A team led by Prof. XIAO Fu, Associate Director of Otto Poon Charitable Foundation Research Institute for Smart Energy (RISE), Management Committee Member of Research Centre for Digital Transformation of Tourism (RCDTT), Member of Research Institute for Sustainable Urban Development (RISUD) and Research Centre for Environmental, Social, and Governance Advancement (RCESGA), and Associate Dean of Faculty of Construction and Environment, has developed a highly practical digital twin system, which has been successfully implemented in the central air-conditioning systems across the PolyU campus and further extended to Hong Kong Government Office buildings and the headquarters of Midea Group in Guangdong.
The system constructs high-precision digital models of buildings and uses IoT sensors to monitor real-time data such as temperature, pressure and power consumption. By combining artificial intelligence (AI) analysis with physical engineering models, it can accurately predict equipment failures and automatically optimise air-conditioning start-stop times, water temperature settings, and pump operation strategies. This intelligent approach significantly reduces energy consumption and carbon emissions while ensuring indoor comfort and air quality.
Furthermore, the system integrates mixed reality technology to transform maintenance operations. By simply wearing smart glasses, maintenance staff can “see through” ceilings and walls to reveal concealed pipes and equipment. The system not only displays real-time operating parameters and AI diagnostic results but also features indoor navigation to guide personnel precisely to the point of failure. This intuitive interface allows technicians—even those without an AI background—to quickly gain proficiency, vastly improving the efficiency of troubleshooting and repairs.
As cloud technology continues to mature, this solution will be expanded to more commercial buildings, supporting Hong Kong’s transition towards green building standards and carbon neutrality goals.
Online coverage:
Hong Kong China News Agency - https://polyu.me/3OpMOXd
| Research Units | PolyU Academy for Interdisciplinary Research |
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