RISUD JRF Final Annual Progress Research Salon: Enhancing the Resilience of Underground Water Pipeline Systems in Hong Kong

Underground water pipelines are essential infrastructure but are highly vulnerable to ground movement from landslides, excavation, tunnelling, and severe weather. In Hong Kong, where many pipelines lie beneath roads and slopes, failures can cause major water loss, traffic disruption, service suspension, sinkholes, and landslides. Past incidents have shown that reactive maintenance alone is insufficient. 

In this research salon, Prof. ZHOU will present the final annual progress of his multidisciplinary research project that examines pipeline performance under changing ground and environmental conditions. Using a combination of experimental study, site observation, analytical modelling, and risk-based evaluation, the project explores ways to better understand pipeline–ground interaction, identify anomalies earlier, and support more effective maintenance strategies. 

Biography

Prof. ZHOU Chao

Associate Professor,
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE), PolyU