PolyU FCE Build a Smart City Competition 2026
Project Description
The integration of innovative building technologies and materials is essential for advancing urban environments and creating smart architecture that embodies sustainability, resilience, and adaptability. Architecture shapes urban spaces and influences human behaviour, serving as a foundation for cultural narratives and social interactions. By adopting sustainable materials such as cross-laminated timber and recycled composites, energy efficiency and environmental impact are improved while ensuring comfort and durability. The use of smart technologies, including Internet of Things (IoT) applications and advanced building management systems, enables real-time data utilisation to optimise resource management and enhance occupant well-being. Emphasising adaptable, multifunctional spaces further strengthens urban resilience, allowing buildings to evolve with changing community needs.
Participants are encouraged to harness creativity in technological innovation alongside aesthetic and functional design, aiming to create architectural environments that are efficient, sustainable, as well as culturally and socially enriching. This vision will play a significant role in shaping a future-ready built environment.
Highlight of the 2-day Workshop
- Hands-on activities on innovative building materials, smart architecture designs and prototyping smart solutions
- Guided tour at The Henderson
Project Description
The "Greening the Northern Metropolis" initiative is designated to equip future designers, architects, urban planners, and engineers with the skills to create sustainable and functional built environments. This project emphasises energy efficiency, carbon reduction, and the integration of natural elements, inspiring participants to advocate for green building and sustainable urban design.
A central task involves students designing a new campus building for university lectures and offices in the Northern Metropolitan region. The challenge is to optimise land use and apply smart technologies, supporting economic and social development while protecting the environment. Participants are encouraged to propose innovative and practical solutions, ensuring the campus design harmonises with its environment while fulfilling its intended functions.
Highlight of the 2-day Workshop
- Explore cutting-edge green innovation technologies for safe environments
- Site visit to Kwu Tung North and Fanling North New Development Areas Community Liaison Centre
Project Description
Hong Kong is facing the challenge of "double ageing," characterised by a rising number of aged buildings and an expanding elderly population. By 2023, 23% of private buildings in Hong Kong were 50 years or older. Without proper maintenance, ageing buildings can pose serious safety risks. Urban renewal and building rehabilitation have therefore become crucial for creating safe and liveable environments in older districts. These efforts present both challenges and opportunities, especially in understanding community needs and developing innovative solutions. Recent advancements in robotics, automation, and digital technologies offer promising ways to enhance efficiency and support better planning decisions.
This project provides participants with a valuable opportunity to observe ongoing changes and anticipate future developments through a field trip to To Kwa Wan and on-site presentations by surveying and planning professionals. Participants will be tasked with proposing a technology-assisted solution for urban renewal or building rehabilitation, while demonstrating basic knowledge of the surveying profession.
Highlight of the 2-day Workshop
- Lab visit in CAVE, 3D printing facilities and wearable & portable robotic exoskeletons’ project
- Site visit to eResidence and To Kwa Wan
Project Description
Participants are invited to join the Smart Sustainable Campus Hackathon, where they can contribute to PolyU’s or their secondary school's carbon-neutral vision while innovating for a smarter environment. Participants will work in teams to tackle pressing sustainability challenges, from waste reduction to green technology adoption, developing innovative solutions within a limited timeframe for a chance to win exciting prizes.
This hands-on, free-to-enter competition offers unique opportunities for participants to engage with mentors from academia and industry, preparing them for future careers in budgeting, communication, and project management. The focus is on creating viable solutions that are innovative, practical, and impactful. Together, they can work towards transitioning to carbon neutrality while addressing global issues locally.
Highlight of the 2-day Workshop
- Technical sharing by mentors showcasing past awarded projects and interactive sessions with current students
- Site visit to T·PARK
Project Description
Spatial data is a vital resource that provides essential geographic information about the Earth's features, supporting a wide range of Smart City applications. These applications include urban planning, transportation and mobility, resource management, environmental monitoring, emergency response, water and waste management, public health, and economic development. Government departments, such as the Lands Department, Transport Department and Planning Department, heavily rely on this data to inform their decision-making processes.
This project invites participants to develop user-friendly solutions that address real-world urban problems in Hong Kong using open-source software (e.g., QGIS) and open spatial data (e.g., CSDI Portal). Participants will explore innovative ways to utilise geospatial data, inspiring practical solutions that contribute to more efficient, sustainable, and liveable cities.
Highlight of the 2-day Workshop
- Introduction of Smart City and 3D Mapping in Hong Kong
- Hands-on workshop on problem solving using CSDI data with a talk conducted by the Geospatial Lab of the Development Bureau of the Government of the HKSAR
