News

Professor Xia Yong named SHM Person of the Year, solidifying PolyU’s leadership in structural health monitoring (English Only)

(English Only) Professor Xia Yong was recently named the Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) Person of the Year––making him the third PolyU scholar to receive this esteemed award over the years. PolyU is in fact the only university in Hong Kong to receive this prestigious honour and ties with another university for having the most number of recipients in the world since the award’s establishment over 20 years ago.   The SHM Person of the Year Award (SHM-POY) recognises individuals worldwide who have made outstanding contributions to structural health monitoring that benefit society. It honours excellence in theory, analysis, applications, education, or other advancements within the field, focusing on achievements in the past few years. Sponsored by SAGE Publishing, a leading international academic and professional publisher, the award is selected by the editorial board of the Structural Health Monitoring journal and presented annually at the International Workshop on SHM in Stanford, California, USA.   Distinguished contributions to structural health monitoring This year’s SHM-POY Professor Xia, from the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and the Associate Dean of Graduate School and Director of Joint Research Centre of Marine Infrastructure, is honoured for his transformative contributions to structural health monitoring over the past two decades. His pioneering research includes developing vibration-based damage detection methods, numerical and analytical solutions for bridge responses under thermal loads, and substructuring techniques for monitoring large-scale structures. These advancements have shaped design standards and textbooks, impacting education and engineering globally.   His research has been applied to major local and national projects, including the Tsing Ma Bridge, the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, the Canton Tower and the Shanghai Tower, as well as internationally to the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge in Japan and the Humber Bridge in the UK. As a leader in the field, he has established several research centres, such as the Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for Marine Infrastructure, demonstrating his commitment to collaboration and innovation.   Moreover, he has developed unique educational systems such as the Benchmark Problem for SHM of High-rise Structures and the real-time PolyU Footbridge Digital Twin System, significantly advancing global SHM practices. His award recognition not only honours his personal achievements but also highlights the strength of PolyU’s SHM research team and the University’s vital role in tackling critical infrastructure challenges worldwide.

Plaque Presentation Ceremony honoring State Key Laboratory of Climate Resilience for Coastal Cities (SKL-CRCC) (English Only)

(English Only) As one of the 15 SKLs officially commencing operations on July 1, SKL-CRCC is proud to contribute to the nation’s vision of building a scientifically and technologically strong country. Supported by annual funding of up to HK$20 million from the SAR government, our laboratory is committed to advancing pioneering research in rail transit vehicle system integration and health monitoring, alongside other SKLs specializing in medicine, quantum studies, biology, environmental science, and climate. The State Key Laboratories Scheme, managed by the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST), has evolved to allow Hong Kong to independently establish national-level laboratories since 2018. In January 2025, MOST approved the restructuring of these labs into SKLs, further empowering Hong Kong’s scientific community. During the ceremony, Minister of Science and Technology Yin Hejun recognized the operation of the 15 SKLs as a milestone for Hong Kong, highlighting the central government’s high regard for our research potential and the expectations placed upon us. SKL-CRCC is inspired by this recognition and remains dedicated to our mission of achieving original breakthroughs and addressing technological challenges in rail transit and beyond. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu emphasized the importance of maintaining an open and inclusive academic environment, attracting international talent, and fostering collaboration with scientific communities and enterprises in the mainland. SKL-CRCC is committed to strengthening ties with industry partners and research institutions, both locally and globally, to accelerate the transformation and application of technological achievements for the benefit of the Greater Bay Area and the nation. Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in HKSAR, Zhou Ji, reiterated the central government’s unwavering support for Hong Kong’s technological advancement and pledged continued facilitation of cooperation between Hong Kong and the mainland. SKL-CRCC shares the vision of propelling Hong Kong towards becoming a global center for top-tier talent and innovation. We look forward to contributing to the development of the Hong Kong Park of Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone and to deepening collaboration across industry, academia, and research. As Hong Kong embarks on this new chapter, SKL-CRCC is excited to play a pivotal role in driving scientific progress and technological innovation for the city, the Greater Bay Area, and the nation.