News

PolyU and Geely Farizon establish joint lab to promote methanol-electric mobility for a carbon-neutral Hong Kong

On 20 April 2026, PolyU and Geely Farizon New Energy Commercial Vehicle Group (Geely Farizon) held a signing ceremony in PolyU campus to officially establish the “PolyU–Farizon Transport and Energy Joint Laboratory”, focusing on industrial development policies in relation to methanol-electric technologies, promoting their development across technical, economic, and social dimensions, and building a new methanol ecosystem to help Hong Kong achieve its carbon neutrality goals. The signing ceremony was witnessed by Ir Prof. Christopher CHAO, Senior Vice President (Research and Innovation) of PolyU; Prof. Xiangdong LI, Dean of the Faculty of Construction and Environment of PolyU; Mr Mike FAN, Chief Executive Officer of Geely Farizon; and Ms Huifang DAI, Principal of Geely Academy, Geely Holding Group. The MoU was signed by Prof. Wu CHEN, Head of LSGI at PolyU, and Dr Zhaohuan SONG, Vice President and Chief Brand Officer of Geely Farizon. A project agreement marking the official launch of research on methanol‑electric vehicles in Hong Kong was subsequently signed by Prof. Chengxiang ZHUGE, Assistant Professor of LSGI at PolyU, and Mr Jack YANG, Head of Hong Kong Project Team at Geely Farizon, in the presence of senior leaders and scholars from both sides.  Leveraging LSGI’s expertise in green transport, energy policy, and smart city development, the Joint Lab will focus on three areas: research on policies for promoting and popularising methanol-electric technologies in the public transport sector; development of a smart energy supply operation platform tailored to Hong Kong’s green transport policies and urban traffic scenarios; and feasible solutions and advisory reports for the local introduction of methanol-electric vehicles.   Press release: English - https://polyu.me/3QoPCEW; Chinese - https://polyu.me/4n3ePBf   Online coverage: Mirage - https://polyu.me/4vJaTsX Bastille Post - https://polyu.me/4tsuvjO China Daily - https://polyu.me/3QnTo1n China.com - https://polyu.me/4cFzbvw 城市交通網 - https://polyu.me/4vRmnLo  

PolyU Homecoming 2026: AI ‧ ART

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University successfully hosted its annual alumni event, PolyU Homecoming 2026: AI．Art, on 12 April 2026. The celebration was officiated by University leadership, including Council Chairman Dr. LAM Tai-fai and President Prof. Jin-Guang TENG, alongside the members of the University Council, senior management, and other PolyU  associates. With over 6,000 visitors, including our alumni, their families, friends, and students, the event featured a diverse range of activities, including InnoTech Campus Adventures, Alumni Creative Market, AI x Crafts Workshops, AI Grad Photo Studio, Sports Hub, and many other kiosks to showcase AI integrating culture and the arts. Amid the fusion of technology and creativity, The Department of Land Surveying and Geo-Informatics (LSGI) stood out with its project, “Unfolding the Lost WWII Heritage: Promotion of Geo-Spatial and Geophysical Technologies,” led by Ir Prof. Wallace Wai Lok LAI, Associate Head (Teaching) of LSGI. By utilizing airborne LiDAR and 3D modeling, the team demonstrated how geospatial technology can locate and preserve forgotten historical sites of World War II (WWII) in Hong Kong. The event served as a vital platform for alumni to reconnect with LSGI and witness the cutting-edge advancements within the LSGI field. Thank you to all our alumni and their families for joining us and making this event a memorable success. We look forward to seeing our community at future events.

LSGI Showcased in GeoConnect Asia 2026

The Department of Land Surveying and Geo-Informatics (LSGI) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) successfully participated in Geo Connect Asia 2026, held from 31 March to 1 April at the Sands Expo & Convention Centre, Singapore. As one of Asia’s premier geospatial industry events, Geo Connect Asia 2026 brought together global professionals, cutting-edge surveying instruments, and thought‑leading technical presentations. Leveraging this platform, PolyU LSGI joined forces with four Singaporean institutions, including the National University of Singapore, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore Institute of Technology, and Temasek Polytechnic to form “The Learning Lab” joint booth. The LSGI team prominently featured its two flagship undergraduate and postgraduate programmes: Land Surveying and Geo‑informatics and Urban Informatics and Smart City. These programmes integrate surveying technology, spatial data, artificial intelligence, urban planning, and digital twins, offering both academic depth and practical relevance. The booth drew keen interest and inquiries from students and industry practitioners from Singapore, Malaysia, and other neighbouring countries. During the exhibition, Mr. Eric Chua, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for the Ministry of Social and Family Development and also for the Ministry of Law of Singapore, visited the PolyU LSGI booth. He was briefed on the department’s curriculum development, talent cultivation outcomes, and internationalisation efforts. Mr. Chua expressed strong appreciation for LSGI’s academic strengths in geospatial and smart city domains. This successful participation has further elevated LSGI’s international visibility in the Asia‑Pacific region, strengthened ties with Singapore’s academic community, and laid a solid foundation for future collaborations in talent development, research, and industry‑academia engagement.  

PolyU Top 10 Research Stories: LSGI Scholar Satellite Study Tracks Greenland Ice Melt and Sea‑Level Rise

We are thrilled to announce that Prof. Jianli CHEN, Chair Professor of Space Geodesy and Earth Sciences (LSGI), has been named one of the winners of the inaugural “PolyU Top 10 Research & Innovation Stories of the Year”. Launched to recognise outstanding achievements with far-reaching impact both locally and globally, this selection and voting campaign showcases PolyU’s most remarkable research and technology translation stories. From 20 finalists announced in 2025, ten awardees were chosen through a combination of professional judging and over 7,700 votes from the public and the PolyU community. These winning stories span five strategic areas — AI and data science, life sciences and healthcare, environment and sustainability, materials science, and smart cities—injecting powerful innovation momentum into Hong Kong’s high-quality development. Prof. CHEN leads a global research effort that uses satellite positioning data to track Greenland’s ice sheet melt behavior and assess its impact on sea-level rise. By integrating modern space geodetic techniques, his team monitors the subsidence of vertical bedrock to quantify summer water storage, offering vital new insights into the role of ice sheets in global environmental changes. Please join us in offering our warmest congratulations to Prof. CHEN on this well-deserved recognition of his pioneering research and global impact!   Press release: English - https://polyu.me/4s8plYJ; Chinese - https://polyu.me/3PUjoky Online coverage: Headline Daily - https://polyu.me/4mFztqQ Headline Daily - https://polyu.me/414Ttcw Ta Kung Pao - https://polyu.me/4dmCKbP Bauhinia - https://polyu.me/4m1vfcL Mirage - https://polyu.me/4tiNeh2  

LSGI Scholar on Ground Penetrating Radar Technology

Prof. Wallace Wai-Lok LAI, Associate Head of the Department of Land Surveying and Geo-Informatics (LSGI), and Yimin ZHOU, Research Assistant, LSGI, were recently featured on HOY TV’s InnoAction. The team demonstrated how integrating multiple sensing technologies ensures reliability in complex environments. While Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) generates 3D visualizations by analyzing electromagnetic reflections, it requires supplemental positioning in areas with poor satellite reception. By pairing radar data with matched 360-degree panoramic imagery, the system precisely maps anomalies to on-site coordinates, allowing for accurate investigation before any excavation begins. This innovation is a key focus of the newly established Pipeline Robots Joint Laboratory, a collaboration between LSGI, the Water Supplies Department, and a Chinese Mainland partner aimed at advancing pipeline robotics and reducing unnecessary excavation.   Online Coverage: HOY TV - https://polyu.me/4bGfAvO (00:10 - 10:34) i-Cable News - https://polyu.me/4dfezw3 Oriental Daily News - https://polyu.me/4bWhx6k Line Today - https://polyu.me/4uYuW6i  

LSGI Student, Receives the PolyU Outstanding Student Award and Presidential Student Leadership Award 2025/26

Heartfelt congratulations to Miss Mingzhen LIU, our LSGI student, who was selected as an awardee of the Outstanding Student Award and the Presidential Student Leadership Award 2025/26 for her remarkable accomplishments. She was presented with the awards by Prof. Jin-Guang TENG, PolyU President, at Hotel ICON on 19 March 2026. We are proud of her well-deserved achievements. PolyU’s Outstanding Students Award Scheme, established in the 1998/99 academic year, recognizes full-time final-year students for excellence in both academic and non-academic pursuits. These awards are presented annually at the department, faculty, and university levels. The Presidential Student Leadership Award, established in 2022, recognizes students for their leadership achievements. Congratulations again to Mingzhen LIU on her well-deserved awards.

LSGI Career Talk 2026: Bridging Students with Industry Leaders

The LSGI Career Talk 2026 was successfully held for two sessions on 3 March and 13 March 2026 at PolyU Campus to share the latest career opportunities in various related disciplines for undergraduate and master’s degree students. A total of 73 participants attended the first session on 3 March, and 91 participants attended the second session on 13 March. They offered all attended students a unique opportunity to engage with industry leaders from both the private sector and the government. This two-part event provided insights into career opportunities and industry trends in the fields of surveying, construction, and geo-informatics. Session I – The Government of the HKSAR The first session was held on 3 March 2026. It focused on career opportunities within the government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR). This session featured speakers and alumni from various government departments, including the Planning Department and Lands Department. Students gained valuable insights into the roles and responsibilities within the government sector, as well as the training and development opportunities available for aspiring professionals. Session II – Private Company The second session was conducted on 13 March 2026. This session featured esteemed speakers from leading private companies, including ARUP, Build King, China State Construction Engineering, Esri China (Hong Kong), Leica and Ming Hing Waterworks. The industry experts shared their valuable experiences and insights into the latest developments in climate and sustainability, project surveying, building information modelling (BIM), and technological advancements in geo-informatics. It provided students with a comprehensive understanding of current industry trends and career opportunities in the private sector.  

LSGI Scholar contributes to Nation’s space industry

Prof. Bo WU, Fiona Cheung Professor in Spatial Science, Associate Head (Research) of LSGI, and Associate Director of PolyU’s Research Centre of Deep Space Explorations (RCDSE) was recently interviewed by Tai Kung Pao. Prof. WU has been pivotal in developing advanced topographic mapping and localisation technologies that support China’s lunar missions, providing crucial terrain analysis for rover navigation and scientific exploration. Contributors to the project featured alongside Prof. WU include, Ir Prof. Kai Leung YUNG, Director of RCDSE, Sir Sze-yuen Chung Professor in Precision Engineering, Chair Professor of Precision Engineering, Associate Head of the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering; Prof. Daniel Shu Ping LAU, Associate Director of the Photonics Research Institute and Chair Professor of Nanomaterials; Prof. Qi ZHAO, RCDSE Management Committee Member and Associate Professor at the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering; Prof. Song Lin CHUA, RCDSE Management Committee Member and Associate Professor at the Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology; Prof. Yi Wei WENG, RCDSE Team Member and Assistant Professor of the Department of Building and Real Estate; and Prof. Weisong WEN, RCDSE Team Member and Assistant Professor of the Department of Aeronautical and Aviation Engineering.  The interview underscored PolyU’s unique position as the only local university with extensive hands-on experience in every major national space mission. Beyond their individual research, the professors emphasized their commitment to nurturing the next generation of talent, ensuring a steady pipeline of young scientists and engineers to sustain Hong Kong’s contributions to the nation’s thriving space industry.   Online coverage: Ta Kung Pao - https://polyu.me/4qMn5FF  

LSGI scholar on underground utilities inspection systems

Prof. Wallace Wai Lok LAI, Associate Head (Teaching) & Professor at the Department of Land Surveying and Geo-Informatics, was interviewed by RTHK’s TV programme “Vibrant Hong Kong” on the underground utilities inspection systems that support early detection of urban infrastructure anomalies, including voids and pipe leakages, for enhanced urban management. Prof. LAI’s team has collaborated with the Water Supplies Department to launch the underground water mains leak detection training centre, Q-Leak, in 2021 to advance leak detection technology. The two parties have further joined forces with a private company to establish the Pipeline Robots Joint Laboratory, focusing on developing pipeline robotics technologies.   Online coverage: RTHK - https://polyu.me/4cuhCzT (00:34 - 17:41)

LSGI Projects Awarded Environment and Conservation Fund Funding

We are thrilled to announce that two research projects from the Department of Land Surveying and Geo-Informatics (LSGI) at Hong Kong Polytechnic University have been awarded funding under the 2025/26 Environment and Conservation Fund (ECF). These projects represent the cutting edge of geospatial science, tackling Hong Kong's environmental challenges from a vertical perspective: Principal Investigator Research Project Awarded Amount (HKD)  Prof. Joseph AWANGE Professor Department of Land Surveying and Geo-Informatics AI-powered Sky Scans: Revolutionising Hong Kong’s Greenhouse Gas Monitoring with GNSS-RO This project utilizes GNSS Radio Occultation (GNSS-RO) and Artificial Intelligence to transform how we monitor greenhouse gases, providing high-precision data essential for our carbon neutrality roadmap.  348,000 Prof. Charles WONG Associate Dean (Teaching & Global Engagement) Faculty of Construction and Environment   Professor Department of Land Surveying and Geo-Informatics   Associate Director Research Institute for Sustainable Urban Development Unravelling City-wide Vertical Aerosol and Particulate Matter, a Remote Sensing Study in Hong Kong This study employs advanced remote sensing to decode the vertical distribution of air pollutants across our high-rise cityscape, offering critical insights into urban air quality and public health.  600,000 Congratulations to Sr Prof. Charles WONG and Prof. Joseph AWANGE, and their research teams on this well-deserved recognition!   Press release: English - https://polyu.me/4tjxXNL; Chinese - https://polyu.me/4kkaYyd Online coverage: Hong Kong Commercial Daily - https://polyu.me/4rAzEVv