Ir Dr Otto Poon, Founder of the Otto Poon Charitable Foundation and PolyU University Fellow (left); Prof. Xiangdong Li, Dean of Faculty of Constructionand Environment, Director of SKL-CRCC and Director of RICRI(right).
Ir Dr Otto Poon, Founder of the Otto Poon Charitable Foundation and PolyU University Fellow (left); Prof. Xiangdong Li, Dean of Faculty of Construction and Environment, Director of SKL-CRCC and Director of RICRI(right).
Key Members of the State Key Laboratory of Climate Resilience for Coastal Cities.
In response to the increasing threats posed by climate change and extreme weather events, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has established two major research platforms in 2025: the Otto Poon Research Institute for Climate-Resilient Infrastructure and the State Key Laboratory of Climate Resilience for Coastal Cities, co-developed with the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.
Led by Prof. Li Xiangdong, Dean of the Faculty of Construction and Environment, these platforms aim to bridge the gap between scientific research and practical engineering to enhance the climate resilience of Hong Kong’s infrastructure.
One of the flagship projects is a long-term climate monitoring system on the Tsing Ma Bridge, which has been collecting data since 1997 using nearly 300 sensors. The data show that the bridge’s surface temperature has risen by an average of 0.05°C annually, while typhoon duration affecting the bridge has increased by approximately 3.6 hours per year. These findings help predict structural deformation and inform maintenance strategies. The technology has since been applied to other major cross-border infrastructure, including the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macao Bridge.
Another key initiative is the development of a real-time typhoon risk warning and management system for high-rise buildings in coastal cities. Since 2024, PolyU has installed laser radar wind monitoring systems at six locations across Hong Kong and deployed a mobile “wind-chasing” team equipped with 3D LiDAR to collect real-time wind data during typhoons. The system is expected to support future urban development, including the Northern Metropolis.
PolyU is also pioneering nature-based coastal protection solutions, such as underwater breakwater made from recycled oyster shells, which reduce wave impact while preserving marine ecosystems. These innovations are being tested in the university’s hydraulic engineering laboratory.
Together, these efforts represent a comprehensive “land-sea-air” strategy to safeguard Hong Kong against the growing risks of climate change, while contributing to regional and global resilience initiatives.
Online coverage:
TVB - https://polyu.me/4pd1Qgg
Hong Kong Economic Times - https://polyu.me/3Y0VTah (subscription required)
Sing Tao Daily - https://polyu.me/3Kl2VDK (subscription required)
Headline Daily - https://polyu.me/4alxV0P
Ta Kung Pao - https://polyu.me/4pcUoBO
Wen Wei Po - https://polyu.me/4iz1uOz
HK01 - https://polyu.me/49RVjmu
Press Contacts
State Key Laboratory of Climate Resilience for Coastal Cities
- 27664461
- skl.crcc@polyu.edu.hk
