Dr Huang Xinyan and Dr Yuen Chun Yin Anthony Recognized for Innovative Projects in MTR Research Funding Scheme 2023

Hong Kong's extensive railway network has long been an efficient and environmentally friendly mode of mass public transportation for the densely-populated city. To address the evolving challenges of developing smart and sustainable railways, the MTR Academy established the MTR Research Funding (MRF) Scheme in early 2023. The scheme aims to support innovative projects in the field of railway technology. We are delighted to announce that two esteemed academic staff members from the Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering (BEEE) at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) have been selected for their exceptional insights in enhancing system performance and service provision quality.

Dr Huang Xinyan, an Associate Professor in BEEE, leads the project titled "Intelligent Emergency Digital Twin System in Metro Station for Fire Evacuation." This project proposes an intelligent safety monitoring system that leverages cutting-edge technologies such as AIoT, computer vision, and deep learning to enable smart fire emergency responses and evacuations. The system predicts the dynamic flow of occupants and assesses the risk of stampedes during a fire emergency. It also provides on-site evacuation guidance through dynamic exit sign systems. Furthermore, the system can identify the status and behaviors of occupants, enabling the identification of individuals in need of immediate assistance near the fire incident. Real-time information is then transmitted to firefighters and rescue teams.

Dr Yuen Chun Yin Anthony, an Assistant Professor and Presential Young Scholar in BEEE, leads a project titled "Coupling Fire and Toxicity Predictions Using CFD-MD Simulations for Enhanced Pedestrian Movement Modelling and Fire Resilience Designs of Metro Stations." The project aims to identify the parent combustion fuel gases crucial for toxicity assessments, specifically the pyrolysis and combustion releases resulting from burning certain building and furnishing materials. Dr Yuen's innovative approach involves incorporating coupled and non-linear pyrolysis-combustion kinetics through Molecular Dynamics (MD) characterization and validation using thermal gravimetry (TG) data. The project's outcomes will contribute to the design of firefighting and egress systems in metro stations.

The recognition of these two projects in the MTR Research Funding Scheme 2023 highlights the BEEE's commitment to advancing railway technology and addressing critical safety concerns. The innovative approaches taken by Dr Huang and Dr Yuen have the potential to significantly enhance fire resilience and emergency response in metro stations.

We congratulate Dr Huang and Dr Yuen on their outstanding achievements and look forward to witnessing the positive impact of their research on the future development of Hong Kong's railway systems.