News

Prof. Yong Xia Received Structural Health Monitoring Person of the Year Award

We are proud to announce that Prof. Yong Xia, Professor of CEE, has been recognized by the editorial board of the Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) journal as the recipient of the Structural Health Monitoring Person of the Year (SHM-POY) Award for 2025.   Established for over 20 years, the Award recognises individuals worldwide who have made outstanding contributions to structural health monitoring that benefit society. It honours excellence in theory, analysis, applications, education, or other advancements within the field, focusing on achievements in the past few years. Notably, PolyU is the only university in Hong Kong to receive this honour, and Prof. Xia is the third scholar from PolyU to be recognized with this accolade in the past two decades. Prof. Xia specializes in large-scale civil engineering structural health monitoring, structural damage identification, and substructure methods for large structures. Being an expert in the field, his pioneering technologies have been applied to numerous prominent projects, including the Tsing Ma Bridge, the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, and the Shanghai Tower etc., contributing significantly to the advancement of science and technology in SHM. We extend our warmest congratulations to Prof. Yong Xia on this well-deserved recognition. We eagerly anticipate his continued achievements and are excited to see how his endeavours in SHM address critical challenges in the field.  

Prof. Tony Sze Featured on TVB News Programme

Prof. Tony Sze, Associate Professor of CEE, was featured on TVB News’ “A Closer Look” (83 無綫新聞台《時事多面睇 - 紅光任我行》) on September 15, 2024. The segment discussed the effectiveness of red light auxiliary devices in reducing red light running behaviors. Prof. Sze shared expert insights on pedestrian red light running behaviour in Hong Kong, emphasizing the importance of traffic safety and effective urban mobility solutions. The discussion highlighted practical approaches to enhance pedestrian safety in the city. Prof. Sze believes that implementing red light cameras, strengthening law enforcement, and promoting public education campaigns simultaneously will significantly improve pedestrian safety. A revisit of the interview can be found here (Starting from 8:00): https://t.ly/8Twfi     

Prof. Anthony Chen Being Identified as the Most Influential Scholar with High-impact Contributions

We are proud to announce that Prof. Anthony Chen, Professor of CEE, has been identified as the most influential scholar with high-impact contributions to the field of vulnerability and resilience analysis of transportation road networks. In addition, PolyU has been acknowledged as the most productive institution in this research area. This recognition stems from a recent study conducted by researchers at the University of Naples Federico II, Italy. The study aimed to provide an extensive literature review of scientific articles in the field of vulnerability and resilience of transportation road networks. To achieve this, a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) was carried out, investigating road network vulnerability and resilience by selecting all articles published between 2003 and 2023. A total of 594 papers were collected from the Web of Science (WoS).   Congratulations to Prof. Chen for this well-deserved honor. His dedication and innovative research continue to shape the future of transportation network and inspire scholars worldwide. We look forward to witnessing more groundbreaking achievements from him in the years to come. Review the full research: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666188825007063  

Outstanding Alumni Award of PolyU CEE 2025

We are proud to announce that Prof. Yifei Cui, Ir Wilson Cheung and Prof. Dilum Fernando have been honoured with the Outstanding Young Alumni Award in Scholarly Achievement, Outstanding Alumni Award in Entrepreneurial Achievement, and Outstanding Alumni Award in Scholarly Achievement of PolyU CEE 2025 respectively. The award recognizes their remarkable achievements, exemplary leadership, and contributions to their alma mater. Prof. Yifei Cui, graduated from BEng (Hons) in Civil Engineering in 2009, is the Associate Professor and Vice Head of the Department of Hydraulic Engineering in Tsinghua University, where he specializes in Engineering Geology and Geotechnical Engineering. His work in geo-hazard identification and modeling has earned him different prestigious research awards. Prof. Cui actively collaborates with CEE on research projects, showcasing his commitment to research excellence and knowledge transfer. Ir Wilson Cheung, a graduate of BEng (Hons) in Civil Engineering in 1995 and MSc in Civil Engineering in 2003, is the Managing Director of Wilson & Associates Limited. With over 28 years of experience, Ir Cheung has significantly advanced the engineering landscape in Hong Kong, fostering innovation in project management and construction. As a former president of the CEEAA and a supporter of scholarships for CEE students, he demonstrates unwavering dedication to his alma mater Prof. Dilum Fernando, who earned his PhD in Structural Engineering in 2010, is the Chair in Structural Engineering in The University of Edinburgh. As a prominent researcher in structural engineering, he exemplifies how fundamental research can lead to impactful applications. Prof. Fernando has been a valuable research collaborator with CEE, sharing insights at talks and conferences. His commitment to advancing knowledge and mentoring future engineers aligns with our mission at CEE.  We extend our heartfelt congratulations to all three distinguished alumni for this well-deserved recognition and we wish them continued success in their profession.  *Order in alphabetical order of surname  

PolyU CEE Webinar Series: Seismic Design Concepts for Building Structures

Prof. Ahmed Youssef Elghazouli delivered a seminar with the topic of “Seismic Design Concepts for Building Structures” on 27 August 2025. It was co-organized with HKIE Civil Division. Find the full version of the webinar in the below link: https://youtu.be/rh-hOTfIP5U  

Research of Prof. Chi Sun Poon’s Team Published on Nature Communications

A recent research article by Dr Yong Tao, Research Assistant Professor of CEE, and Prof. Chi Sun Poon, Distinguished Research Professor of CEE, has been highlighted as the "50 Best Papers" by Nature Communications and published in the category of “Materials Science and Chemistry”. Titled “Surface Chemistry-mediated Porewater Fluctuations Boost CO2 Docking in Calcium Silicate Hydrates”, the article uncovers the mechanisms of CO₂ sequestration, revealing how humidity affects CO₂ interactions. Utilizing Grand Canonical Monte Carlo simulations, this study provides critical insights into how porewater fluctuations and surface hydrophilicity in calcium silicate hydrates optimize CO₂ capture under varying humidity levels. These findings are pivotal for advancing large-scale carbonation technologies and enhance our understanding of geochemical carbonation processes. Nature Communications is an open access, multidisciplinary journal that publishes significant advances across the biological, health, physical, chemical, Earth, social, mathematical, applied, and engineering sciences, aiming to provide high-quality research relevant to specialists in each discipline.  This research is supported by The National Key Research and Development Program of China (Grant No. 2024YFF0508300). Review the full article: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-62580-6  

CEE Graduate Secured Second Place in AGS(HK) Final Year Project Competition 2025

We are proud to announce that Mr Kwok Leong Lui, graduate of CEE previously supervised by Prof. Andy Leung, has won the second prize in the AGS(HK) Final Year Project Competition for his final year project titled “Probabilistic Slope Analysis of Cut Slope Case with Soil Nails Reinforcement”. In addition to his outstanding performance in research, Mr Lui was recognized for the clarity and comprehensibility of his presentation.   The Association of Geotechnical & Geoenvironmental Specialists (Hong Kong) [AGS (HK)] hosts the annual competition to acknowledge outstanding achievements and raise public awareness of best practices and principles in geotechnical, geological, geophysical, and geo-environmental engineering. Aimed at final-year undergraduate students, the award supports academic and future career development of young talents, recognizes research excellence of and encourages them to pursue excellence in the industry. Once again, congratulations to our outstanding student for his remarkable achievement and we look forward to his onward journey in the field of geotechnical engineering. More details of the competition can be found at https://www.ags-hk.org/events-supp/20250730.   

FCE Awards for Outstanding PhD Theses 2024/25

We are thrilled to announce that Dr Xiong Sha, CEE PhD graduate, has been awarded the FCE Awards for Outstanding PhD Theses 2024/25. Supervised by Prof. Songye Zhu, Dr Sha’s thesis, titled “Baseline-free Electromechanical Impedance Technique for Material Characterization and Delamination Detection in Concrete”, has been recognized for its exceptional quality and innovation. The winners were selected based on the outstanding quality of their research, their effective presentation skills, and their ability to respond to questions from the Working Group of the Faculty Research Committee. Their academic performance and publication track records were also key factors in the selection process. Congratulations again to Dr Sha on this well-deserved recognition! The award highlights his commitment and dedication to achieving research excellence in the field, and we look forward to seeing his ongoing progress in scholarly pursuits and valuable contributions to society.  

New joiner – Dr Rui Yan

Dr Rui Yan obtained his PhD from Delft University of Technology in 2023. He received his Bachelor’s degree from Tongji University in 2014 and his Master’s degree from Harbin Institute of Technology in 2017. Before joining PolyU as a Research Assistant Professor, he worked as a Postdoctoral Fellow at PolyU for two years. His research mainly focuses on the applications of high-performance steels, with a particular emphasis on integrating numerical modeling and advanced testing methods, to enhance structural resilience and sustainability in both land-based and floating structures. Dr Yan has joined us on 1 September 2025.  

CEE Guangzhou Study Tour 2025

The CEE Guangzhou Study Tour 2025 from 18 to 22 August 2025, led by Prof. Si-wei LIU, offered our CEE undergraduate students a unique opportunity to explore the dynamic landscape of urban planning, architectural engineering, and construction management in Guangzhou. By engaging with professors and students at South China University of Technology (SCUT), our students participated in a variety of enriching activities designed to deepen their understanding of the industry and foster professional growth. Highlights included seminars with distinguished speakers and visits to the Guangzhou Urban Planning Exhibition Center, RBS Architectural Engineering Design Associates, the headquarters of China Construction Fourth Engineering, and the Canton Tower. These experiences offered valuable insights into innovative design and large-scale construction projects to our students. We extend our sincere gratitude to our hosts at SCUT for their warm hospitality and support. This inspiring study tour has broadened our students’ perspectives and further ignited their passion for civil and environmental engineering.