News

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.  

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.  

Innovating beneath the surface: Prof. Wallace LAI Wai-lok on smart underground utility solutions at RTHK TV programme

Prof. Wallace LAI Wai-lok, Member of the Research Institute for Land and Space (RILS), Associate Head (Teaching) and Professor of the Department of Land Surveying and Geo-Informatics, was interviewed on RTHK’s TV programme “Vibrant Hong Kong” to discuss the unique challenges of maintaining the city’s dense underground infrastructure. Prof. Lai explained that, given Hong Kong’s hilly terrain and notably high water pressure, the government aims to reduce water leakage to below 10% by 2030 through innovative engineering.  Central to this initiative are “Q-Leak”, a simulation centre for training and R&D, and the Pipeline Robots Joint Laboratory.  While traditional detection relies on acoustic sensors, recent approachesleverage Ground Penetrating Radar and AI-powered algorithms to distinguish leak signatures from urban noise.  Among the key innovations is the “Intelligent Pipescope”, a robotic endoscope designed to inspect pressurised water mains internally. Prof. Lai noted that solving Hong Kong’s complex utility issues provides a blueprint for the Greater Bay Area and beyond.  These geospatial technologies are also being adapted for archaeological purposes, helping uncover hidden heritage sites and bridging the gap between urban sustainability and historical preservation.   Online coverage: RTHK - https://polyu.me/4cuhCzT (00:34 - 17:41)

Director of RILS interviewed on RTHK: New trends in floating communities and architecture

Prof. DING Xiaoli, Director of Research Institute for Land and Space (RILS) and Chair Professor of Geomatics, was recently interviewed on RTHK’s programme “World in a Nutshell”, where he provided an in-depth analysis of the latest developments in floating communities and architecture. The Schoonschip floating community in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, is widely regarded as a global example of innovative floating architecture. Situated along a local canal, the community comprises thirty modern floating homes, around half of which are duplex units. Structurally, these homes resemble buildings on land: they use concrete hulls for ballast and are anchored to the shore with mooring/achoring arms to ensure stability. Around one third of the rooftops are equipped with greenery and solar panels, enabling residents to share or sell surplus electricity within the community or to the national grid—an illustration of sustainable living in practice. Importantly, the floating buildings at Schoonschip are designed to rise and fall with changes in the water level, providing effective flood protection. During a storm in 2022, residents reportedly only needed to secure outdoor items to remain safe. Prof. Ding pointed out that floating buildings are generally no more than three storeys high, typically supported with pontoons beneath the structure, and often use highly durable concrete and flexible pipes to connect water supply and sewage facilities. Such developments can help alleviate land shortages and housing supply pressures, while also address the flood risks brought about by climate change. Beyond the Netherlands, low-lying countries such as the Maldives are also actively developing floating communities, employing approaches that integrate artificial coral reefs and deep-sea cooling technologies to support environmental protection and innovation. Prof. Ding further noted that although floating buildings must contend with weather challenges such as typhoons and earthquakes, their potential benefits, including disaster resilience, environmental protection, and flexible land use, are encouraging more cities worldwide to explore the possibilities of living on water.   Online coverage: RTHK - https://polyu.me/4apMf8b (23:17–34:16) (Chinese only)

PolyU–Moganshan joint geospatial efforts advance global sustainability

The PolyU Research Institute for Land and Space (RILS) is committed to harnessing the versatile power of smart technologies and geospatial intelligence in building efficient, sustainable, and resilient cities.  The Institute has earlier entered into a formal collaboration with the Moganshan Geospatial Information Laboratory to establish the Key Laboratory of Geospatial Knowledge Innovation, under the Ministry of Natural Resources of the Central People’s Government. The Key Laboratory of Geospatial Knowledge Innovation will be co-directed by Prof. CHEN Jun, Director of Moganshan Geospatial Information Laboratory and Academician of Chinese Academy of Engineering, and Prof. DING Xiaoli, Director of RILS and Chair Professor of Geomatics at PolyU.  Based in Deqing, Zhejiang, the Moganshan Geospatial Information Laboratory is a national-level research and innovation platform jointly established by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Zhejiang Province, dedicated to advancing geospatial science, technology breakthroughs, and international cooperation. The new key laboratory focuses on three major challenges in geospatial information: dynamic geospatial information acquisition, systematic analysis, and knowledge services.  Through interdisciplinary, cross-regional and cross-institutional research, the two sides aim to produce precise, reliable, and multidimensional dynamic global geospatial data, information, and knowledge products, while also strengthening talent development and professional exchange in the related fields.  These outputs are expected to provide high-quality geospatial knowledge services for the United Nations’ ecological governance, disaster early warning, food security, climate change monitoring, and sustainable forest management. To mark the launch of the laboratory, the two sides co-organised the Forum for Global Geospatial Public Products in Deqing on 28 January 2026.  The exchange activity featured speeches by the two co-directors, who highlighted the strategic importance and development opportunities of global geospatial public products.  Leading experts and scholars from other universities and national research institutions also attended the forum, presenting their latest research and practical experiences, and engaging in in-depth discussions on topics such as development of public product system, transformation of scientific research achievements, and services to developing countries. Under the agreement, the two sides will carry out research in four directions including global geospatial crowdsourced sensing, global geospatial scenario system analysis, global geospatial knowledge product development, and global geospatial knowledge services, and jointly launch related geospatial knowledge innovation technologies and products.  They will also promote talent exchange and development through activities such as lectures, conferences, forums, and mutual visits. In its initial phase, the laboratory intends to collaborate with partner institutions such as Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman in Malaysia, the National Geomatics Center of China, and the Satellite Remote Sensing Application Center of the Ministry of Natural Resources.  The partners will contribute to the laboratory’s work through participating in the research activities, data resource sharing, joint technological development, and application demonstrations.  The collaboration will unite their complementary strengths and leverage the Nation’s advanced geospatial technologies to bring forth geospatial innovationsthat transcend borders and contribute to global sustainable development. Grounded in surveying and mapping science, the Key Laboratory of Geospatial Knowledge Innovation, Ministry of Natural Resources integrates multidisciplinary knowledge from geography, ecology, and other fields together with intelligent technologies such as big data, artificial intelligence, and the Internet of Things for research on relevant theories, key technologies, and application models.  The laboratory is steered and governed by leading experts from PolyU, Moganshan Geospatial Information Laboratory, and its partner institutions.   About the Laboratory Grounded in surveying and mapping science, the Key Laboratory of Geospatial Knowledge Innovation, Ministry of Natural Resources integrates multidisciplinary knowledge from geography, ecology, and other fields together with intelligent technologies such as big data, artificial intelligence, and the Internet of Things for research on relevant theories, key technologies, and application models.  The laboratory is steered and governed by leading experts from PolyU, Moganshan Geospatial Information Laboratory, and its partner institutions.   Management Committee Directors: CHEN Jun, DING Xiaoli Deputy Directors: LI Aiqin, CHEN Wu, PENG Shu, EWE Hong Tat Secretary General: SHAO Kejian Deputy Secretaries General: KWOK Yan Lam, DU Jiaming   Academic Committee Chair: YEH Jia-an Vice Chair:JIA Jinsheng Members:XU Bing, TIAN Haibo, JIANG Jie, SHI Wenzhong, SUN Weiwei      

Floating Pontoons, Lasting Partnerships: PolyU RILS x CEDD Field Visit

The Research Institute for Land and Space (RILS) at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), led by Prof. DING Xiaoli, Director of RILS, Prof. ZHAO Xiao Lin, Associate Director of RILS, and Prof. KO Jan-ming, Emeritus Professor (Structural Engineering), and the Civil Engineering and Development Department (CEDD) of the Hong Kong SAR Government, led by Mr WONG Chi-pan, Ricky, Head of Civil Engineering Office, Mr CHU Chin-keung, Henry, Deputy Head of the Civil Engineering Office (Port & Land), and Mr CHEUNG Wing-hong, Chief Engineer/ Port Works, have taken a significant step forward in their collaborative efforts to enhance Hong Kong’s floating infrastructure. On 15 January 2026, a joint delegation was conducted to visit the newly opened floating pontoons at Ma Liu Shui New Ferry Pier and Sam Mun Tsai Village Pier. The visit served as a valuable platform for knowledge exchange, sparking discussions on innovative floating infrastructure solutions designed to meet the needs of Hong Kong’s evolving urban environment. The field visit underscored the shared commitment of PolyU RILS and CEDD to sustainable urban development, while deepening the understanding of floating pontoon design and operations. It also reinforced the strong partnership between the two parties. Together, they remain dedicated to pioneering forward‑looking floating infrastructure that enhances safety, accessibility, and convenience—ultimately benefiting Hong Kong’s communities and supporting long‑term urban growth. About Floating Pontoons​ The newly opened floating pontoons at Ma Liu Shui New Ferry Pier (September 2025) and Sam Mun Tsai Village Pier (November 2025) play a vital role in strengthening connectivity and improving the waterfront experience across Hong Kong. Ma Liu Shui New Ferry Pier serves as a gateway to several renowned geological sites within the Hong Kong UNESCO Global Geopark. With kaito ferry services to destinations such as Lai Chi Wo, Kat O, and Ap Chau, the pier helps ease vessel and passenger congestion, particularly during weekends and holidays. Sam Mun Tsai Village Pier, located in the Shuen Wan Typhoon Shelter in Tai Po District and adjacent to the Yim Tin Tsai fish culture zone, primarily serves local villagers, fishermen, and visitors heading to the Ma Shi Chau Nature Trail. The commissioning of the new pier caters to peak travel demand during weekends and holidays, providing a more comfortable and convenient travelling experience for both residents and tourists. Both piers feature floating platform and gangway designs that rise and fall with the tide level, keeping a constant level between vessels and the platform for safer boarding and disembarkation. The piers also equipped with modern amenities—including charging facilities, Wi‑Fi hotspots, and electronic information display panel—further enhance user convenience and elevate the overall visitor experience.  

Director of RILS shares insights on coastal cities’ subsidence risks in Nature

Prof. DING Xiaoli, Director of the Research Institute for Land and Space (RILS) and Chair Professor of Geomatics, contributed expert insights on subsidence risks in coastal cities to science journal Nature. Prof. Ding explained that coastal cities are particularly vulnerable to subsidence due to their natural characteristics.  Many are situated on river deltas or coastal plains, where sediment compaction over time leads to subsidence. For coastal cities located in earthquake-prone regions, such as Tokyo, tectonic activity can further contribute to the problem.  Meanwhile, the expansion of coastal cities themselves — with nearly one-third of the global population in 2018, or more than 2 billion people, lived within 50 kilometres of the shore — has significantly exacerbated the issue. For more details, please read the full paper “Sinking cities: how China is moving subsidence research forward” by YOU Xiaoying at https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-03529-z

Director of RILS Wins Silver Award at the 5th Asia Exhibition of Innovations and Inventions Hong Kong

Prof. DING Xiaoli, Director of Research Institute for Land and Space (RILS) and Chair Professor of Geomatics at PolyU, led the project “PipeInspect: Cutting-Edge Inspection on Water Distribution Network with Fiber-optic Positioning” which was honoured with the Silver Award at the 5th Asia Exhibition of Innovations and Inventions Hong Kong (AEII 2025). The event took place on 4–5 December 2025 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre and featured around 140 innovative projects from across Asia. AEII is a prestigious annual exhibition and competition organised by The Hong Kong Exporters’ Association in partnership with Palexpo, the organiser of the International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva. At the exhibition, RILS showcased PolyU’s latest advancements in optical fiber sensing technologies for real-time water mains leakage detection and health monitoring. This innovative solution addresses critical urban infrastructure challenges by enabling early detection and prevention of water loss in distribution networks. Live demonstrations highlighted how distributed fiber sensing can continuously monitor strain, temperature, and acoustic signals along pipelines, facilitating precise leak detection, early anomaly identification, and predictive maintenance. This proactive approach not only reduces non-revenue water but also enhances the resilience and sustainability of water supply systems.A key feature of the technology is the integration of sensing data with Geographic Information Systems (GIS), digital twins, and advanced analytics. This enables operators to visualize pipeline conditions, simulate scenarios, and optimize asset management, bridging the gap between physical infrastructure and digital intelligence. Such research is paving the way for smarter cities and more sustainable resource management.The exhibition provided an excellent platform to engage with international visitors and industry stakeholders, whose feedback reinforced the global relevance of fiber sensing solutions in addressing water scarcity and infrastructure challenges. RILS remains dedicated to advancing research in land and space applications, delivering solutions that safeguard critical infrastructure and improve quality of life. Together, we are shaping the future of intelligent water management and contributing to a more resilient and sustainable world.

RILS research sheds light on century-old mystery — The excitation of Chandler Wobble

Prof. CHEN Jianli, Core Member of the Research Institute for Land and Space (RILS) and Chair Professor of Space Geodesy and Earth Sciences in the Department of Land Surveying and Geo-Informatics, together with a team of international experts, has recently published a ground-breaking study in The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).  The study provides the first observational evidence confirming the Chandler wobble (CW) excitation theory proposed by British geophysicist Harold JEFFREYS in 1940, which suggests that annual variability in polar motion is a significant mechanism for exciting the CW. The Chandler wobble is an oscillation of the Earth’s rotational axis relative to its surface, with a period of approximately 433 days.  Discovered and named after American astronomer Seth CHANDLER in 1891, the CW is a resonant motion of the Earth’s rotational axis.  Without continuous geophysical excitations, the intensity of the CW naturally weakens over time due to energy loss caused by deformation of the Earth’s mantle material, and friction between the solid Earth, ocean and atmosphere. The amplitude of the CW is variable, but generally falls within the range of 150–350 milliarcsecond (equivalent to 5-10 metres on the Earth’s surface).  However, the CW has experienced two periods of significant decrease (near-absence) since 1900: one in the 1920s and another more recently in the 2010s.  Although movements of water and air masses within the Earth’s climate system are believed to be responsible for maintaining the CW, the precise geophysical excitation mechanism has remained a mystery for over a century.  The driving forces behind the two unprecedented reductions in CWamplitude also remain unknown. The team identified episodes of a near six-year oscillation (SYO) in prograde annual polar motion excitation amplitude over the past 125 years, which they traced to variability within the climate system.  Furthermore, they discovered that the SYO of annual polar motion plays a major role in CW excitation: the team identified SYO episodes in the 1920s and 2010s, which coincide with the reductions in CW amplitude. Read the full paper: https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2520272122