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SCRI and Zhejiang Academy of Surveying and Mapping sign cooperation framework agreement to jointly advance the fields of smart city research and surveying and mapping geographic information

The Otto Poon Charitable Foundation Smart Cities Research Institute (SCRI) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) and Zhejiang Academy of Surveying and Mapping signed a cooperation framework agreement on 5 August 2024, with the goal to strengthen technological exchange and cooperation between the two parties in the fields of smart city research and mapping geographic information, and to jointly drive technology development and innovation in the fields. A signing ceremony was held on the same day on PolyU campus. The agreement was signed by Prof. John SHI Wenzhong, Director of SCRI, and Mr JIN Liqiang, Director of the Zhejiang Academy of Surveying and Mapping. They also gave speeches to express the two parties’ aspirations and confidence for achieving successful cooperation, and then gave presentations to provide further details about the cooperation and related projects. The cooperation will combine the research strengths of the two parties to bring forth advanced technologies and innovations for driving smart city development. 潘樂陶慈善基金智慧城市研究院與浙江省測繪科學技術研究院簽署合作框架協議 共推智慧城市研究和測繪地理資訊領域發展 香港理工大學潘樂陶慈善基金智慧城市研究院（SCRI）與浙江省測繪科學技術研究院於2024年8月５日簽署合作框架協議，加強雙方在智慧城市研究和測繪地理資訊領域的科技交流與合作，共同推動該領域的技術發展和創新。 簽署儀式同日於理大校園舉行。理大潘樂陶慈善基金智慧城市研究院院長史文中教授和浙江省測繪科學技術研究院院長金利強先生，代表雙方簽署協議。他們發表致辭，表達了雙方對實現合作成功的期望和信心，及後進行報告，詳細介紹了合作內容和相關項目。 此次合作將結合雙方機構的科研優勢，為推動智慧城市發展帶來先進技術與創新。

Delegation from Buildings Department Visits Smart Cities Research Institute

A delegation led by Ms YU Po Mei, Clarice, JP, Director of Buildings (BD), visited the Otto Poon Charitable Foundation Smart Cities Research Institute (SCRI) on 22 July 2024. The delegation was warmly welcomed by Prof. SHI Wenzhong, John, Director of SCRI.   During the visit, the BD delegation and SCRI representatives exchanged views on fostering innovation and advancement in sustainable and smart city development. The discussion covered a range of topics, from Mobile Mapping Technology to artificial intelligence (AI) in building management. The visit concluded with a tour of SCRI's state-of-the-art facilities, showcasing the institute's cutting-edge and innovative research conducted by its team.

Prof. John SHI Wenzhong gives speeches and receives “2024 Smart City Pioneering Leader” award at 17th China Smart City Conference

Prof. John SHI Wenzhong, Director of the Otto Poon Charitable Foundation Smart Cities Research Institute (SCRI) and Chair Professor of Geographical Information Science and Remote Sensing in the Department of Land Surveying and Geo-Informatics, attended the 17th China Smart City Conference held in Changsha city, Hunan province, 18–19 July 2024, to give speeches on smart city index and geospatial artificial intelligence. He was also awarded the “2024 Smart City Pioneering Leader” at the Conference in recognition of his outstanding leadership and strategic vision in the field. At the main forum of the Conference, Prof. Shi delivered a keynote speech titled “Urban Informatics and Smart City Index”, introducing the ISUI Smart City Index developed by his team, and sharing the ranking results and analyses of smart city development of China’ first-tier cities based on the index. He also gave a panel speech titled “Urban Perception Driven by Geospatial Artificial Intelligence” in the breakout session, introducing urban perception technology based on geospatial artificial intelligence (GeoAI), and explaining how the technology integrates geospatial artificial intelligence and geospatial science to enable remote sensing change detection and disaster mapping, and mobile mapping and digital twin construction. In addition, the SCRI took part in the exhibition held during the Conference, showcasing innovations and technologies developed by the Institute, including 3D modelling and quality inspection of real scenes, laser point cloud data processing, landslide identification artificial intelligence systems, and building and road defect detection systems. 潘樂陶慈善基金智慧城市研究院院長兼土地測量及地理資訊學系地理資訊系統及遙感講座教授史文中，出席2024年7月18至19日於湖南省長沙市舉行的「第十七屆中國智慧城市大會」，就智慧城市指數和地理空間人工智慧發表演講。他亦於會上獲頒「2024年城市先鋒榜領軍人物」獎項，以表彰其於該領域的卓越領導力和戰略遠見。 在大會主論壇上，史教授發表了題為「城市資訊學與智慧城市指數」的主題演講，介紹了其團隊研發的「ISUI智慧城市指數」，並分享了依此指標對中國一線城市的智慧城市發展所進行排名與分析。他也在分論壇上發表了題為「地理空間人工智慧驅動下的城市感知」的主旨發言，介紹了地理空間人工智慧（GeoAI）城市感知技術，分享該技術如何透過人工智慧與地理資訊科學的深度融合，實現遙感變化檢測與災害製圖、移動測圖與數位孿生。 此外，潘樂陶慈善基金智慧城市研究院亦參與了大會期間舉行的展覽活動，展示了研究院研發的創新和技術，其中包括實景三維建模及品質檢測、鐳射點雲資料處理、人工智能山泥傾瀉預測系統，以及建築和道路缺陷檢測系統。

Director of SCRI won PolyU’s inaugural Patents Achievement Award

The PolyU Patents Achievement Award was newly launched this year in appreciation and honour of the remarkable achievements of departments and inventors that actively engaged in IP filing. The scheme includes two categories of award. The “Top Patents Filing Award” considers the IP filing activities over the past five years, while the “Most Active Patents Filing Award” focuses on the IP filing activities within the award year. Results of the inaugural award have been announced.   Congratulations to Prof. John SHI Wenzhong, Director of the Otto Poon Charitable Foundation Smart Cities Research Institute (SCRI), won the “Top Patents Filing Award”!

SCRI Research Seminar on Fusion for Reconstruction of Remote Sensing Data was held successfully on 25 June 2024

  The Smart Cities Research Institute (SCRI) successfully organized a research seminar on 25 June 2024 on the topic of "Fusion for Reconstruction of Remote Sensing Data" by Professor Qunming Wang from the College of Surveying and Geo-Informatics at Tongji University, China.     During the seminar, Professor Wang shared insights into his achievements in integrating spatio-temporal-spectral information for data reconstruction. Furthermore, he introduced the applications of these reconstruction methods to various topics, including quality improvement of surface soil moisture and land surface temperature products, as well as global mapping of key elements related to the carbon cycle.  

SCRI Research Seminar on Multiscalarity in Urban Systems was held successfully on 14 June 2024

On 14 June 2024, the Smart Cities Research Institute (SCRI) successfully hosted a research seminar on "Multiscalarity in Urban Systems." The seminar featured a presentation by Professor Elsa Arcaute, Professor of Complexity Science at the Centre for Advanced Spatial Analysis of University College London.   Professor Arcaute introduced commuting networks and how a framework of multiscalarity can help identify regional characteristics, such as specialization in economic activity, the range of skills among individuals, and the functional complementarity between cities.   The seminar provided a valuable platform for discussing the importance of considering multiple scales when analyzing and understanding the complex dynamics of urban systems. Professor Arcaute's insights generated engaging and fruitful discussions among the participants.  

OGCIO Delegation Visits PolyU's Smart Cities Research Institute on 12 June 2024

The Smart Cities Research Institute (SCRI) at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) welcomed a visit by a delegation from the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO), the Government of the HKSAR.   The delegation was led by Mr. Kingsley Wong, Deputy Government Chief Information Officer, who was accompanied by Ms. Cari Wu, Assistant Government Chief Information Officer (Industry Development), and Mr. Ken Siu, Chief Systems Manager (Data Analytics).   PolyU was represented by a team of esteemed professionals, including Prof. CHEN Qingyan, Director of PolyU Academy for Interdisciplinary Research (PAIR), who emphasized the importance of integrating research with practical applications to address urban challenges. Prof. SHI Wenzhong, John, Director of SCRI, highlighted the institute's cutting-edge research and its impact on creating sustainable and intelligent urban environments.   During the visit, the delegation and PolyU representatives exchanged views on fostering innovation and advancement in smart city development. The discussion covered a range of topics, from data analytics and cybersecurity to the integration of Internet of Things (IoT) and artificial intelligence (AI) in urban management. The visit concluded with a tour of SCRI's state-of-the-art facilities, showcasing the institute's capabilities and the innovative research conducted by its team.

Joint Participation of SCRI, RIAIoT and Sun Yat-sen University at Guangzhou Smart City Expo 2024

The Smart City Research Institute (SCRI) at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), along with the Research Institute for AIoT and the School of Geography and Planning at Sun Yat-sen University, have successfully concluded their participation in the Guangzhou Smart City Expo 2024. The event, which took place from June 5th to 7th, featured the latest advancements in smart city technologies and urban planning.   The Guangzhou Smart City Expo 2024 was a landmark event that brought together global experts, policymakers, and innovators to explore the latest trends and innovations in smart city development. With a focus on sustainability, technology integration, and urban resilience, the expo showcased the collaborative spirit driving the future of urban living.   Key Highlights: Innovative Collaboration: The three institutions presented a unified front, showcasing their collaborative efforts in developing smart city solutions that leveraged the power of AI, IoT, and advanced urban planning techniques. Interactive Exhibitions: Attendees experienced interactive demonstrations of smart city technologies, including mobile mapping solutions, intelligent transportation systems, and urban environmental monitoring tools. Knowledge Sharing: Expert panels and keynote speeches provided insights into the challenges and opportunities of smart city development, with a special focus on the role of AI in shaping the cities of tomorrow.    About the Participants: Smart Cities Research Institute (SCRI) at PolyU: SCRI is dedicated to fostering interdisciplinary research and innovation in the field of smart cities, focusing on creating sustainable and livable urban environments. Research Institute for AIoT at PolyU: This institute specializes in the integration of artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things, driving advancements in smart city infrastructure and services. School of Geography and Planning at Sun Yat-sen University: Renowned for its contributions to urban planning and geographical sciences, the school is at the forefront of developing strategies for sustainable urban development.

SCRI Seminar on 3D Mapping Technology Innovation and Applications was held successfully on 31 May 2024

The Otto Poon Charitable Foundation Smart Cities Research Institute (SCRI) successfully held the SCRI seminar on "3D Mapping Technology Innovation and Applications" on 31 May 2024. The seminar featured presentations by Sr. Yue-chun CHAN, Head of the Spatial Data Office of the Development Bureau, Mr. Alex CHU, Assistant Director/Survey and Mapping of Lands Department, and Prof. John SHI, Director of SCRI and Chair Professor of Geographical Information Science and Remote Sensing.   The seminar attracted around 40 participants in person. First, Sr. Chan's presentation provided an overview of the Common Spatial Data Infrastructure (CSDI) and showcased its potential through various use cases, inspiring participants with the possibilities of shaping Hong Kong into a smart city. Next, Mr Chu introduced the work of the Survey and Mapping Office (SMO) of the Lands Department on spatial data initiatives and SMO's efforts in leveraging the data to support smart city development. Finally, Prof. Shi shared the latest 3D mapping technologies and applications.   Following the three presentations, Prof. Shi moderated a Q&A session, in which the audience engaged in a fruitful discussion with the distinguished speakers.    

Delegation from Hetao Development Authority Visit SCRI

A delegation led by Ms LI Huilai, Deputy Director of Hetao Development Authority visited the Otto Poon Charitable Foundation Smart Cities Research Institute (SCRI) on 24 April 2024. The delegation was warmly welcomed by Prof. John Shi, Director of SCRI. During the visit, an exchange discussion was arranged to explore the future development and collaboration opportunities in the promising Hetao Area. SCRI is dedicated to fostering collaboration with industry counterparts and governmental entities to promote knowledge transfer, research excellence, and societal impact.