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| Former Head of CEE appointed as new Dean of FCE |
The worldwide search for the next Dean of the Faculty of Construction and Environment has ended after more than a year with the appointment of Ir Prof. Y.L. XU, Chair Professor of Structural Engineering, as the new Dean from 1 July 2014. A former Head of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering from 2007 to 2013, Prof. XU continued his academic career at PolyU nineteen years ago, after several years of overseas and industry experience. Well respected by his colleagues both locally and internationally, he is thrilled about his new appointment. He thanks the selection committee for giving him this unique opportunity to be at the helm of a great Faculty with a growing reputation for excellence in teaching, research and scholarship. Congratulations to Prof. XU!
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| FCE Dean’s Awards 2014 |
The Faculty of Construction and Environment is pleased to have the following staff receiving the 2014 Dean’s Award for Outstanding Achievement in Research Funding, which recognizes the success of staff in securing external competitive research grants (by achieving a total score of not less than 3 from the funding schemes recognized for the Award in the past 3 calendar years, or a total score of not less than 4 in the past 5 calendar years). Following are their names, projects funded, and funding sources:
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| The Dean’s Award for Outstanding Achievement in Research Funding consists of a cash prize of HK$15,000 and a
certificate signed by the Faculty Dean. Each awardee will also receive a research grant of HK$200,000 for use over
a period not exceeding 48 months.
In addition, the Dean’s Award for Outstanding Publication Achievement (Category I: Highly Cited papers) has been
awarded to Prof. Jin-Guang TENG for the following two papers:
Title |
Authors |
Journal |
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Design-Oriented Stress-strain
Model
for FRP-Confined
Concrete |
L Lam, JG Teng |
Construction and Building Materials
Volume 17, Issue 6, Pages 471- 489
(Sep/Oct 2003) |
Prof. TENG Jin-guang |
Full-Range Behavior of
FRP-to-Concrete Bonded Joints |
H Yuan, JG Teng,
Rudolf Seracino,
ZS Wu, J Yao |
Engineering Structures
Volume 26, Issue 5, Pages 553–565
(April 2004) |
Achievements in academic programme development were also rewarded. The programme team for the MSc/PgD in Sustainable Urban Development that was led by Prof. Hong-xing Yang of the Department of Building Services Engineering and included Prof. Li-yin Shen of the Department of Building and Real Estate as well as Miss Virginia Yu of the Faculty Office took the Dean’s Award for Outstanding Achievement in Academic Programme Development.
Congratulations to all the above colleagues, who will be honored at the 20th Faculty Congregation and Prize Presentation Ceremony on 4th and 5th November 2014.
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| Construction Safety Week Conference 2014 |
In a promotional campaign for construction safety supported by the industry, the Development Bureau and the Construction Industry Council (CIC) jointly designated 26 to 29 May 2014 as Construction Safety Week. Launched in a Zero Accident Flag Presentation Ceremony on 26 May, the 4-day event included a conference with workers’ health and safety leadership as the main theme on 27 May. Providing a platform for stakeholders to share initiatives and experiences in relation to construction safety, the conference attracted frontline practitioners as well as management from government departments, employers, consultants, contractors and subcontractors.
At the invitation of the CIC, Prof. Albert Chan, interim Dean of the Faculty of Construction and Environment, facilitated a sharing session on how to exercise safety leadership on construction sites. Participating in the panel were Mr Paul LAU Wing-shing, Deputy General Manager of China State Construction Engineering (Hong Kong) Ltd.; Ir Derrick PANG, Deputy Chairman at Chun Wo Development Holdings Ltd.; Mr S.Y. YU, Executive Director of Gammon Construction Ltd.; Mr Brian GILLON, Executive General Manager at Leighton Contractors (Asia) Ltd.; and Ir Emil NGAN, Project Director at Yau Lee Construction Co. Ltd. It was an insightful session for all concerned. |
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| Construction Safety Week Conference |
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| HKIPM 2014 Conference |
On 25 April 2014, the Hong Kong Institute of Project Management (HKIPM) held a conference on the current status and the way forward for novel project delivery systems at the Langham Place Hotel in Mongkok. Financially supported by the government of the Hong Kong SAR, the conference was co-organized by the University of Hong Kong’s Department of Civil Engineering and PolyU’s Department of Building and Real Estate.
With a dozen speakers from various backgrounds, including the government, industry, and academia, the conference covered the following key areas:
1. International Project Delivery Methods
2. Green Procurement and Tendering
3. Local Experiences in Executing Construction Contracts
4. Innovative Procurement Strategies
Attended by more than 200 professionals, the conference facilitated the discussion of the latest knowledge, experiences, concerns, and challenges relating to different project delivery systems. Chairing one of the sessions was Prof. Geoffrey Shen, Head of the Department of Building and Real Estate. He was not the only one from PolyU. Serving in another capacity was his colleague, Dr Daniel Chan, who was on the organizing committee for the conference. It was a great learning opportunity for all in attendance.
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| Legal scholar rewarded for outstanding teaching |
The Department of Building and Real Estate (BRE) has selected Mr Stephen Mau, an Assistant Professor, for its 2012/13 Departmental Award for Outstanding Teacher. A US-trained attorney specializing in arbitration and dispute resolution, he has honed his pedagogy to stimulate his students to think critically and creatively by using scenarios based on real life. Well received by his students, his teaching strategies have facilitated collaborative learning both inside and outside the classroom. Congratulations to him for receiving the award, which includes a certificate signed by the Head of the Department and a trophy.
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| BRE academic co-authored Highly Commended Paper |
Prof. Eddie Hui of the Department of Building and Real Estate has coauthored a Highly Commended Paper titled “Facilities management service and customer satisfaction in shopping mall sector” that was published in Facilities last year by the Emerald Group Publishing Limited. Selected by the journal’s editorial team, the paper identified and analyzed crucial facilities management (FM) service dimensions that affect customer satisfaction with regards to the shopping mall sector, providing useful implications for FM companies.
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| FCE Summer Attachment Scheme 2013/14 |
Dr ZHU Songye of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) will be spending part of his summer in the US as part of the FCE Summer Attachment Scheme. Jointly supported by his department and FCE, he will engage in collaborative research at Northwestern University from 8 July to 8 August 2014.
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| FCE Postdoctoral Fellowship Scheme |
The following applications for the FCE Postdoctoral Fellowship Scheme were approved by the FRC Working Group by circulation in April 2014:
PDF candidate |
Principal Investigator (Dept) |
Project Title |
Decision and Source of Funding |
Dr YI Wen |
Prof. Albert CHAN (BRE) |
Development of Personal Cooling System (PCS)
for Combating Heat Stress in the Construction Industry |
Supported
BRE: $138,600
FCE: $138,600 |
Dr DONG Feifei
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Dr Meng NI (BRE) |
Development of Novel Nano-Structured and Functionally
Graded Electrodes for Symmetrical Solid Oxide Fuel Cells |
Supported
BRE: $131,670
FCE: $131,670 |
| Mr JIANG Mi |
Prof. X.L. DING (LSGI) |
Mountain Glacier Mass Balance Around the
Qinghai-Tibetan
Plateau from SAR
Interfermonetry |
Supported
LSGI: $131,670
FCE: $131,670 |
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| One-year Top-up Studentship Scheme |
The following PhD candidates have recently been supported by the one-year top-up studentship scheme:
Name of student |
Dept. |
Supervisor |
Status |
ZHAO Yijie |
BRE |
Prof. Albert CHAN |
Supported and
allocated $96,250
from FCE |
LIN Shiying |
CEE |
Dr Zhen LENG |
Supported and allocated $96,250 from FCE |
WANG Lei |
CEE |
Dr Daniel TSANG |
Supported and allocated $96,250 from FCE |
ZHANG Zhetao |
LSGI |
Dr George LIU |
Supported and allocated $96,250 from FCE |
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| LSGI student wins prestigious scholarship |
The 2013/14 President Emeritus Professor Poon Chung-kwong Scholarship has been awarded to Miss GAO Ya, a second-year student in the BSc (Hons) programme in Geomatics (Geo-Information Technology). Not only is she an outstanding student with an impressive academic record, she is also an active participant in numerous extracurricular activities. She has volunteered her services as a teacher in Sri Lanka in 2011 and in a middle school in Shaanxi in 2012. She was also a mentor for the Common Orientation Programme and the YMCA South Asian Programme for one semester. Through these service learning programmes, she has broadened her perspectives and gained a better appreciation of the importance of giving back to others in life. Congratulations to her for winning a well deserved scholarship.
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| The 5th National BIM Competition 2014 |
On 17-18 May 2014, the 5th National Building Information Modeling (BIM) Competition 2014 was held at Nanchang University and Shenyang Jianzhu University. Jointly organized by the China Association of Construction Education and Tsinghua Sware Software Hi-Tech Co. Ltd., the competition drew 256 teams from 212 universities all over China. A team of four undergraduates from the Department of Building and Real Estate participated in the event at Nanchang University. Calling itself “PolyU BRE Bravo,” the team won the Third Prize in the All-round competition. Congratulations to all the team members and their advisors, Dr TAN Yongtao and Dr Andy WONG.
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| XU Shan, YUE Xiao, AU Yuen Yau Hermion, TU Yangbo, Dr TAN Yongtao (from left to right) |
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| Entry scholarships attract outstanding postgraduates |
The 2014/15 Entry Scholarships have been awarded to the following postgraduates to study in a MSc programme offered by the Faculty of Construction and Environment:
Congratulations to all of them. The scholarships cover tuition for one academic year. Students who study full-time without any employment can also apply for a subsistence allowance. |
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| FCE alumnus revitalizes industrial building with indoor farming |
Ever dreamt of having your own business and being the boss? Gordon Chi Ho Tam, the Director of Farm66 Investment Ltd., is doing just that. Since graduating from the MSc programme in Sustainable Urban Development in 2011, he has founded a company that grows organic vegetables in an old industrial building in Kwun Tong. Not only does it allow him to follow his passion for nurturing plants, it also breathes new life into a part of town that is known more for its dilapidated industrial buildings than organic farming.
Gordon first discovered his interest for planting in an agricultural laboratory at Washington State University, when he was studying architecture and interior design. Upon his return to Hong Kong, he worked in an architectural firm. He even spent a few years in real estate and asset management, where he made his initial fortune. But he was not seduced by financial success. For him, it is more gratifying to be a farmer, growing healthy vegetables for the next generation of Hong Kong.
According to Gordon, he knew a lot of people in Hong Kong who have developed some form of allergy to the chemicals found in their fruits and vegetables, which mostly come from mainland China. To meet the demand for pesticide-free fresh produce, he decided to begin his own farming venture.
Leasing about 3000 square feet in an industrial building in 2012, he has since transformed the unit into a laboratory for agricultural research. Farm66 is the first to grow a variety of lettuces using an “aquaponics” system that combines aquaculture with hydroponics to create a symbiotic relationship between fish and plant life. A spectrum of LED lighting is applied via “wavelength technology” to increase the photosynthesis for the plants, which are grown without the use of any chemical fertilizers. Developed by Gordon and his research team, the system has already been patented. Growing organic fruits, vegetables, and mushrooms, Farm66 produces about 7 tons of leafy greens per year. Its signature item, the Salad-to-Go cup, as well as other produce, have been marketed to groups and restaurants. They will soon be available in stores like Citysuper. Gordon explains that his end goal is to distribute healthy, fresh, organic produce and promote ‘more veggies, less meat’ to local consumers. His Salad-to-Go cup is his way of replacing processed, packaged foods with an equally convenient, but much healthier option.
These days, Gordon is busy looking into areas where he can expand his flourishing business. A plan to mass produce cups of Salad-to-Go is in the works. He is also sought after as a speaker by schools and organizations interested in hearing him talk about his farm, living a low carbon life-style, and related topics like recycling and global warming. With so many options, his future is virtually unlimited. We wish him all the best. |
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| Invitation for Programme Admission 2014/15 |
Applications are now invited for the following taught postgraduate programmes.
For details, please visit at http://www.polyu.edu.hk/fce/postgrad-scheme/acad.html
Master of Science (MSc)/Postgraduate Diploma (PgD)
| Civil Engineering 土木工程學 |
| Environmental Management and Engineering 環境管理及工程學 |
| Geomatics (Geographic Information Systems) 測繪及地理資訊學(地理資訊) |
| Geomatics (Surveying) 測繪及地理資訊學(測量) |
For programme details, please visit http://www.polyu.edu.hk/study
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| Faculty Public Lectures |
The Faculty of Construction and Environment was honoured to have the following speakers giving public lectures at PolyU:
Prof. Ling Li |
FCE Public Lecture
"A More Complex Coastal Boundary Than We Thought"
Speaker:
Prof. Ling Li
School of Civil Engineering
University of Queensland, Australia
Date: 2 May 2014 (Fri) (Details) |
Prof. Wenzhong Shi, John |
Chair Professor Inaugural Lecture
"Geographic Information Science and Remote Sensing for Smart City"
Speaker:
Prof. Wenzhong Shi, John
Department of Land Surveying and Geo-Informatics
PolyU
Date: 14 May 2014 (Wed) (Details) |
Prof. Tao Wang |
Chair Professor Inaugural Lecture
"Air Pollution in China: Present Situation and Future Challenges"
Speaker:
Prof. Tao Wang
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and
Research Institute for Sustainable Urban Development
PolyU
Date: 20 May 2014 (Tue) (Details) |
Prof. Woody Ju |
FCE Public Lecture
"Mechanical Properties of Innovative Pothole Patching Materials Featuring High-Toughness Low-Viscosity Nano-Molecular Resins"
Speaker:
Prof. Woody Ju
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
University of California, Los Angeles
Date: 27 May 2014 (Tue) (Details) |
Prof. Chris Rizos |
FCE Public Lecture
"The International GNSS Service (IGS) in a Multi-Constellation GNSS World"
Speaker:
Prof. Chris Rizos
School of Civil & Environmental Engineering
University of New South Wales (UNSW), Australia
President of the International Association of Geodesy (IAG)
Date: 28 May 2014 (Wed) (Details) |
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| Forthcoming Events |
FCE Public Lecture:
Microbial Ecology in Methanogenic Wastewater Treatment Processes
Date & Time: 9 June 2014 (Mon), 11:00a.m. to 12:00p.m.
Venue: Room Z4-040, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Details: http://www.polyu.edu.hk/fce/events/20140609_lecture/
Motor Vehicle Emissions Control Workshop 2014 (MoVE 2014)
Date: 25-27 June 2014
Venue: Cheung On Tak Lecture Theatre, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
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