News

Prof. ZHAO Xiao Lin and Prof. WANG Chien Ming featured in THE Campus on cross-disciplinary challenges

When researchers, government and industry collaborate, alignment is everything. Discover how Prof. ZHAO Xiao Lin, Associate Director of RILS at PolyU, and Prof. WANG Chien Ming, Member of the RILS International Advisory Committee, turn cross-disciplinary challenges into successful partnerships. Read the full article:  https://www.timeshighereducation.com/campus/juggling-competing-priorities-research-collaborations.

The PolyU-Yangjiang Laboratory Joint Research Centre for Offshore Wind Power under RILS co-organises ICOW STE 2026 to advance Offshore Wind Innovation and Global Sustainable Energy Transition

The PolyU-Yangjiang Laboratory Joint Research Centre for Offshore Wind Power (JRC) under the Research Institute for Land and Space (RILS) at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) proudly co-organised the International Conference on Offshore Wind Science, Technology and Engineering 2026 (ICOW STE 2026), held in Guangzhou from 14 to 16 August 2026. As a landmark international event in the offshore wind sector, the conference attracted over 200 onsite participants, bringing together leading scholars, industry experts, engineers, and stakeholders from around the world. They gathered to address the critical scientific, technological, and engineering challenges associated with offshore wind energy development, particularly as the sector continues to expand into deeper and more distant water. Under the theme "Empowering Industry Through Scientific Research and Technology Integration", ICOW STE 2026 provided a high-level platform for academic exchange, technology sharing and industry collaboration. The conference promoted cross-sector dialogue on the coordinated development of the offshore wind value chain, from fundamental scientific research and technological innovation to engineering demonstration and industrial application. The event was chaired by Prof. Richard Ronghua ZHU of Zhejiang University, Director of the Yangjiang Offshore Wind Laboratory and Professor of Practice at RILS. Prof. DING Xiaoli, Director of RILS and Co-director of the JRC, and Prof. ZHAO Xiao Lin, Associate Director of RILS, served as Scientific Committee Members and moderated the plenary sessions, contributing to the conference's strong academic leadership and scientific impact. Through in-depth exchanges among international experts from academia and industry, ICOW STE 2026 showcased the latest technological frontiers in offshore wind power, including floating foundations, hydrodynamics, intelligent operation and maintenance, offshore structures, cluster-based development and wind-wave energy integration. The conference also fostered new opportunities for international collaboration, technology transfer and strategic partnerships. By co-organising ICOW STE 2026, RILS and the PolyU-Yangjiang Laboratory JRC reaffirmed their commitment to advancing offshore wind science and engineering, supporting clean energy innovation and contributing to the global sustainable energy transition.

PolyU and Lands Department extend strategic collaboration to promote geospatial social innovation for smart and inclusive urban development

The Research Institute for Land and Space (RILS) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), the Survey and Mapping Office (SMO) of the Lands Department, HKSAR Government, and The Jockey Club Design Institute for Social Innovation (J.C.DISI) of PolyU have officially established the Special Interest Group on Geospatial Social Innovation (SIG-GSI), marking a new milestone in promoting the use of geospatial technologies and social innovation for public and community benefit. The formation of the SIG-GSI builds upon the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) established between PolyU and the Lands Department in September 2025 to advance smart surveying, mapping and geospatial services that incorporate authoritative standards.  Through pioneering research, technology enhancement and professional training, the partnership aims to accelerate Hong Kong’s transformation into a digital city.  Under the MoU framework, PolyU’s academic and research units work closely with the SMO in research, education and knowledge transfer, focusing on interdisciplinary fields including land surveying, geographic information systems, remote sensing, smart cities, artificial intelligence and location-based technologies. As the first major initiative under this collaboration framework, the Group brings together RILS, SMO and J.C.DISI, with J.C.DISI joining as a new collaborating unit.  Drawing on its expertise in social innovation, multidisciplinary engagement and community-centred design, J.C.DISI will help identify opportunities and foster collaboration in areas aligned with the Group’s mission. The convenors of the SIG-GSI are Prof. DING Xiaoli, Director of RILS; Mr CHOI Wai Man, Raymond, Chief Land Surveyor/Land Information Centre, and Mr SO Man Cheong, Kenneth, Chief Survey Manager/Special Duties of SMO; and Ms Sam LAM, Interim Director of J.C.DISI.  The SIG-GSI provides a platform for academia, government and social innovation practitioners to collaborate in leveraging spatial data and geospatial technologies to address urban and community challenges.  Through research exchange, capacity building, pilot projects and professional activities, the Group aims to advance applications of spatial data and geospatial technologies in areas such as community development, social inclusion, walkability and smart city development, while promoting innovative solutions that contribute to the public and social good. The Group held its inaugural meeting on 9 July 2026 at PolyU.  During the meeting, members discussed priority areas for collaboration and future initiatives that will harness spatial data and geospatial technologies to create positive social impact. A key focus of the discussion was the upcoming launch of the Walkin'HK application on 15 July 2026.  The application aims to promote the concept of walkability across Hong Kong by leveraging open spatial data available through the HKSAR Government’s Common Spatial Data Infrastructure (CSDI) Portal.  By drawing on a wide range of open spatial datasets—including 3D visualisation map, 3D pedestrian network, address information and community facilities—the platform will provide valuable spatial insights into the pedestrian environment, support walkability studies and foster more people-centred urban development through enhanced community engagement.  Through this tripartite collaboration, the SIG-GSI will serve as a dynamic platform for harnessing geospatial intelligence, social innovation and multidisciplinary expertise to develop practical, inclusive and sustainable land and space solutions for Hong Kong, contributing to the city’s continued advancement as a smart, resilient and people-centred metropolis.   Online Coverage: Lands Department - https://www.landsd.gov.hk/en/whats-new/news/mapping/news20260722.html

Prof. WENG Qihao, Associate Director of RILS, elected as Prestigious ISPRS Fellow in 2026

Prof. WENG Qihao, ADoRILS, has been elected as a Fellow of the International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ISPRS) in 2026. This prestigious honor is reserved for individuals who have demonstrated sustained, exceptional service to the Society and its core missions. With a strict limit of no more than five Fellows elected globally at any ISPRS General Assembly, this recognition represents a highly selective and outstanding milestone that reflects Prof. Weng’s global scientific leadership and profound impact on the geospatial community.   As a Chair Professor of Geomatics and Artificial Intelligence and a Global STEM Professor at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), Prof. Weng has dedicated his career to pioneering advancements in remote sensing and geospatial AI.   This latest fellowship adds to an already distinguished list of international accolades. Prof. Weng is a Foreign Member of Academia Europaea and an elected Fellow of several of the world's most prestigious scientific organizations, including the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), the American Association of Geographers (AAG), the American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ASPRS), and the Asia-Pacific Artificial Intelligence Association (AAIA). Furthermore, he serves as Editor-in-Chief of the ISPRS Journal of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing and Lead of the Group on Earth Observations (GEO)’s Global Urban Observation and Information Initiative, actively contributing to the development of the field.

RILS Successfully Hosted Distinguished Lecture on New Challenges to Understand Global Changes in Cybernetic Times

The lecture titled "New Challenges to Understand Global Changes in Cybernetic Times" delivered by Prof. Riccardo VALENTINI, Professor of Forest Ecology at the Department for Innovations in Biological, Agri-food and Forest Systems, University of Tuscia, Italy, and moderated by Prof. Charles WONG Man Sing, Associate Dean (FCE), Professor of LSGI, and Management Committee Member of RILS at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, was successfully held on 25 June 2026. The event attracted a robust audience of nearly 100 participants, with over 70 attendees joining on-site at Block Z and an additional 20 connecting virtually. This strong turnout reflected the significant interest in the intersection of biogeosciences and emerging technologies as the Earth system undergoes unprecedented transformation.   During the session, Prof. Valentini framed the current era as "cybernetic times," characterized by complex feedback loops binding planetary processes, human activities, and intelligent machines. The discussion highlighted how the convergence of the Internet of Things, artificial intelligence, and robotics is revolutionizing our capacity to observe and model the planet. Key topics included the use of distributed sensor networks for real-time environmental monitoring, AI-driven analysis for detecting early-warning signals of abrupt change, and autonomous robotic platforms that extend scientific observation into extreme environments where humans cannot reach.   The lecture addressed the profound epistemological and methodological questions raised by this technological convergence, particularly regarding how to integrate these tools into a coherent understanding of Earth system dynamics. Prof. Valentini emphasised the need for a new research agenda where technology is viewed not merely as an instrument, but as a constitutive element of a new way of knowing and caring for a rapidly changing planet. The event concluded with an engaging Q&A session, during which the audience actively exchanged ideas on how these innovations can support timely climate action in the face of nonlinear dynamics and tipping points that often outpace traditional models and institutions.

PolyU research reveals snow droughts continue to threaten global food security and calls for climate-resilient agriculture practices to promote sustainable development

A research team led by Prof. WANG Shuo, Member of Research Institute for Land and Space (RILS), Otto Poon Charitable Foundation Smart Cities Research Institute (SCRI) and Research Institute for Sustainable Urban Development (RISUD), and Associate Professor of Department of Land Surveying and Geo-Informatics, has utilised innovative explainable machine learning to uncover the persistent and significant negative impact of snow droughts on winter wheat yields, highlighting that global food security is facing unprecedented challenges.  This breakthrough study provides key scientific evidence for building climate-resilient agriculture, ensuring food security and promoting sustainable development.  The study was conducted in collaboration with scholars from The University of Hong Kong and the University of California, Irvine.  The findings have been published in the international journal Nature Food.   Over the past 60 years, the frequency of snow droughts across the Northern Hemisphere’s winter wheat croplands has increased significantly.  The proportion of croplands affected by snow drought surged from 46–54% in 1960–1970 to 70–99% in 2010–2020, reflecting the fact that snow droughts have evolved from a localised risk into a widespread phenomenon.   The research team developed the XGB-SHAP model framework to accurately identify the direct impact of snow drought on crop yields.  The framework combines Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) with Shapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) to effectively exclude interference from other climate factors such as high temperature and rainfall, enabling a quantitative analysis of the direct impact of snow drought on winter wheat yields.  This study also systematically analysed snow–crop–water interactions, providing a robust empirical basis for developing climate-resilient agricultural systems.   Using the XGB-SHAP framework, the study found that approximately 45% of croplands in the Northern Hemisphere experienced significant adverse impacts from snow droughts, with Europe, Central Asia and the United States being the most severely affected regions.  Meanwhile, in East Asia, the yield benefits of longer growing seasons due to warmer winters are gradually diminishing and the regional hydrothermal balance is becoming increasingly unstable.  The study also identifies increased fertiliser use, intensified freezing stress and reduced precipitation as the three primary factors contributing to winter wheat’s increased sensitivity to snow drought.  While enhanced soil nutrient levels can promote crop growth, they also make crops more dependent on the water supply and thermal insulation provided by snow cover.  When snow drought occurs, these factors can amplify the risk of yield loss.   Looking ahead, the research team recommends strengthening the climate resilience of agricultural systems by enhancing crop varieties, improving agricultural management and monitoring risks.  Alongside intensifying efforts to develop crop varieties with both cold and drought tolerance, agricultural management models have to shift from traditional, input-intensive production to more precise and sustainable nutrient management systems.  Furthermore, snow cover monitoring should be incorporated into agricultural risk assessment and early warning systems.  Identifying snow drought risks at an early stage and enhancing the resilience of agricultural systems will ensure that stable food production is maintained in the face of climate change, steering global agriculture towards a more sustainable future.   Press release:  https://polyu.me/4nOZhRH   Online coverage: The National Tribune - https://polyu.me/4dNTZ4t Mirage - https://polyu.me/42YLSx2 Ta Kung Pao - https://polyu.me/4e8weVZ Wen Wei Po - https://polyu.me/3RKk4dd  

Prof. Charles WONG Man Sing co-organises the 3rd Annual Meeting of the Atmospheric Environmental Remote Sensing Society in Rome

The 3rd Annual Meeting of the Atmospheric Environmental Remote Sensing Society (AERSS) was successfully held from 10 to 13 May 2026 at the historic headquarters of the National Research Council of Italy in Rome. Prof. Charles WONG Man Sing, a Management Committee Member of RILS and Deputy President of AERSS, co-organised the conference in partnership with the National Research Council of Italy.   The meeting attracted more than 120 leading researchers and students from around the world, providing a vibrant platform for scholarly exchange and the presentation of the latest advances in atmospheric environmental remote sensing. The conference covered a broad range of important themes, including instrument development, radiative transfer modelling, retrieval algorithms, and remote sensing applications for air quality, climate, and sustainable development. The event not only fostered international academic collaboration but also highlighted the growing importance of remote sensing technologies in addressing global environmental challenges.

PolyU RILS and RCAIG visit the Land Registry Archive to explore Innovation and Collaboration in Land Registration and Cadastral Development

A delegation from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), including the Research Institute for Land and Space (RILS) and the Research Centre for Artificial Intelligence in Geomatics (RCAIG), paid a technical visit to the Land Registry Archive at the Sha Tin Government Offices on 28 April 2026. Mr CHAN Yue Chun, Chief Land Surveyor/Technical (Survey and Mapping Office/Headquarters), Mr LEE Yiu Hing, Senior Land Surveyor/Leg (Legislation Section), and representatives from the Survey and Mapping Office (SMO) of the Lands Department, HKSAR, also joined the visit and discussion. The visit began with a briefing by the Land Registry on the evolution of land registration and the search of land records in Hong Kong, followed by a showcase of historical land records preserved at the Archive. The session provided participants with valuable insights into the development of Hong Kong’s land registration system and highlighted the important role of archival records in supporting land administration and public services. During the second session, Prof. DING Xiaoli, Director of RILS, and Prof. WENG Qihao, Associate Director of RILS and Director of RCAIG, introduced the missions and research directions of RILS and RCAIG, highlighting their work in land and space development, geomatics, artificial intelligence and related technologies. Their presentations showcased PolyU’s strong interdisciplinary capabilities and research strengths in areas relevant to land registration, cadastral surveying and spatial data applications. The visit concluded with a fruitful sharing and discussion session among representatives from PolyU, the Land Registry, and the Lands Department, HKSAR. Topics discussed included potential AI applications in land registration, the search and management of land records, cadastral surveying, and possible collaboration opportunities to support the modernisation of cadastre and related systems. The exchange generated valuable ideas and highlighted promising directions for future research and development. Prof. Ding thanked Ms LEUNG Wai Han, Alice, Registry Manager of the Land Registry, and her colleagues for arranging the visit. He noted that the PolyU team had gained valuable insights from both the archive presentation and the discussion session and expressed hope that some of the topics raised could be explored further. The visit provided a valuable platform for knowledge exchange between academia and government departments, and fostered closer connections among PolyU, the Land Registry, and the Lands Department, HKSAR. It also underscored the shared interest in leveraging advanced technologies to support the future development of land registration and cadastral systems in Hong Kong.   Online coverage: The Land Registry - https://www.landreg.gov.hk/lr_news/lr_enews61/en/events_and_activities.html

RILS Lectures of the PAIR Advanced Education Programme Successfully Held

The RILS successfully delivered two lectures for the PAIR Advanced Education Programme on 16 April and 23 April 2026, attracting around 40 participants on site and over 200 online attendees. The lectures received an encouraging response, reflecting strong interest in innovative and sustainable land and space development.   The lecture on 16 April 2026, under the theme of “Land Creation Methods”, was delivered by Prof. YIN Jian-hua, International Advisory Member of RILS and Prof. ZHAO Xiao Lin, Associate Director of RILS and Chair Professor of Civil Infrastructure, CEE. The speakers introduced participants to key land reclamation technologies and sustainable approaches, covering topics such as the reuse of waste dredged sediments, combined soft soil improvement methods, large-size physical model tests, prototype field tests, and potential time and cost savings. The session also explored floating solutions, including the application of floating structures, related opportunities and challenges, and PolyU’s ongoing research in this area.   The lecture on 23 April 2026, on “Environmental Monitoring and Land Use Analysis”, was delivered by Dr Ali ISMAEEL, Research Assistant Professor of the Department of Land Surveying and Geo-Informatics (LSGI), and Dr GUO Jian, Project Fellow of RILS. The session highlighted the use of remote sensing, GIS and GeoAI for large-scale, real-time environmental monitoring and land use analysis. Speakers also introduced land-information platforms developed to support both GIS professionals and the public through an ArcGIS-based platform and a user-friendly web-based platform. Practical applications were shared to demonstrate how spatial data and analytics can support sustainable planning, smart city development and informed policy decisions.   Overall, the lectures provided participants with valuable insights into cutting-edge research and practical innovations in land creation, environmental monitoring and land use analysis. The strong participation both in person and online underscored the relevance of these topics and the growing interest in sustainable land and space development.  

RILS Public Lecture was successfully held at PolyU on 23 March 2026

On 23 March 2026, Professor Roland BÜRGMANN from the Department of Earth and Planetary Science, University of California, Berkeley, delivered a Public Lecture titled “Kinematics, Dynamics and Hazard of Slow-Moving Landslides” at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. The lecture was moderated by Prof. SHI Guoqiang and co-organised by the Research Institute of Land and Space (RILS) and Department of Land Surveying and Geo-Informatics (LSGI). Prof. BÜRGMANN provided a comprehensive overview of slow-moving landslides as a significant natural hazard worldwide. He emphasized that despite advances in monitoring techniques, key questions remain regarding their spatial distribution, geometry, and underlying deformation dynamics. Drawing on recent observations from multiple study areas, he demonstrated how integrated approaches—combining satellite and airborne InSAR measurements, field-based GNSS and inclinometers, and seismic data—reveal a complex spectrum of landslide behavior. These observations highlight long-term stable motions modulated by multi-year and seasonal precipitation patterns, as well as short-term variations such as daily accelerations and transient slip events along bounding surfaces. The talk underscored that improving our understanding of landslide kinematics and dynamics is essential for identifying the conditions that may ultimately lead to catastrophic failure. The lecture concluded with an engaging Q&A session, where participants discussed topics including rainfall-triggered instability, multi-scale monitoring techniques, and the implications of geophysical observations for hazard assessment. The interactive exchange fostered deeper insights into landslide processes and their broader environmental and societal impacts.   About Prof. Roland BÜRGMANN: Prof. Roland BÜRGMANN received his M.S. at the University of Colorado, Boulder in 1989 and his Ph.D. at Stanford University, in 1993. He is currently Professor at the Department of Earth and Planetary Science at UC Berkeley. His research interests are in active tectonics, crustal deformation and lithosphere rheology. He coauthored more than 350 papers in peer-reviewed journals. He received the 2026 Howard D. Day Prize and Lectureship of the National Academy of Sciences and was the 2024 Bowie Lecturer and 2013 Birch Lecturer of the American Geophysical Union (AGU). He is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), a Fellow of the AGU, and received the 2005 Bessel Prize of the Humboldt Foundation in Germany. Among other service, BÜRGMANN recently served as chair of the USGS National Earthquake Prediction Evaluation Council (NEPEC), as member of the USGS Scientific Earthquake Studies Advisory Committee (SESAC), and is currently a member of the DFG Expertengremium für die Exzellenzstrategie in Germany, the NASA OPERA CSLC Working Group, and the Integration and Innovation Advisory Committee of the EarthScope Consortium.