Awards and Achievements (Research)

Prof. Geoffrey SHEN’s Impact Story – Cross-regional Policy Innovation for Hong Kong-Shenzhen Construction Collaboration

《Prof. Geoffrey SHEN’s Impact Story – Cross-regional Policy Innovation for Hong Kong-Shenzhen Construction Collaboration》 Prof. Geoffrey SHEN, Chair Professor of Construction Management at PolyU and his research team have translated their work on cross-regional collaboration into major real-world breakthroughs for Shenzhen's Qianhai Cooperation Zone Partnering with the Qianhai Authority starting in late 2019, Prof. Shen's team was instrumental in bridging the Mainland market with global and Hong Kong building standards while also establishing a fast-track licensing system for talent mobility. Initially rolled out in 2020, this framework quickly broadened its reach throughout Guangdong Province, eventually securing official recognition from the Chinese central government as an exemplary policy breakthrough. The initiative has significantly widened market access for Hong Kong’s building sector, drawing registrations from more than 600 professionals and 59 firms as of March 2025. More about Prof. Geoffrey SHEN: https://www.polyu.edu.hk/cmi/people/academic-staff/prof-geoffrey-qp-shen/ Please click to watch the video: https://youtu.be/Uc-UiWgherc  

Dr Maxwell Fordjour Antwi-Afari Honoured with the Outstanding Research Postgraduate Young Alumni Award of PolyU Graduate School

《Dr Maxwell Fordjour Antwi-Afari Honoured with the Outstanding Research Postgraduate Young Alumni Award of PolyU Graduate School》 We warmly congratulate our alumnus, Dr Maxwell Fordjour Antwi-Afari, on receiving the Outstanding Research Postgraduate Young Alumni Award from the PolyU Graduate School. The award was conferred by Prof. Kenneth FONG, Associate Dean of the Graduate School, during the Alumni Award Ceremony on 29 September. This honour recognises Dr Antwi-Afari’s outstanding scholarly achievements and professional contributions to his field. He earned his PhD in Construction Information Technology in 2019 under the supervision of Prof. Heng LI, Chair Professor of Construction Informatics. Dr Antwi-Afari’s dedication to research excellence continues to inspire our academic community. Please join us in applauding his well-deserved achievement. More about the Award and Dr Antwi-Afari: https://lnkd.in/e9fR2iPx

Prof. LI Heng’s Impact Story - Landlink and Smart Construction Site Management

《Prof. LI Heng’s Impact Story - Landlink and Smart Construction Site Management》 Led by Prof. LI Heng, Chair Professor of Construction Informatics at PolyU, groundbreaking research is revolutionizing construction safety through ‘Landlink’, a seamless on-site wireless network, and the ‘4S’ Smart Site Safety System.  By integrating AI, cameras, and smart wearables, this innovative technology enables real-time hazard detection to prevent accidents before they happen. Proving its commercial adoption, the system secured HK$30 million in contracts in its first year through the University start-up company. Today, this versatile technology is not only aligning with government initiatives but is also successfully expanding into sports management in Malaysia and mining operations in Australia. More about Prof. LI Heng: https://www.polyu.edu.hk/cmi/people/academic-staff/prof-heng-li/ Please click to watch the video: https://youtu.be/pXPWC1Uoh4w

Mr Daniel HUI’s First Research Paper Received HKIE Award

《Mr Daniel HUI’s First Research Paper Received HKIE Award》 Mr Daniel HUI Chi Fai, a student in our Doctor of International Real Estate and Construction programme, was presented with the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (HKIE) Award in mid-March. The accolade was awarded under the HKIE CAD 25/26 Call for Papers, which recognises outstanding early-career contributions to computer-aided design and digital engineering. Daniel shared, “This is my first research paper, titled ‘A Lifecycle of the Digital Twins for Construction: e4S based AI Scheme to Mitigate Uncertainty and Enhance Productivity’. The paper proposes a novel e4S (energy efficiency, economy, environment, safety) driven AI framework which reduces uncertainty in digital twin data exchange and improves construction productivity.” He added, “I was honoured to present my work to the HKIE panelists. Moving forward, I plan to extend the e4S AI scheme into my doctoral thesis, related to the Digital Twins for Construction. I thank my supervisor, Prof. Heng LI, Chair Professor of Construction Infomatics and BRE.”

Sr KEUNG Shun Lok Received CICES Award 2026 - Civil Engineering Surveyor of the Year (Geospatial)

《Sr KEUNG Shun Lok Received CICES Award 2026 - Civil Engineering Surveyor of   the Year (Geospatial)》 Sr KEUNG Shun Lok, a student in our Doctor of International Real Estate and Construction (DIREC) programme, was named a ‘Civil Engineering Surveyor of the Year (Geospatial)’ at the Chartered Institution of Civil Engineering Surveyors (CICES) (Hong Kong Region) Awards 2026 in April. He received warm applause and congratulations from attendees, including Prof. Michael YAM, Head of BRE; Prof. Daniel CHAN, Programme Leader of DIREC; and Prof. FAN Ying, Programme Leader of the MSc in Project Management. Shun Lok has been involved in several large-scale civil engineering projects in Hong Kong. Leveraging his strong background in geospatial and digital construction, he has been an early advocate of survey-BIM integration, including scan-to-BIM and aerial survey-BIM applications.

Ir Simon NG Chi Wai Awarded Gold Award in HKIE Grand Award 2026

《Ir Simon NG Chi Wai Awarded Gold Award in HKIE Grand Award 2026》 Ir Simon NG Chi Wai, a student in our Doctor of International Real Estate and Construction programme, has won the Gold Award in the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (HKIE) Grand Award 2026 for his project ‘Smart Fire Services Inspection with AI’. This pioneering project is the first to integrate artificial intelligence into fire safety inspection. Deploying proprietary AI algorithms alongside handheld SLAM (Simultaneous Localisation and Mapping) scanners, the system enables the recognition and segmentation of building components within 3D point cloud models and the extraction of their spatial coordinates. This facilitates automated comparison between as-built conditions and design BIM models or drawings, culminating in the generation of comprehensive inspection reports. This innovation significantly reduces on-site inspection time, enhances Programme MSc in Intelligent Construction LI Chuqi WEI Lan MSc in Intelligent Construction Supervisor Prof. WENG Yiwei Prof. SEO accuracy and minimises human error. Ultimately, it boosts overall operational efficiency by 30%, marking a major advancement in Hong Kong fire safety management. Simon is the Chief Digital Officer of Transcendence Company Limited. He has led the project team from the research and development phase through to full-scale implementation, driving the company’s digital transformation and innovative developments.

Press Coverage on Prof. Tarek ZAYED’s Research on Intelligent Sewer Systems

《Press Coverage on Prof. Tarek ZAYED’s Research on Intelligent Sewer Systems》 To protect public health, Prof. Tarek ZAYED and his research team at BRE are leading the way with a new approach to urban infrastructure. By combining Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT), they developed a multi-tiered model for sewer system management. This innovation enables more cost-effective and intelligent solution by predicting exfiltration severity, pinpointing leakage-prone zones, monitoring and forecasting overflows in high-risk areas. Explore more details about the research in the press coverage below: o Wen Wei Po (Print A14) -https://polyu.me/3OjGn8a; o Wen Wei Po Education Tech -https://polyu.me/41WeB4V o Ta Kung Pao (Print A05) -https://polyu.me/3OrIxmm o Mirage -https://polyu.me/41nOG64 More about Prof. Tarek ZAYED: https://www.polyu.edu.hk/.../academic.../prof-tarek-zayed/

Prof. Albert CHAN Honoured with Adelaide University’s International Fellows Award

《Prof. Albert CHAN Honoured with Adelaide University’s International Fellows Award》 Congratulations to Prof. Albert CHAN, MH, Distinguished Research Professor of BRE, on receiving Adelaide University’s International Fellows Award! This fellowship recognises the world’s leading academic and research minds, specifically those from the top 100 ranked universities or top-tier disciplines. The initiative aims to forge enduring international partnerships, increase collaborative research output and broaden global academic influence. It also offers a premier platform for fellows to advance their work within the supportive framework of Australia’s newest university. Through this fellowship, Prof. Chan will collaborate with the Adelaide University community to address global challenges. This honour further demonstrates Prof. Chan’s steadfast pursuit of research excellence and his dedication to a more sustainable future. More about Prof. Albert CHAN: https://www.polyu.edu.hk/.../acad.../ir-prof-albert-pc-chan/  

Prof. Geoffrey SHEN Once Again Recognised Amongst the World’s Most Highly Cited Researchers by Clarivate Analytics

Prof. Geoffrey SHEN Once Again Recognised Amongst the World’s Most Highly Cited Researchers by Clarivate Analytics Prof. Geoffrey SHEN, Associate Vice President (Global Partnerships), Director of Global Engagement, Chair Professor of Construction Management, and Master of the STARS Residential College of PolyU, has been honoured as one of the Highly Cited Researchers for 2025 by Clarivate Analytics. This marks the third consecutive year that Prof. Shen has received this prestigious accolade, showcasing his enduring influence and exceptional contributions to the academic community. Also, his remarkable achievement underscores the profound impact of his research, as reflected by the frequent citations of his scholarly work by peers worldwide. This houour is bestowed upon the world’s top 1% scientists and social scientists whose academic endeavors have demonstrated significant influence within their respective research fields and whose work has been widely cited by international scholars. This year, twenty distinguished scholars from PolyU have been included on the list, further highlighting the University’s unwavering commitment to advancing research excellence and fostering positive societal change through innovation and collaboration.

BRE Scholars Ranked Among Top 2% of Scientists in the World

  Fourteen BRE colleagues are ranked among the world’s top 2% most-cited scientists, by Stanford University in 2025! This recognition highlights the significant impact and research excellence of BRE scholars.   The BRE scholars are (in alphabetical order): 1. Dr ANWER Shahnawaz# 2. Prof. Albert CHAN 3. Prof. Daniel CHAN 4. Dr CHIANG Yat Hung* 5. Dr Patrick LAM* 6. Prof. LI Heng 7. Prof. LU Ming 8. Prof. NI Meng# 9. Prof. Geoffrey SHEN 10. Prof. WENG Yiwei 11. Prof. Michael YAM 12. Prof. YI Wen 13. Dr Ann YU* and 14. Prof. Tarek ZAYED   *retired # with BRE during the assessment year   Stanford University has publicly released a comprehensive database of the world’s top-cited scientists, providing standardized information on citations, h-index, co-authorship-adjusted hm-index, citations by authorship position, and a composite indicator (c-score). Scientists are classified into 22 scientific fields and 174 sub-fields according to the standard Science-Metrix classification.