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The 1st Cross-Strait, Hong Kong and Macao Conference on the Development of Surveying, Mapping and Geospatial Information cum Asia GIS Conference 2026 successfully held at PolyU

The 1st Cross-Strait, Hong Kong and Macao Conference on the Development of Surveying, Mapping and Geospatial Information was successfully convened from 20 to 23 October 2026 at the Jockey Club Auditorium, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), attracting over 500 participants. The Research Institute for Land and Space (RILS), together with the Otto Poon Charitable Foundation Smart Cities Research Institute (SCRI) and the Department of Land Surveying and Geospatial Science (LSGS) at PolyU, proudly hosting this landmark event. The conference was jointly organized by the Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors (HKIS) and the Hong Kong Geographic Information System Association (HKGISA), with strong co-organisation and support from the China Association for Geospatial Industry and Sciences (CAGIS), the Chinese Society for Geodesy Photogrammetry and Cartography (CSGPC), the Land and Urban Construction Bureau of the Macao SAR Government (DSSCU), the Chinese Federation of Surveying and Mapping (CFSM), and the Taiwan Geographic Information Society (TGIS). Held in conjunction with the Asia GIS Conference 2026, this biennial forum represents a newly merged entity uniting two formerly independent regional platforms, marking a milestone era of cross-strait academic and professional collaboration under the theme "The Era of Digital-Intelligence: Integration and Application of Surveying, Mapping, and Geospatial Information." The opening ceremony featured welcoming remarks from leadership representatives of the organising institutions, including Professor DING Xiaoli, Interim Dean of the Faculty of Construction and Environment (FCE) and Director of Research Institute for Land and Space (RILS) at PolyU, Sr Tony WAN Wai-ming (President of HKIS), Professor WANG Peixin (President of HKGISA), Mr YU Qing (Deputy Secretary-General of CAGIS), Ms ZHANG Wenhui (Chair of the Supervisory Committee of CSGPC), Ms ZHAN Qingxin (Acting Head of the Department of Surveying and Geospatial Information of DSSCU), Mr LI Jianli (Secretary-General of CFSM), and Professor SUN Chih-Hong (President of TGIS). Mr Maurice LOO Kam-wah, JP, Director of Lands of the HKSAR Government, delivered the opening address, highlighting the vital role of geospatial intelligence in driving smart city developments. Following the official launch ceremony and a traditional souvenir exchange, the conference entered its high-profile keynote session. Plenary reports were presented by world-renowned scientists, including Academician Deren LI (Chinese Academy of Sciences and Chinese Academy of Engineering), Professor Anthony YEH (The University of Hong Kong), Professor Joseph LEE Hun-wei (Macau University of Science and Technology), and Professor SUN Chih-Hong (National Taiwan University), sharing pioneering insights into geospatial theory, spatial intelligence, digital twins, and sustainable regional development. Over 20 thematic sessions followed, focusing on space-air-ground integrated sensing, GeoAI big models, 3D digital maps, satellite positioning, and smart territorial planning. Beyond academic exchanges, a grand welcome dinner was hosted on 21 October at the Silverbox Ballroom, Hotel ICON, featuring a traditional Lion Dance performance supported by the Hong Kong Tourism Board. On 23 October, delegates participated in half-day technical site visits to the Geospatial Lab (GeoLab) to examine open government spatial datasets under the Common Spatial Data Infrastructure (CSDI), and the Hong Kong Science Park (HKSTP) Experience Centre to view PolyU's contributions to advanced national engineering and deep space exploration, concluding a highly successful and comprehensive regional event.

Global Insights on VOCs: Prof. Donald BLAKE shares Decades of Atmospheric Research at RILS Public Lecture

On 28 October 2026, the Research Institute for Land and Space (RILS) hosted a Public Lecture titled "Measurements of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) Around the World", delivered by Prof. Donald R. BLAKE, Distinguished Professor of Chemistry at the University of California, Irvine. The seminar, moderated by Prof. GUO Hai, Chair Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering and a Management Committee member of RILS, attracted a diverse audience at Chiang Chen Studio Theatre and explored the critical role of VOCs in urban air quality, climate change, and global pollution. Prof. Blake shared his pioneering research on atmospheric composition, emphasising the use of high-precision gas chromatography to monitor VOCs—key contributors to air pollution, stratospheric ozone depletion, and the Earth’s energy balance. He highlighted major projects from the past five decades, including global monitoring of greenhouse gases, regional air quality studies in polluted cities, and localised investigations such as the Aliso Canyon methane blowout. Additionally, he discussed his collaborative efforts with the University of California Office of the President to achieve net carbon neutrality by 2025, underscoring the real-world impact of his work. The engaging session sparked discussions on the intersection of atmospheric chemistry, environmental policy and sustainable development, reinforcing RILS’s commitment to advancing interdisciplinary research. We extend our gratitude to Prof. Blake for his enlightening presentation and to all participants for their active engagement.

RILS hosts Public Lecture on Innovative Approaches to Aerosol Health Impacts by Prof. Ralf ZIMMERMANN

On 27 October 2026, the Research Institute for Land and Space (RILS) successfully hosted a public lecture titled "From Cell Exposure to Mass Spectrometry: New Approaches for Addressing Health-Relevant Properties of Aerosols". The distinguished speaker, Prof. Ralf ZIMMERMANN, Chair of Analytical Chemistry and Head of the Department of Life, Light & Matter at the University of Rostock, delivered an insightful lecture to an audience of over 150 participants at Chiang Chen Studio Theatre. Moderated by Prof. GUO Hai, Chair Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering and a Management Committee member of RILS, the lecture explored cutting-edge methodologies for assessing the health impacts of aerosols, a critical environmental concern. Prof. Zimmermann highlighted the adverse health effects of fine particulate matter (PM), emphasizing the need for advanced analytical techniques to investigate their chemical composition and toxicological properties. He introduced novel approaches, including cell exposure studies, real-time mass spectrometry (e.g., SPMS), and thermal-optical analysis (TOC-APIMS), to improve the characterization of aerosols and their impact on human health. The discussion also covered regulatory and abatement strategies, underlining the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in mitigating the global burden of air pollution. The lecture sparked engaging discussions among attendees, fostering knowledge exchange on the intersection of analytical chemistry, environmental science, and public health. RILS expresses its gratitude to Prof. Zimmermann for his enlightening presentation and to all participants for their active engagement.

The 16th International Conference on Atmospheric Sciences and Applications to Air Quality (ASAAQ 2026) successfully concludes at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

HONG KONG – October 28, 2026 — The 16th International Conference on Atmospheric Sciences and Applications to Air Quality (ASAAQ 2026) has drawn to a successful close after three days of intensive academic exchange hosted by The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU). Bringing together more than 300 distinguished researchers, industry practitioners and young scholars originating from 15 countries and regions worldwide, the event serves as a flagship international forum advancing atmospheric science and air quality governance. Co organised by National Central University, Hong Kong Baptist University and the Research Institute for Land and Space of PolyU, ASAAQ 2026 featured opening remarks by Prof. WANG Zuankai, PolyU Associate Vice President (Research), and gathered world renowned plenary speakers, including Prof. Rajasekhar BALASUBRAMANIAN, Prof. Donald R. BLAKE, Prof. Gregory CARMICHAEL, Prof. CHEN Jianmin, Prof. Lidia MORAWSKA, Prof. TAO Shu, Prof. TSAI Chuen Jinn, Prof. WANG Tao, Prof. ZHU Tong and Prof. Ralf ZIMMERMANN, alongside an international advisory committee of leading global experts in the field. The comprehensive scientific programme featured 10 plenary lectures, 43 keynote speeches, 154 oral presentations and 40 poster presentations, covering frontier topics spanning urban air quality under climate warming, atmospheric chemistry aerosol ozone climate feedback, AI driven atmospheric modelling, multi platform environmental observation, air quality policy assessment, and health related atmospheric impacts and community oriented climate resilience solutions. Throughout the conference, participants shared cutting edge research outcomes, debated urgent environmental challenges, and built cross border, interdisciplinary research partnerships to tackle global air pollution threats. At the opening ceremony, Prof. WANG Zuankai underscored that ASAAQ 2026 acts as a vital window showcasing Hong Kong’s research strengths in atmospheric observation, pollution control and sustainable urban development to the global scientific community. The conference reinforces Hong Kong’s position as an international knowledge hub for air quality science and atmospheric environmental innovation. In his opening welcome address, Conference Chairman Ir Professor GUO Hai highlighted ASAAQ’s core mission as a high level, inclusive academic platform for global researchers to disseminate latest discoveries, develop actionable mitigation solutions and strengthen international scientific collaboration. “We are delighted to host this global gathering at PolyU. Beyond knowledge sharing, we aim to foster new partnerships that support real world progress for atmospheric environment protection,” Prof. GUO remarked. A significant moment of the opening ceremony was the presentation of the ASAAQ Lifetime Achievement Award to Prof. WANG Wenxing. This award recognised his outstanding and enduring contributions to environmental science, his decades-long leadership in environmental protection efforts in China, and his lasting impact on shaping future generations of scientists. The conference banquet offered a relaxed atmosphere for scholars to continue academic conversations and nurture prospective research collaborations. To offer delegates an immersive taste of local heritage, the host specially arranged a traditional Hong Kong style lion dance performance during the dinner, presenting the unique cultural charm of Hong Kong to international attendees. Many participants also took the opportunity to experience Hong Kong’s unique culture, city skyline and local hospitality. During the closing session, the organising committee presented a suite of conference awards, including one Best Exhibit Award, one Best Technology Innovation Award, ten Young Scientists Best Poster Presentation Awards, and twenty Young Scientists Best Oral Presentation Awards, to recognise outstanding research outputs from participating early career investigators. Special appreciation was extended to all speakers, session chairs, presenters, sponsors, supporting organisations and the conference secretariat, whose collective dedication underpinned the full success of ASAAQ 2026. As participants return to their home institutions, the scientific networks and collaborative ideas forged during ASAAQ 2026 will continue to grow. The organising committee looks forward to further advancing atmospheric science research and welcoming the global community to future editions of the ASAAQ conference series.

The 12th ACC-AQSM Annual Meeting successfully held in Hong Kong

The 12th Annual Meeting of the Australia-China Centre for Air Quality Science and Management (ACC-AQSM) was held in Hong Kong for the first time on 25 October 2026 and concluded successfully. Centered on the theme, “Living with Fire and Smoke: Landscape Fires in the Age of Climate Change,” the meeting brought together leading experts, scholars, and policymakers from China, Australia, and beyond to exchange insights on the scientific, health, and policy dimensions of landscape fires in a changing climate. This year’s meeting was hosted at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University by Chair Professor GUO Hai, Co-Director (Hong Kong) of the ACC-AQSM, and was supported by the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) and the Research Institute for Land and Space (RILS). The conference was honored to welcome Prof. DING Xiaoli, Interim Dean of the Faculty of Construction and Environment; Ms. LIU Bing, Deputy Consul-General (Commercial) & Senior Trade and Investment Commissioner - Hong Kong and Macau; CAS Academician Prof. ZHU Tong of Peking University; Prof. Lidia MORAWSKA, Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science and an International Honorary Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences; Prof. Ralf ZIMMERMANN, a world-renowned expert in mass spectrometry from Germany; as well as other distinguished scholars from China and Australia. Through a series of keynote and invited presentations, speakers shared cutting-edge research findings and explored future directions for scientific research and bilateral collaboration from the perspectives of atmospheric science, health impacts, and policy responses. For more details, please visit the event website: https://events.polyu.edu.hk/asaaq2026/accaqsm2026

RILS demonstrates excellence at 6th World Conference on Floating Solutions 2026

The Research Institute for Land and Space (RILS) at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) supported the organisation of and actively participated in the 6th World Conference on Floating Solutions (WCFS 2026), held from 19 to 21 October 2026 at Singapore EXPO. Bringing together researchers, engineers and industry practitioners, the conference provided an international platform for exchanging knowledge and exploring innovations in floating infrastructure, water-based urban development and sustainable marine solutions. Prof. ZHAO Xiao Lin, Associate Director of RILS, and Prof. ZHU Ronghua, Professor of Practice of RILS and Director of the Yangjiang Offshore Wind Energy Laboratory, served as Symposium Chairs on Day 2, contributing their expertise to discussions on the advancement of floating solutions. PolyU professors also delivered presentations showcasing the University’s research in floating structures and coastal engineering, highlighting the importance of interdisciplinary approaches to addressing the challenges facing coastal communities and marine infrastructure. A particular highlight was the achievement of PolyU PhD candidate LI Wenjing, who received the Best Student Paper Award for the research on coastal structural design. This recognition reflects the dedication and research capabilities of PolyU’s emerging scholars. Through its organisational support, academic contributions and student participation, RILS reinforced its commitment to advancing sustainable floating solutions while strengthening international connections and exploring opportunities for future research collaboration.

RILS and NUS successfully co-host International Workshop on High-Performance and Multi-functional Floating Breakwaters

The Research Institute for Land and Space (RILS) at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), together with the Centre for Offshore Research and Engineering (CORE) and the Coastal Protection and Flood Resilience Institute (CFI) at the National University of Singapore (NUS), successfully co-organised the International Workshop on High-Performance and Multi-functional Floating Breakwater on 16 October 2026. Held at the NUS campus, the workshop brought together researchers and industry practitioners to explore emerging challenges and developments in coastal protection, offshore renewable energy and intelligent marine engineering. Prof. QIAN Xudong of NUS and Prof. ZHAO Xiao Lin, Associate Director of RILS, served as Co-Chairs and delivered the opening remarks. The event provided an interdisciplinary platform for sharing recent advances in floating breakwater hydrodynamics, wave and tidal energy integration, structural optimisation, smart materials and AI-enabled control. The programme featured speakers from PolyU, NUS, Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) and Hydrantula, bringing together complementary perspectives from academia and industry. Presentations explored multifunctional marine antibiofouling systems, deep reinforcement learning for tidal turbine pitch control, and the modelling and optimisation of integrated floating breakwater–wave energy systems. Other topics included additive manufacturing for marine and floating structures, IoT-enabled smart connectors for adaptive floating breakwaters, the use of porous media to improve hydrodynamic performance, and modular construction of floating breakwater systems. Together, these presentations highlighted how advances in materials, numerical modelling, intelligent control and construction technologies could support more resilient, adaptable and sustainable coastal infrastructure. Through invited presentations and technical exchanges, the workshop provided a valuable opportunity to share research insights, explore common challenges and discuss potential directions for future collaboration. It reinforced academic and professional connections between Hong Kong and Singapore while offering a platform for developing further cross-institutional research opportunities. The joint initiative also reflected RILS’s commitment to advancing research on coastal infrastructure and the sustainable use of land and marine spaces, alongside a shared interest in innovative engineering solutions that integrate coastal protection, renewable energy and intelligent technologies.

Prof. WENG Qihao, ADoRILS, delivers plenary address at RESG2026 International Conference on Next-Generation GeoAI and Urban Remote Sensing

Prof. WENG Qihao, Associate Director of RILS, Director of RCAIG, and Chair Professor of Geomatics and Artificial Intelligence of LSGS, participated in the International Conference on Remote Sensing and Geoinformation (RESG2026), held from 15 to 18 October 2026 in Beijing, China. Invited as a Plenary Speaker, Prof. Weng delivered a plenary address entitled “Next-Generation GeoAI and Urban Remote Sensing: Unifying Visual-Spatial Intelligence and Urban AI Security for Sustainable Cities.” The plenary presentation focused on the emerging convergence of Geospatial Artificial Intelligence (GeoAI), Urban Remote Sensing, Visual-Spatial Intelligence, and Urban AI Security. The presentation examined how next-generation GeoAI technologies are reshaping the interpretation and utilisation of Earth observation data and supporting new approaches to urban observation, analysis, and decision-making. Prof. Weng discussed the growing integration of artificial intelligence, geospatial analytics, and remote sensing technologies, highlighting their applications in urban environmental monitoring and sustainable urban development. The presentation also explored the role of visual-spatial intelligence in understanding complex urban systems and addressed the increasing importance of Urban AI Security as cities become more reliant on AI-enabled technologies and geospatial data infrastructures.

Prof. WENG Qihao, ADoRILS, delivers plenary address at IEEE AP-GARSS 2026 International Symposium

Prof. WENG Qihao, Associate Director of RILS, Director of RCAIG, and Chair Professor of Geomatics and Artificial Intelligence of LSGS, participated in the 2026 IEEE Asia-Pacific Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium (AP-GARSS 2026), held in Qingdao, China, from 11 to 14 October 2026. Invited as a plenary speaker, Prof. Weng delivered a presentation entitled “Intelligent Earth Observation and Geospatial Analytics: Transforming Cities for Sustainable Futures”, highlighting the transformative role of geospatial artificial intelligence (GeoAI) and Earth observation technologies in addressing urban and environmental challenges. Sponsored by the IEEE Geoscience and Remote Sensing Society (IEEE GRSS), the symposium was organised under the theme “Remote Sensing Applications in Sustainable Clean Earth Growth” and provided a platform for researchers, engineers, and practitioners to exchange advances in geoscience and remote sensing research, technologies, and applications. The symposium also highlighted the integration of multi-sensor observation, sensing technologies, and data analytics with sustainable development practices. In his plenary presentation, Prof. Weng discussed how the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and Earth observation (EO) technologies is reshaping the observation, modelling, and management of rapidly evolving urban environments, particularly in the context of accelerating urbanisation and increasing climate-related challenges. He outlined how advances in deep learning, multimodal data fusion, real-time streaming analytics, and geospatial foundation models are transforming the research paradigm for urban observing, sensing, imaging, and mapping. The presentation reviewed the evolution of EO image processing and the integration of heterogeneous geospatial data sources, demonstrating how GeoAI enables scalable, autonomous, and interpretable analyses of complex urban systems. Prof. Weng also highlighted a range of remote sensing applications, including high-resolution urban landcover and land-use mapping, 3D semantic building reconstruction, road network extraction, and the analysis of dynamic human-environment interactions. Moreover, Prof. Weng examined emerging research directions that are shaping the future of geospatial science, including cross-modal learning, physics-informed AI, knowledge-driven AI, and the development of ethical, trustworthy, and explainable AI systems. He emphasised that integrating advanced remote sensing technologies with state-of-the-art AI methodologies can generate actionable insights to support sustainable urban planning, climate resilience, and disaster mitigation.

The Key Laboratory of Geospatial Knowledge Innovation under the RILS supported the organisation of The International Symposium on Geospatial Knowledge and Innovation for Climate Resilience and Sustainable Development

The International Symposium on Geospatial Knowledge and Innovation for Climate Resilience and Sustainable Development was held in Sanya, China, from 21 to 24 September 2026. The Key Laboratory of Geospatial Knowledge Innovation, jointly established by the RILS, supported the organisation of the Symposium. The event took place alongside the Fifteenth Plenary Meeting of UN-GGIM-AP to address climate challenges through geospatial innovation. Prof. DING Xiaoli, Director of RILS and Interim Dean of the Faculty of Construction and Environment (FCE), led the RILS’s participation. The symposium focused on advancing the UN-IGIF and fostering cooperation to enhance resilience in vulnerable coastal regions and Small Island Developing States. Prof. Ding delivered a keynote presentation titled "Spatial Information to Facilitate Sustainable Urban Development in Hong Kong." He addressed the challenges of high-density urban environments, detailing a comprehensive spatial information platform that integrates topography, land use, and infrastructure data. His session featured case studies on optimizing land development and balancing urban growth with vegetation preservation. This presentation demonstrated practical applications of geospatial technology for sustainable urban planning in resource-constrained contexts. The symposium successfully promoted the adoption of advanced geospatial technologies and strengthened capacities for evidence-based decision-making. Through knowledge exchange and multi-stakeholder partnerships, the event reinforced the critical role of integrated data in achieving global sustainability goals. Prof. Ding’s leadership and technical contributions underscored RILS’s commitment to leveraging geospatial knowledge for climate resilience and sustainable development.