News

Prof. Kwok-Fai Chung’s Research on High-Strength S690 Steel in Construction Featured in The Structural Engineers of IStructE

We are proud to announce that 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐟. 𝐊𝐰𝐨𝐤-𝐅𝐚𝐢 𝐂𝐡𝐮𝐧𝐠, 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐄𝐄, whole article titled “𝐄𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡-𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐡 𝐒𝟔𝟗𝟎 𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐥 𝐢𝐧 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧” has been featured on the cover story of 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑺𝒕𝒓𝒖𝒄𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒂𝒍 𝑬𝒏𝒈𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒆𝒓𝒔 (February 2025 Issue) of 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐫𝐬, 𝐔.𝐊. (IStructE). Being the Founding Director of Chinese National Engineering Research Centre for Steel Construction (Hong Kong Branch), Prof. Chung has spearheaded innovative research in modern steel and steel-concrete composite structures. His efforts have led to impactful advancements in utilizing high-strength S690 and S960 steel in construction projects. The technology developed by Prof. Chung and his research team has been successfully applied to major infrastructure projects, including the Double Arch Steel Bridge of the Cross Bay Link in Tseung Kwan O, and the steel roofs of the East and West Stands of the Yuen Long Stadium etc. “The Structural Engineer” is an exclusive publication for members of The Institution of Structural Engineers, releasing peer-reviewed technical as well as professional guidance and case studies from a fascinating range of structural engineering projects. Download the full version Prof. Chung’s article and explore the cutting-edge research findings of High-strength S690 Steel: https://doi.org/10.56330/WJHB1752  

Prof. Huan-Feng Duan Received 2024 Dayu Water Conservancy Science and Technology Progress Award

Congratulations to Prof. Huan-Feng Duan, Professor of CEE, whose project titled “Key Technologies for Real-time Hydraulic Simulation and Precise Regulation of Complex Urban Water Supply Networks” was being awarded 2024 Dayu Water Conservancy Science and Technology Progress Award (2nd Class) by the Ministry of Water Resources of China. This award recognizes individuals who have made outstanding technological innovations and significant contributions to the advancement of water science and technology, resulting in impactful economic and social benefits.  Prof. Duan’s research focuses on the critical areas of urban hydraulics, including Pipe and Open Channel Hydraulics, Urban Asset Management, Coastal Urban Flooding, Hydro-environmental Management and Computational Fluid Mechanics. Through his leadership and expertise, Prof. Duan has spearheaded numerous essential research projects and secured grants from various funding bodies in Hong Kong and Mainland China.  We congratulate Prof. Duan on this well-deserved recognition and we look forward to his continued endeavors not only in scientific knowledge advancement but also in fostering sustainable and innovative solutions for urban hydraulics challenges.  

Prof. Chi Sun Poon’s Research Featured in “Carbon Revolution in China” Short Film Series

Prof. Chi Sun Poon, Head of CEE, was recently invited by the Hong Kong Coalition and featured in their short film series, “Carbon Revolution in China – Green Construction” (識「碳」再出發 - 綠色建築) to share his cutting-edge research and development on Eco-Blocks. The "Carbon Revolution in China" short film series, initiated by the Hong Kong Coalition, explored China’s ambitious goals of achieving carbon neutrality and showcased the low-carbon technologies obtained in various industries to attain green transformation. The fourth episode, “Green Construction”, delves into the innovative solutions for reducing carbon emissions in the construction industry and highlights how Prof. Poon's visionary work with “Eco-Blocks" is propelling us towards a more sustainable future. Prof. Poon’s research focuses on transforming waste into building materials to reduce carbon emissions, which includes developing Eco-Blocks from construction waste like glass and ash. These Eco-Blocks can effectively capture carbon dioxide and water from the environment, triggering chemical reaction hence enhancing their hardness and durability. To date, the Eco-Blocks have been applied to various development projects in Hong Kong. Prof. Poon is dedicated to driving innovation and sustainability in the built environment, through his pioneering work of developing low-carbon concrete, it is believed that the low-carbon concrete materials developed can be used as structural materials in buildings in the future, thus achieving carbon neutrality and fostering a greener environment. Full version of the film (Starting from 3:05 | Cantonese ONLY):  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jQUuPCtMok

Prof. Xiangdong Li Secures HK$6.03 Million from Green Tech Fund

We are proud to announce that Prof. Xiangdong Li, Dean of the Faculty of Construction and Environment (FCE), whose project titled “Marine self-healing concrete with biomineralization-enhanced construction waste for long-term decarbonization” has secured a grant of HK$6.03 million from Green Tech Fund (GTF) for a duration of 24 months. This project focuses on creating low-carbon marine self-healing concrete using biomineralization-enhanced recycled aggregates from waste concrete. The approach helps reducing CO2 emissions, fostering construction waste recycling and pioneering innovative solutions in marine construction and coastal engineering, which ultimately achieves carbon neutrality and sustainable objectives within the Greater Bay Area. The Green Tech Fund was established in 2020 to provide better and more focused funding support to research and development projects which can help Hong Kong decarbonize and enhance environmental protection. A total of HK$400 million has been allocated to the GTF and it has so far approved 33 projects among over 490 applications, involving a total grant of around HK$147 million. Congratulations to Prof. Li on this remarkable achievement! His dedication to advancing environmentally friendly solutions will definitely pave a way for a greener and more sustainable future. We look forward the positive impacts his groundbreaking research will bring to the development of marine construction and coastal engineering.  

Achievements of CEE Members

We are delighted to share the recent remarkable achievements of two exceptional individuals from the CEE community. Dr Qi Zhang, formerly a Research Assistant Professor (RAP) under the supervision of Prof. Zhen-Yu Yin, Professor of CEE, has recently joined the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Macau (UMAC) as Assistant Professor of Geotechnical Engineering. Dr Zhang’s research contributions in computational geomechanics, theoretical poromechanics and nonlinear continuum mechanics have led him to this esteemed position. Dr Zhang's dedication and scholarly contributions have been invaluable to our department, and we are confident that he will continue to thrive in his new role at UMAC. Dr Pin Zhang, CEE PhD graduate also supervised by Prof. Yin, has taken on the role of Assistant Professor at the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering of the National University of Singapore (NUS). With a diverse research focus on developing explainable AI algorithms, intelligent computational mechanics, uncertainty quantification and complex systems, micro- and macro-scale granular mechanics, coastal infrastructure resilience and digital twins, Dr Zhang’s innovative research and exceptional accomplishments during his doctoral studies have paved the way for his successful transition to the current role in NUS. We extend our warmest congratulations to Dr Qi Zhang and Dr Pin Zhang on their well-deserved appointments and we wish them every success as they embark on a new chapter in their academic journey.  

CEE Member Received 2024 Science and Technology Award of China Yangtze River Water Conservancy Commission

Congratulations to Dr Jirong Lan, CEE Postdoctoral Fellow supervised by Prof. Tao Yu, whose project titled “Transformation and Utilization of Low-Value Solid Waste and Its Substandard Components into Low-Carbon Water Engineering Materials in the Yangtze River Basin” was being awarded “Second Prize for Technological Progress” of the 2024 Science and Technology Award from the Yangtze River Water Conservancy Commission of the Ministry of Water Resources of China. Dr Lan’s research addresses the critical issue of low-value soil waste stockpiling in the Yangtze River Basin. By focusing on comprehensive water environment management and the imperative for low-carbon, eco-friendly engineering practices, this project introduces pioneering strategies in hazardous component stabilization, solid waste–based soil materials, water-shoreline remediation, and low-carbon concrete development. These innovations pave the way for the widespread utilization of bulk waste in large-scale water engineering projects, marking a significant step towards sustainable environmental practices.  

New joiner – Dr Qiuhan Meng

Dr Qiuhan Meng received her Master’s and Doctoral degrees from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) in 2016 and 2022, respectively. Prior to her current role as a Research Assistant Professor, Dr Meng served as a Postdoctoral Fellow at PolyU from 2023 to 2025. Her primary research interests focus on using advanced Internet of Things (IoT) and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to enhance structural health monitoring and asset management in civil engineering structures. Dr Meng has been recognized with several prestigious awards, including the Best Thesis Award from the Faculty of Construction and Environment of PolyU. She also serves as a Young Editorial Board Member for the Journal of Building Structures. Dr Meng has joined us on 1 February 2025.  

PolyU CEE Webinar Series: FRP-coated steel rebars: a new solution of corrosion protection for concrete structures

Dr Yu XIANG delivered a seminar with the topic of “FRP-coated steel rebars: a new solution of corrosion protection for concrete structures” on 15 January 2025. It was co-organized with HKIE Civil Division. Find the full version of the webinar in the below link: https://youtu.be/1aFcxSTxz3k  

CEE Members Elected Fellow of the Hong Kong Academy of Engineering 2024

We are thrilled to announce that Prof. Jian-Hua Yin, Distinguished Research Professor of CEE, and Prof. Xiao Lin Zhao, Chair Professor of Civil Infrastructure of CEE, have been inducted as Fellows of the Hong Kong Academic of Engineering (HKAE) in recognition of their exceptional expertise and remarkable contributions to the field of engineering. The announcement was made at the 31st HKAE annual general meeting on 9 December 2024, and the induction ceremony was held on 20 January 2025. Established in 1994, HKAE was formed by eminent engineers across various disciplines, recognized as leaders in their profession, to promote science advancement and the practice of engineering for the benefits of Hong Kong. HKAE aims to foster collaboration, innovation, and excellence in engineering, contributing to the development Hong Kong and our Nation. Join us in congratulating Prof. Yin and Prof. Zhao for this well-deserved recognition. Their achievements stand as a testament to the exemplary standards of excellence upheld by CEE members. We look forward to their continued dedication to advancing the frontiers of engineering knowledge and wish them success in their future endeavors!  

CEE Staff Received The President’s Awards and Faculty Awards for Outstanding Achievement 2024

We are proud to announce the outstanding achievements of CEE staff members in the year of 2024. Their unwavering commitment in the pursuit of 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 and 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 has not gone unnoticed, resulting in the below accolades. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭’𝐬 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐎𝐮𝐭𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝘙𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘩 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘚𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘺 𝘈𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴 (𝘖𝘶𝘵𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘙𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘳) (𝘐𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘶𝘢𝘭 𝘈𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥) Congratulations to 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐟. 𝐘𝐢-𝐐𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐍𝐢, 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐫 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐑𝐚𝐢𝐥 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐄𝐄, for being honored the award for his exceptional contributions to the field of Structural Engineering, including SHM (Structural Health Monitoring), and Structural Dynamics and Control etc. His groundbreaking research accomplishments have been deployed in infrastructures including long-span bridges and skyscrapers in both Hong Kong and China, creating positive impact and setting new benchmarks for excellence in the field. 𝐅𝐂𝐄 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐲 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐎𝐮𝐭𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝘛𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 (𝘖𝘶𝘵𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘛𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘳) (𝘛𝘦𝘢𝘮 𝘈𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥) A round of applause goes to a team of CEE academic staff including 𝐃𝐫 𝐁𝐚𝐫𝐛𝐚𝐫𝐚 𝐒𝐢𝐮 (𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫), 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐟. 𝐂𝐡𝐢 𝐒𝐮𝐧 𝐏𝐨𝐨𝐧, 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐟. 𝐀𝐧𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐲 𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐧, 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐟. 𝐀𝐧𝐝𝐲 𝐋𝐞𝐮𝐧𝐠, 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐟. 𝐒𝐡𝐮-𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐧 𝐇𝐬𝐮 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐟. 𝐉𝐚𝐜𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐋𝐨, who have been recognized for their innovative approach in introducing the new subject, “Global Study for Civil Engineering and Sustainable Development”. The subject emphasizes non-local experiential learning and “student-led” learning initiatives. After a year’s implementation, study tours to Thailand, Taiwan, Korea and China has been arranged, which not only enriched students’ international exposure but also fostered their intercultural competence and teacher-student relationships. The President’s Awards and the Faculty Awards for Outstanding Achievement are two tiers of awards established in PolyU to recognize and celebrate the remarkable contributions of staff members. Categorized into individual and team awards, the honors are given in the areas of Teaching, Research and Scholarly Activities, Knowledge Transfer, and Services. Congratulations again to all the awarded individuals and teams of 2024 for their remarkable accomplishments, which continue to elevate the standard of the Department. We look forward to witnessing more impactful contributions and innovative initiatives from our dedicated staff members in the future.