News

Successful Completion of BEEE Cultural Exchange Trip 2023: Strengthening Bonds and Expanding Horizons

The Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering (BEEE) at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) is delighted to share the successful completion of the BEEE Cultural Exchange Trip 2023 in Shanghai, held from December 27, 2023, to January 2, 2024. The trip encompassed a diverse range of activities, including the Research Salon on "Fire Safety Engineering," which was expertly chaired by your esteemed presence. Our students had the privilege of visiting the renowned campuses of Tongji University and Shanghai Jiao Tong University, where they actively engaged in academic exchanges and gained valuable insights into the latest research and developments in the field. Furthermore, the itinerary featured visits to key projects in Shanghai, providing our students with a firsthand experience of the city's innovative approaches to building environment and energy engineering. These activities not only facilitated knowledge sharing but also fostered the establishment of meaningful connections among participants. The BEEE Cultural Exchange Trip 2023 served as a platform for knowledge exchange, cultural immersion, and the forging of strong connections and friendships. We express our deepest gratitude to all participants, faculty members, and supporters for their unwavering commitment and valuable contributions to the success of this trip. The Department eagerly looks forward to continued collaboration and future endeavors that will further enhance the field of building environment and energy engineering. The photo gallery can be found here.  

20231222 BEEE Student Christmas Party: A Festive Celebration to Remember!

The Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering (BEEE) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) organized a spectacular Christmas Party on December 22, 2023, bringing together students and staff for an unforgettable celebration of the holiday season. The event was filled with joy, laughter, and a true spirit of camaraderie. The BEEE Student Christmas Party took place at the Alumni Atrium in Podium, Core A, providing a charming and festive atmosphere for all attendees.   The event featured a variety of activities that spread holiday cheer among the participants. Attendees enjoyed delectable food, which included a selection of tea and light refreshments. The Department also surprised everyone with a special Christmas gift, adding an extra touch of excitement to the occasion. Moreover, the Christmas Party provided an excellent opportunity for students and staff to connect and unwind. It fostered a sense of unity and togetherness as everyone reveled in the joyful ambiance. From lively conversations to laughter-filled moments, the party created lasting memories that will be cherished by all. The BEEE Students' Christmas Party exemplified the Department's commitment to nurturing a supportive and inclusive community. The Department extends its heartfelt gratitude to everyone who contributed to the success of the Christmas Party, including the students, staff, and event organizers. It is through such collective efforts that the BEEE community continues to thrive. As the year comes to a close, BEEE wishes everyone a joyous holiday season and a prosperous New Year.   The photo gallery can be found here.  

BEEE PhD Students Received Gold Award in the China International College Students’ Innovation Competition 2023

PhD student Wang Meng (Team leader) from the Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering (BEEE) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) received a Gold Award for the project “Smart Firefighting Robot” in the “China International College Students’ Innovation Competition 2023”. After the final competition on 2-6 Dec in Tianjin, this project is the only one in PolyU that received the Gold award, which is one of the in total 10 Gold-Award projects from Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan. Other team members include Zhang Xiaoning, Cheung Wai Kit, and Ding Yifei, and the project supervision is BEEE Associate Professor Dr Huang Xinyan. The proposed Smart Firefighting Robot utilizes artificial intelligence (AI) and computer vision (CV) technologies that autonomously navigate fire scenes, detect various objects, and automatically extinguish fires. The advanced robot not only protects firefighters from dangerous fire scenes, fire explosions, and toxic environments, but also provides valuable information for situational awareness and decision-making. With advanced AI model, the robot enables real-time monitoring of fire dynamic and smoke visibility. In future firefighting operations, it will collaborate with firefighters to achieve safer and smarter fire operations.  The China International College Students’ Innovation Competition 2023 encourages the entrepreneurial spirit of the next generation. This competition is ranked first by the Chinese Higher Education Association. It is set to unleash the innovation potential of young groundbreaking ideas and entrepreneurial powers and provides opportunities for talented students to transform their ideas into viable business ventures. The competition encompasses various categories, including education, medical care, transport, finance, and cultural exchange with the integration of digital technologies. Early this year, the team has received a HK$120,000 start-up grant and an acceptance into the Ideation Program of the Hong Kong Science and Technology Park (HKSTP), which comes with a HK$100,000 start-up grant. Currently, Wang Meng’s team has entered the HKSTP Incubation Program and received up to HK$1.29 million in start-up support over a period of three years. The Department world like to congratulate Mr Wang Meng, Dr Xinyan Huang and the team on the excellent achievement and wish them continued success.  

BEEE LoCHs Research Team Received Best Paper Awards at Healthy Buildings 2023 and ISHVAC 2023

The Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering (BEEE) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) is pleased to share the news that BEEE Postdoc fellow Li Jia-nong (first author) and PhD student Wang Jiawei (second author) in Prof Niu Jianlei’s research team have received Best Paper Awards for the excellence of research papers presented in both Healthy Buildings 2023 Asia and Pacific Rim (Healthy Buildings 2023, June) and the 13th International Symposium on Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (ISHVAC 2023, November). The two conferences are all top conferences of the field. The Healthy Buildings, a triennial event organized by the International Society of Indoor Air Quality and Climate (ISIAQ) since 1988, and The International Symposium on Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (ISHVAC) initiated in 1991 in Beijing, are widely recognized as two of the most influential international conferences in the field of healthy building environment and energy engineering. The Best Paper Award was established in both conferences to recognize the excellence and significance of the research presented in the conference paper.  The award-winning research paper in Healthy Building 2023 is titled ‘Elderly residents’ uses of fragmented outdoor spaces in public housing estates in Hong Kong’ which decodes the causality of usage behaviour and heat-risk exposures of elderly residents. The other award-winning research paper in ISHVAC 2023 is titled ‘Linking passive observation and agent-based simulation to better understand the usage behaviour of elderly residents in public squares’ which introduces a novel simulation tool to examine the efficiency of different shade configurations in public squares in optimizing square usage and mitigating heat risks. The research was based on Prof. Niu’s recent Theme-based Research Scheme (TRS) Funded Program titled ‘Healthy and Resilient City with Pervasive LoCHs’, and it has received praising feedback after Li Jia-nong’s presentations in Healthy Building 2023 and ISHVAC 2023, recognizing its importance in providing basis and inspiring future related research. We would like to offer the warmest congratulations to Prof. Niu Jianlei’s team for the excellent achievement in Healthy Building 2023 and ISHVAC 2023. Please follow the latest research under Prof. Niu’s TRS funded program for more information about the development of healthy and resilient cities with pervasive LoCHs.   

15 BEEE Scholars Ranked World’s Top 2% Scientists Released by Stanford University

The Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering (BEEE) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) takes immense pride in announcing that 15 BEEE academic staff members have been recognized among the world's top 2% of scientists in their respective disciplines, according to the index recently compiled by Stanford University.   The latest release of the Stanford University-led compilation of citation indicators is prepared by a team of experts led by Professor John loannidis of Stanford University. The selection process involved evaluating the top 100,000 scientists based on a composite score or a percentile rank of 2% or above in 174 sub-fields spanning 22 scientific domains. The publicly available database provides standardized information on citations, h-index, co-authorship adjusted hm-index, citations to papers in different authorship positions and a composite indicator. The list can be found here.   BEEE Top 2% Scientists in the Global List  Name Subject Field (Top-Ranked Science-Metrix Category (Subfield) for the Author) Professor Asif Sohail Usmani Civil Engineering Ir Professor Christopher Chao Building & Construction Professor Chen Qingyan Building & Construction Ir Professor Niu Jianlei Building & Construction Ir Professor Wang Shengwei Energy Professor Yan Jinyue Jerry Energy Ir Professor Lai Hung Kit Joseph Building & Construction Ir Professor Lu Lin Vivien Energy Ir Professor Mak Cheuk Ming Acoustics Ir Professor Mui Kwok Wai Horace Building & Construction Professor Xiao Fu Building & Construction Ir Professor Yang Hongxing Energy Dr Cao Sunliang Energy Dr Huang Xinyan Energy Ir Dr Wong Ling Tim Building & Construction   Congratulations to our top scientists for this well-deserved recognition!  

Two BEEE Academic Members 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.  

BEEE Student Won 3rd Prize at BSOMES Research Prize 2023

The Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering (BEEE) at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) is thrilled to announce that Ms Arailym Shmidt, an undergraduate student in BEEE, has been awarded the BSOMES Research Prize 2023. This esteemed competition recognizes exceptional research work in the field of building services operation and maintenance.   Ms Shmidt's research submission captivated the judges during the evaluation process conducted by independent assessors, securing her the third prize in this highly competitive competition. Her outstanding work is a testament to her dedication and expertise in the field of building services.   We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Ms Arailym Shmidt for this remarkable achievement and applaud her unwavering commitment to research excellence. Her success reflects her hard work and dedication to advancing the field of building services. We wish her continued success in her academic and professional pursuits.  

BEEE Research Student Received Sheldon Tieszen Student Award at IAFSS

The Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering (BEEE) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) is pleased to share the news that BEEE PhD student Tianwei Chu has received the prestigious Sheldon Tieszen Student Award for the excellence of research paper presented in the 14th International symposium on fire safety science (IAFSS 2023, top conference of the field).   The award was presented by the Chairman of the International Association for Fire Safety Science (IAFSS) and are sponsored by the International FORUM of Fire Research Directors. The International Symposium on Fire Safety Science, a triennial event organized by the IAFSS since 1985, is widely recognized as the most important academic gathering in the field of fire safety science. The Sheldon Tieszen Student Awards were established to recognize the excellence in an IAFSS symposium paper in fire safety science by a student making a significant contribution to that paper..   The award-winning research paper is titled ‘Introducing an Active Opening Strategy to Mitigate Large Open-Plan Compartment Fire Development’, which introduces a novel fire control strategy ‘Active Opening’ to mitigate the fast fire spread in large open-plan compartments. This research was advised by Dr Jiang Liming  (his chief supervisor) with the help from Professor Asif Sohail Usmani (his co-supervisor). The research was based on PolyU’s recent investigations on fire development mechanisms in modern building compartments, and it has received highly praising feedback after Tianwei’s presentation in IAFSS.   We would like to offer the warmest congratulations to Tianwei for his outstanding achievement in IAFSS. For more information about ‘active opening’, please follow the research led by Dr Jiang Liming and view the VR videos of the recent demonstration tests using scaled compartments. (https://youtu.be/NlUvKoxewjs?si=hvvcTBaHKiuT-KC5 )

BEEE Career Night Event - Empowering Future Engineers

The Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering (BEEE) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) is excited to announce the successful BEEE Career Night: Explore Your Future event held on 2nd November 2023.   The evening commenced with a warm welcome by Ir Dr Wong Ling Tim, Associate Head of  BEEE. Representatives from esteemed organizations such as ATAL Engineering Group, CLPe Solutions, EMSD, ISS Facility Services Ltd, J. Roger Preston Limited, and Sino Land Company Limited shared their insights and experiences through engaging presentations.   The event provided an invaluable opportunity for aspiring engineers to learn from industry leaders. Our students had the privilege of learning from professionals in the field, gaining valuable insights into the latest trends, challenges, and opportunities in the engineering industry.   We extend our gratitude to the representatives and supporters who made this event possible. We are inspired by the enthusiasm and passion displayed by our students and are confident that events like these will play a crucial role in shaping their future careers. Together, we are empowering the next generation of engineers.   Thank you to everyone involved in making the BEEE Career Night a success.   The photo gallery can be found here.  

PolyU Info Day 2023 Exceeds Expectations in Showcasing BEEE Programmes

PolyU Info Day, held on October 21, 2023, was a resounding success, with the Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering (BEEE) actively providing prospective students with the latest information about BEEE programs and curriculum. The Senior Management’s Tour kicked off the day's events in the morning. Head of Department, Professor Asif Sohail Usmani, and all BEEE teachers/students ambassadors warmly welcomed students, parents, and members of the public.  Info Day featured various activities, including information seminars on Undergraduate (Ug) and Taught Postgraduate (TPg) Programmes, a consultation booth, and guided laboratory visits. These activities aimed to deepen visitors' understanding of BEEE programs and provide an immersive experience. The consultation booth showcased the unique features of BEEE programs, such as innovative teaching and learning methods, student activities like WIE and student exchange programs, and the state-of-the-art laboratory facilities available. Three information seminars offered interested candidates, parents, and secondary students an in-depth understanding of the department, building sciences and engineering, and the BEEE program. The presentations highlighted the professionalism and promising career prospects associated with studying BEEE. During the Ug information seminars, Undergraduate Programme Leader Ir Dr WONG Ling Tim and Deputy Undergraduate Programme Leader Dr Cheung Hiu Dan Hilda provided an introduction, followed by guest speakers Ir Gary Chiang and Ir Keith Yue, esteemed BEEE graduates, who shared their experiences and perspectives, emphasising the exciting career opportunities available. Admission arrangements were also explained, and questions from visitors, mainly secondary school students and parents, were addressed on the spot. Professor Du Yaping Patrick delivered the TPg information seminar, introducing the six Taught Postgraduate Programmes. TPg programme leaders, including Ir Professor Lu Lin Vivien, Dr Cao Sunliang, and Ir Dr Lui Che Heng Gigi, joined the seminar to answer audience questions. A current master student, Ms. Leung Tze Ying, who was previously an undergraduate student in BEEE, shared her U-life and career planning during the FCE thematic talk. In addition to the seminars, physically guided tours of the BEEE laboratories were arranged, allowing the public to witness firsthand the advanced equipment used in the Department. BEEE extends its sincerest gratitude and appreciation to all colleagues, alumni, guests, and student ambassadors who wholeheartedly participated in Info Day. The event successfully facilitated prospective students' understanding of the department and its academic programs. BEEE eagerly looks forward to welcoming them to join the program in the near future, confident that they will thrive in the dynamic field of building environment and energy engineering.  The photo gallery can be found here.