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LSGI research project receives silver medal at International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva 2022

Awarded project: Hong Kong Solar Irradiation Map  Project title: Responsive Web-based Solar Irradiation Map with Solar Energy Calculator for Hong Kong To promote a wider penetration of renewable energy in Hong Kong, the HKSAR government has introduced the Feed-in Tariff (FiT) scheme in which the public can sell the electricity generated from solar photovoltaic (PV) to the power company at higher rate than the usual electricity tariff rate. Nevertheless, it is a challenge for the general public to identify an appropriate location on rooftop for the installation of PV system. A PolyU LSGI research team, led by Prof. Charles Wong of LSGI, has developed a web-based Hong Kong Solar Irradiation Map for EMSD of HKSAR government to encourage the public to install a solar PV system. The project received a silver medal at the International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva 2022 together with the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department, HKSAR. To develop a solar irradiation map, a digital surface model was used to simulate the solar irradiation at different tilting angles and orientations. The simulation model also considers the terrain, shading effects and the atmospheric conditions over 10-year historical solar irradiation data from the Hong Kong Observatory. The simulation result was found having 95.99% accuracy when compared with the field validation measurement using in-situ pyranometers. The solar irradiation map is developed by using the Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to identify the suitable locations for deploying PV system, in consideration of numerous criterions, in terms of the slope, site obstruction, shadow effect and barrier. Alongside the generation capacity, annual electricity generation and annual return of income from FiT scheme will be estimated. By using the payback calculator, the payback period can be estimated. Link of Hong Kong Solar Irradiation Map: https://solarmap.emsd.gov.hk/map YouTube video Sharing

LSGI Scholars Secure Over $2.4 Million Funding from Environment and Conservation Fund

Two impactful research projects led by LSGI scholars have been supported by the Environment and Conservation Fund (ECF), with a total funding of over HK$2.4 million. Among the HK$10 million funding received by the thirteen projects from PolyU, LSGI composes nearly a quarter of funding granted. These projects aim at developing green technologies to address environmental issues. Project Project Coordinator Amount (HK$) A Multi-source Remote Sensing Based Technique for Monitoring Oil Spills Prof. Charles Wong 1,920,520 Climate-Resilient Planning and Design for Coastal Stormwater Drainage Systems Dr Wang Shuo 490,600 Established by the Government in 1994, the ECF supports local non-profit-making organisations like universities, schools, community bodies and green groups, by funding their educational and research projects on environmental and conservation initiatives in Hong Kong.

PolyU's First Faculty-based Education and Research Fund

Faculty of Construction and Environment Education and Research Fund (FCE Fund) We are delighted to announce the official launch of the FCE Education and Research Fund (FCE Fund), the first faculty-based platform in PolyU that solicits concerted and sustainable support of the community for the advancement of education and research development of the Faculty. An online launch ceremony was hosted on 26 March 2022. Prof. Jin-Guang Teng, President of PolyU, expressed his joy to witness a milestone in the University’s 85th Anniversary in his welcome speech. Prof. Teng reiterated the University’s commitment to academic and research excellence. The establishment of the FCE Fund, with the backing of the University, provides sustainable resources to the Faculty to accelerate its research and education efforts, with the ultimate goal of benefiting our society and the wider world. Prof. Xiang-dong Li, Dean of Faculty of Construction and Environment, emphasized that FCE, as a world-leading faculty in civil and structural engineering, as well as architecture and built environment disciplines , is determined to create innovative solutions for sustainable urban development, building smart cities and improving people’s lives. The FCE Fund will serve as a key fundraising platform in supporting the strategic initiatives and the holistic development of the Faculty and its academic departments across disciplines. The Faculty has been engaging its alumni, industry stakeholders, partners and friends in its establishment of the FCE Fund, and has so far raised over HK$10 million donations. Prof. Li particularly expressed his gratitude to the Fund’s donors and supporters, whose contributions, together with fundings from the PolyU Donation Matching Scheme and the UGC Research Matching Grant Scheme, laid a solid foundation of over HK$20 million for the FCE Fund to inaugurate. The donation will enable FCE to materialise its ambitious plans and initiatives set out under the Fund, in supporting the emergence of new knowledge and innovative ideas, grooming talents, and accelerating high-impact research projects with societal impact. Prof. Li concluded his speech by calling upon the audience to support the Fund and introducing the new online donation platform. It was highlighted that PolyU will match $1 for every $2 donation to the FCE Fund, thereby multiplying the donation for greater impact. Ms Belinda Chow, Director of Alumni Affairs and Development, shed light on the role of the Alumni Affairs and Development Office (AADO) in significant initiatives like the FCE Fund. Ms Chow shared ways of engaging alumni and maintaining the bond between the University and the alumni community. The online ceremony ended on a high note with an inspiring speech from Ir Yau Kwok-fai, an alumnus of PolyU and the President of the Federation of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University Alumni Associations. Ir Yau shared his vision with the audience and illustrated how the FCE Fund sets a good example of alumni contributing and involving in the alma mater’s development. Ir Yau emphasized the Alumni Associations’ support for PolyU in its pursuit of education and research excellence. For more details of the FCE Fund, please refer to the Fund homepage.

In-kind Donation of COVID-19 RAT Kits from Unistrong

The Department of Land Surveying & Geo-Informatics (LSGI) received a donation of 1000 sets of COVID-19 Rapid Antigen Test kits from Unistrong (北京合众思壮科技股份有限公司), a long-term partner of LSGI, on 17 March 2022. On behalf of the department, Prof. Wu Chen, Head of LSGI, expresses our gratitude for Unistrong’s generous support and caring action. Our fellow students and colleagues will benefit from the kind contribution.

Research Sharing: How fast does flash drought evolve?

Approximately 33.64−46.18% of flash droughts develop within 5 days for the period 2000−2020, and the rapid onset of flash droughts is further accelerated by the joint influence of soil moisture depletion and atmospheric aridity. The emerging phenomenon of flash drought has recently attracted widespread attention due to the sudden onset and rapid intensification of drought conditions worldwide, even in humid regions like southern China. Compared with traditional, slowly developing droughts, flash droughts evolve with a relatively fast depletion of soil moisture. In the past two decades, more than one third of flash droughts developed within 5 days. Giving very few early warnings, flash droughts leave human beings unprepared for the severe impacts they bring, e.g., imbalance of ecosystems and agricultural systems. “The occurrence of flash droughts has been detected in many regions around the world. However, we don’t know how fast flash droughts evolve and what causes the rapid onset speed,” said Dr Wang Shuo, Assistant Professor from the Department of Land Surveying and Geo-Informatics at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. In the new study, published in Nature Communications on 3 March 2022, Dr Wang and his research teammates revealed the mechanism causing flash droughts. They found that flash droughts do not appear to be occurring more frequently in most regions of the world, just coming on faster. Approximately 33.64−46.18% of flash droughts develop within 5 days for the period 2000−2020, and there is a significant increasing trend in the proportion of flash droughts with the 5-day onset time globally. “Flash droughts are most likely to occur in humid and semi-humid regions, including Southeast Asia, East Asia, Amazon Basin, Eastern North America, and Southern South American.” Dr Wang said, “Southeast China is also one of flash drought hot spots. In the past, it is generally believed that northern China is mainly subject to droughts while floods affect southern China. The southeastern part of China is most vulnerable to the impacts of typhoons, storm surges, rainstorms, and floods. Thus, the increasing flash drought risk is overlooked, without any early warning and emergency response measures, posing serious threats to ecosystem protection and sustainable agriculture development.” Dr Wang explained that “atmospheric aridity creates a perfect condition for the occurrence of flash droughts, and the joint influence of soil moisture depletion and atmospheric aridity further enhances the rapid onset of flash droughts. In other words, low soil moisture combined with high vapor pressure deficit accelerates the decline in soil moisture through land–atmosphere feedbacks. Thus, Southeast China with strong land–atmosphere coupling is most vulnerable to flash droughts.” The new study contributes to a deeper understanding of the rapid onset development and driving mechanism of flash droughts. Identification of flash drought-prone regions and global hot spots can help policymakers and stakeholders develop flash drought mitigation and risk management strategies. Furthermore, comprehensive assessment of onset development timescales of flash droughts provides insights into the implementation of flash drought forecasts and early warning systems.   Publication: Qing, Y., Wang, S., Ancell, B., and Yang, Z-L. (2022) Accelerating flash droughts induced by the joint influence of soil moisture depletion and atmospheric aridity. Nature Communications, 13, 1139. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-28752-4

LSGI PhD student won the AAG Student Honors Paper Competition

The Remote Sensing Specialty Group (RSSG) of the American Association of Geographers (AAG) held the 2022 RSSG Student Honors Paper Competition during AAG Annual Meeting, 25 February to 1 March, 2022, New York City, US. Research papers from students on all topics of remote sensing are evaluated on its contribution to the field, originality, novelty, research design, organization, and the overall quality of the paper. The oral presentation is evaluated on professional delivery, organization, clarity, visual aids, and overall presentation.  We are glad to share that a PhD student Xiaoyue Tan (under supervision of Dr. Xiaolin Zhu) from Department of Land Surveying and Geo-Informatics (LSGI) won the first-place in the mentioned competition with paper “Modeling the Direction and Magnitude of Angular Effects in Nighttime Light Remote Sensing (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rse.2021.112834)” published in 2022 at the Remote Sensing of Environment, one of the top journals in the discipline. This study revealed the uncertainties caused by angular effect in night-time light (NTL) daily time series, and proposed a conceptual model to explain the mechanism of NTL angular effect. This research deepens understanding of the NTL angular effect, and contributes to the development of technologies for reconstructing high-quality daily NTL time series, as a result to have a closer monitoring of high-frequency socioeconomic activities. Congratulations to our student!  

Prof. Charles Wong Appointed to the QAC’s Register of Auditors

Prof. Charles Wong, Associate Dean (Teaching) of FCE and Profess of LSGI, is appointed as a local auditor to the Quality Assurance Council (QAC)’s Register of Auditors, on the nomination by the University. With the appointment effective from April 2022, Prof. Wong will serve in an Audit Panel and obligate to assist the University Grants Committee (UGC) in assuring the quality of programmes and educational experience offered in UGC-funded universities. The QAC is a semi-autonomous non-statutory body under UGC to conduct institutional audits and promote quality assurance and enhancement.

PolyU’s Supporter Joins Hands with the University to Advance Research on Aerospace Technology through the Endowed Professorship Scheme

The PolyU Endowed Professorship Scheme recognises the achievements of world-renowned researchers in their specialised discipline to create societal impact for the betterment of mankind. Prof. Wu Bo, Associate Head (Research) and Professor of the Department of Land Surveying and Geo-Informatics (LSGI), is appointed to the newly established Fiona Cheung Professorship in Spatial Science under the scheme. Prof. Wu has been a key contributor in several National Space exploration missions. His innovative 3D topographic mapping and geomorphological analysis techniques were utilised in the landing site mapping and selection for China’s Chang’E-3, Chang’E-4, Chang’E-5 lunar missions, and the Tianwen-1 mission to Mars. The development of “Novel Integrated 3D Mapping Model” in 2016 for improved accuracy and consistency in mapping products is another proud achievement of Prof. Wu. Ms Fiona Cheung Sum-yu, MH, Chairman of Forest Zone Limited, has been a key supporter of PolyU and has been actively engaging herself in community service and philanthropic activities within and beyond Hong Kong. This endowed professorship, generously supported by Ms Cheung, encourages young scholars to follow the footstep of Prof. Wu Bo in devoting his career to research and innovation, making positive contributions to the development of the Nation and the world.

Research Projects led by LSGI Scholars Awarded near $12 Million Funding from RGC

2 outstanding collaborative projects led by LSGI scholars have been supported by the Research Grants Council (RGC), with the total funding amounting to near HK12 million. The project led by Prof. John Shi aims to address the impact of COVID-19, while the one led by Prof. Charles Wong focuses on carbon sequestration under climate change. Collaborative Research Fund (CRF) 2021/22 Project Project Coordinator Amount Awarded (HK$) Spatiotemporal Prediction and Real-time Early Warning of COVID-19 Onset Risk This project aims to develop the methods for predicting the onset risk of COVID-19 symptoms, like fever and cough, in space and time at a fine scale (i.e., within a city). To achieve high prediction accuracy, the methods will incorporate fine-scale transmissibility and other epidemiologic features of different SARS-CoV-2 variants, at the same time the impacts of fine-scale urban characteristics and social contacts on COVID-19 transmission. A mobile application system will be developed to deliver the risk predictions and send active real-time early warning of high-risk areas or routes to the public. The project is expected to support lower-cost and more effective long-term control of COVID-19 and potential future epidemics. Prof. John Shi 6,964,000 Study of Carbon Sequestration in Hong Kong’s Vegetation: from Present to Future Prediction under Climate Change Carbon stock and carbon sequestration of vegetation play a pivotal role to absorb atmospheric carbon dioxide. For a low carbon economy under the Government’s Hong Kong’s Climate Action Plan 2030+, study on carbon storage capacity of local vegetation and sequestration rates for rural and urban areas becomes crucial. The project proposes to use geospatial technologies to map and estimate the biomass and carbon sequestration of Hong Kong’s vegetation, by integrating satellite-, airborne-, and ground-based remote sensing technologies. Prof. Charles Wong 4,949,639 Administered by RGC, the CRF supports investigators across disciplines and/or across universities to engage in creative and multi-disciplinary research projects, while the RIF aims to foster impactful and translational collaborative research beyond academia for the benefit of wider community.

Showcase of Smart Monitoring System for Urban Tree Management

Smart Tree Monitoring and Management System, developed by Prof. Charles Wong and his research team at the LSGI, is showcased at the Smart Countryside Exhibition from 20 December 2021 to 19 February 2022 at the Heung Yee Kuk Exhibition Hall. A simulated tree model, leveraging on smart sensing technologies, is set up to demonstrate how the system keeps track of the angles at which trees are tilting to assess the stability of their roots. This exhibition, in alignment with the Government’s objectives on Smart Village Pilot under “Smart City Blue Print for Hong Kong (Blueprint 2.0)”, promotes smart use of the technologies in the villages to bring convenience and benefits to the residents for better living.