新聞

CNERC-Rail Research Seminar: Prof. Ming-Feng Huang from Guangxi University, China

On the afternoon of 10 February 2026, the National Rail Transit Electrification and Automation Engineering Technology Research Centre (Hong Kong Branch) (CNERC-Rail) at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University successfully hosted an academic seminar entitled “Physical Simulation and Turbulence Numerical Generation of Urban Typhoon Wind Fields.” The seminar featured Prof. Ming-Feng Huang from Guangxi University as the invited speaker. During the seminar, Prof. Huang systematically introduced recent advances in the multiscale numerical simulation of urban typhoon wind fields, with a particular focus on the application of the WRF–LES coupled framework under real typhoon conditions and the analysis of wind pressure characteristics on tall buildings. Using Super Typhoon Mangkhut as a case study, he discussed the differences in wind fields between damaged and undamaged regions and examined the non-Gaussian characteristics of wind pressure. The reliability of the numerical framework was further validated through wind tunnel experiments. In addition, Prof. Huang presented a GPU-accelerated three-dimensional turbulent wind field generation method, which significantly improves the computational efficiency of turbulence generation in WRF–LES simulations. The seminar stimulated active discussions among faculty members and students, providing a valuable platform for academic exchange in urban wind environment modelling and typhoon-resilient design, and was well received by the participants.

Delegation from CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles Co., Ltd. Visits PolyU CNERC-Rail Centre

On the morning of 21 Jan 2026, a delegation from CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation Limited (CRRC), visited The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) and held an exchange meeting with the National Rail Transit Electrification and Automation Engineering Technology Research Centre (Hong Kong Branch) (CNERC-Rail) in Room V1003, Block V. The meeting was chaired by Prof. Yi-Qing Ni. On behalf of CNERC-Rail, Prof. Ni delivered welcoming remarks and introduced the Centre’s research directions and team profile. Mr. Yang Gao then presented the organizational structure, research priorities, and technology roadmap of the Future Technology Research Department under the company’s Engineering Research Centre. Dr. Yang Lu from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Hangzhou Technology and Innovation Research Institute introduced the Institute’s latest research developments. In addition, Prof. S. K. Lai (Associate Professor), Dr. Xiao Wang (Postdoctoral Fellow), Ms. Xin-Yue Xu (Research Student), and Mr. Gang Zeng (Research Student) from CNERC-Rail each presented their recent research work. Both parties engaged in in-depth discussions on application scenarios for intelligent inspection systems based on multi-source sensor fusion, benchmarking of transportation-domain intelligent Q&A capabilities, small-sample time-series modeling, and PHM-related technologies. They also exchanged views on AI algorithms and system architectures, explored potential collaboration models, and discussed preliminary pathways for joint research and technical collaboration.

CNERC-Rail Research Seminar: Prof. Giuseppe Lacidogna from Politecnico di Torino, Italy

On the morning of Jan 14, 2026, the National Rail Transit Electrification and Automation Engineering Technology Research Center (Hong Kong Branch) (CNERC-Rail) at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University successfully hosted an academic seminar titled "Eco-Friendly and Self-Healing Construction Materials: Mechanical Testing and Acoustic Emission Analysis". The seminar featured Prof. Giuseppe Lacidogna from the Polytechnic University of Turin, Italy, as the keynote speaker. He systematically presented the latest research progress in eco-friendly self-healing construction materials, the crucial role of Acoustic Emission (AE) in non-destructive testing, and the high-value utilisation pathways of industrial waste rubber, ceramic waste, and volcanic ash in cement-based and alkali-activated materials. During the event, Prof. Lacidogna also shared case studies on AE-based crack-mechanism identification, the evaluation of self-healing capsule repair efficiency, and the multi-technological joint monitoring of thermal repair in carbon fiber composites. These presentations demonstrated a full-chain research paradigm from laboratory mix design to performance verification of actual structural components, sparking lively discussions among the attending faculty and students. The lecture provided a valuable platform for academic exchange on green construction materials and structural health monitoring, earning unanimous praise from the participants.

PolyU Hosts Its First Technology Achievement Transformation Conference

Dr. Si-Qi Ding Wins 2025 Second Prize for Basic Research in National Building Materials Science and Technology Awards

PolyU CNERC-Rail Team Wins Second Prize at the 2nd International Innovation Competition on Rail Structural Health Monitoring

Delegation from Taizhou CPPCC and Hong Kong Taizhou Entrepreneurs Visit PolyU CNERC-Rail Centre

Prof. Yi-Qing Ni Receives PolyU “Top Patents Filing Award 2024”

The Successful 2nd International Workshop on Intelligent Tropical-Storm-Resilient Systems for Coastal Cities (INTACT 2025) Paves the Way for Future Urban Resilience

21st Century Economic Report Exclusive Interview with Prof. Yi-Qing Ni from the Hong Kong Polytechnic University: AI Empowers Safety Monitoring for High-Speed Rail and Maglev

Prof. Yi-Qing Ni from the Hong Kong Polytechnic University has made remarkable achievcmtats in the field of structural health monitoring. The fiber Bragg grating sensors developed by his team have been applied to major railway lines such as the Beijing-Shanghai High-Speed Rail and the Lanzhou-Xinjiang Railway. This technology enables real-time monitoring of key indicators such as wheel flats and track deformation, thereby significantly enhancing the safety and operational efficiency of  high-speed rail services. In 2016, this technology was successfully used in the Singapore MRT and for monitoring structural components of train cars. Line 4 of the Rio Olympic Metro, The total length of tracks under monitoring reach 500 kilometers. Prof. Yi-Qing Ni has also led his team in establishing an object detection system based on images and LiDAR technology, which can accurately identify objects on railway tracks for ensuring the safe operation of trains. The AI-powered intelligent monitoring cloud platform developed by his team allows maintenance personnel to monitor train operation data in real time and to optimize the central control system. This platform has been implemented in the railway networks in Singapore and Hong Kong, as well as Chinese Mainland high-speed rail lines. In the realm of railway noise control, the acoustic metamaterial sound-absorbing barriers and intelligent particle dampers developed by Prof. Ni's team can effectively mitigate the noise generated by rail transit, thereby enhancing passenger comfort. These technologies are currently undergoing testing and trial application in the Hong Kong and Shenzhen MTR. Furthermore, Prof. Ni has been actively promoting the integration of smart materials and AI. The self-sensing concrete he developed is currently undergoing application tests in collaboration with the Shanghai Railway Bureau. He is leading the project "INTACT: Intelligent Tropical Storm Disaster Mitigation System for Coastal Cities" which adopts LiDAR wind measurement technology as the core, for quantitative prediction of the potential destructive force of typhoons on buildings with a view to formulating solution for coping with extreme storms in coastal cities. Prof, Ni stresses the significance of cultivating interdisciplinary talents and recommends civil engineering students learning advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence to better adapt to the future development of the industry.