News

RILS members receive RGC Collaborative Research Project Grants in 2023/24 exercise

The Research Grants Council (RGC) announced the funding results of the Collaborative Research Fund (CRF) including Collaborative Research Project Grant (CRPG), Collaborative Research Equipment Grant (CREG) and Young Collaborative Research Grant (YCRG) in 2023/24 Exercise. PolyU ranked first in the total awarded funding in the CRF CRPG projects this year. Among the 9 awarded projects in PolyU, two of them were led by RILS researchers with a total amount of funding over HK$11.9 million.     Project Coordinator Project Title Amount Awarded Prof. Jianli CHEN (LSGI) Multi-sensor monitoring, geophysical interpretation and prediction of sea level rise in Hong Kong HK$6,567,108 Prof. Yuhong WANG (CEE) Improving the health and stability of roadside trees in compact urban development through novel road systems and tree root “training” HK$5,407,780   Big congratulations to Prof. CHEN and Prof. WANG!

The Workshop on GeoAI and Big Data for Urban, Environment and Sustainability was successfully held

The Workshop on GeoAI and Big Data for Urban, Environment and Sustainability was successfully held at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University on 9 - 10 December 2023. This two-day event brought together distinguished guests, speakers, and attendees to celebrate the launch of the Research Centre for Artificial Intelligence in Geomatics (RCAIG) and to discuss the latest advancements in GeoAI and Big Data for sustainable urban development.   The Workshop provided a platform for knowledge exchange and dialogue among participants. It delved into the latest trends, challenges, and innovations in the application of GeoAI and Big Data for creating sustainable and resilient urban environments. Prof. Christopher CHAO, Vice President (Research and Innovation) and Chair Professor of Thermal and Environmental Engineering, and Prof. Xiaoli DING, Director of RILS and Chair Professor of Geomatics, were being invited to give welcome speeches at the Workshop. Distinguished speakers, including Prof. Peng GONG, Prof. Qihao WENG, Prof. Anthony G.O. YEH, Prof. Shunlin LIANG, Prof. Xiaojun CHEN, Prof. Jian HUANG, and Prof. Changwen CHEN, shared their insights and expertise, cultivating a collaborative environment for future advancements.   The success of the Workshop on GeoAI and Big Data for Urban, Environment and Sustainability and Inauguration Ceremony for RCAIG demonstrated the commitment of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and its partners to advancing research and innovation in the realm of AI and Geomatics. This event had left attendees inspired and motivated to further integrate AI and Geomatics, leading to the development of cutting-edge solutions that enhanced urban planning, promoted environmental sustainability, and contributed to societal well-being.

The International Academic Forum on Non-Exposed Space was recently held

The International Academic Forum on Non-Exposed Space was successfully held at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) on Saturday 9 December 2023. Experts, academic scholars and industry representatives from Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Hong Kong, and other cities gathered together to explore the latest research achievements and potential future development in the field of non-exposed space.   During the Forum, Prof. Wu CHEN, Head (LSGI) and management committee member of RILS, represented the Hong Kong Polytechnic University to sign the memorandum of understanding entitled "Commercial Satellite Launch Cooperation" with Quantutong Location Network Co., Ltd. This collaboration would greatly promote the integrated development of commercial satellite communication, navigation, and remote sensing, contributing significantly to the construction of a "smart city." Besides, Prof. Xiaoli DING, Director of RILS and Chair Professor of Geomatics, gave a presentation in the keynote session, titled "Utilisation of Underground Space in Hong Kong and Future Potentials".  The Forum was well attended by the public on site and online.  

Adjunct Professor of RILS was invited to moderate a session in HKIS BIM Round Table Forum 2023 - How Digitalisation could help?

Sr Prof. Ben Chan, Adjunct Professor of RISUD, is invited by The Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors (HKIS) to moderate a session in BIM Round Table Forum 2023 in Tai Kwun on 7 December 2023.  The Forum centered around the theme "How Digitalisation could help?". It was graced by the presence of Mr LAM Chi Man, David, JP, Under Secretary for Development, as the Guest of Honor. It also attracted over 180 industry leaders, researchers and scholars to share their insights and learn more about the advancements in BIM. 

The International Expert Workshop on Volatile Organic Compounds 2023 was successfully held

The International Expert Workshop on Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) 2023 was successfully held at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) from 28 November to 3 December 2023. The Workshop brought around 110 researchers access the globe to deliver plenary presentations and share their valuable insights on frontier topics.   At the Opening Ceremony, Prof. Xiang-dong LI, Dean of Faculty of Construction and Environment (FCE) and Director of Research Institute for Sustainable Urban Development (RISUD) of PolyU, gave an opening speech to introduce the PolyU's positioning and long-term strategic goals. He also highlighted the remarkable ranking and research achievements of FCE. Besides, Prof. Xiaoli DING, Director of RILS and Chair Professor of Geomatics, gave a welcome address to thank the Chairman and other committee members in organising the Workshop. He also said "the RILS is committed to conducting cutting-edge interdisciplinary research to address land and space issues in Hong Kong, and other cities in Greater Bay Area".   Sponsored by Environment and Conversation Fund and the RILS, the Workshop attracted over 130 participants joining onsite to discuss the latest findings and strategies for VOCs.

Delegation Visit by Southwest Jiaotong University

Prof. Xiaoli DING, Director of RILS and Chair Professor of Geomatics, welcomed the delegation from the Faculty of Geosciences and Environmental Engineering at Southwest Jiaotong University (SWJTU) who visited PolyU on 23 November 2023, with the aim of strengthening ties between the two academic institutions in the areas of teaching and research. During the visit, the SWJTU team had the opportunity to tour the Laboratory for Deformation and Geohazards Studies, gaining a deeper understanding of the recent accomplishments as well as to identify potential areas for future research collaborations.

RILS Delegation Visits Yangjiang

Prof. Xiaoli DING, Director of RILS and Chair Professor of Geomatics, led the research team (including Prof. Songye ZHU, Dr Kaiming Bi, Dr Jinghua WANG and Dr Ning ZHANG of CEE, Dr Jianfu SHEN of BRE, Dr Weisong WEN of AAE and Dr Jian GUO of RILS) to visit Yangjiang Offshore Wind Energy Laboratory, Guangdong Jianheng Offshore Wind Energy Testing and Certification Center, and Guangdong Mingyang New Energy Technology Company Limited on Monday 13 November 2023.   Prof. Ronghua ZHU of Yangjiang Offshore Wind Energy Laboratory, introduced their research strengths and latest developments. Prof. Xiaoli DING, Director of RILS and the RILS members had a fruitful meeting with the representatives of the Laboratory to discuss potential research collaborations between the two sides. This visit was also supported by Mr Dewei LIU, Vice Mayor of Yangjiang City and Mr Jiaqiang MO, Deputy Director of Science and Technology Bureau of Yangjiang City.  

RILS member secures grants under 2023-24 Public Policy Research Funding Scheme

Among the seven projects funded by the Government’s Public Policy Research Funding Scheme in 2023‑24 as of November this year, Prof. WANG Yuhong, member of RILS and Professor of CEE, wins a project about how to effectively implement nature-based solutions in urban development and urban renewal, which has secured the most grants of about HK$775,100.    Online coverage: Oriental Daily News - https://polyu.me/3ue9BLo  

ADoRILS shares views on Northern Metropolis development at Master Insight Forum

Prof. K. K. LING, Associate Director of the Research Institute for Land and Space (RILS) and Director of Jockey Club Design Institute for Social Innovation, shared his views on the development of the Northern Metropolis in a panel discussion of the Master Insight Forum held on 27 October 2023. Prof. LING believed that the Northern Metropolis has several implications for Hong Kong: (1) it reshapes the development pattern of “emphasising the south over the north”; (2) it establishes a “twin city” relationship between Shenzhen and Hong Kong; (3) it is a new driver of Hong Kong’s future development; (4) the speedy development of the Northern Metropolis is an irreversible trend; and (5) the development reflects the advantages of “one country, two systems” policy. Prof. LING said that San Tin Technopole will be able to attract innovation and technology (I&T) talents and industries, and suggested developing Shenzhen Bay into a “golden inner bay”.   Online coverage: Master Insight - https://polyu.me/46SPyAQ Ta Kung Pao - https://polyu.me/40fSJzH Wen Wei Po - https://polyu.me/3Si4i7U Bauhinia - https://polyu.me/45UWXOp Hong Kong China News Agency - https://polyu.me/3FwGKVd China Review News - https://polyu.me/3QcNv3b ifeng.com - https://polyu.me/45UoEa5  

RILS Field Visit to Tai O Village

Prof. Xiao Lin ZHAO, management committee of RILS, Sr Prof. Ben CHAN, Adjunct Professor of RILS, and Dr Daniel ELKIN, member of RILS, formed a research group to visit Tai O Village on Thursday 25 October 2023. They also invited Prof. Shenjing HE and Dr Junxi QIAN from The University of Hong Kong (HKU) to join the field visit.   This visit was facilitated by Mr Wai Hung LO (盧偉雄), the son of a prominent builder Mr Shu Shing LO (盧樹勝) who had contributed to the construction of numerous stilt houses in the village. The purpose of their excursion was to gain comprehensive insights into the geography, living style, culture, and architecture of Tai O Village and stilt houses, with the additional objective of exploring possibilities for collaborative research.   Tai O Rural Committee Historic and Cultural Showroom   Breakwater wall built in 2013 to prevent future flooding   Group photo taken inside the stilt house of Mr LO (first on the right)   The field visit provided the group with a deeper understanding of the living environment, habitat, culture, beliefs, and economic activities within Tai O Village. They explored the distinctive cultural characteristics of the water village and identified its potential for conservation and development. Stilt house villagers prefer remaining in proximity to the river environment despite offers of access to public housing on land. Stilt house residents display high levels of tolerance for their physical housing conditions, whose difficulties include flooding and underdeveloped sanitation. However, stilt houses may benefit from maintenance and improvements to address concerns related to structural degradation, hygiene, inconvenience caused by flooding, inadequate infrastructure, employment, and lack of opportunities for their livelihood.   Moreover, the excursion unveiled promising opportunities for collaborative research endeavors. These included the design and construction of innovative floating solutions to modernize stilt houses while simultaneously preserving the cultural heritage of Tai O Village, and implementing preventive measures to counteract decay within the village to provide resilience among people. Tai O's stilt houses were deemed an ideal research site for integrating civil infrastructure and social infrastructure development, offering solutions for stilt houses, safeguarding habitats and heritage, establishing a test bed for floating construction, and even providing entertainment facilities, hotel accommodations to promote tourism and augment the village's economic value. It is necessary to discuss a holistic approach to consider the overall development of Tai O village and surrounding waters through cross-disciplinary collaborations among researchers in civil and environmental engineering, architecture, urban planning, social sciences, and law.