News

SCRI Distinguished Lecture on Domain-Specific Acceleration Targeting AI for Science was held successfully on 8 July 2025

  The Smart Cities Research Institute (SCRI) successfully hosted a Distinguished Lecture on 8 July 2025, focusing on the cutting-edge field of "Domain-Specific Acceleration Targeting AI for Science". The event featured the internationally renowned Professor Wayne Luk from Imperial College London, UK, drawing an engaged audience of over 60 participants.   The lecture explored the critical role of domain-specific acceleration in advancing computer system design. He emphasized that tailoring hardware accelerators to specific computational tasks is fundamental to unlocking the full potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI), particularly for demanding scientific workloads. This customisation enables the adoption of sophisticated AI techniques across diverse application domains.   Illustrating this concept with groundbreaking work, Professor Luk detailed his team's collaboration with high-energy physics researchers at CERN. He presented the development of ultra-low-latency deep learning accelerator architectures designed for the extreme conditions of the CERN Large Hadron Collider (LHC) experiments. A highlight was the introduction of a bespoke Graph Neural Network (GNN) accelerator capable of achieving sub-microsecond latency. This breakthrough performance is crucial for real-time event selection within the LHC's Level-1 trigger systems, where decisions must be made in billionths of a second. Furthermore, Professor Luk discussed ongoing efforts to streamline the creation of such specialized accelerators using meta-programming techniques, aiming to automate and expedite the development process for future scientific AI applications.   The lecture concluded with a dynamic Q&A session, fostering insightful discussion between attendees and Professor Luk on the challenges and future directions of domain-specific acceleration for scientific AI.  

SCRI Research Seminar on GIScience in structuring compact service areas, districts and regions was hosted successfully on 21 May 2025

The Smart Cities Research Institute (SCRI) successfully hosted a research seminar on 21 May 2025, on the topic of "GIScience in Structuring Compact Service Areas, Districts and Regions". The seminar featured Professor Alan Murray from the University of California at Santa Barbara, USA. During the seminar, Prof. Murray discussed how compactness influences various aspects of urban form, including trade, service provision, and political representation. Prof. Murray also addressed the theoretical frameworks and practical challenges faced by GISciences in analyzing and enhancing compactness. His insights highlighted the importance of spatial analysis tools in identifying optimal configurations for service areas that can lead to more efficient urban environments. The seminar concluded with a Q&A session, where attendees engaged with Prof. Murray on the implications of his research for future urban development and policy strategies. The SCRI looks forward to continuing discussions on the vital role of GIScience in shaping sustainable and efficient cities.

DoSCRI shares low-altitude economy and sustainable development in urban informatics in newspaper

Prof. John SHI Wenzhong, Director of Otto Poon Charitable Foundation Smart Cities Research Institute (SCRI), Director of PolyU–Shenzhen Technology and Innovation Research Institute (Futian), Otto Poon Charitable Foundation Professor in Urban Informatics and Chair Professor of Geographical Information Science and Remote Sensing, pointed out in a recent interview with Southern Metropolis Daily that smart city development must integrate technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), cloud computing, big data and geospatial information technology, and leverage drones and artificial intelligence (AI) in driving low-altitude economy, thereby enhancing cities’ urban perceptions and governance efficiencies.   Prof. Shi stressed that the development of urban informatics can benefit from the interdisciplinary integration of urban science, computer science and geomatics, and the construction of cross-sectoral common spatial data infrastructure. He suggested drawing on Hong Kong’s successful experience in developing the Common Spatial Data Infrastructure Portal and building a similar platform for the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area with Shenzhen being the starting point, thereby optimising resource utilisation, enabling refined smart city management and driving the region’s sustainable development. Online coverage:   NetEase - https://polyu.me/4lCoNYT Sohu - https://polyu.me/42k6gJ  

SCRI Research Salon Showcases Interdisciplinary Innovations in Smart Cities

On 11 April 2025, the Smart Cities Research Institute (SCRI) hosted its Research Salon, featuring presentations from PIs funded through the SCRI Interdisciplinary Research Fund in Smart Cities (IRF-SC). This salon provided a platform for SCRI researchers to share their groundbreaking achievements and engage in meaningful discussions about the future of smart urban development.   The SCRI IRF-SC projects included: Prof. CHUNG Edward (EEE): Urban Platoon Eco-Driving Advisory upon Unreliable Wireless Communications Prof. HO Ivan (EEE): A Virtual V2X-aided Advanced Driver Assistance System Prof. LU Haitian (AF): Bank Branch, Digital Transformation, and Performance: Evidence from Spatial Panel Data on Mobile Banking APP Usage Prof. TONG Wilson (AF): Real Estate Tokenization in Hong Kong   SCRI members had the opportunity to explore innovative solutions that enhance urban living, with a focus on mobility and economic transformation.  

SCRI Research Salon Enhances Interdisciplinary Collaboration in Smart Environment and Economy

12 March 2025 – The Otto Poon Charitable Foundation Smart Cities Research Institute (SCRI) successfully hosted its third Research Salon, bringing SCRI member to explore cutting-edge research in SCRI’s key focus areas: Smart Environment and Smart Economy. The salon served as a dynamic platform for SCRI members to share their latest findings, exchange innovative ideas, and foster interdisciplinary collaboration.   The session featured a series of thought-provoking presentations, each offering unique insights into emerging research areas. Highlights included discussions on Shaping Future Environments: Earth Observation, AI, and Climate, innovative approaches to Energy Consumption in Water Systems for Buildings, and advancements in Noise Reduction through Ventilation Technologies, as well as Geographic Entities in driving sustainable urban development.   SCRI Research Salon not only deepened the understanding of critical issues in smart environments and economies but also strengthened connections among researchers, paving the way for future collaborative projects. SCRI remains committed to advancing interdisciplinary research and innovation to address the complex challenges of modern urban living.

SCRI Research Salon Promotes Interdisciplinary Collaboration in Smart Mobility and Governance

On 25 February 2025, The Otto Poon Charitable Foundation Smart Cities Research Institute (SCRI) successfully hosted its second session of Research Salon, uniting 12 participants to delve into pioneering research in SCRI key research directions - Smart Mobility and Smart Governance. This engaging event provided a vibrant platform for SCRI members to share their latest findings, exchange innovative ideas, and explore potential interdisciplinary collaborations. The salon commenced with welcoming remarks from Prof. John Shi, Director of SCRI, highlighting the institute's ongoing commitment to advancing smart city research and innovation. The session then featured a series of compelling presentations from SCRI members, each offering unique insights into their research areas, including advancements in Urban Mobility, Transportation, Logistics, Policy, GIS, Spatial Intelligence, and 3D Point Cloud Learning.

Prof. Daniel LUO named distinguished member of Association for Computing Machinery

Prof. Daniel LUO Xiapu, Member of the Research Institute for Artificial Intelligence of Things (RIAIoT) and Otto Poon Charitable Foundation Smart Cities Research Institute (SCRI), Associate Dean (Research) of the Faculty of Computer and Mathematical Sciences and Professor in the Department of Computing, has been inducted as a Distinguished Member of the Association for Computing Machinery for 2024, in recognition of his seminal contributions to safeguarding blockchain and smart contracts along with Android and its applications. A total of 56 scholars were awarded this prestigious honour, and they were selected by their peers for their significant technical achievements and volunteer service to the professional community.   Online coverage: ifeng.com - https://polyu.me/3Qj2EjT NetEase - https://polyu.me/41gnqqM Sina - https://polyu.me/4gI5rOk Sohu - https://polyu.me/4hEcxos  

SCRI Research Salon Fosters Interdisciplinary Collaboration on Urban Informatics, AI, Data Science and Smart Living

The Otto Poon Charitable Foundation Smart Cities Research Institute (SCRI) successfully hosted its first session of Research Salon on 11 February 2025, bringing together 17 participants, to explore cutting-edge research in Urban Informatics, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Data Science, and Smart Living. The Research Salon provided a dynamic platform for SCRI members to share their latest research, exchange ideas, and discuss potential interdisciplinary collaborations. The salon commenced with welcoming remarks Prof. John Shi, Director of SCRI, followed by an overview of SCRI’s ongoing efforts to advance smart city research and innovation. Next, the sharing session featured engaging presentations from several SCRI members, each offering valuable insights into their respective research areas, such as advancements in AI and technology, machine learning and data-driven approaches in public health.  The SCRI Research Salon continues to serve as a vital platform for fostering collaboration and innovation among researchers. The insights and connections gained from this event will undoubtedly contribute to the advancement of smart city research and its real-world applications.

Prof. MA Wei receives Smart Traffic Fund to develop AI-enabled parking garage vacation prediction service

Prof. MA Wei, Member of Otto Poon Charitable Foundation Smart Cities Research Institute (SCRI), Research Institute for Sustainable Urban Development (RISUD) and Research Centre for Digital Transformation of Tourism (RCDTT), Assistant Professor of Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering of PolyU, has been awarded a funding of about HK$2.9 million from the Smart Traffic Fund for a period of 18 months, for his project titled “Parking Garage Vacancy Prediction Services in Hong Kong: AI-enabled Solutions for Enhanced Reliability and Extensibility”.   This project aims to develop a deep learning-based parking garage vacancy prediction service for off street carparks in Hong Kong. By leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) technology and combining big data with real time data, the service will predict parking vacancy and estimate queuing times for fully occupied garages, helping to reduce motorists’ cruising time and enhance road efficiency.   Read more: https://www.polyu.edu.hk/rio/news/2025/20250127---smart-traffic-fund/

Successful SCRI Distinguished Lecture on Remote Sensing Image Processing from Classical Approaches to AI-supported Approaches on 17 December 2024

On 17 December 2024, the Otto Poon Charitable Foundation Smart Cities Research Institute (SCRI) successfully hosted a Distinguished Lecture titled "Remote Sensing Image Processing from Classical Approaches to AI-supported Approaches". The seminar featured Professor Yun Zhang from the University of New Brunswick, Canada. In his lecture, Prof. Zhang highlighted the achievements of his research lab in remote sensing image processing, including the significant contributions to Google Maps. Prof. Zhang also presented four recent research outcomes: (1) hyperspectral remote sensing for spruce budworm defoliation detection, (2) Sendinel-2 multispectral image for forest canopy height estimation, (3) super-resolution of Sentinel-2 multiresolution multispectral images, and (4) ultra-spatial-resolution hyperspectral imaging.