News

PolyU Graduate School Outstanding Research Postgraduate Young Alumni Award 2024

PolyU Graduate School Outstanding Research Postgraduate Alumni Award aims to recognize the achievement of research postgraduate (RPg) alumni and promote the excellence of research postgraduate education at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU). We are proud to announce that Prof. Jun Li, a distinguished graduate of CEE, is the recipient of Outstanding Research Postgraduate Young Alumni Award 2024. Prof. Li obtained his PhD degree from CEE in 2012 and is currently a tenured professor and Australian Research Council (ARC) Future Fellow in the School of Civil and Mechanical Engineering at Curtin University, Australia. His research interests mainly include the development and application of emerging computer vision, artificial intelligence and data analytics techniques for structural health monitoring of civil engineering structures. His research outcomes have been applied to operational condition monitoring of a Curtin engineering pavilion building, Matagarup Bridge and Stirling Bridge in Western Australia. Prof. Li was also a recipient of ARC Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (2013) and received several research awards, such as Nishino Prize (2019), Best Review Paper and Best Paper Award of Engineering Structures (2023) and Curtin Mid-Career Research Award (2023).  We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Prof. Li for this well-deserved recognition and we look forward to witnessing his continued dedication to research and innovation, and the impactful contributions his work will have in the academia and industry.  For more details, please visit https://www.polyu.edu.hk/gs/news-and-events/outstanding-rpg-alumni-award-2024/.  

CEE Students at NYCU Summer School 2024

4 CEE students were invited by National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University (NYCU) to participate in a 5 days summer school programme from 8-12 July 2024.  During this program, our students had the privilege of attending several lectures at NYCU focused on sustainability practices in civil engineering. Topics included the potential applications of AI, hands-on experience in developing a disaster warning system, and health monitoring and time signal classification for offshore wind turbine substructures. These lectures not only expanded their knowledge by allowing them to create a warning system using the provided devices but also facilitated valuable interactions with Taiwanese students. This fostered cross-cultural exchange and the sharing of insights. Additionally, the technical tour to the Danjiang Bridge construction site was an eye-opening experience for our students. We are sincerely thankful for the warm hospitality from the professors and students of NYCU to our students. Their kindness and welcoming nature greatly enriched our students’ experience, making their summer study both enjoyable and informative. We believe that this summer school will inspire our students for their deeper understanding in civil engineering.  

Dr Tony Sze Invited to Speak on CNA News Programme

Dr Tony Sze, Associate Professor of CEE, was invited by Channel News Asia (CNA) in Singapore to speak on a TV’s news programme – “Asia First” - on 12 July 2024 (Friday). Hong Kong lawmakers have now started the legislative process with regards to ride-hailing platforms. It will certainly change the game in the taxi landscape. The discussion address the issues including benefits of commuters in Hong Kong, competition for the local taxi industry, and experiences in overseas countries like Singapore, Indonesia and China Mainland. A revisit can be found at (2:01:30 – 2:06:30) : https://www.channelnewsasia.com/watch/asia-first/fri-12-jul-2024-4474911   

PolyU Patents Achievement Award 2023

The University has launched the PolyU Patents Achievement Award this year in appreciation and honour of the remarkable achievements of departments and inventors that actively engaged in IP filing. Two awards were established for this purpose including the “Top Patents Filing Award 2023” which considers the IP filing activities over the past five years (2019-2023) and “Most Active Patents Filing Award” which focuses on the IP filing activities within year 2023. These awards reflect PolyU academics’ collective determination to foster innovation and protect intellectual properties. CEE is proud to have received the Top Patents Filing Award and Most Active Patents Filing Award (Department Category), acknowledging our outstanding IP filing achievements over the past years and recognizing our commitment to innovation and intellectual property protection. This award underscores our dedication to safeguarding the valuable intellectual assets generated by our researchers and scholars. Congratulations to Prof. Chi Sun Poon, Head of CEE, for receiving the Most Active Patents Filing Award (Inventor Category). This award celebrates his exceptional contributions to IP filing throughout 2023.   These awards demonstrate CEE's commitment to fostering a culture that values innovation and protects intellectual property. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all our inventors for their tireless efforts in driving innovation and securing intellectual property protection, their dedication is a testament to CEE's commitment to leading the way in advancing knowledge and creating positive change to the society.    

CEE Departmental Visit - Lui Cheung Kwong Lutheran College (8 July)

A group of 19 students from Lui Cheung Kwong Lutheran College visited CEE on 8 July 2024 (Monday). Dr Jacqueline Lo, Assistant Professor of CEE, introduced the admission information and the recent developments of the civil engineering industry to the students.   After the programme talk, students had the opportunity to visit our Transport and Highway Engineering Laboratory and Soil Mechanics Laboratory, where they knew more latest technology and research activities on transport engineering and soil mechanics through demonstrations of laboratory equipment. They all enjoyed the visit and found it was fruitful and beneficial.

CEE Departmental Visits (25 – 27 June)

CEE has long been striving to nurture and reach sustainable young minds through hosting engaging and educational departmental visits. The Department recently welcomed more than 50 students from three secondary schools, aiming to introduce the admission information and the recent developments of the civil engineering industry to them. 25 June 2024 - F.D.B.W.A. Szeto Ho Secondary School Dr Andy Y. F. Leung, Associate Head of CEE, hosted the programme talk to the group of 20 students. The students were then divided into groups to compete in the Tower Challenge: Engineering with Straws, Tape and Imagination in which they were required to use their innovation to build a tower with only straws and tape. The best performed group built a tower with the height of 40cm. 26 June 2024 - Sing Yin Secondary School Dr Tony Sze, Associate Professor of CEE, hosted the programme talk to the group of 20 students. The group then had the opportunity to visit our Soil Mechanics Laboratory and Transport and Highway Engineering Laboratory to know more about soil mechanics theory through mini-experiment and the latest materials for road construction. 27 June 2024 – ELCHK Lutheran Academy Dr Andy Y. F. Leung, Associate Head of CEE, hosted the programme talk to the group of 17 students. The students had chance to visit the Fire Engineering Laboratory after competing in the Tower Challenge.  

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)