News

Global Recognition: Our Member Prof. Weng Qihao Elected as Prestigious ISPRS Fellow 2026

  Our esteemed member, Prof. Weng Qihao, has achieved a major international milestone by being elected as a Fellow of the International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ISPRS) for 2026. This rare accolade is bestowed upon a select few—with a strict global cap of just five inductees at each ISPRS General Assembly—celebrating individuals who have left an indelible mark on the geospatial science community through sustained scientific leadership. As a pioneering figure in geomatics and artificial intelligence, Prof. Weng serves as Chair Professor of Geomatics and Artificial Intelligence in the Department of Land Surveying and Geospatial Science (LSGS). His visionary work in urban remote sensing and AI-powered Earth observation has been instrumental in providing vital, data-driven frameworks to address global climate challenges, urban microclimates, and sustainable metropolitan development. This latest honor highlights a stellar career marked by extensive global recognition. Prof. Weng is already a Foreign Member of Academia Europaea and holds fellowships in multiple premier scientific bodies worldwide. His influence in shaping the future of the field is further reflected in his role as the Editor-in-Chief of the prestigious ISPRS Journal of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing and his leadership in the Group on Earth Observations (GEO) global urban initiatives. We offer our warmest congratulations to Prof. Weng on this exceptional international tribute. His dedication to pushing the frontiers of GeoAI not only elevates our institute's research standing but also inspires our academic community to pursue impactful, world-changing scientific discoveries.  

Prof. Cao Junji Discusses AI-Driven Weather Nowcasting and Urban Resilience at Our Institute

We had the pleasure of inviting the distinguished scholar Prof. Cao Junji to deliver an insightful presentation on his team’s cutting-edge research, titled "R2PCast (Radar-to-Precipitation NowCasting System)," introducing a highly advanced approach to real-time weather forecasting on 15 July 2026 to our key members.  The R2PCast system utilises Diffusion Model technology as its core engine to drastically improve the precision of short-term weather predictions. By fusing frontier artificial intelligence with high-performance computing, this operational intelligent nowcasting system achieves highly refined radar echo extrapolation and localized precipitation forecasting. This technological leap addresses critical gaps in predicting sudden, severe convective weather, providing invaluable lead time for emergency response and disaster mitigation. Prof. Cao’s presentation was highly informative and inspiring, offering deep relevance to our institute's core research focuses. The advanced forecasting capabilities of R2PCast directly align with our work in Climate Change and Extreme Weather—particularly in understanding climate mechanisms, compound events, and urban-rural microclimates. Furthermore, its high-precision predictive data is incredibly valuable for our research on Urban Infrastructure and Resilience, especially regarding compound disaster processes and the design of resilient "green-grey-blue" infrastructure. Looking ahead, this meeting has opened up exciting opportunities for future synergy. By combining Prof. Cao’s pioneering work in AI-driven meteorological forecasting with our institute's multidisciplinary strengths, we see significant potential for joint research projects. We extend our sincere gratitude to Prof. Cao Junji for accepting our invitation and look forward to the impactful collaborative opportunities this partnership will bring.

Outstanding Achievement: Our Member Prof. Ni Yiqing Honored with the Prestigious 16th Guanghua Engineering Science and Technology Award

On 9 July, 2026, the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE) announced the winners of the 16th Guanghua Engineering Science and Technology Award in Beijing. We are thrilled and immensely proud to announce that our distinguished member, Prof. Ni Yiqing, was selected as one of the few elite recipients of this highly prestigious national honor. The Guanghua Engineering Science and Technology Award, established in 1995 and administered by the CAE, is regarded as one of the highest honors in China’s engineering and technology community. Awarded biennially, it recognises scientists who have made outstanding contributions and groundbreaking achievements in engineering technology and engineering management. This year, the final 40 winners were rigorously selected from a highly competitive pool of 471 candidates across the nation, with only five experts selected from Hong Kong and Macau. Prof. Ni Yiqing, Chair Professor of Smart Structures and Rail Transit, was recognised for his pioneering contributions and expertise in structural health monitoring technology. His research has been instrumental in advancing the safety, reliability, and smart management of critical rail transit systems and large-scale infrastructure. Prof. Ni’s selection for this award highlights his world-class engineering expertise and his dedication to bridging theoretical research with impactful, real-world engineering solutions. This recognition not only honors Prof. Ni's exceptional career and scientific contributions but also reflects the high-caliber research and academic excellence nurtured within our institute. We extend our heartiest congratulations to Prof. Ni Yiqing on this monumental achievement! His success serves as an inspiration to our entire research community as we continue to push the boundaries of engineering, innovation, and technological resilience.  

RICRI Hosts Distinguished Lecture on Global Infrastructure Resilience in the Face of Polycrisis

RICRI hosted a distinguished lecture on 3 June 2026, featuring Prof. Jim HALL, Fellow of the Royal Society, Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, Professor of Climate and Environmental Risks, University of Oxford, as speaker. The event was also attended by key members of the RICRI Steering Committee, including Dr. Otto POON and Ir Prof. Frank CHAN. Dr Otto POON delivered a warm welcome speech to kick off the event. Titled “Bouncing Back From Polycrisis: The Resilience of Global Infrastructure Systems to Climate and Other Shocks”, the lecture brought together Steering Committee members, faculty, researchers, students, and practitioners to discuss how to safeguard critical global networks under mounting pressures. Prof. Jim HALL highlighted the growing vulnerability of the highly interconnected infrastructure networks that support the global economy. Pointing to recent disruptive events—such as droughts impacting the Panama Canal, maritime accidents in the port of Baltimore and the Suez Canal, and geopolitical conflict in the Strait of Hormuz—he illustrated the fragility of these global corridors. To counter these threats, Prof. HALL emphasised how leveraging newly available datasets, satellite observation, and artificial intelligence (AI) can enable us to analyse network vulnerabilities and predict resilience in unprecedented ways, providing critical evidence to guide infrastructure systems through an uncertain future. The lecture was well received and reflected RICRI’s commitment to advancing dialogue on infrastructure resilience, climate adaptation, and sustainable global development.

Building Climate-Resilient Agriculture: RICRI Member Prof. Wang Shuo’s Research on Snow Droughts Published in Nature Food

A breakthrough study published in Nature Food by Prof. Wang Shuo, a key member of Otto Poon Research Institute for Climate-Resilient Infrastructure, reveals that rising global temperatures are fueling "snow droughts" that threaten global food security. Winter wheat relies on snow cover for insulation and moisture. Using an innovative machine learning framework (XGB-SHAP), Prof. Wang’s team found that snow droughts now affect 70–99% of Northern Hemisphere croplands (up from 46–54% in the 1960s), with 45% of these areas suffering significant yield losses. Pathways to Climate Resilience To safeguard global food systems against this growing climate risk, the study calls for an urgent shift toward climate-resilient agricultural practices: Climate-Smart Crops: Breeding winter wheat varieties with dual tolerance to both extreme cold and drought. Precision Farming: Transitioning from fertilizer-heavy practices to sustainable nutrient management to reduce crop vulnerability. Early Warning Systems: Integrating satellite snow-cover monitoring into agricultural risk assessments to help farmers proactively adapt. "As global warming accelerates, we must shift from reactive crisis management to proactive, climate-resilient agricultural planning," says Prof. Wang. This research underscores Otto Poon Research Institute for Climate-Resilient Infrastructure’s commitment to pioneering scientific solutions that strengthen global climate resilience and protect sustainable development.

Prof. Huang Xinyan Honored with the Prestigious 2026 Hiroshi Tsuji Early Career Researcher Award

We extend our warmest congratulations to our member, Prof. Huang Xinyan, Associate Professor in the Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering (BEEE), for receiving the prestigious 2026 Hiroshi Tsuji Early Career Researcher Award from The Combustion Institute. Co-sponsored by Elsevier and The Combustion Institute, this highly competitive annual award recognizes significant advancements in fundamental or applied combustion science. Prof. Huang is one of only three early-career scholars globally to receive this honor in 2026, alongside researchers from Politecnico di Milano and the National University of Singapore. Named after Professor Hiroshi Tsuji—whose pioneering counterflow burner configuration revolutionized combustion studies—the award honors researchers who have made profound contributions within four to ten years of completing their PhD. Prof. Huang, who earned his PhD from Imperial College London and completed postdoctoral training at UC Berkeley, has co-authored over 200 journal papers spanning smoldering dynamics, wildland fires, microgravity combustion, battery safety, and AI-powered fire resilience. He currently serves as an Associate Editor of the Proceedings of the Combustion Institute. This global accolade adds to Prof. Huang’s stellar track record of academic and entrepreneurial excellence. His previous honors include the NSFC Excellent Young Scientists Fund, the Bernard Lewis Fellowship, and early-career awards from both the International Association of Fire Safety Science and the International Association of Wildland Fire. Beyond academia, Prof. Huang has successfully bridged the gap between research and industry by co-founding two innovative startups: WideMount Dynamics, which specializes in advanced firefighting robots, and GABES, which develops intelligent fire service systems. Upon receiving the award, Prof. Huang shared: “I am incredibly thrilled and honored to receive the 2026 Hiroshi Tsuji Early Career Researcher Award. I am grateful to my mentors, colleagues, and collaborators, who have shaped my career. I also dedicate this award to my current and past students and postdocs who always create brilliant ideas and challenge hard questions through their innovative thinking and hard work. Finally, I would like to thank NSFC, RGC, ITC, and PolyU for supporting my research and team over the last decade.” Our Institute celebrates this remarkable international recognition of Prof. Huang's pioneering contributions to combustion science and fire safety engineering. We are proud to support our members as they continue to drive scientific breakthroughs with profound global and practical impacts.

Prof. Hsu Shu-Chien Secures HK$800,000 from Innovation and Technology Fund for Sustainable Waste-to-Shield Concrete Project

We are proud to announce that our member, Prof. Hsu Shu-Chien, Associate Professor of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, has secured HK$800,000 in funding under the Innovation and Technology Support Programme (ITSP) of the Innovation and Technology Fund (ITF), administered by the Innovation and Technology Commission (ITC) of the HKSAR Government. Prof. Hsu’s project, titled “From Waste to Shield: High-Value Utilization of Incineration Ash and C&D Waste in Sustainable Radiation-Shielding Concrete,” addresses the critical municipal challenge of managing incineration residues and construction waste in Hong Kong. The research introduces an innovative "detoxification-to-valorization" strategy using geopolymer-based stabilization. This technology safely locks in hazardous heavy metals while utilizing the naturally occurring heavy elements—such as lead, iron, and nickel—within the waste to block radiation. By developing sustainable, X-ray-shielding recycled concrete for medical infrastructure, this pioneering study offers a high-value recycling solution that supports Hong Kong’s transition toward green construction, a circular economy, and carbon neutrality. This prestigious funding from the ITSP is designed to support applied research and development projects that transfer advanced R&D results directly to local industries, enhancing Hong Kong's overall productivity and competitiveness. We extend our warmest congratulations to Prof. Hsu on this outstanding achievement, which highlights our Institute’s commitment to turning academic innovation into practical, sustainable solutions for society.  

Prof. Liu Tao Receives PolyU Young Innovative Researcher Award (YIRA) 2026

Prof. Liu Tao, Assistant Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, has been awarded the Young Innovative Researcher Award (YIRA) 2026 by The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU). He is one of only six rising scholars university-wide to receive this honour, which recognizes outstanding researchers under the age of 35 who demonstrate exceptional potential in driving high-impact, interdisciplinary innovation. The Awarded Project Project Title: Net-Zero Wastewater Management through Circular Resource Utilisation Project Description: Developing circular, net-zero wastewater systems through integrated carbon management, in-situ resource recovery and system-wide technological innovation. About the YIRA The YIRA recognizes researchers under the age of 35 who exhibit exceptional potential, supporting them in pursuing high-impact, interdisciplinary research through dedicated funding and personal recognition. The award aims to help young researchers translate academic theory into practical solutions that align with the evolving needs of society. Congratulations to Prof. Liu on receiving this award.

Prof. Ni Yiqing’s Team Publishes Nature Communications Study on the Inland Shift of Tropical Cyclone Rainfall and Flood Risks

We are pleased to highlight a groundbreaking climate study co-authored by our member, Prof. Ni Yi-Qing, Chair Professor of CEE, and Dr. E Deng, CEE Research Fellow, published in the prestigious journal Nature Communications. The study, titled “Tropical Cyclone Rainfall Extends Inland,” reveals that heavy rainfall from tropical cyclones has been extending further inland globally. Along the continental coasts of the Northern Hemisphere, this landward reach has increased at an estimated rate of 3.8 km per decade, bringing severe storm impacts to inland regions historically considered less vulnerable to coastal weather. Through satellite observations and climate modeling, the research team identified nearshore sea-surface warming and rapid coastal urbanization as the key drivers behind this shift. Ocean warming increases atmospheric moisture, while expanding urban areas increase surface roughness. This physical friction forces moist air upward, creating a dynamical effect that intensifies heavy rainfall over inland areas. This trend significantly escalates flood risks, exposing an additional 2.6 million people per decade to inland flooding in the Western North Pacific alone. By demonstrating that tropical cyclone threats are moving deeper inland, this research offers critical, data-driven insights for policymakers and urban planners to design climate-resilient infrastructure in expanding inland zones. Read the full paper in Nature Communications: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-026-70647-1    

Prof. Chen Jianli's Greenland Ice Melt Study Honoured in PolyU’s Top 10 Research Stories of the Year

PolyU recently held its inaugural “Top 10 Research & Innovation Stories of the Year” campaign. Selected through public voting and expert evaluation, this initiative spotlights outstanding research driving global progress and societal well-being. We are proud to share that our member, Prof. Jianli Chen, Chair Professor of Space Geodesy and Earth Sciences, has been honoured in this prestigious selection for his pioneering work in climate resilience. Published in the renowned journal Nature, Prof. Chen’s study addresses the critical global challenge of climate change. The Greenland ice sheet is currently the primary driver of global sea-level rise; if fully melted, it could raise sea levels by seven meters. To better understand this threat, Prof. Chen’s international team integrated advanced space geodetic techniques, combining satellite positioning data (GNSS) with NASA’s satellite gravity measurements. By monitoring the vertical displacement of bedrock beneath the ice sheet, the team successfully quantified summer meltwater storage. The study revealed that extreme summer heatwaves caused the bedrock to subside by up to 14 millimeters, providing crucial, unprecedented data on how meltwater behaves before reaching the ocean. This breakthrough significantly improves the accuracy of regional climate models, offering vital insights to help coastal cities project sea-level rise and build stronger global climate resilience. We extend our warmest congratulations to Prof. Chen on this well-deserved recognition of his impactful research.