State Key Laboratory of Climate Resilience for Coastal Cities to enhance resilience construction and disaster mitigation for coastal cities

The State Key Laboratory of Climate Resilience for Coastal Cities (SKL-CRCC), jointly established by PolyU as the leading party and The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) as the collaborative party, was formally presented with its plaque by Mr Hejun YIN, Minister of Science and Technology, at the plaque presentation ceremony held on 25 August 2025.

Co-directed by Prof. Xiang-dong LI, Dean of Faculty, and Prof. Charles NG, Vice-President for Institutional Advancement of HKUST, the SKL-CRCC aims to address the urgent need for foundational, strategic, and forward-looking research on climate change and urban resilience. Its mission is to support the effective implementation of national strategies and regional policies in response to the compound challenges posed by climate change.

The SKL-CRCC will serve as a vital platform for collaboration with leading universities and research institutions both in Mainland China and internationally. It will bring together top-notch research talents from around the world, foster cross-regional and cross-disciplinary scientific and technological innovation, and contribute to positioning Hong Kong as a hub for global expertise. Through these efforts, the laboratory seeks to advance the sustainable development of Hong Kong, the Nation, and the world.

Being accredited with the status of SKL by the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) represents a major recognition of FCE’s research strengths and impact. The other PolyU SKL being accredited at the ceremony was the SKL of Ultra-precision Machining Technology.

The plaque presentation ceremony was also attended by Mr Ji ZHOU, Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), Mr John LEE, Chief Executive of HKSAR, Prof. Jin-Guang TENG, PolyU President, and members of the PolyU senior management team.

FCE partners with government and industry to advance pipeline robotics technologies for smart water in Hong Kong

To develop innovative pipeline robotics technologies for inspecting Hong Kong’s water mains network, Prof. Xiang-dong LI, Dean of Faculty, represented FCE in signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Water Supplies Department (WSD) and Shenzhen Bwell Technology Co., Ltd. on 1 September 2025, facilitating the establishment of the Pipeline Robots Joint Laboratory located at Q-Leak, Tsing Yi.

The MoU further strengthened FCE’s collaboration with WSD, building on a previous MoU from 2021 that established Q-Leak as an underground water mains leak detection training centre. Through advanced water leakage detection and prevention methods such as application of cutting-edge robotics, FCE continues to contribute its research expertise and specialised knowledge to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of Hong Kong's water supply network. Furthermore, the new collaboration with the Mainland pipeline robotic developer will accelerate the practical application of multifunctional pipeline robotics technologies, including acoustic sensors, high-definition cameras, and positioning sensors.

As outlined in the MoU, FCE will provide ongoing support to WSD and Bwell Technology by conducting research based on existing Bwell Technology models. This partnership illustrates FCE’s commitment to advancing sustainable infrastructure through innovation and generating positive societal impact.

BEEE Research team wins prestigious Philip Thomas Medal of Excellence

A research team from the Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering (BEEE) has been honoured with the prestigious 2026 Philip Thomas Medal of Excellence from the International Association for Fire Safety Science (IAFSS) for their exceptional paper titled “Introducing an active opening strategy to mitigate large open-plan compartment fire development”, presented at the 2023 symposium. Team members include Prof. Asif USMANI, Chair Professor of Building Sciences and Fire Safety Engineering; Prof. Liming JIANG, Associate Professor; and Dr Tianwei CHU, a recent PhD graduate.

The Philip Thomas Medal of Excellence recognises the single best paper presented at the previous International Symposium on Fire Safety Science (IAFSS Symposium), which is held every three years. Since its inception in 1985, the IAFSS Symposium has established itself as the premier forum for leading academics and engineers in fire safety from around the globe. The honour will be presented to the BEEE team at the upcoming 15th International Symposium on Fire Safety Science in June 2026 in France. This achievement highlights FCE’s dedication to advancing fire safety research and reinforcing our position as a leader in this vital sector.

FCE Professor honoured as Structural Health Monitoring Person of the Year for research leadership

The Faculty is proud to share that Prof. Yong XIA, Professor of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE), has been named the Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) Person of the Year at the 15th International Workshop on Structural Health Monitoring, held from 9 to 11 September 2025 at Stanford University.

Prof. Xia’s pioneering research includes developing vibration-based damage detection methods, numerical and analytical solutions for bridge responses under thermal loads, and substructuring techniques for monitoring large-scale structures. This prestigious award acknowledges his transformative contributions to the SHM discipline over the past two decades, encompassing theory, analysis, applications, and education. Prof. Xia’s research has shaped design standards and has been implemented in major local and national infrastructure projects, including the Tsing Ma Bridge, the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, the Canton Tower and the Shanghai Tower, as well as internationally to the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge in Japan and the Humber Bridge in the United Kingdom.

It is noteworthy that Prof. Yi-Qing NI, Chair Professor of Smart Structures and Rail Transit of CEE, received the same prestigious award in 2017, further underscoring FCE’s leadership in Structural Health Monitoring on a global scale.

CEE scholar receives IASSAR Early Achievement Research Award

Prof. You DONG, Associate Professor of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE), has received the Early Achievement Research Award from the International Association for Structural Safety and Reliability (IASSAR) at the 14th International Conference on Structural Safety and Reliability (ICOSSAR'25) in Los Angeles. His research focuses on developing next-generation engineering systems that are more adaptive, resilient, and sustainable. The award recognised his pioneering work in addressing critical challenges related to structural deterioration, environmental hazards, and climate change through the integration of data science, robotics and machine learning.

Up to four outstanding junior researchers at the early stages of their careers receive this accolade, which is presented at the International Conference on Structural Safety and Reliability (ICCOSSAR), IASSAR’s flagship event held approximately every four years. Launched in 1969, ICCOSSAR has grown into an essential venue for researchers and engineers to present their innovative work and findings in structural safety.

FCE Engages Chair Professors in Strategic Discussions

On 17 September 2025, Prof. Xiang-dong LI, Dean of Faculty, convened a meeting with FCE Chair Professors to gather insights and encourage collaboration across disciplines as part of the Faculty’s strategic planning process. During this session, the Dean and Chair Professors assessed the Faculty’s ongoing initiatives and performance in areas such as teaching and learning, research, partnerships, and talent acquisition, highlighting the need to strengthen efforts that address critical global challenges, for instance, climate resilience.

The discussion also included an essential dialogue on navigating the evolving construction landscape in the age of Artificial Intelligence. Chair Professors play a pivotal role in the Faculty’s success, leveraging their extensive networks across international, industry, and academic realms to foster collaboration, attract talent, provide mentorship, and create valuable internship and student exchange opportunities.

In support of this collaborative spirit, the Dean welcomed new academic recruits on 27 August 2025, sharing the Faculty's strategic priorities and outlining expectations for their roles. These communication sessions underscore the Faculty’s commitment to engaging academics at various levels and career stages, ensuring a unified approach to developing a strategic plan that effectively meets both current and future challenges.

Long-serving staff

After more than 40 years of dedicated service to PolyU, Mr Sung Kei CHIU, Office Assistant of the Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering (BEEE), completed his last working day on 4 September 2025. Before his departure, Prof. Xiang-dong LI, Dean of Faculty, presented him with a commemorative souvenir as recognition of his valuable contributions to PolyU.