RICRI and SKL-CRCC Join Forces to Fortify Urban Resilience Against Extreme Weather

The Otto Poon Research Institute for Climate-Resilient Infrastructure (RICRI) is proud to announce the latest advancements in climate resilience research, as highlighted during the recent press conference hosted by The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. The event showcased the close collaboration between RICRI and the State Key Laboratory of Climate Resilience for Coastal Cities (SKL-CRCC), underscoring their shared commitment to safeguarding Hong Kong and other coastal cities from the escalating threats posed by climate change and extreme weather events.

Dr Otto Poon, University Fellow of PolyU and member of the RICRI Steering Committee, emphasised the growing severity of extreme weather and its profound impact on human life, property, and agriculture. He highlighted RICRI’s dedication to supporting research in four key areas: climate change and extreme weather, urban infrastructure and resilience, rural community disaster mitigation, and climate-resilient policy and adaptation. Dr Poon further stressed the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in integrating research outcomes to build a robust defence against climate threats.

Professor Li Xiangdong, Director of RICRI and Director of SKL-CRCC, outlined the synergistic relationship between the two platforms. While SKL-CRCC focuses on high-level fundamental research in climate resilience, RICRI is dedicated to engineering applications, such as mitigating flooding during intense rainfall. This partnership ensures that scientific breakthroughs are effectively translated into practical solutions, minimising the impact of extreme weather on Hong Kong and beyond.

Pioneering Research Initiatives

The press conference also introduced three cutting-edge research projects developed:

1. Climate Change Monitoring on Cross-Sea Bridges
   The PolyU team has installed nearly 300 advanced sensors on the Tsing Ma Bridge to monitor structural responses to climate change. These highly sensitive sensors detect even the slightest vibrations, providing valuable data on the bridge’s condition. Over the past 28 years, monitoring has revealed an average annual temperature increase of 0.05°C and a yearly rise of approximately 3.6 hours in typhoon exposure. This monitoring system has also been deployed on other major infrastructures, including Ting Kau Bridge and Kap Shui Mun Bridge.
2. LiDAR Typhoon Monitoring Network
   Supported by a HK$50 million grant from the Research Grants Council, the “INTACT: Intelligent Tropical-storm-resilient System for Coastal Cities” project leverages LiDAR technology to monitor wind profiles up to 1,000 metres in height. This system fills critical gaps in meteorological data, providing accurate information for the design of both low-rise and high-rise buildings, thereby enhancing urban safety during severe storms.
3. Eco-Friendly Wave-Dissipating Seawalls
   Addressing the threat of storm surges to coastal areas, the PolyU team is developing innovative, nature-based coastal protection solutions. Using advanced hydraulic engineering facilities, researchers simulate wave impacts to explore new methods for reducing wave force and safeguarding coastal communities. These eco-friendly seawalls aim to balance effective protection with environmental sustainability.

Looking Ahead

RICRI and SKL-CRCC remain at the forefront of developing resilient infrastructure solutions for a sustainable future.

For more information about our research and ongoing initiatives, please visit the RICRI official website.