News

Webinar on Smart Water Technologies

Underground water mains leakage and water seepage in buildings have long been causing great concern among governments, property management companies and occupants worldwide. To solve the problems, the location of such leakage, seepage and voids could be identified and properly diagnosed with imaging technique for finding an effective rehabilitation or repair scheme.   A webinar on Smart Water Technologies was held on 29 May 2020 at Underground Utility Survey Lab of LSGI. Mr Roger Wong, Assistant Director/ Development of Water Supplier Department, HKSAR Government, was invited to give a speech on “Water Loss Management Strategy in Water Supplies Department”. It was followed by sharing by Ir Dr Wallace Lai, Associate Professor of LSGI, on “Non-destructive Water Leakage Imaging and Diagnosis for Underground Utilities and Engineering Structures”. Speakers discussed the challenges and strategy of water loss management in the Water Supplies Department and presented our non-destructive diagnostic technologies in this area. Dr Lai also shared a live demonstration on these technologies. Over 270 online participants joined the webinar and many of them raised their questions at the end of the webinar. 

News Item

Prof. John Shi, Chair Professor and Head of the Department of Land Surveying and GeoInformatics (LSGI), has been appointed Director of the newly established Smart Cities Research Institute (SCRI) under the university with effect from 1 May 2020.   A platform for PolyU experts to develop an international leading area in Smart Cities, the SCRI will capitalize on existing research strengths such as Smart Mobility, focusing on the unique traffic characteristics of Hong Kong in addition to driving Smart City development in Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area.

Interview by RTHK31 - JUPAS Programme Introduction

On behalf of Department of Land Surveying and Geo-Informatics (LSGI), Ir Dr Wallace Lai, Associate Professor and Leader of Bachelor Programme of LSGI, was invited to RTHK31 “網上問功課 同行抗 疫” episode 25 on 23 April 2020 to share the LSGI’s undergraduate programmes, applications and career development of LSGI’s disciplines.     Due to the coronavirus, this year, candidates of HKDSE have faced a lot of challenges and pressure. Students wish to receive more information on different JUPAS programmes in order to give the most suitable selection for their undergraduate study. LSGI is one of a few undergraduate programmes being invited by RTHK to share in this information program.        Dr Lai shared some common applications of LSGI disciplines, including smart transportation, COVID19 dashboard, 3D mapping and modelling, planet probe, underground utility diagnosis, etc. It also included some useful information for JUPAS candidates for applying LSGI programmes. We wish all HKDSE candidates can achieve outstanding results and enroll in their favorite choices of programme.    More information on LSGI undergraduate programmes: BSc(Hons) in Land Surveying and Geo-Informatics (JS3387) HD in Land Surveying and Geo-Informatics (JS3105) Recap of the episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eehoE52Fr9Q&feature=youtu.be

Technologies effectively monitor sulphur dioxide emission from vessels

Without our knowing, we may be taking in a certain level of sulphur dioxide (SO2) in food preservatives every day. But when exposed to excessive sulphur dioxide, one may experience burning of the nose and throat, breathing difficulty, and even severe airway obstruction. In Hong Kong, one of the busiest container ports in the world, lots of cargo vessels come in and out of the terminals every day, emitting the air polluting sulphur dioxide and posing a threat to human health. In view of this, two academics from Department of Land Surveying and Geo-Informatics (LSGI) have been using their expertise to watch over the city’s port to help improve its air quality. Associate Head (Research) and Chair Professor of LSGI Prof. Li Zhi-lin and Associate Professor Sr Dr Charles Wong Man-sing are leading a research project which uses a UV-based system to monitor SO2 concentration from ship emission. With the support from the Environment and Conservation Fund of the HKSAR Government, the researchers have developed a remote sensing-based technology for efficient and reliable monitoring and analysing. Integrating one UV (ultraviolet) camera and two RGB (red, green, blue) cameras, the system can capture the images of a sailing or stationary ship with running engines from a long distance. It can also differentiate between particulates and SO2 pollutants. Portable and highly sensitive, the system can be deployed on a car ashore and function remotely and effectively without the need to stop or board the ship for monitoring. It can also send alert when a vessel with SO2 emission over threshold is identified. After the images are collected, the researchers will analyse them to estimate SO2 concentration. The team conducted systematic experiments indoors and outdoors to study the impact of different environmental conditions, such as temperature, air pressure and distance, to eventually form a comprehensive estimation. At the invitation of the Transport Planning and Research Institute, Ministry of Transport of China, the system underwent a field test last September which was organised by the Shandong Maritime Safety Administration and the Qingdao Port Group Co., Ltd. Among the participating organisations for the field test, PolyU’s system obtained the most accurate results in SO2 concentration. Currently, the research team is working on further enhancement of the system’s accuracy and monitoring distance. Plans are in the pipeline to seek further collaboration with the Environmental Protection Department of the HKSAR Government to deploy the system at Hong Kong’s port terminal.   (Source: excel@PolyU March 2020 Issue 127)

Technologies effectively monitor sulphur dioxide emission from vessels

As part of PolyU’s efforts to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus, remote infrared body temperature measurement was implemented at various entrances of the university in early February 2020. This was done with the help of Ir Dr Wallace Lai of the Department of Land Surveying and GeoInformatics (LSGI), who converted prior work developed by Dr Steven Tsang in the Department of Building and Real Estate back in 2003 to fight SARS into feasible practice within a short period. Based on the scientific ground work done by Prof. Lung-Sang Chan and his team from the University of Hong Kong, Dr Lai elaborated on the science behind this preventive measure for the implementation of Facilities Management Office.

LSGI Scholar received Research Impact Fund 2019/20

PolyU has been awarded about 45% of the Research Impact Fund 2019/20, the largest share among the local universities. Of the five projects received by PolyU, one was led by Dr Bo Wu of the Department of Land Surveying and Geo-Informatics (LSGI), with co-principal investigators from the University of Hong Kong, collaborators from Europe, as well as partners from mainland China and local institutions. Entitled “Mapping and characterization for optimized evaluation of potential landing sites on the moon and Mars to support future missions,” the 4-year project will receive HK$4,469,360 from the Hong Kong Research Grants Council, which funds 70% of the project cost, with the remaining 30% from the university and other partners.

George Liu Elected Executive Committee Member of the Hong Kong Meteorological Society

Dr. George Liu, currently Associate Professor at the Department of Land Surveying & Geo-Informatics (LSGI), The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), Hong Kong and Fellow of the Hong Kong Meteorological Society, was elected Executive Committee Member at the annual general meeting (AGM) of the Hong Kong Meteorological Society held at the Hong Kong Observatory on 20 January 2020.   Dr. Liu’s research Lab, the Micro-Laboratory of Atmospheric Research and Geomatics Engineering (Micro-LARGE), has been dedicated for more than one decade to atmospheric water vapor observation and modeling using multiple sensors including Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), various remote sensing satellites (MODIS, Fengyun, etc), radiosonde, and many other sensors. Water vapor, accounting for only a very small amount (0-2%) of the atmosphere, however is a crucially important constituent in the atmosphere. With a concentration over 99% in the troposphere, water vapor is the largest contributor to the Earth’s greenhouse effect, accounting for about 60% of the warming effect. In addition to the warming effect, water vapor has a significant effect on many other phenomena such as the radio wave delay effect on many satellite signals such as GNSS, atmospheric chemical pollution such as ozone, formation of aerosol, climate change, and others. Water vapor is a key Essential Climate Variable (ECV) defined by the Global Climate Observing System (GCOS). Nevertheless, highresolution high-precision observation of water vapor, in both spatial and temporal domains, has long been a challenge in the meteorological society.   As one of the three research areas at the Micro-LARGE Lab, three highly competitive research grants on the atmospheric water vapor research have been successfully secured from the Hong Kong Research Grants Council (RGC) over the past years, in addition to other research grants. The Micro-LARGE Lab has acquired advanced instruments worth more than HK $5 million for water vapor research, including two advanced water vapor radiometers.   Dr. Liu has published extensively on water vapor observation and modeling. His Lab has developed novel algorithms to calibrate the water vapor data of remote sensing satellites using ground-based observations, leading to an accuracy improvement of 15-22%. In 2017, his Lab for the first time in PolyU won the “Zhu Kezhen” Prize from the Hong Kong Meteorological Society. In 2014, Dr. Liu was nominated by the Hong Kong Observatory for the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) “Norbert Gerbier-MUMM International Award for 2015” for his article that has developed a method to evaluate the absolute accuracy of water vapor measurements

LSGI Scholar George Liu invited to serve in the Editorial Board for a Journal

Recently Dr. George Liu of LSGI was invited to serve in the Editorial Board for the journal “Geomatics, Natural Hazards and Risk” (ISSN: 1947-5705; E-ISSN: 1947-5713). The journal “Geomatics, Natural Hazards and Risk”, under the publisher Taylor & Francis Group in UK, publishes papers that deal with new concepts, approaches and case studies using geospatial (Geographical Information System (GIS) and Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS)) and remote sensing techniques to study monitoring, mapping, risk management and mitigation, risk vulnerability and early warning of natural hazards. All types of natural hazards associated with land, ocean, atmosphere, land-ocean-atmosphere coupling and those induced by climate change are considered.  The journal also focuses on the emerging problems related to multi-hazard risk assessment, multi-vulnerability risk assessment, risk quantification, the economic aspects of hazards, visualization and communication.

Joint Research Laboratory in GNSS

A memorandum of understanding (MOU) on Joint Cooperative Research and Development was signed between PolyU and UniStrong TopSci Hong Kong Ltd (UniStrong) in early September 2019 for the joint development of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) technologies and associated solutions for Hong Kong. Prof. Wu Chen of LSGI and his research team are responsible for the related research projects and development.   Under the MOU, the “UniStrong and PolyU Joint GNSS Research Laboratory”(The Joint Lab) has been established at PolyU campus with close collaboration on mutually beneficial manner. The Joint Lab, aims to provide a key platform for development, testing and validation of advanced devices and systems in the GNSS technological area for the benefit of stakeholders in both academia and industry. UniStrong provides necessary products and technologies in GNSS for the development of laboratory while PolyU further develops various researches on GNSS, and works closely with UniStrong for knowledge transfer.   An opening ceremony for The Joint Lab was held at PolyU on 14 Oct 2018. It was a honor to have Dr. Brian Lin, Executive CEO of UniStrong Group, Mr. Keith Marshall, Executive International Director, Mr. Chongli Wu, VP of UniStrong, and several management representatives from UniStrong, together with Prof. Guohua Chen, Associate Vice President (Research Development) of PolyU, Prof. YL Xu, Dean of FCE, and Prof. John Shi, Head of LSGI and Prof. Wu Chen and Dr. George Liu of LSGI to officiate the ceremony. Tour and presentations were conducted to showcase the latest development in related researches.   Found in 1994, Beijing Unistrong Science and Technology Company, mother company of UniStrong TopSci HK, is a global company which provides satellite navigation, positioning services and products of GNSS, and a leader in the geospatial market. The company’s products include BEIDOU, GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO Compass navigation and positioning systems, etc. We believe that development of different research projects in GNSS can be greatly benefited under the establishment of the laboratory. 

Prof John Shi Head of LSGI Elected to IEAS

For his outstanding achievements in geographic information science, remote sensing, urban informatics and smart cities, Prof. John Shi, Head of the Department of Land Surveying and Geo-Informatics (LSGI), Otto Poon Charitable Foundation Professor in Urban Informatics, Chair Professor of GISci and Remote Sensing & Director, Laboratory for Smart City and Spatial Big Data Analytics, has been elected to be an academician of the International Eurasian Academy of Sciences (IEAS).   Established in 1996, the International Eurasian Academy of Sciences (IEAS) is a non-governmental science organization formed by natural scientists, engineering and technical experts, and social scientists from around the world, and committed to promoting international exchange in science and technology, in particular in Europe and Asia. The goal of IEAS is solving of global problems caused by contemporary civilization and working out approaches of transfer to sustainable development in social-economical and spiritual and moral spheres of human society life by integration of creative potential of figures of science, literature, art and religion of various countries   Joining a worldwide community of renowned scientists and experts from the natural sciences, engineering, and social sciences, Prof. Shi will be honoured in a ceremony scheduled for 16 November in Beijing at the China Science Center of IEAS. Congratulations to Prof. Shi!