News

PolyU CEE Achieves Remarkable Results in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026

In the recently announced QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026, PolyU has achieved commendable results in attaining global top 18th in Civil & Structural Engineering and 34th in Environmental Sciences. Both subjects have secured the top spot in Hong Kong. These results reflect CEE’s commitment to academic excellence, impactful research, and strong industry recognition as well as highlighting our dedication to advancing knowledge and expertise in the field of civil and environmental engineering. The QS World University Rankings by Subject features fifty-five subjects across five broad subject areas. Universities are scored based on various criteria including academic reputation, employer reputation, research citations per paper, the H-index and international research network. More details can be found at https://www.topuniversities.com/subject-rankings.  We express our heartfelt appreciation to all our staff, scholars, and students whose dedication has made this achievement possible. Looking forward, we will continue to pursue innovation and excellence in civil and environmental engineering and strengthen our contributions to the field.  

CEE EOSH Graduate Receives Occupational Safety & Health Best Project Scholarship 2025

We are proud to announce that Mr Chi Wing Lau, graduate of CEE, has been awarded the Occupational Safety & Health Best Project Scholarship 2025 by the Occupational Safety and Health Council (OSHC).  Mr Lau was graduated from the BSc (Hons) in Environmental and Occupational Safety and Health (EOSH) programme. Supervised by Dr Nicole Yiu, Senior Lecturer of CEE, his final year project titled “Artificial Intelligence Design and Applications on Construction Safety Inspections” received Merit Award. This scholarship recognizes outstanding project work in key areas such as occupational safety and hygiene, ergonomics, accident prevention, construction safety, risk management, and rehabilitation. It not only acknowledges achievements of our students, but also encourages them to appreciate the importance of occupational safety and health in their studies. Congratulations once again to Mr Lau on his remarkable achievements. We look forward to his ongoing success and future contributions in the academic and professional fields of environmental and occupational safety and health.  

Research of Prof. Yi-Qing Ni’s Team Published on Nature Communications

A recent study by Dr E Deng, CEE Research Fellow, and Prof. Yi-Qing Ni, Chair Professor of CEE, has been published in Nature Communications. The article, titled “Tropical Cyclone Rainfall Extends Inland”, explores the global landward extension of tropical cyclone rainfall and its implications for inland flood risk. The study demonstrates that tropical cyclone rainfall has extended inland globally from 1980 to 2023. Along the continental coasts of the Northern Hemisphere, the landward extent of tropical cyclone heavy rainfall has increased at a rate of 3.8 ± 1.8 km per decade (95% CI). Observations and model simulations suggest that nearshore sea-surface temperature warming is closely linked to this extension. Coastal urbanization may further enhance this trend. As coastal cities continue to extend inland, the landward extension of tropical cyclone heavy rainfall could exacerbate inland population exposure and potential flood risk. Nature Communications is an open access, multidisciplinary journal dedicated to publishing high-quality research in all areas of the biological, health, physical, chemical, Earth, social, mathematical, applied, and engineering sciences. Papers published by the journal aim to represent important advances of significance to specialists within each field. This research is supported by the Research Grants Council Theme-based Research Scheme (Grant No. T22-501/23-R). Review the full article: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-026-70647-1  

Dr Yong Tao Secures Grant from PROCORE - France/Hong Kong Joint Research Scheme 2025/26

Congratulations to Dr Yong Tao, Research Assistant Professor of CEE, for securing HK$61,200 from the PROCORE - France/ Hong Kong Joint Research Scheme 2025/26 introduced by the Research Grants Council (RGC) and the Consulate General of France (CGF) in Hong Kong. Under the scheme, Dr Tao will collaborate with Prof. Roland J.M. Pellenq, Director of Research at CNRS, French National Centre for Scientific Research, for 2 years. Dr Tao’s research project, titled “Cementitious Optimization Against Seawater Threats (COAST)”, aims to enhance the long-term durability of concrete infrastructure in harsh marine environments. By combining experimental research at PolyU with advanced computational modeling at CNRS, the research team will investigate the fundamental degradation mechanisms of cementitious materials under seawater attack. Ultimately, the project seeks to develop predictive durability models and engineer next-generation, resilient cement formulations, directly contributing to global decarbonization and sustainability goals in the construction sector. The PROCORE scheme is designed to promote high-quality research collaboration between Hong Kong and France. It provides one to two year travel grants to support researchers from both sides in conducting joint studies, exchanging expertise, and distributing new research outcomes. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Dr Tao and we look forward to seeing the impactful research outcomes generated through this international collaboration. For more details about the funding results of the PROCORE, please visit: https://www.ugc.edu.hk/eng/rgc/funding_opport/fr_hk_jrs/funding_results/frhk2526.html

CEE Members Excel in International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva 2026

We are thrilled to announce that CEE members have excelled at the 51st International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva, securing 4 awards including 3 Gold Medals and 1 Silver Medal. The winning projects demonstrate breakthroughs across advanced construction, sustainable materials and smart system. These accolades serve as a strong testament to CEE’s commitment to translating innovative solutions into impactful research, addressing the world’s most pressing problems. The 51st International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva attracted over a thousand entries from 40 countries. CEE members have truly shone on the global stage, highlighting their perseverance in the field of civil and environmental engineering. Congratulations again to all the CEE members for their accomplishments, we look forward to seeing how their pursuit of research innovation will pose a transformative impact to the built environment. To learn more about their impactful projects, please visit:  https://www.polyu.edu.hk/kteo/knowledge-transfer/innovations-and-technologies/award-winning-innovations/geneva2026/ Project (in alphabetical order of project title) Principal Investigator(s) Award Construction Robot for Modular Integrated Construction (MiC) and Steel Structure Dr Xiao-Zhou Han Postdoctoral Fellow Gold Medal Green Energy-driven Electrochemical Upcycling of Urban Solid Wastes Prof. Shipeng Zhang Assistant Professor Prof. Chi Sun Poon Distinguished Research Professor Gold Medal Latching-based Smart Control System for Mitigating Ultralow-frequency Vibrations: Inspired by Wave Energy Converters Prof. Songye Zhu Interim Head Mr Hao Wang PhD Candidate Gold Medal Nanocarbon-coated Conductive Aggregates (NCCA) for Smart, Sustainable Asphalt Pavement Prof. Zhen Leng Professor Silver Medal  

CIHT Technical Seminar

CEE was proud to support the Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation – Hong Kong (CIHT-HK) in hosting a successful technical seminar on “Trunk Road T4 and Tseung Kwan O Promenade Southern Bridge” on 13 March 2026. The seminar engaged around 40 participants from government, industry, and academia, facilitating an insightful exchange of knowledge on transport infrastructure in Hong Kong. A big thank you to the distinguished speaker, Ir Carrie Leung, Deputy Project Manager (East) of CEDD, or her inspiring presentation. Her talk highlighted how engineering excellence, innovation, and technology are being utilized to overcome complex construction challenges in Hong Kong. We would also like to express our appreciation to CIHT Hong Kong in organizing this event and bridging the gap between academia and industry professionals. Stay tuned for more upcoming technical seminars in the coming months as we continue to explore the exciting developments shaping Hong Kong.

Prof. Shao-Yuan Leu Secures Innovation and Technology Fund

Congratulations to Prof. Shao-Yuan Leu, Professor of CEE, for securing HK$910,000 from the Innovation and Technology Fund (ITF) under the Innovation and Technology Support Programme (ITSP), administered by the Innovation and Technology Commission (ITC) of the HKSAR Government.  Prof. Leu’s research project, titled “Development of Sensor-based Air VOCs Analyzer for Non-invasive Testing (SAVANT) for Early Diagnosis of Tree Brown Root Rot Disease”, aims to develop an innovative instrument, “Sensor-based Air VOCs Analyzer for Non-invasive Testing (SAVANT)”, for the early diagnosis of Brown Root Rot Disease (BRRD). BRRD is a difficult-to-detect tree disease that affects the roots and causes irreversible damage to tree health. The transmission mechanism of this disease and its ability to spread between diseased and healthy trees are not fully understood, posing a safety hazard. The development of SAVANT will help establish a long-term, real-time tree disease detection system, offering tree management solutions for Hong Kong and preventing BRRD outbreaks. The ITF is designed to enhance the added value, productivity, and competitiveness of Hong Kong’s economic activities. Through the ITF-ITSP, the Government seeks to support applied research and development (R&D) projects undertaken by R&D Centres or designated local public research institutes in collaboration with companies. We again extend our heartfelt congratulations to Prof. Leu. His research into early diagnosis of tree diseases will significantly enhance tree health management, ultimately fostering greener urban environments and improving the overall quality of life in the living community.  

CEE China GBA Study Tour 2026

Led by Prof. Andy Leung, Mr Hoi-yung Lin, and Dr Pei-Chen Wu, the CEE China GBA Study Tour, held from 5 to 8 January 2026, provided our UG students a distinctive tour to explore Guangzhou and Heyuan. The tour immersed students in the latest advancements in geotechnical engineering while fostering meaningful connections with peers from Guangzhou University.  Highlights included visits to the Earthquake Engineering Research & Test Center of Guangzhou University, Guangzhou Urban Planning Exhibition Center, Xinfeng River Flood Control Levee, Huanglong Cave, and Xinfeng River Hydropower Station. These experiences offered our students valuable insights into geotechnical engineering practices and their applications in large-scale infrastructure projects. We sincerely appreciate the hospitality and support from our hosts at Guangzhou University. This enriching study tour has broadened our students' horizons and deepened their passion for civil and environmental engineering.  

CEE Departmental Online Programme Talk – St. Paul’s Convent School (27 February)

A group of 16 students from St. Paul’s Convent School joined the CEE Departmental Online Programme Talk on 27 February 2026 (Friday). Prof. Tony N. N. Sze, Associate Professor of CEE, kicked off the session with a fun and interactive Q&A quiz, offering an exciting glimpse into the world of civil engineering. The students also explored the admission procedures and career pathways for our flagship programmes, BEng (Hons) in Civil Engineering and BEng (Hons) in Environmental Engineering and Sustainable Development. A huge thank you to the enthusiastic students and their teacher for joining us with such energy and curiosity! We look forward to welcoming more young talents to discover the impact of civil & environmental engineering with CEE!  

HKIE-CIHT Joint Technical Seminar - Transport Strategy Blueprint

A technical seminar, themed "Transport Strategy Blueprint", was successfully held on 25 February 2026 (Wednesday). This event was jointly organized by the Chartered Institute of Highways and Transportation (CIHT) Hong Kong and The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (Logistics & Transportation Division) (HKIE-LTD), with support from CEE. The seminar featured Ir Clarence Cheng, Chief Engineer from the Transport Department. The talk, focused on the HKSAR Government’s forward-looking “Transport Strategy Blueprint” attracted over 200 participants from across the government, industry, and academic sectors.  During the seminar, Ir Cheng introduced the blueprint’s key strategies and shared valuable insights on smart and green mobility, infrastructure connectivity, and people-centric design.  A big thank you to CIHT, HKIE, and Ir Cheng for an enlightening evening. We look forward to continuing this collaboration to drive the future of infrastructure development in Hong Kong!