News

PolyU Beijing Study Tour 2025

A group of students, led by Prof. Qing PEI from the Department of Land Surveying and Geo-Informatics (LSGI) at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), embarked on a study tour to Beijing from 20 to 26 December, 2025. Hosted by Tsinghua University’s School of Environment, the week-long program focused on the theme of "Carbon Neutrality," providing a deep dive into the policies, market mechanisms, and technological innovations shaping China's climate action. The tour began with an academic session at Tsinghua University, where a leading expert provided a comprehensive overview of global progress toward carbon neutrality and China's strategic "dual-carbon" goals. Students gained insights of the national policy framework and the systemic, interdisciplinary efforts required for a successful green transition, recognizing the potential role of their own geomatics expertise in this grand challenge. The complex dynamics of carbon economics were brought to life through a visit to SinoCarbon Innovation & Investment Co., Ltd. Participants engaged in a dynamic market simulation, role-playing as power plant managers and making real-time decisions on production and carbon quotas. This immersive experience transformed abstract market principles into tangible strategies, highlighting how carbon pricing directly influences corporate decision-making and incentivizes green innovation. Moving beyond theory, the delegation visited Haotian Carbon Neutrality Park. This site served as a physical showcase of integrated low-carbon solutions, including water recycling systems, solar energy installations, and biodiversity zones, demonstrating how sustainability principles can be woven into the fabric of community spaces. We extend our sincere gratitude to Tsinghua University for their generous hospitality and for co-creating this meaningful academic exchange. This successful program has provided an invaluable platform for learning and professional growth, forging meaningful connections between our institutions and establishing a strong foundation for sustained collaboration and partnership in the future.  

Staff Highlights: Prof. Qing PEI

Prof. Qing PEI is an Associate Professor with a joint appointment in LSGI and the Department of Chinese History and Culture at PolyU. His research group specializes in the interdisciplinary intersection of historical geography, climate-society dynamics, digital humanities, and Historical GIS. By integrating qualitative and quantitative interdisciplinary methodologies based on historical archives, the team investigates the spatiotemporal patterns of historical climate change and societal responses. The research spans centennial to millennial timescales, with spatial coverage ranging from the global to the Eurasian, European, and Chinese contexts. 1. Reconstruction of Historical Climate Change and Its Societal Impacts Utilizing global documentary sources and historical records of weather and climate phenomena, the team enhances high-resolution climate reconstructions. By cross-validating these models with socioeconomic data, they reinterpret societal evolution through the lens of climate variability. Notable work includes a "trilogy framework" examining the nexus of climate change, warfare, epidemics, and famine, alongside significant revisions to Malthusian population theory regarding resource-population equilibrium. (Figure 1) 2. Climate Adaptation and Resilience in Historical Societies The group explores how past civilizations actively adapted to environmental shifts from mental and behavioral perspectives. From mental perspective, the research reveals how climate-induced pressures fostered the emergence of major European thinkers over two millennia. On behavioral side, they studies analyze top-down national policies versus bottom-up strategies, such as nomadic migration patterns, to understand adaptation across diverse societal structures. (Figure 2 & Figure 3) 3. Theoretical Construction and Methodological Innovation in Environmental Humanism The team proposes a causal-inference paradigm grounded in historical-geographical scales. By integrating historical records with quantitative data, this framework transcends traditional environmental determinism to establish a distinctive environmental humanism, providing a new epistemological foundation for human-nature interactions. (Figure 4) Honours and Awards ·        RGC Humanities and Social Sciences Prestigious Fellowship Scheme (Hong Kong) ·        Second Prize for Natural Science, Ministry of Education’s Awards for Scientific Research (China) ·        Carson Fellowship, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich ·        Li Ka Shing Prize ·        Swire Scholar Award Contact Information Professor Qing PEI’s research group is actively seeking PhD students, postdoctoral fellows, and research assistants with strong academic backgrounds in related fields. ·        Department Homepage: View Academic Profile ·        Email: qing.pei@polyu.edu.hk

LSGI graduates won the IEEE GRSS Hong Kong Chapter Best PhD Dissertation Award

We are proud to announce that two of LSGI's recent graduates have been recognized for their outstanding research contributions at the IEEE GRSS Hong Kong Chapter Best PhD Dissertation Awards. Dr. Shuai XU was awarded the First Prize for his dissertation titled "Employing optical and SAR imagery for enhanced mapping of vegetation and crops in challenging environments." Her research, supervised by Prof. Xiaolin ZHU, provides innovative solutions for remote sensing applications in complex ecosystems. Dr. Ge JIANG received the Second Prize for her dissertation, "Maximum entropy-based airborne lidar point cloud classification." JIANG was co-supervised by Prof. Tiangang YIN and Prof. Wai Yeung YAN, Adjunct Professor from Toronto Metropolitan University. Notably, Dr. JIANG completed a prestigious international exchange at the University of Calgary, Canada, where she worked under the mentorship of Prof. Derek LICHTI during the final two years of her PhD candidacy. The awards were presented during a joint ceremony at the 7th China Wetlands Remote Sensing Conference and the 2025 Annual Academic Meeting of the Digital Wetlands Professional Committee. We also wish to acknowledge the fellow Second Prize winner from the University of Hong Kong (HKU). Please join us in congratulating Dr. Shuai XU and Dr. Ge JIANG on these prestigious honors and wishing them continued success in their professional careers.

2025 International Graduate Student Workshop on Geo-Informatics (IGWG 2025)

The 2025 International Graduate Student Workshop on Geo-Informatics (IGWG 2025), was successfully held on 6 December 2025, at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU). Jointly organized by PolyU, Peking University (PKU) and Wuhan University (WHU), the workshop served as a dynamic academic platform for postgraduate students and young scholars to share cutting-edge research and foster interdisciplinary collaboration. The event drew over 80 attendees from 14 universities worldwide, facilitated a rich exchange of ideas and collaboration. Following the Opening Ceremony, keynote speeches covering diverse areas of Geo-Informatics were delivered by: Prof. Wei Wan, Research Associate Professor, Institute of Remote Sensing and Geographic Information System, PKU Prof. Timo Balz, Professor, State Key Laboratory of Information Engineering in Surveying, Mapping and Remote Sensing, WHU Prof. Yang YUE, Professor, Thrust of Urban Governance and Design, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou) Prof. Shuo WANG, Associate Professor, Department of Land Surveying & Geo-Informatics, PolyU The workshop featured 5 parallel sessions consisting of 30 oral presentations and 8 poster presentations, encouraging face-to-face interactions among PhD and Master's students, post-doctoral researchers and professors. The workshop concluded with a closing address by Prof. Yang XU, Associate Head & Associate Professor, LSGI, PolyU, and the announcement of the Best Presentation Awards by Prof. Tony Chengxiang ZHUGE, Associate Professor, LSGI, PolyU, recognizing the most outstanding student presenters. A Guided Laboratory Tour was also organized on 5 December 2025. The visitors toured 5 of the LSGI 's cutting-edge laboratories:  Underground Utility Survey Laboratory Laboratory for Smart City and Spatial Big Data Analytics Navigation Laboratory Remote Sensing Laboratory Laboratory for Deformation and Geohazards Studies The tour facilitated excellent idea exchange regarding the researches and technologies showcased within these advanced facilities.   Best Oral Presentation Awards (in Alphabetical Order) Awardee Topic CHEN, Yaogang (Central South University & Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya) A Near-Real-Time Multi-Temporal Polarimetric InSAR Method for Landslides Monitoring in Rapid-Decorrelation Scenarios HOU, Shuyang (Wuhan University) Research on Key Technologies of Geospatial Code Generation for Large Language Model-Based Multi-Agent Systems LIN, Haomei (Peking University) Streamflow Reconstruction Using Satellite Embeddings in Highly Human Disturbed Regions PEI, Zixuan (The Hong Kong Polytechnic University) A High-Quality Daily Nighttime Light (HDNTL) Dataset for Global 600+ Cities (2012–2024) QI, Junnan (Peking University) Local Urban Development Intensity Effects on Vegetation Phenology YIN, Hanyu (Peking University) Multi-city Building Facade Material Dataset ZHANG, Ying (The Hong Kong Polytechnic University) The Potential Uptake and Climate Impacts of Hydrogen-Fuel-Cell Vehicles in Beijing ZHOU, Ning (Wuhan University) DepthCD: Depth Prompting in 2D Remote Sensing Imagery Change Detection   Best Poster Presentation Awards (in Alphabetical Order) Awardee Topic SHANG, Haibin (China University of Geosciences (Wuhan)) Research on the Construction and Reasoning of Flood Disaster Chain Logic Graph Based on Large Language Model ZHU, Xinrui (The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou)) Inverse Reinforcement Learning for Elderly Travel Preference Modeling and Cognitive Map Analysis: A Case Study of Tianhe District, Guangzhou   Conference Manual https://polyu.hk/KrriR   Photo Gallery Morning Session - Opening & Keynote Speeches: https://polyu.hk/hqWzT Afternoon Session - Parallel Sessions & Closing: https://polyu.hk/vXJoc LSGI Guided Laboratory Tour: https://polyu.hk/ZYLFZ

2nd International Conference on Geomatics Education 2025

The Department of Land Surveying and Geo-Informatics (LSGI) successfully hosted the 2nd International Conference on Geomatics Education (ICGE) at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) on 4 December 2025. The conference, theme “AI for Geomatics Education: Perspectives and Challenges,” brought together a diverse international community of educators, researchers, and industry professionals. Participants explored the transformative integration of artificial intelligence into geospatial science education. The event drew over 70 attendees from more than 30 organizations across 8 countries, facilitating a rich exchange of ideas through more than 20 presentations and engaging panel discussions. The Opening Ceremony included a welcoming address from Sr Prof. Charles Man Sing WONG, Associate Dean of the Faculty of Construction and Environment, followed by an opening speech from Sr Alex Siu Ki CHU, Deputy Director (Survey & Mapping Office) of the Lands Department. Prof. Xiaoli DING, Chair Professor of Geomatics and Director of the Research Institute for Land and Space (RILS), delivered a keynote address on the Applications of AI in Geomatics Education at PolyU. A Guided Laboratory Tour was also organized on 5 December 2025. The visitors toured 5 of the LSGI 's cutting-edge laboratories: Underground Utility Survey Laboratory, Laboratory for Smart City and Spatial Big Data Analytics, Navigation Laboratory, Remote Sensing Laboratory, and Laboratory for Deformation and Geohazards Studies. The tour facilitated excellent idea exchange regarding the researches and technologies showcased within these advanced facilities. Overall, the conference provided a global platform for sharing insights and practical experiences, paving the way for future collaboration in advancing geomatics education. The following researchers were honoured with the Best Paper Awards: Awardee Topic Dr. Ding MA (Shenzhen University) Exploring Hybrid Teaching Practices in Spatial Data Science Courses Prof. Liyang XIONG (Nanjing Normal University) GIS Major Education in China: Status and Challenges in the Era of AI Dr. Vyron ANTONIOU (Hellenic Army Academy) AI Innovations Introduced in the Military Geomatics Engineering Education Mr. Wenbo LV (The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou)) Causal Discovery in Large-Scale Spatiotemporal Data: Towards an Integration of Statistical, Econometric, and AI Approaches with Geospatial Infrastructures

LSGI Team Won the Championship at ACM SIGSPATIAL Cup 2025

We are delighted to announce that a team of PhD students from LSGI, led by Prof. Yang XU, has won first place at the ACM SIGSPATIAL Cup 2025 (GISCUP). The team—Mr. Guangyue LI, Mr. Yuxiao LUO, Mr. Shen LIANG, and Ms. Jinghan WANG—stood out among global competitors to earn this prestigious honor at the ACM SIGSPATIAL 2025 Annual Conference in Minneapolis, USA. The ACM SIGSPATIAL Cup is a premier competition in geospatial AI. This year’s challenge, “Human Mobility Prediction in Multiple Cities,” required participants to forecast complex mobility trajectories across diverse metropolitan areas. To tackle the challenge of adapting to various urban layouts, the team developed the “HuMob Predictor” framework. Their innovative approach combined a multi-level encoding module, designed to capture intricate urban structures, with an incremental training strategy that progressively learns from simple patterns to complex dependencies. The team’s solution demonstrated outstanding stability and performance during the official evaluation, setting a new benchmark for individual mobility prediction. This remarkable achievement underscores PolyU LSGI’s expertise in addressing complex spatiotemporal problems and advancing generalizable geospatial AI. Congratulations to Prof. XU and the team! Result announcement of ACM SIGSPATIAL Cup 2025: https://sigspatial2025.sigspatial.org/giscup/finalResults.html

31st Congregation - LSGI session

The 31st Congregation for the Faculty of Construction and Environment - LSGI session was held on 20 November 2025 at the Jockey Club Auditorium. Prof. Xiang-dong LI, Dean of Faculty, encouraged graduates to embody the University's motto and lead lives of purpose and fulfilment, while nurturing a sense of responsibility towards Hong Kong, the Nation, and the world. We were honored to have Mr Yue Chun CHAN, Head of Spatial Data Office of the Development Bureau, the Government of the HKSAR, as the Guest of Honour. Mr Ng Hoi Wah, the LSGI graduate representative for the Bachelor of Science in Land Surveying and Geo-Informatics, delivered the valedictory speech. He showed gratitude to their parents, professors, instructors and classmates of the Class of 2025. It was a day marked by pride and celebration for all attendees. Congratulations to the graduating class of 2025!

LSGI Professor showcases how 4D Technology can preserve WWII History on TVB’s “Sunday Report”

Ir Prof. Wallace LAI Wai-Lok, Associate Head (Teaching) of the Department of Land Surveying and Geo-Informatics (LSGI), was featured on TVB’s program “Sunday Report” on 16 November 2025, demonstrating how modern technology is unlocking the secrets of Hong Kong's WWII relics. During the programme, Prof. LAI explained the importance of preserving these historical sites through advanced digital mapping technologies. He showcased a cutting-edge immersive 4D CAVE that allows the public to experience history firsthand, creating a powerful connection to the past. For more details, watch the interview here: TVB (19:04-21:45)  

Result of Outstanding PolyU Alumni Award 2025 – LSGI Awardee

We are proud to announce the recipients of the Outstanding PolyU Alumni Awards 2025. These awards recognize distinguished graduates for their exceptional professional accomplishments. The Outstanding Alumni Award of PolyU LSGI 2025 - Awardee Professor Xiufeng HE (Award Category: Scholarly Achievement) Prof. Xiufeng HE graduated with a PhD in Philosophy from the Department of Land Surveying and Geo-Informatics (LSGI) at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) in 1998.  She is currently a Professor and the Director of the Institute of Satellite Navigation and Spatial Information at Hohai University, China. At Hohai University, Prof. HE plays a pivotal role in education and mentorship. She is responsible for teaching advanced courses in radar interferometry and GNSS technologies to undergraduate and graduate students. Beyond the classroom, she has provided expert supervision to over 40 PhD and 80 MSc students, many of whom have advanced to become leaders in academia, industry, and public service. With a distinguished academic career spanning over two decades, Prof. HE has established herself as an internationally recognized authority in radar interferometry (InSAR) and GNSS. Her scholarly contributions have garnered prestigious accolades, including the State Council Special Allowance Expert Award (2019), the Second Prize of the National Technological Invention Award (2016), and the First Prize of the "CAUPD Cup" (2014). Additionally, she has received seven Second Prizes in provincial or ministerial Science and Technology Progress Awards from 2014 to 2021. Prof. HE’s research has generated substantial economic and social benefits through practical applications in infrastructure and environmental monitoring. She is the author of six influential monographs, one of which is adopted as a prescribed textbook at 25 Chinese universities. With over 400 peer-reviewed publications and 11 national-and provincial/ministerial-level Science and Technology Progress Awards, her work reflects the depth and impact of her scholarly contributions. Congratulations to Professor Xiufeng HE on this well-deserved recognition!  

The 4th Jiangsu-Hong Kong-Macao University Alliance (JHMUA) Academic Forum Concluded Successfully

The Department of Land Surveying and Geo-Informatics (LSGI) and Remote Sensing Laboratory (RSL) successfully organised The Fourth Jiangsu-Hong Kong-Macau University Alliance (JHMUA) Remote Sensing and Environment Academic Forum at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) from 29 to 30 October 2025. The event gathered experts, scholars, and student representatives from more than ten universities and research institutions across Jiangsu, Hong Kong, and Macao, aiming to promote scientific research collaboration, academic exchange, cooperative innovation, and knowledge sharing in remote sensing and environmental studies among the three regions. Prof. Charles Man Sing WONG, Professor of LSGI, Associate Dean of the Faculty of Construction and Environment, and Associate Director of the Research Institute for Sustainable Urban Development (RISUD), chaired the JHMUA Remote Sensing and Environment Annual Meeting. He facilitated discussions among representatives from alliance member universities, who joined both online and in-person, to deliberate on the consortium's strategic direction and future collaborations. During Opening Ceremony, Prof. WONG extended a warm welcome to all participants and reflected on the alliance's journey since its establishment in 2022. He highlighted the platform's vital role in strengthening the scientific and educational bonds among Jiangsu, Hong Kong, and Macao. The scientific program delved into the forefront of remote sensing and environmental science, covering critical topics such as climate change, air quality, carbon emission monitoring, geological hazard detection, and Earth system science. These themes were explored through a series of high-caliber invited reports delivered by renowned scholars, including: Prof. Guo-qiang SHI (PolyU) Prof. Xiao-lin ZHU (PolyU) Prof. Bo HUANG (HKU) Prof. Hui SU (HKUST) Prof. Meng GAO (HKBU) Prof. Fei JIANG (Nanjing University) Prof. Huilin CHEN (Nanjing University) Prof. Zhong LU (China University of Mining and Technology) Prof. Liang GAO (University of Macau) We extend our sincerest gratitude to all supporting organizations for their valuable contributions.