mr Raffel Dharma Patria on their outstanding achievements. They will now advance to the University-wide 3MT® competition, where they will compete against other talented PolyU researchers for the chance to represent PolyU at the prestigious Asia-Pacific 3MT® Competition. We wish them the best of luck in the upcoming PolyU 3MT® competition. Name Presentation Title Chief Supervisor Award Xu Shujie Improving Surface Water Algal Bloom Management Efficiency with Tailored Algal Bloom Alert Models Dr Mark Hsu Champion Wang Zuowei Hydrogen Bus in Hong Kong: Driving Green Transit Alongside Electric Bus Prof. Anthony Chen First Runner-Up Raffel Dharma Patria Pretreatment of Lignocellulosic Biomass to Produce Renewable Bioethanol and Bioplastics Dr Shao-Yuan Leu People’s Choice

Prof. Zhen Leng Received the 2024 Walter L. Huber Civil Engineering Research Prize from ASCE

Congratulations to Prof. Zhen Leng, Professor of CEE, for being selected by American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Committee on Technical Advancement to receive the 2024 Walter L. Huber Civil Engineering Research Prize for his innovative research in developing durable low-carbon cost-effective pavement materials and technologies. The Huber Civil Engineering Research Prize (Huber Award) is the highest-level mid-career research award in all areas of civil engineering. The award is annually given to individuals with notable achievements and contributions in research with respect to all disciplines of civil engineering. This award was first established by the ASCE board of direction in 1946 and was given for the first time in 1949.