News

CEE Research Impact Exhibition cum Alumni Reunion Reception

As one of the events celebrating the golden jubilee of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE), CEE Research Impact Exhibition cum Alumni Reunion Reception was successfully held on 18 March 2023 (Saturday).   The event attracted more than 130 participants, bringing together students, staff, alumni and friends of the Department to RECONNECT and to share their insights on the Department’s latest research outcomes. Prof. Xiangdong Li, Dean of FCE, addressed the audience in a welcoming speech, while Prof. Chi Sun Poon, Head of CEE, expressed his joy by sharing the milestone and achievements of CEE to the participants.   The exhibition showcased the research outcomes of projects that are of societal impact, six cutting-edge civil engineering related research projects led by our Professors were exhibited. Through exploring the functional exhibits and interacting with our researchers, participants were able to gain deeper knowledge on how the research outputs were implemented into real life.   Research Highlights: (in alphabetical order) Innovation in Low Carbon Construction Materials (PI: Prof. Chi Sun Poon) Innovative Structures Incorporating Fibre-Reinforced Polymer (FRP) Composites and Seawater Sea-Sand Concrete (Prof. Tao Yu) Novel sensing technology and applications in geotechnical engineering (Prof. Jian-Hua Yin) Research on the Use of High-Strength Steel in Construction (Prof. Kwok-Fai Chung) The use of dredged sediments for economical and sustainable reclamation solutions in Hong Kong (Prof. Jian-Hua Yin) UmiCool: an Eco-friendly Smart Sub-ambient Radiative Cooling (SSRC) Coating (Prof. Jian-Guo Dai)   The programme ended with laboratory tours to Concrete Materials Laboratory, Water and Waste Laboratories, Structural Engineering Research Laboratory, Industrial Centre and Railway Corner, during which the related research experiments and equipment were showcased.

PolyU CEE Webinar Series: Monitoring, assessment, and mitigation of construction-induced vibration impact on surroundings

Prof. Songye Zhu delivered a seminar with the topic of “Monitoring, assessment, and mitigation of construction-induced vibration impact on surroundings” on 22 March 2023. It was co-organized with HKIE Civil Division.

Contribution to the Community – Elderly Visit to PolyU

To celebrate the 50th Anniversary of CEE and to spread the spirit of community care, a PolyU Campus tour was arranged to a group of elderly on 16 March 2023 (Thu) with the help of H.K.S.K.H. Holy Carpenter Church Kowloon City Integrated Home Care Services Team (HKSKH).   During the visit, 11 seniors and 7 HKSKH staff were guided around the campus by CEE students and visited the Noise and Safety Laboratory. Dr Andy Y.F. Leung, Associate Head (Partnership), introduced the Department and explained the role of civil engineers to the group while representatives from The Institute of Active Ageing (IAA) hosted a talk regarding their research and innovative programmes on active ageing to the guests. Last but not least, the elderly joined a class arranged by The Institute of Active Ageing (IAA) to learn more about elderly exercises.

Prof. Tao Wang’s Project has been Awarded Environmental Protection Science and Technology Award 2022

Congratulations to Prof. Tao Wang whose project has been awarded “Environmental Protection Science and Technology Award 2022 - Class 2” (2022年度環境保護科學技術獎 – 二等獎) from The National Office for Science and Technology Awards (國家科學技術獎勵工作辦公室).   This award recognizes his outstanding achievements and contribution in the development of environmental protection science and technology.

The HKIE Grand Award 2023

A project entitled “Innovative construction technology and application of high strength S690 steel in construction”, led by Prof. Kwok-Fai Chung, Director of Chinese National Engineering Research Centre for Steel Construction (Hong Kong Branch) [CNERC] received a Grand Prize on Innovative Application of the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (HKIE) Grand Award 2023. The prize presentation was held at the Convention Hall of Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, Wan Chai on 9 March 2023. The HKIE Grand Award was presented by The Honourable Winnie W. Y. Ho, Secretary for Housing of the Government of Hong Kong SAR, and Ir Aaron K.M. Bok, President of the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers  

Dr Zhen Leng’s paper has been awarded as one of the High-Impact Papers published in Engineering

Congratulations to Dr Zhen Leng and his team for their paper entitled “Sustainable Practice in Pavement Engineering through Value-Added Collective Recycling of Waste Plastic and Waste Tyre Rubber” being awarded as one of the High-Impact Papers among the 234 papers published in Engineering since 2021. The paper is also an ESI highly cited and hotspot paper.   Engineering is the flagship journal sponsored by the Chinese Academy of Engineering and the Strategic Consulting Center of the Chinese Academy of Engineering (IF: 12.834), which was selected as one of the leading journals in the Chinese Science and Technology Journal Excellence Action Plan.

New joiner – Dr Chen Zejian

Dr Chen Zejian obtained his B.Eng. degree from Zhejiang University in 2017 and received his Ph.D. degree from Hong Kong Polytechnic University in 2022. He worked as research assistant and postdoctoral fellow at Hong Kong Polytechnic University from September 2021 to February 2023. The research interests of Dr Chen include constitutive modelling, soft soil consolidation and improvement, multi-physics coupling effects on soil behaviour, etc.   Dr Chen has joined us on 1 March 2023.

CEE Departmental Visit - SKH Kei Hau Secondary School (14 Feb)

25 students from SKH Kei Hau Secondary School visited CEE department on 14 Feb 2023 (Tue). Dr Siwei Liu, Assistant Professor, shared the recent development of the civil engineering industry and introduced the admission information of BEng(Hons) Scheme in Civil Engineering and Sustainable Development.   Students formed groups to compete in the “Tower Challenge: Engineering with Straws, Tape and Imagination”. The best performed group built a tower of 79cm high.   Apart from the programme talk and workshop, students also visited our Structural Engineering Research Laboratory.

PolyU CEE Webinar Series: Bridging the Micro and Macro Mechanical Behaviour of Geomaterials Using in Situ Tests under Micro-CT

Dr Zhao Qi delivered a seminar with the topic of “Bridging the Micro and Macro Mechanical Behaviour of Geomaterials Using in Situ Tests under Micro-CT” on 22 February 2023. It was co-organized with HKIE Civil Division.

Career Talk for Structural and Fire Engineering Programme

A career talk for Structural and Fire Engineering Programme was successfully held on 20 Feb 2023 (Mon), attracting 50 students attending the seminar. We are honored to have Ir Dr Young Wong (Director of Arup) and Mr Tsang Sau Kit Wilson (Professor of Practice, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering) to be the guest speakers and deliver the career talk to students. Both Ir Dr Wong and Mr Tsang are professionals in the fire engineering discipline, they shared their career experience from a fire engineer’s perspective and their insight on the career and prospect of fire engineers in the Hong Kong Construction Industry.