We are delighted to present this issue of our newsletter, themed "Above and Beneath the Ground: Exploring the Advances in Smart Building and Geomechanics". As cities grow ever more complex, the fusion of intelligent building systems and advanced geomechanics research is shaping the future of urban development.

Hong Kong is leading the way in adopting smart technologies and innovative engineering solutions to meet the demands of high-density living. Recent government initiatives underscore a strong commitment to sustainability and infrastructure resilience, with digital tools and automation playing a pivotal role in transforming our cityscape. These advancements are setting new standards for safety, efficiency and environmental management.

The PolyU research community is driving progress in these fields. Our teams are exploring new frontiers in smart building design, structural monitoring and underground infrastructure, contributing valuable insights and solutions that benefit both local and global communities.

In the "Smart Structures" section, you will find some of the latest developments in smart building technologies. Innovations include:

• an AI-driven heating, ventilation and air conditioning system optimisation framework
• an award-winning AI cooling system 
• novel super real-time fire forecasting and management technologies
• an effective planning approach for determining evacuation directions with the use of automated dynamic exit signs

The "Beneath Ground" section focuses on geomechanics, highlighting research on:

• the invention of the first effective stress cell for directly measuring effective stress of saturated soils 
• new approaches to underground utility inspection with multichannel GPR
• the mechanism behind zero-frequency bandgaps in seismic metamaterials
• an advanced evaluation of granular materials behaviour and modelling under loading reversal

Our Engagement & Partnership section showcases PolyU's recent collaborations with external organisations as well as engagement activities involving various stakeholders; the Student Corner continues to celebrate the achievements of our graduates and students.

We invite you to engage with these ideas and join us in advancing the conversation around building smarter, safer and more resilient cities.

Prof. Cheng DONG Chairman of the Editorial Committee Associate Vice President (Mainland Research Advancement) Chair Professor of Cell Engineering and ImmunoMedicine, Department of Biomedical Engineering