News

LSGI Retreat 2021

On 17 June 2021, a half-day retreat was held at PolyU for all LSGI academic staff. Prof. Wu CHEN, Head of LSGI, delivered the opening speech. He welcomed our new Research Assistant Professor, Dr Rui CAO, who was on duty in May 2021 and share another new Chair Professor, Prof. Qihao WENG, joining in coming July. It was followed by group discussion sessions on strategic development, including strengths and strategic research direction of LSGI and how to build critical mass. 

LSGI PhD Student Won a Young Author Best Paper Award at the World’s Largest GNSS Conference

PhD graduate Yangzhao Gong from the Department of Land Surveying and Geo-Informatics (LSGI), Faculty of Construction and Environment, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), recently received a Young Author Best Paper Award (the third order) at the 12th China Satellite Navigation Conference (CSNC), Nanchang, China, 26 to 28 May 2021. The awarded paper was entitled “Augmenting GNSS PPP Accuracy in South China Using Water Vapor Correction Data from WRF Assimilation Results,” in which atmospheric water vapor data were remotely sensed by a network of GNSS ground receivers and then assimilated into the Weather Research and Forecasting model (a widely used Numerical Weather Prediction model). The water vapor data forecast by the WRF model were then utilized to correct the atmospheric errors in GNSS observations. The test results in the South China region showed that the accuracy of GNSS positioning and navigation solution can be significantly improved by 25% to 35% in static mode and 15% to 26% in kinematic mode.

Media interview for harnessing technology to monitor tree stability

Dr Charles Wong, Associate Professor of LSGI, and his research team were interviewed by TVB for his project on Smart Monitoring System for Urban Tree Management in May 2021. The interview was showed on news 創科館 and programme 創科導航. The project was also covered in TVB programme 武測天.

LSGI scholar provides Mars landing site mapping and evaluation

Two research teams at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) contributed to the Nation’s first Mars exploration project Tianwen-1. By harnessing their extensive experience in the field of aerospace science and technology, as well as their commitment to research excellence, PolyU researchers played a vital role in the Tianwen-1 mission, in collaboration with the China Academy of Space Technology (CAST). Professor WU Bo helped identify possible landing regions with advanced topographic mapping and geomorphological analysis technologies. Professor YUNG Kai-leung developed a sophisticated space instrument, the “Mars Landing Surveillance Camera (Mars Camera)”, for capturing images of the surroundings of the Red Planet and monitoring the status of the Zhurong Mars rover. 

Press sharing on LSGI smart cities related research

On 26 April, a press conference was conducted at PolyU by Prof. John Shi, Chair Professor of LSGI and Director of Smart Cities Research Institute to share a number of cutting-edge patented technologies and research by his research group. These projects help address various societal issues, including the revitalisation of old buildings, slope safety, prevention and control of the COVID19 pandemic, and the construction of spatial data infrastructure, hoping to provide comprehensive solutions for smart city development in Hong Kong and the Nation.

LSGI project received Silver Medal in Geneva Inventions Expo 2021

A press conference on awarded projects at this year’s Special Edition 2021 Invention Geneva Evaluation Days - Virtual Event was held at office of Logistics and Supply Chain MultiTech R&D Centre (LSCM) on 22 April. The Silver Medal project “Seamless Navigation in Urban Environment” led by Prof. Wu Chen, Head of LSGI, was introduced in the event.

LSGI Scholars Publish the Book Urban Informatics

The new book entitled Urban Informatics has been edited by Prof. Wenzhong Shi (Chair Professor of LSGI), Prof. Michael Goodchild (University of California, Santa Barbara), Prof. Michael Batty (University College London), Prof. Mei-Po Kwan (The Chinese University of Hong Kong) and Dr. Anshu Zhang (Research Assistant Professor of LSGI), was published on 8 April 2021. This is open access and a milestone book which systematically introduces the principles of emerging urban informatics and its wide applications in enabling cities to function more efficiently and equitably, to become ‘smart’ and ‘sustainable’.

LSGI scholars ranked as the world’s top 2% most-cited scientists by Stanford University

We are glad to share that four academic staff from LSGI are listed among the top 2 % scientists in the world according to a report by Stanford University in early 2021. The listed LSGI scholars are: Prof. John Shi, Chair Professor of LSGI and Director of SCRI, Prof. Zhilin Li, Adjunct Professor of LSGI, Dr. Xiaolin Zhu, Assistant Professor of LSGI, and Dr. Peng Jia, Assistant Professor of LSGI.   

25th & 26th Congregations

The 26th Congregation and the 25th Congregation Make-up sessions were held for the Faculty of Construction and Environment online on 27 March 2021, celebrating the accomplishments of our graduates. Prof. Xiangdong Li, Dean of FCE, presided over the congregation and gave an encouraging address to the graduating classes. In the face of the pandemic, our graduates had to overcome various difficulties in pursuing their studies. Their determination and hard work have culminated in a degree/ diploma, which will set them apart for the rest of their lives. May they fully live up to the university’s motto of “to learn and to apply, for the benefit of mankind” and remain in touch with their alma mater for many years to come.

Sharing on HKIS PASS Conference

On 27 March 2021, Prof. Wu CHEN, Head of Department of Land Surveying and Geo-Informatics (LSGI) was invited to give a talk on “Smart City Talent” in the webinar of HKIS PASS Conference: Evolving Professional Surveying Services in Smart City. Moderating the session was Sr Dr Charles Wong, Associate Head (Academic) and Associate Professor of LSGI.