| CIOB International Innovation & Research Awards 2015 |
In an auspicious start to the new year, a team of researchers from the Department of Building and Real Estate (BRE) has scored a Premier Award in the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) International Innovation & Research Awards 2015. Led by Prof. Albert Chan, Head of BRE, the team was rewarded for its outstanding industry-based innovation in developing anti-heat stress clothing for construction workers in hot and humid weather. Its submission in the Innovation Achiever’s Award category was exemplary in improving upon/ extending beyond current expectations of best practice. The Premier Award consists of a prize for ￡2000, a commemorative trophy, and a certificate.
The inter-disciplinary project was first supported by the Research Grants Council’s General Research Fund in 2011. It also won the Dean’s Award for Outstanding Achievement in Technology Transfer 2015, the Local Grand Prize of the Construction Industry Council (CIC) Innovation Award 2015, and a research award from the Hong Kong Institute of Project Management. Details of the innovation can be found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TnQkHIGGfpE |
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| Donation of CEE Alumnus Supports Endowed Professorship |
The Ko Jan Ming Endowed Professorship in Sustainable Structures and Materials was recently established with an HK$8 million donation from Mr Yau Kwok Fai, Director of Vantage Charity Foundation Limited and a 1990 alumnus of the Hong Kong Polytechnic, PolyU’s predecessor. With more than 20 years of experience in the construction industry, Mr Yau has been Chief Executive Officer of Vantage International (Holdings) Limited since July 2000.
This Endowed Professorship in fact has multiple meanings to PolyU. This is the first Endowed Professorship of the Faculty of Construction and Environment (FCE). Besides, this Endowed Professorship is initiated by an alumnus Mr Yau Kwok Fai who also named the Endowed Professorship in honour of Prof. Ko Jan Ming in grateful recognition of Prof. Ko’s guidance and support during his study at The Hong Kong Polytechnic. Following Prof. Ko’s advice, Mr Yau further his study at the Imperial College, University of London after graduation from The Hong Kong Polytechnic and obtained a First Class Honours in civil engineering.
The Faculty of Construction and Environment is pleased that Prof. Jin-Guang Teng, Chair Professor of Structural Engineering of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) and Director of the Research Institute for Sustainable Urban Development of PolyU, has been appointed as the Ko Jan Ming Endowed Professor in Sustainable Structures and Materials for five years, from 2016 to 2020. Prof. Teng is a world-renowned scholar in the field of sustainable structures and materials and has received numerous local and international awards because of his pioneering and outstanding research achievements.
To thank Mr Yau for his generosity, a lunch was held in his honour at Hotel ICON on 1 February 2016. It was attended by Prof. Ko Jan Ming, Emeritus Professor of Structural Engineering, Mr Eugene P.C. Fung, Independent Non-executive Directors of the Vantage International (Holdings) Limited, Dr Patrick S.C. Poon, Chairman of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Foundation, Prof. Timothy W. Tong, PolyU President, Mr Ngai Chun Hung and Mr Yau Kwok Fai, Directors of the Vantage Charity Foundation Limited, The Hon. Ip Kwok Him, Independent Non-executive Director of the Vantage International (Holdings) Limited, Prof. Jin-Guang Teng, Ko Jan Ming Endowed Professor in Sustainable Structures and Materials, and Ir Prof. You-lin Xu, Dean of FCE. A donation of HK$1 million was also given to the Faculty via the Alumni Affairs and Development Office by Mr Yau at the lunch.
The Endowed Professorship Scheme is an initiative of PolyU to honour distinguished scholars for their outstanding academic and research achievements. The Scheme provides philanthropists with the unique opportunity to partner with the University to advance research and academic activities in a discipline of their choice for the benefits of the wider community.
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| From left to right: Professor Ko Jan Ming, Mr Eugene Fung, Dr Patrick S.C. Poon, Professor Timothy W. Tong, Mr Ngai Chun Hung and Mr Yau Kwok Fai, The Hon. Ip Kwok Him, Professor Jin-Guang Teng, and Ir Professor You-lin Xu |
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| Visit by LUI Che Woo Prize Ltd. |
On 24 February 2016, four representatives of the LUI Che Woo Prize Ltd. visited the Faculty of Construction and Environment (FCE) to learn more about its research with respect to sustainable development. They were introduced to FCE by its Dean, Prof. You-Lin Xu, who also shared with the visitors his latest research on smart structures. Presentations on other aspects of sustainable development followed, including energy storage research by Dr Meng Ni, Associate Professor of the Department of Building and Real Estate (BRE), energy saving by Prof. Shengwei Wang, Chair Professor of Building Services Engineering (BSE), Environmental Pollution in the Pearl River Delta Region by Prof. Xiangdong Li, Chair Professor of Environmental Science and Technology in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) and Associate Dean (Research), and smart city by Prof. John Shi, Chair Professor of Geographic Information Science and Remote Sensing and Head of the Department of Land Surveying and Geo-Informatics (LSGI).
Before the end of their visit, the guests joined a walking tour led by Prof. Xiaoli Ding, Associate Dean (Partnership), to several laboratories of FCE that conducted the research projects on sustainable development introduced in the presentations earlier, including the Building Energy Research Laboratory, the Laboratory for Geographic Information System, the Water and Waste Laboratories, the Intelligent Building Laboratory, and the Structural Health Monitoring Laboratory. They left with a better understanding of FCE and its research strengths.
Bearing the name of its founder, Dr Lui Che Woo, the eponymous prize is an international award set up to honour and recognize individuals or organizations who have contributed to world civilization in their words and deeds. The three categories for the prize in the current year are sustainable development of the world, betterment of the welfare of mankind, as well as promotion of positive life attitude and enhancement of positive energy.
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| New Book on Construction Safety |
A new book titled Safety of Repair, Maintenance, Minor Alteration, and Addition (RMAA) Works has just been published by Routledge. Co-authored by Prof. Albert Chan, Head of the Department of Building and Real Estate (BRE), and Dr Carol Hon of Queensland University of Technology, the book provides an overview of safety in the construction industries of developed countries, including a comprehensive summary of relevant rules, regulations, and safety performances. It also examines specific problems in RMAA works through several case studies, and explores a variety of practical engineering and management solutions. It is essential reading for postgraduate students of health and safety in construction, construction project management, or construction in developing countries, as well as policy-makers and construction project managers. |
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| FCE Meets the Press |
Members of the local media had a field day with some leading academics of the Faculty of Construction and Environment (FCE) on 28 January 2016. Prof. You-lin Xu, Dean of FCE, introduced the research strengths of the Faculty, particularly with respect to sustainable urban development. Underlying his presentation was the theme of constructing a smart city. Six research areas and applications were emphasized, namely smart positioning and communication, smart environment, smart transportation system, smart building information modeling, smart buildings and bridges, as well as smart energy system.
In attendance were Prof. Alex Wai, Vice President (Research Development), Prof. Xiaoli Ding, Associate Dean (Partnership), Prof. Albert Chan (BRE), Prof. Hongxing Yang (BSE), Prof. William Lam (CEE), Prof. John Shi (LSGI), Prof. Kwok-Fai Chung (CEE), Prof. Chi-Sun Poon (CEE), and Dr Meng Ni (BRE). They took advantage of the opportunity to introduce their latest research to some of the press corps including Apple Daily, Sing Tao Daily, Ta Kung Pao, Oriental Daily News, Wen Wei Po, Hong Kong Economic Journal, AM730, U Magazine, HK01 and Master Insight. More media coverage of FCE’s research achievements and PolyU’s sustainability initiatives is expected in the near future.
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| At the press meeting |
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| Celebrated Pioneer of FCE Mourned |
The Faculty of Construction and Environment (FCE) has lost a guiding light with the passing in late January 2016 of Dr Deric Daniel Waters, a former Head of the Department of Building, Surveying, and Structural Engineering (1963-1968) at the Hong Kong Technical College, PolyU’s predecessor, and a pioneer in technical education. He came to Hong Kong in 1954 and had a long, distinguished career as an educator. He was the founding Principal of Hong Kong’s first Technical Institute at Morrison Hill in 1969 before joining the government’s Education Department a few years later to oversee the setting up of additional institutes. His leadership was instrumental to the establishment of four more technical institutes before his retirement in 1980. He was well known for his high standards and unwavering support for education in the construction disciplines. Without his contribution, FCE would not have as solid a foundation upon which to grow and flourish. Seeing it grow in stature to rank alongside leading universities worldwide was a source of enormous satisfaction and pride for him.
A Renaissance man with wide-ranging interests, Dr Waters was much loved and respected by his former students, many of whom have stayed in touch with him over the years. His 95th birthday in November 2015 was celebrated with them and the senior management of PolyU and FCE. His departure has deeply saddened those who have known him. He will be dearly missed by all. |
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| New Academic Staff |
Dr Sze Nang Ngai joined The Hong Kong Polytechnic University as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering in February 2016. Prior to this, he was Lecturer at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand.
Dr Sze obtained his BEng in Civil Engineering in 2003 and his PhD in Transportation Engineering in 2008, both from The University of Hong Kong. Dr Sze specializes in accident analysis, injury prevention, and applications of statistical methods.
After obtaining his PhD, Dr Sze worked as a Postdoctoral Fellow at Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands from 2008 to 2009 and The University of Hong Kong from 2010 to 2012 respectively. He has been involved in numerous research projects related to intersection safety, red light camera, pedestrian and bicycle safety, drink driving, school bus safety, and intelligent transport systems.
Dr Sze has over 60 research outputs, including journal publications, conference presentations and technical reports. He is currently Associate Editor of Accident Analysis and Prevention, a journal with the highest impact factor in traffic safety. He is also on the editorial boards of Safety Science, International Journal of Sustainable Transportation, Journal of Safety Research and Analytic Methods in Accident Research; and serves as Guest Editor of special issues of Asian Geographer and International Journal of Transportation, and reviewer for over 25 international journals.
Dr Sze and his research team received the Best Original Paper Award from the Hong Kong Medical Journal in 2010 and an Outstanding Health Promotion Project Award from the Food and Health Bureau of the Hong Kong Government in 2015.
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| The HKIE Safety Specialist Committee Students Project Competition 2015 |
Two former PhD students from the Department of Building Services Engineering (BSE) have been honoured with awards in the Students Project Competition 2015 organized by the Safety Specialist Committee (SSC) of the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (HKIE). Dr Lau Kwai Wing was the Champion of the Construction Industry Council (CIC) Award for his project on installing water curtain system at refuge floor of supertall buildings in Hong Kong, while Dr Pang Chi Leung was the Runner-up of the CIC Award for his project on fire detection systems for supertall buildings. Both of them were supervised by Prof. W.K. Chow, Head of BSE.
The aims of the Students Project Competition are to promote safety and health in the field of engineering and science, and to provide an open and competitive platform for engineering students to demonstrate their engineering capabilities and share their learning process in the aspects of safety and health.
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| Dr Lau (middle) receiving his award |
Dr Pang (middle) receiving his award
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| Briefing Session for BDCE Students |
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| Invitation for Programme Admission 2016/17 |
Applications are now invited for the following taught postgraduate programmes. For further details and online application, please visit http://www.polyu.edu.hk/fce/postgrad-scheme/acad.html
Master of Science (MSc)/Postgraduate Diploma (PgD) in:
Building Services Engineering 屋宇設備工程學
Civil Engineering 土木工程學
Construction and Real Estate 建築及房地產學
Construction Law and Dispute Resolution 建築法及爭議解決學
Environmental Management and Engineering 環境管理及工程學
Facility Management 設施管理
Fire and Safety Engineering 消防及安全工程學
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)
High Performance Buildings 高效能建築
Project Management 項目管理
Sustainable Urban Development 可持續城市發展學 |
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