News

Dr Wei Ma Secures HK$2.9 Million from Smart Traffic Fund 2024

We are thrilled to announce that Dr Wei Ma, Assistant Professor of CEE, has been awarded $2.9 million from the Smart Traffic Fund 2024. His innovative project, titled “Parking Garage Vacancy Prediction Services in Hong Kong: AI-enabled Solutions for Enhanced Reliability and Extensibility”, aims to revolutionize the parking experience in Hong Kong. Dr Ma’s project seeks to develop a deep learning-based service that predicts parking vacancy for off-street car parks throughout Hong Kong. By harnessing the power of artificial intelligence and integrating big data with real-time information, this service will not only predict parking vacancy but also estimate queuing times for fully occupied garages. This groundbreaking initiative is set to significantly reduce the cruising time for motorists, ultimately enhancing road efficiency and contributing to a more sustainable urban environment.  Congratulations to Dr Ma on this remarkable achievement and we look forward to the positive impact his research will have on the community and the future of smart traffic management in Hong Kong.  For more details regarding Smart Traffic Fund 2024, please refer to https://stf.hkpc.org:8443/stf/#background. 

CEE Alumni Received the Women in Green Building Leadership Award from World Green Building Council

We are thrilled to announce that Ms Grace Kwok, CEE Outstanding Alumni, has been honored with the prestigious "Women in Green Building Leadership Award" of the Asia Pacific Leadership in Green Building Awards 2024, under the nomination of the Hong Kong Green Building Council (HKGBC). The award was announced by the World Green Building Council (WorldGBC) to showcase achievements and recognize innovators adhering to sustainable practices and fostering climate resilience.  Ms Grace Kwok, Chairman & Executive Director of Allied Sustainability and Environmental Consultants Group Limited, graduated from CEE with BEng (Hons) Environmental Engineering in 1998. With over 23 years of experience in sustainable design and green building projects across Hong Kong and the Asia-Pacific region, Ms Kwok has been at the forefront of driving positive change in the field of sustainable development. Her efforts not only contribute to the enhancement of green practices but also inspire others to create a more eco-conscious built environment. Her outstanding contributions to the community and her alma mater have been recognized previously when she was awarded the Outstanding Alumni Award in Professional Achievement by PolyU Faculty of Construction and Environment (FCE) in 2023. As the CEE family, we extend our warmest congratulations to Ms Grace Kwok for this well-deserved recognition. Her achievements not only reflect her personal dedication and expertise but also encourage us all to strive for excellence within the green building sector. More details of the award can be found at https://worldgbc.org/ap-leadership-awards. 

CEE Departmental Visit -Shun Lee Catholic Secondary School (15 Nov)

A group of 30 students from Shun Lee Catholic Secondary School visited CEE on 15 November 2024 (Friday). Dr Andy Y. F. Leung, Associate Head of CEE, provided an introduction to the admission information of BEng (Hons) in Civil Engineering and BEng (Hons) in Environmental Engineering and Sustainable Development and shared insights into recent developments of the civil engineering industry to the group.  Following the programme talk, the students toured the Hydraulics Laboratory and the Transport and Highway Engineering Laboratory, where they gained a clear understanding of hydraulic system and road building materials through the demonstration of laboratory equipment and experiments.  They thoroughly enjoyed the visit and expressed great interest on civil and environmental engineering.  

Prof. Hai Guo Appointed as Chairman of the Australia-China Centre for Air Quality Science and Management in Hong Kong SAR

Congratulations to Prof. Hai Guo, Professor of CEE, on his appointment as the new Chairman of the Australia-China Centre for Air Quality Science and Management (ACC-AQSM) in Hong Kong SAR, starting in 2024. The ACC-AQSM, launched on 5 December 2014, brings together leading research universities from Australia and China in the field of air quality science and management. Over the past decade, the center has played a pivotal role in advancing air quality improvements in China, providing essential support for air pollution control efforts. The annual meeting of the ACC-AQSM was successfully held at the Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences in Beijing on 31 October 2024 with Prof. Tao Wang, Chair Professor of CEE, Prof. Hai Guo and Dr Yu Wang, Research Assistant Professor of CEE, attended the meeting. Both Prof. Wang and Prof. Guo shared their insights on urban and regional air pollution during discussions on new goals and future research directions. With the intensification of air pollution control efforts, the challenges facing China's atmospheric environment have become increasingly complex. As the new Chairman of the ACC-AQSM in the new phase, Prof. Guo will serve Hong Kong members wholeheartedly and promote in-depth cooperation in the field of atmospheric environmental protection. It is hoped that Australia and China will continue to strengthen their collaboration, expand the center's reach, attract more international research talent, and jointly tackle future challenges. For more information about the meeting, please visit http://www.accaqsm.com/the-2024-annual-meeting-of-the-australia-china-centre-for-air-quality-science-and-management-was-hosted-by-the-chinese-research-academy-of-environmental-sciences.  

CEE One-Day Seminar Innovating Towards a Sustainable Built Environment

The CEE One-Day Seminar – Innovating Towards a Sustainable Built Environment was successfully held on 23 November 2024, attracting over 280 participants, including alumni, industry partners and students, joining the day filled with ground-breaking ideas of innovative and sustainable approaches to shape a greener future for the built environment. The seminar was graced by keynoted speaker Ir Ricky Lau, alongside with nine distinguished speakers, including Ir Dr Johnny Cheuk, Ir Prof. Kwok Fai Chung, Ir Dr Goman Ho, Ir Hailong Liu, Ir Prof. Chi Sun Poon, Dr Alessandro Stocchino, Prof. Jin-Guang Teng, Mr Eddie Tse and Ir Ricky Wong. Our keynote speaker, Ir Ricky Lau, delivered an enlightening speech, highlighting the pivotal role of fostering innovation in creating a carbon neutral environment as well as underscoring the importance of embracing both sustainability and development. A special Thank You to all our esteemed speakers for sharing the expertise and insights on their respective fields, all aligned with the common goal of paving the way for a more sustainable future. Congratulations to Ir Ricky Wong for being honored with the Outstanding Alumni Award of CEE 2024, recognizing his exceptional contributions to both the department and the field of civil engineering. The seminar also featured the award presentation ceremonies to the winners of the Asia-Pacific Design for Safety Award Competition organized by the Research Centre for Design for Safety of CEE, and the CEE Entry Scholarships Awardees who attained HKDSE with flying colours.  We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all speakers and participants for contributing to a dynamic and insightful seminar, igniting a spark towards a greener and more sustainable future. We look forward to a closer collaboration among the government, industry and academia to overcome challenges ahead and continue the journey towards a thriving and safe future.  

PolyU CEE Webinar Series: Halogen Chemistry and Implications for Air Quality and Climate

Dr Qian-Jie CHEN delivered a seminar with the topic of “Halogen Chemistry and Implications for Air Quality and Climate” on 13 November 2024. It was co-organized with HKIE Civil Division. Find the full version of the webinar in the below link: https://youtu.be/bhcfeqdvjGo.  

Ir Dr Vincent Ho Elected as Secretary General of Asia Pacific Occupational Safety and Health Organisation

Congratulations to 𝐈𝐫 𝐃𝐫 𝐕𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐇𝐨, CEE Professor of Practice on Occupational Safety and Health, for being elected as the 𝟕𝐭𝐡 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥 of the 𝐀𝐬𝐢𝐚 𝐏𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜 𝐎𝐜𝐜𝐮𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐎𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 (𝐀𝐏𝐎𝐒𝐇𝐎). Dr Ho's unanimous election by all members underscores the trust and confidence placed in his leadership abilities. As a former President of the Institution of Occupation and Health (IOSH), he is set to assume the role of Secretary General at the upcoming APOSHO conference in 2025, where he will continue to drive positive change and advancements in the field. APOSHO is an organisation with a mission to promote mutual understanding and cooperation among communities in the Asia-Pacific region and to enhance occupational safety and health through the exchange of information and views among competent people, including top-level managers of member organisations.  We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Dr Ho on this well-deserved achievement and we look forward to witnessing his continuous commitment to the future of occupational safety and health.  For more information about APOSHO and its mission, please visit their official website at https://www.aposho.org/.  

CEE Members Received “Best Oral Presentation Award” in The 2024 Annual Workshop of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory on Environmental Pollution and Control

Congratulations to Mr Beining Zhou from Prof. Hai Guo’s group, Miss Qian Yang from Prof. Xiangdong Li’s group and Mr Yuchen Wu from Dr Yi Jiang’s group, on receiving the “Best Oral Presentation Award” in the 2024 Annual Workshop of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory on Environmental Pollution and Control. The conference was organized by the School of Marine Science of Sun Yat-sen University to promote the construction of ecological civilization, the cooperation and conversation of environmental technology in the Greater Bay Area. Congratulations again to our talented students. We look forward to their groundbreaking research and continuous endeavour in fostering a better future for the living environment.  

30th Congregation in 2024

The 30th Congregation Ceremony held on 17 November 2024 (Sunday) was a resounding success! The ceremony was graced by the esteemed presence of Mr Tony Yau, JP, Director of Highways, who attended as the Guest of Honour. His inspiring speech and word of wisdom will undoubtedly encourage the graduates as they embark on their next chapter. Celebrating this momentous occasion together were Ir Dr Goman Ho, President of Civil and Environmental Engineering Alumni Association (CEEAA) and Ir Kenny Lok, Vice President of CEEAA. Their warm blessings and support to the students will serve as a beacon of light, guiding these young minds towards a future filled with promise and success. To the graduating class of 2024, may your journey ahead be filled with courage, passion, and endless opportunities. May you continue to grow, learn, and make a positive impact on the world around you. Congratulations on this remarkable achievement, and may your futures be as bright as the smiles on your faces!  

CEE UG Field Trip cum BBQ Gathering

To foster stronger connections between our undergraduate students and academic staff, we organized a meaningful student event, the CEE Field Study and BBQ Dinner Gathering on 8 November 2024 (Friday) at Tai Mei Tuk. We are delighted to share that approximately 70 participants, including CEE undergraduate students, academic staff, and general staff, came together to embrace diverse cultures. We had the privilege of having Dr Alessandro Stocchino, Associate Professor of CEE, and Mr Hoi Yung Lin, Instructor of CEE, lead an insightful field study at Plover Cove Reservoir Dam and Lung Mei Beach. Mr Lin offered an engaging overview of the reservoir's history and development, while Dr Stocchino explained the creation and diverse habitats of Hong Kong's first artificial swimming beach. This experience provided our students with valuable real-world learning in both civil and environmental engineering. The evening culminated in a fantastic BBQ dinner, where participants had the chance to socialize, network, and forge new connections. It was heart-warming to see everyone enjoying a delicious meal together. We extend our heartfelt thanks to all participants for their enthusiastic involvement. Your contributions made this event truly special. It was a wonderful evening, and we look forward to organizing more events like this in the future to continue building our community.