News

Central South University (CSU) visiting CNERC-Rail Centre

Prof Xu-Hui He (Dean of Undergraduate School, Central South University; Director of Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Disaster Prevention and Mitigation of Rail Transit Engineering Structures; Wind Engineering Research Center and Ancient Bridge Research Center of Central South University), Prof Hai-Quan Jing (Deputy Dean of Shenzhen Research Institute, Central South University), Mr Ling-Wei Zeng and Mr Ying Li from Central South University visited CNERC-Rail Centre and research facilities in Industrial Centre at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University on 4th August 2023. Firstly, Dr Wai Kei Ao (Research Assistant Professor), Dr E Deng, Dr Wen-Qiang Liu, Dr Sheng-Yuan Liu, Mr Ying-Nan Hu, Mr Jia-Hao Lu, Mr Xin-Yuan Liu and Mr Huan Yue accompanied Central South University team to visit CNERC-Rail IC Corner and Dr Ao introduced the latest research and achievements of the CNERC-Rail Center. The members of the CNERC-Rail Centre also accompanied the Central South University team to visit the platform for electromagnet-rail coupling vibration testing of maglev. Prof He showed great interest in the research focus on the CNERC-Rail Center and expressed the intention to collaborate further.

Prof. Yi-Qing Ni awarded the RGC Theme-based Research Scheme funding

Prof. Yi-Qing Ni awarded the RGC Theme-based Research Scheme funding Prof. Yi-Qing Ni, Chair Professor of Smart Structures and Rail Transit in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, leads the project “INTACT: Intelligent Tropical-storm-resilient System for Coastal Cities,” which has been awarded funding of HK$48.293 million. The objective of this project is to minimize the losses caused by typhoons by establishing an intelligent tropical-storm-resilient system for coastal cities. The project will devise a framework that enables efficient and accurate assessment of turbulence flows from sparse measurements. It will also quantify urban-environment tropical storm risks that arise due to complex urban aerodynamics. Congratulations to Prof. Ni and his team for their outstanding achievement and contributions to the field.

Zhejiang Rail Transit Operation Management Group CO., LTD.(CICO) Visiting CNERC-Rail

On June 28th, a delegation from Zhejiang, composing Mr. Chen Hua, Chairman of CICO, Mr. Su Hong-Bo, Chief Intelligence Officer, Mr. Mo Hui-Qiang, Deputy General Manager of Zhejiang Haining Railway Transportation Operation Management Company Limited, Mr. Xue Geng-Guang, Deputy General Manager of Shanghai Shenzhe Digital Intelligence Railway Technology Company Limited, and Dr. Zou Dong, Head of the Post-doctoral Unit, visited the CNERC-Rail. The delegation was received by Prof. Ni Yi-Qing, Director of the CNERC-Rail, Dr. S.K. Lai, Associate Professor of Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE), Dr. Dong You, Associate Professor of CEE and Dr. Wang You-Wu, Research Assistant Professor of CEE, Dr. Wang Su-Mei, Research Assistant Professor of CEE, Dr. Ao Wai-Kei, Research Assistant Professor of CEE, Dr. Chen Zheng-Wei, Research Assistant Professor of CEE. At the meeting, the two sides exchanged information of the work of CNERC-Rail crew in the technical visit to the rail transit in May. Chairman Chen Hua express that there were deficiencies in the overall system of intelligent operation and maintenance and remarked that cooperation between CNERC-Rail research team and the subsidiary company of his group could build a practical and high-level operation and maintenance system, supporting the development of the enterprise in rail transportation from the perspective of scientific research. Prof. Ni opined that in the field of rail transit construction, safety and cost issues were prominent, while intelligent operation and maintenance could meet the development demands. He introduced CNERC-Rail research personnel in relevant fields such as train power supply system, energy supply for detection system, vibration energy collection, and saw the need for project matching. Prof. Ni hoped that achievements in these fields could be practically promoted to various enterprises to achieve the first-class level internationally. Subsequently, the two sides exchanged views on matching of project implement, transformation of achievements, talents training and other issues. Both sides would explore jointly the proper way forward under the framework of cooperation, to assure system application and technological innovation proceeding in parallel.  

Hangzhou Delegation Visiting CNERC-Rail

On June 27, a delegation from Hangzhou paid a fruitful visit to the CNERC-Rail of Hong Kong Polytechnic University. As advised by the Hangzhou Bureau of Science and Technology, the Hangzhou municipal government is planning to set up a "Hangzhou Innovation Incubation Center" in Hong Kong and to establish a cross-border technology transfer fund to help promoting synergistic advancement of science and technology development in Hong Kong and Hangzhou.        The purposes of the visit are to strengthen collaboration in research between Hong Kong Polytechnic University and Hangzhou Institute of Technology Innovation, and to share and discuss in depth work programs of research teams on both sides. The visit also provided a valuable opportunity for Hangzhou government officials and enterprise leaders to gain first-hand information and to learn about in person the latest development and research outcomes in rail transportation technology. Dr. Youwu Wang, Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at CNERC-Rail, provided a comprehensive introduction about the research center during the meeting with the Hangzhou delegation. He highlighted the significant progress achieved by the center since its establishment, in particular the outcomes in key researches such as the the maglev testing platform and bogie rolling test platform. The discussion between both parties was sincere allowing in depth and meaningful exchange of ideas, and fostering a constructive environment for collaboration and knowledge sharing. The Hangzhou delegation expressed their utmost admiration to the remarkable research achievements of CNERC-Rail and looked forward to greater opportunity for further collaboration created through this visit. The delegation anticipated that further cooperation, could follow through and drive profound advancement of both parties in the realm of scientific and technological innovation, which would shape the future of rail transportation.    

Director and Member of CNERC-Rail Attending The Opening Ceremony of Hong Kong & Macao–Zhejiang Week cum Zhejiang & Hong Kong Cooperation Theme Forum 2023

The opening ceremony of the 2023 Hong Kong & Macau-Zhejiang Week cum Zhejiang & Hong Kong Cooperation Theme Forum were held in Hong Kong on June 26. Mr. Lee Ka-chao, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, and Mr. Yi Lianhong, Secretary of the Zhejiang Provincial Party Committee, participated in this event. Both sides signed a cooperation agreement on joint promotion of high-quality development and also signed a number of contracts of cooperation projects at the venue, involving high-end manufacturing, information and education technology, and other fields. In the project signing ceremony, Mr. Teng Jin-guang, president of HK PolyU, and Mr. Yu Zhi-hong, secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of Zhejiang Transportation Group Co., Ltd., signed a scientific research cooperation agreement. This agreement mainly covers the joint research and development of new rail transit intelligent operation and maintenance products, and the digital and intelligent construction of "Railway Hospital". Besides, Mr. Zhao Ru-hung, vice president of HK PolyU, and Shen Jian-li, deputy head of the People's Government of Gongshu District, Hangzhou, signed a framework agreement for the Hangzhou Institute of Technological Innovation project, aiming to launch in-depth and effective industry-university-research cooperation. The CNERC-Rail, as the main force of the PolyU's rail transit research team, will work with Zhejiang Transportation Investment Group Co., Ltd. on research and development of new products and new technologies, global promotion of innovative achievements, talent training and scientific research collaboration, etc. In parallel, CNERC-Rail will also participate in the establishment and development of the "Rail Transit Smart Center", being one of the three scientific research centers of the Hangzhou Research Institute. Professor Ni Yiqing, Director of CNERC-Rail, and Dr. Wang Youwu attended the signing ceremony.

Zhejiang Communications Investment Group CO., LTD. Visiting CNERC-Rail

On June 26, 2023, Mr. Zhihong Yu, Chairman of Zhejiang Communications Investment Group CO., LTD. (CICO), led a delegation to visit the Hong Kong Branch of the National Rail Transit Electrification and Automation Engineering Technology Research Center (CNERC-Rail) of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Key members of the delegation included Mr. Wei Zong, General Manager of International Business and External Cooperation of CICO, Mr. Dehua Wang, Principal representative of the CICO Hong Kong Office, and Mr. Hua Chen (Chairman) and Mr. Hongbo Su (Chief Intelligence Officer) of Zhejiang Rail Transit Operation and Management Group CO., LTD. Chair Prof. Yi-Qing Ni, Director of CNERC-Rail, first gave an overview of the research center to the visiting delegation, including major studies and achievements made since its establishment. Prof. Ni, together with the Center members, then introduced in detail several research outcomes of CNERC-Rail, such as such as the maglev testing platform, bogie rolling test platform, and the 3 in 1 composite sustainable energy harvester. Both parties were engaged in in-depth discussions and exchange of ideas about engineering technologies and scientific research topics being pursued in CNERC-Rail. Through this visit, CICO and CNERC-Rail established a stronger link for exchange and cooperation, contributing to future industry-university collaboration and developments of talents.  

Professor Ashraf El Damatty from the University of Western Ontario, Canada visits CNERC-Rail Centre

On 19 June 2023, Prof. Ashraf El Damatty visited CNERC-Rail Centre at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University to deliver an academic lecture entitled “Advances in Structural Wind Engineering at the University of Western Ontario, Canada”. Prof. Yi-Qing Ni (Director of CNERC-Rail), Dr. You-Wu Wang (Research Assistant Professor), Dr. Su-Mei Wang (Research Assistant Professor), Dr. Zheng-Wei Chen (Research Assistant Professor), Dr. Wai Kei Ao (Research Assistant Professor), and other members of the center, attended the lecture. After the lecture, Prof. Yi-Qing Ni introduced the strategy and direction of the CNERC-Rail Center’s future development to Prof. Damatty. In addition, Dr. You-Wu Wang, Dr. Zheng-Wei Chen, Dr. E Deng (Postdoctoral Fellow), and Dr. Chang-Chang Wang (Postdoctoral Fellow) also presented the latest research results on structural health monitoring as well as high-speed train and building aerodynamics conducted by the CNERC-Rail Centre and engaged in an in-depth discussion with Prof. Damatty.

Professor Ahsan Kareem from the University of Notre Dame visits CNERC-Rail Centre

On 9 June 2023, Prof. Ahsan Kareem visited CNERC-Rail at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University to deliver an academic lecture entitled “Modeling the Dynamics of Tall Buildings Under Winds: From Historical Perspective to Recent Advances and Beyond”. Prof. Yi-Qing Ni (Director of CNERC-Rail), Dr. You Dong (Associate Professor), Dr. Zheng-Wei Chen (Research Assistant Professor), Dr. Wai Kei Ao (Research Assistant Professor), and other members of the center, attended the lecture. After the lecture, Dr. Zheng-Wei Chen and Dr. E Deng (Postdoctoral Fellow) presented the latest research results on high-speed train aerodynamics conducted by the CNERC-Rail Centre and engaged in an in-depth discussion with Prof. Kareem.

Associate Professor Fernando Moreu from the University of New Mexico visits CNERC-Rail Centre

Prof Fernando Moreu (Associate Professor, University of New Mexico) visited CNERC-Rail and research facilities in Industrial Centre at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University on 25 May 2023.   Prof Yi-Qing Ni (Chair Professor), Dr Wai-Kei Ao (Research Assistant Professor), Dr Su-Mei Wang (Research Assistant Professor), Dr Zheng-Wei Chen (Research Assistant Professor), Mr Han-Zhang Lu and Mr Sheng-Yuan Liu accompanied Prof Fernando Moreu to visit CNERC-Rail IC Corner. The members of the CNERC-Rail introduced the latest research of the CNERC-Rail. After the visit, the members of CNERC-Rail and Prof Fernando Moreu held a meeting to discuss further cooperation.

Inauguration of joint research centre on smart rail transit technology formed by PolyU and Qingdao West Coast New Area government

Inauguration of the Joint R&D Centre for Smart Rail Transit Monitoring Technology (the Centre) was held on 23 May 2023 at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU). The Centre is jointly established by PolyU and Qingdao West Coast New Area (Qingdao New Area) government, with the aim of promoting intelligent rail transit monitoring system. The Centre is a research and technology collaboration between Qingdao New Area government and the National Rail Transit Electrification and Automation Engineering Technology Research Centre (Hong Kong Branch) (CNERC-Rail) of PolyU. Riding on PolyU’s academic and research expertise, the Centre aims to drive advancing rail transit technology for the promotion of smart transportation. The inauguration ceremony was hosted by Prof. Jin-Guang TENG, President of PolyU, Prof. Christopher CHAO, Vice President (Research and Innovation) of PolyU, Prof. Xiang-Dong Li, Dean of the Faculty of Construction and Environment, Prof. Meng Ni, Associate Dean of the Faculty of Construction and Environment, Prof. Yi-Qing Ni, Director of the National Rail Transit Electrification and Automation Engineering Technology Research Centre (Hong Kong Branch) (CNERC-Rail) and Dr Su-Mei Wang and it was joined by a delegation of Qingdao government led by Ms. YU Yu, Head of the Organization Department of the Qingdao Party Committee. The delegation of Qingdao municipal government and administrative committee of Qingdao New Area visited PolyU and the Industrial Centre. The delegates also participated in fruitful discussions with PolyU researchers from CNERC-Rail and Faculty of Construction and Environment. Valuable discussion was made to drive the establishment of a joint research institute with Qingdao New Area government. The joint research institute aims to drive research collaboration, innovations incubation and talents development. Through this government-academia collaboration platform, it aims to promote the development of world-class technology hub in Qingdao.