A training course for staff of the Bridges and Structures Division of the Hong Kong Highways Department (HyD) was recently held. Provided by the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE), the series of training was the culmination of a collaborative research project that began in May 2009 between PolyU and HyD to develop structural health prognosis tools for evaluating the Stonecutters Bridge under in-service conditions. 13 reports have been completed since then, addressing the following topics:

1. the 3D space frame (implicit) finite element modelling and analysis of global bridge;
2. the full 3D hybrid (implicit) finite element modelling and analysis of global bridge;
3. the partial 3D multi-scale (implicit) finite element modelling and analysis of local bridge components; and
4. the 3D solid (explicit) finite element modelling and analysis of local bridge components.

Divided into 3 separate parts, the training was led by Dr Songye Zhu’s team from 8 to 10 February, and Prof. You-Lin Xu’s team from 22 to 24 February. The final training from 8 to 10 March 2017 will be led by Dr Yong Xia and Prof. Yiqing Ni’s teams.

Two joint studies for public policy research by Dr Charles Wong of the Department of Land Surveying and Geo-Informatics (LSGI) and Dr Lin Lu of the Department of Building Services Engineering (BSE) have found that about 75% of buildings’ rooftops in Hong Kong were suitable for implementing solar photovoltaic (PV) systems. If they were all installed for that purpose, they could supply about 10% of electrical power for the city’s consumption, reducing 3 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions from local power plants accordingly every year.

Beginning in 2013 and lasting for more than 2 years, the study used geographic information system and remote sensing technology to calculate the buildings’ overall potential for generating electricity based on an estimate of the unused building rooftop areas that could be installed with solar PV systems. Not only did the study find that 40% to 50% of days in 2013 were sunny in Hong Kong, it also noted the feasibility for more than 230,000 buildings here to take advantage of solar PV systems. The total surface area of the buildings’ roofs was between 2,800 and 3,900 hectares, which is the equivalent of 147 to 200 Victoria Parks.

According to Dr Wong, the utility rate of the rooftops of commercial buildings along the harbour from Central to Wanchai, as well as those of several landmark structures such as the Cultural Centre, for installing solar PV boards could be as high as 90%. Dr Lu added that the electricity cost from roof-mounted solar PV systems is still expensive due to high local installation costs, the energy return on investing in rooftop solar PV systems is 3 years at most. Based on the 25-year life-span of a solar PV module, it is estimated the electrical power generated after the first 3 years will be free and will not have any pollution associated with it. Moreover, Dr Lu said the Hong Kong government could consider opening the market for solar PV systems from the mainland to reduce their installation costs. The study has been widely reported in the local press such as Ming Pao Daily News, Sing Tao Daily, and Ta Kung Pao.

Practices include the target cost contracting approach and process in general, the key risk factors, risk assessment model, risk allocation and risk mitigation measures for target cost contracts in particular, together with a conceptual framework for the performance measurement of target cost contracts. Several short real-life case studies from the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Australia and New Zealand are provided for further illustration.

The book will appeal to a wide spectrum of readers, from industrial practitioners to undergraduate students, researchers and academics interested in construction contracts and procurement methods.

Prospective students and researchers alike would find this booklet useful. An online copy can be downloaded from https://www.polyu.edu.hk/fce/research_brochure.html.

Other FCE students honoured at the ceremony were Pei Wu of the Department of Building and Real Estate (BRE), Xinchang Li of the Department of Building Services Engineering (BSE), and Xuandi Fu of the Department of Land Surveying and Geo-Informatics (LSGI). They received the Outstanding Student Award of their respective departments.

On 21 January 2017, the Hong Kong Housing Society Award (HKHS Award) Presentation Ceremony was held at the World Trade Centre Club to recognize students with outstanding academic performance and also support needy students of related disciplines. 6 students from the Faculty of Construction and Environment (FCE) benefited from the awards, which were $8000 each this year. Following are their details: