CEE researchers and students setting up sensors and data acquisition units on the HZMB.

A new national field research station for the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge (HZMB) will be established with the help of a team of researchers from the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE). Led by Associate Head Ir Prof. Xia Yong, the CEE Team engaging in this vital national project includes CEE colleagues Prof. Zhu Songye and Dr Dong You and specifically focuses on exploring structural safety monitoring, condition assessment, and maintenance strategies of sea-crossing bridges.

Sea-crossing bridges are always vital to the economic development of highly urbanized coastal areas, yet at the same time they are prone to corrosive marine environment and natural hazards. The CEE team, in collaboration their counterparts of the station, will collect real-time data, assess and predict the in-service condition of the bridge, and develop advanced technologies for intelligent operation and cost-effective maintenance of mega bridges. The structural health monitoring group of CEE has a long historical legacy and reputation in the area, with its research applying to numerous landmark structures like the Tsing Ma Bridge, Canton Tower and Shanghai Tower. The HZMB is the latest example.

National Field Scientific Observation and Research Stations have been set up by the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) since the late 1990s. Focusing on ecology, special environments, geophysics and materials corrosion, and now the maritime environment, as well as structural safety, such research stations have been an integral part of the national technology innovation infrastructure. The new HZMB station is one of the three national stations in transportation areas approved by the MOST in October 2021.

At the signing ceremony

A Memorandum of Understanding, about the use of Q-Leak to provide holistic solutions to diagnose underground pipe leakages, was signed between the Department of Land Surveying and Geo-Informatics (LSGI) and the Water Supplies Department (WSD) of the HKSAR Government on 29 November 2021.

Designed by Ir Dr Wallace Lai, the construction of Q-Leak, the 24,000 square feet underground water mains leak detection training hub in Tsing Yi North Service Reservoir, was completed in late July 2021. It is the first of its kind in the world for training and developing technology transfer solutions of detecting and diagnosing underground water pipe leaks. It is envisaged that Q-Leak will serve as a teaching and research cooperation platform for the benefit of industry practitioners, PolyU students and researchers, and high school students.

To strengthen ties and promote collaboration with industry, a group of academics of the Faculty of Construction and Environment (FCE) met with the management of China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) on 1 December 2021. No strangers to one another, CRBC has collaborated with FCE colleagues on the structural health monitoring, steel structure, and steel bridge deck paving of the iconic Tseung Kwan O Cross Bay Link project. Sharing a mutual interest in common topics like the environment and geotechnical engineering, more collaboration opportunities between CRBC and FCE will be materialized in the future.

To encourage its academics to apply for major China grants and enhance their success rate, the Faculty of Construction and Environment (FCE) held a workshop on 30 November 2021 to share some successful experiences of writing proposals for China grants. Prof. Xiang-dong Li, Dean of FCE, delivered some opening remarks, after which the following speakers shared their respective experiences.

More than 100 FCE academics participated in the workshop, which ended with closing remarks from Prof. Meng Ni, Associate Dean (Research).

The team with their handmade model

A trio of students from the Faculty of Construction and Environment (FCE) has received a merit award in the 2020/21 Social Innovation Inventor Design Competition. In response to the concern for hygiene in public markets and the demand for municipal services, Miss Ching Hei Chan and Miss Tsin Tung Ng of the Department of Building and Real Estate (BRE) teamed up with Miss Kai Wing Tai of the Department of Land Surveying and Geo-Informatics (LSGI) to design a smart building for municipal services. Known as “The Bliss”, the building aims to meet the needs of residents in Tseung Kwan O and LOHAS Park with the provision of a smart wet market, a smart library, clinics, farming and greening places etc. Embracing the core values of balance, health, intelligence, share, and environmental-friendliness, it is their ultimate goal of achieving sustainable development in Tseung Kwan O. To visualize their idea, the multi-disciplinary team adopted the concept of smart city to develop a green handmade model, which was well received by the judges.

Organised by the World Green Organisation (WGO) since 2014, the Social Innovation Inventor Design Competition aims at igniting the younger generation’s creativity in designing innovative and environmental-friendly ideas for shaping a better and inclusive society.

A former visiting PhD student, Mr Mingchen Zhu, in the Micro-Laboratory of Atmospheric Research and Geomatics Engineering (Micro-LARGE) of the Department of Land Surveying & Geo-Informatics (LSGI) has won the prestigious “Zhu Kezhen” Prize for 2021 from the Hong Kong Meteorological Society (HKMetS). Entitled “Observing Water Vapor Variability During Three Super Typhoon Events in Hong Kong based on GPS Water Vapor Tomographic Modeling Technique,” the paper numerically characterizes the water vapor spatial and temporal variations for the first time during the life cycle of three super typhoons, demonstrating the effectiveness of using GPS/GNSS water vapor tomographic technique to study water vapor evolution during typhoons. It was published by the Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres in 2020.

Commemorating the outstanding service of the founding Chairman, Mr Patrick Sham Pak, to the Hong Kong Meteorological Society and in honour of the distinguished Chinese meteorologist, Mr Kezhen Zhu, the “Zhu Kezhen” Prize is only given to meritorious publications in the field of meteorology.

On 3 December 2021, Prof. Linda Xiao, Associate Dean of the Faculty of Construction and Environment (FCE) attended the forum organized by the Federation of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Alumni Associations (FHKPUAA) Limited to meet with PolyU alumni and exchange ideas on the coordination of future reunion activities. Convening the forum was Ir Yau Kwok Fai, an alumnus of FCE and Vice President of FHKPUAA. After hearing about updates of FHKPUAA and various alumni associations, participants discussed the role of the alumni network in the generation of social media and the use of technology to engage alumni online. More reunion activities could be expected in the year ahead as PolyU celebrates its 85th anniversary in 2022.

The Faculty of Construction and Environment (FCE) has three long-serving staff retiring in December 2021. They are Dr Ann Yu of the Department of Building and Real Estate (BRE), Prof. Kwok-wing Chau and Dr Eddie Lam of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE). They all received a souvenir as a token of appreciation from the Faculty Dean Prof. Xiang-dong Li, on their last day of service.

Prof. Xiang-dong Li (on left) presenting souvenirs to FCE long-serving staff