News

Delegation from China Three Gorges University

CEE welcomed a delegation from China Three Gorges University on 13 September 2024 (Friday). The visit provided a valuable opportunity to foster academic exchange and showcase CEE's pioneering research. The delegation, led by Prof. Lee Chack Fan and Prof. Li Dongsheng, Vice President of China Three Gorges University,  was warmly greeted by Prof. Jan-ming Ko, Emeritus Professor of CEE, Prof. Songye Zhu and Dr Andy Leung, Associate Heads of CEE, and Prof. Onyx Wai, Adjunct Professor of CEE. The visit commenced with a comprehensive tour of CEE's state-of-the-art research facilities, including Hydraulics Lab, Structural Engineering Research Lab, 3D Concrete Robotic Printing Research Centre and Rock Mechanics Lab, where the innovative research activities and sophisticated facilities were showcased. The visit culminated in a productive meeting with Prof. Xiangdong Li, Dean of FCE, and Prof. Chi Sun Poon, Head of CEE. Both parties discussed potential collaborations in research and teaching, laying the groundwork for future joint ventures.  CEE is committed to fostering international collaboration and sharing knowledge with esteemed institutions. We believe this visit has  laid the foundation for a fruitful partnership that will advance the field of Civil and Environmental Engineering globally.   

PolyU CEE Webinar Series: Dynamic Response of Civil Infrastructure and Transportation Under Service Load

Dr Vincent Wai-Kei AO delivered a seminar with the topic of “Dynamic Response of Civil Infrastructure and Transportation Under Service Load” on 28 August 2023. It was co-organized with HKIE Civil Division. Find the full version of the webinar in the below link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rg1iD2ssm9wa   

CEE Members Received “Young Scientists Fund” from the National Natural Science Foundation of China

Congratulations to six exceptional CEE members who have been awarded the “Young Scientists Fund” from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC). Each awarded project will be granted funding of RMB 300,000 to support basic research work for three years. NSFC aims to support basic research and stimulate free exploration, identify and foster scientific talents. The fund supports young researchers to freely choose their research topics within the funding scope of the NSFC to conduct basic research, fosters the ability of young scientists to independently undertake research projects and do creative research, stimulates the creative thinking of young scientists, and trains upcoming talents for basic research. CEE researchers are dedicated to conducting innovative research in interdisciplinary fields. This achievement not only demonstrates their competence, but also reflected their unwavering commitment to research excellence. Once again, kudos to all talented CEE researchers. We look forward to their groundbreaking research, bringing positive impact and fostering a better future for the living environment. Awardees Supervisor Project Title (Funding Scheme) Funding Amount (RMB) Dr Mengmeng Wu (Research Assistant Professor) Prof. Zhen-Yu Yin 深度学习辅助的钙质砂剪切渗流耦合力学特性与细颗粒迁移相互作用机理研究 (Young Scientists Fund) 300,000 Dr Hongxing Jiang (Postdoctoral Fellow) Prof. Hai Guo 生物质燃烧源硝基芳香化合物的排放特征、生成机制和大气老化的研究 (Young Scientists Fund) 300,000 Dr Chunlan Fan (Postdoctoral Fellow) Dr Ling Jin 城市大气病原真菌的表型-基因型耐药特征及其主要来源探究 (Young Scientists Fund) 300,000 Dr Xiaoqing Liu (Postdoctoral Fellow) Dr Yi Jiang 单原子Bi调控的光催化强化PFAS污染物脱氟及其增效机制研究 (Young Scientists Fund) 300,000 Dr Tong Zhou (Postdoctoral Fellow) Dr You Dong 近断层强震作用下长期服役混凝土桥梁整体可靠度研究 (Young Scientists Fund) 300,000 Dr Juncai Liu (Postdoctoral Fellow) Dr You Dong 序列型地震下输电塔-线体系灾变演化机理与韧性优化策略研究 (Young Scientists Fund) 300,000  

Prof. Chi Sun Poon Being Invited to Speak on RTHK Radio Programme

Prof. Chi Sun Poon, Head of CEE, was recently invited by RTHK and featured in a radio programme “Infinite Future” on 20 July 2024 (Saturday). Waste management is an acute problem in Hong Kong for years and Prof. Poon has been leading his team in researching waste recycling solutions and green building materials for over 20 years. He pioneered the development of “Eco-Blocks” by utilizing the construction waste, demolition waste and recycled glass and transforming them into low-carbon construction materials. Evolving to the fifth generation, the eco-blocks have been applied to various development projects in Hong Kong which reduces carbon emission and maintains sustainability in the community.  Looking ahead, Prof. Poon hopes to work with the younger generation to further develop low-carbon concrete materials to be used as structural materials in construction and to create a greener future for Hong Kong and the wider community. Interview of Prof. Poon and his vision on green building materials can be found at RTHK webpage (Cantonese only):  https://www.rthk.hk/radio/radio1/programme/infinitefuture

CEE Departmental Retreat 2024

With the enthusiastic participation of around 50 staff members, CEE Departmental Retreat was held successfully on 27-28 August 2024. The retreat commenced with a warm welcome by Prof. Chi Sun Poon, Head of CEE, who greeted the newly joined colleagues and provided updates on the Department's performance. This was followed by the informative presentations by Prof. Songye Zhu, Associate Head (Research), Dr Andy Leung, Associate Head (Partnership), Prof. Anthony Chen, Associate Head (Teaching) and Dr Barbara Siu (DLTC Chairperson). Prof. Ben Young (Vice President (Student and Global Affairs)) and Prof. Xiangdong Li (Faculty Dean) graced part of the retreat with their presence and shared motivating insights.  Throughout the retreat, a diverse range of topics were discussed, including DoKPI performances, updated PhD admission, new research directions, employer engagement & collaborations, strategic marketing initiatives, updates on teaching approach, and effective academic advising. These interactive dialogues produced valuable results, establishing a solid foundation for the Department's strategic direction in the upcoming year.  On the other hand, an impressive team-building session was organized on Day 2 afternoon. Every staff member committed to building the "Formula-One" together, fostering a spirit of collaboration and innovation. They were divided into groups, each tasked with designing and constructing a model car, culminated in an exciting race to test their creations. This engaging exercise highlighted our joint commitment to high standards and our teamwork in achieving common goals, as well as our focus on balancing work and personal life.

CEE PhD Students Win Best Presentation Award at ISERCI 2024

Congratulations to Miss Yi-Fei WANG and Yan-Ran MENG, under the supervision of Prof. Tao YU, on receiving the “Best Presentation Award” and “Runner-up Award for Best Presentation” at the 5th International Symposium for Emerging Researchers in Composites for Infrastructure (ISERCI 2024).  The symposium was held from 20 to 22 August 2024 at the Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China. The award-winning presentations were titled “Axial compressive behaviour of reinforced concrete columns confined with novel thermoplastic-based GFRP ties”, presented by Miss Yi-Fei WANG, and “Macro fibres derived from GFRP composites: development and Performance” presented by Miss Yan-Ran MENG.   Congratulations once again to our talented PhD students for their remarkable achievements!

Mini Concrete Canoe Competition 2024

We are proud to announce the successful conclusion of CEE Mini Concrete Canoe Competition - “New Methods and Materials in Smart Construction” conducted during 2 - 23 August 2024. 13 teams of enthusiastic secondary school students embarked on an exciting journey of civil engineering and creativity.   Co-organizing with Industrial Centre (IC) of PolyU, the competition was kicked off with insightful lectures on the science of concrete materials and hydraulics. Students then immersed themselves in hands-on workshops conducted by IC, mastering the art of 3D printing and designing their unique canoe moulds.  The Concrete Technology Laboratory provided a practical learning experience, where students experienced the fascinating process of concrete mixing, casting, and curing. The grand finale, held in the Hydraulics Laboratory, saw each team's canoe put to test for buoyancy and stability.   Cheung Sha Wan Catholic Secondary School secured the top spot in the competition, with their impressive canoe design loading a remarkable weight of 850g! Ho Fung College (Sponsored by Sik Sik Yuen) and Wesley College secured the 1st and 2nd Runner-up positions respectively. Beyond the winning teams, the competition fostered a spirit of collaboration, innovation, and dedication amongst all participants. CEE Mini Concrete Canoe Competition continues to be a remarkable platform for secondary students to gain invaluable experience in civil engineering, design, and teamwork while experiencing the excitement of bringing their creative visions to life.   Kudos to all the participating teams for their hard work and ingenuity, and we look forward to engaging and nurturing more young minds in future departmental competitions.

FCE Awards for Outstanding PhD Theses 2023/24

Congratulations to two CEE PhD students, Dr Gu Yu, supervised by Prof. Anthony Chen, and Dr Jiang Yi, supervised by Prof. Chi Sun Poon, for receiving the FCE Awards for Outstanding PhD Theses 2023/24. The awardees were chosen for the significance and innovation of their research, presentation skills and responses to questions from the Working Group of the Faculty Research Committee, as well as their academic performance and publication track records. This award acknowledges Dr Gu and Dr Jiang’s hard work and dedication, and serves as a testament to their high caliber of research. We look forward to their continued growth in research advancement and contribution to the society.

Dr Tony Sze Being Interviewed by Hong Kong Economic Times

Dr Tony Sze, Associate Professor of CEE, was interviewed by the Hong Kong Economic Times (HKET) 經濟日報 for his insights on the introduction of self-driving vehicles. With the promising technological progress, the Hong Kong Government is testing out eight autonomous vehicles under a HK$127 million initiative to advance driverless technologies. Dr Sze’s perception on the challenges of self-driving vehicles in Hong Kong was publicized on the Executive Page of HKET on 19 August 2024 (Monday). The electronic copy of the news can be found in below link: https://polyu.hk/xsGrd

CEE China (Nanjing & Suzhou) Study Tour 2024

The CEE China (Nanjing & Suzhou) Study Tour, took place from 24 to 30 July 2024, was an incredible expedition that offered our students a multitude of enriching experiences in civil engineering, geological engineering and Chinese culture. During the tour, our students had the privilege of visiting Nanjing University and connecting with fellow students. They engaged in mixer events, where they shared the knowledge in civil & geological engineering in both Hong Kong and China.  In addition, our students were granted a valuable opportunity to visit the research centre of Nanjing University and the Suzhou NanZee Sensing Technology Co. Ltd., which are well-known for developing and deploying new construction instrumentation techniques across many cities in China and different parts of the world. Our students were also invited to visit a deep excavation construction site in Suzhou, where advanced optical fibre sensing techniques were applied to monitor the retaining wall performance and safeguard the nearby facilities during the construction.