4 scholars from the Faculty of Construction and Environment (FCE) have recently been approved for research funding from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC). Following are the details:

From 13 to 16 August 2017, PolyU hosted an International Symposium on Planetary Remote Sensing and Mapping as part of its 80th anniversary celebrations. Jointly organized by the International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ISPRS) and PolyU’s Department of Land Surveying and Geo-Informatics (LSGI) with the support of an organizing committee chaired by Dr Bo Wu, the Symposium provides an interdisciplinary forum for leading scientists and researchers from different countries to share the latest research and developments from the recent missions exploring the Moon, Mars, and other planets by NASA, ESA (European Space Agency), China, and other countries.

The opening ceremony on 14 August included speeches by Prof. Wen-zhong Shi, Head of LSGI, and Prof. Kaichang Di from the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). The Dean of the Faculty of Construction and Environment (FCE), Prof. You-Lin Xu, then presented souvenirs to the 5 keynote speakers: Prof. Raymond Arvidson of Washington University in St. Louis, Prof. Nicolas Thomas of the University of Bern in Switzerland, Dr Randy Kirk of the U.S. Geological Survey, Prof. Kaichang Di of CAS, and Dr Carsten Guttler of the Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research in Germany.

In the three-day period, the Symposium was well received by over 60 participants with 10 different sessions, covering various themes including planetary photogrammetry, planetary remote sensing, GIS, cartography, planetary geology and planetary exploration missions.

For more details, please visit: http://event.lsgi.polyu.edu.hk/prsm2017/.

Participants of the symposium

From 8 to 10 August 2017, about 100 scholars, engineers, and government officials gathered at PolyU for the 10th International Conference on Road and Airfield Pavement Technology (ICPT). They were warmly welcomed by 2 colleagues from the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE), Dr Zhen Leng and Dr Yuhong Wang, co-chairs of the organizing committee of ICPT; Prof. You-Lin Xu, Dean of the Faculty of Construction and Environment (FCE), who noted the importance of the conference for exploring the latest advances in transport infrastructure; as well as Prof. Tien Fang Fwa from the National University of Singapore, who chairs the international executive committee of ICPT. An opening speech on pavement research in Hong Kong was also delivered by Mr Albert Ho-hoi Liu, Assistant Director (Development) of the government’s Highways Department. This was followed by keynote addresses from Prof. Hussain Bahia of the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Prof. Andre Molenaar of the Delft University of Technology, who spoke respectively on the novel modifications of asphalt binders and mixtures for better investments in roads and airfields as well as on water-storing, quiet, and durable pavements.

In addition, there were 13 technical sessions on various aspects of pavement technology, including a poster exhibition, and a closing keynote address by Prof. Dallas Little of Texas A&M University on the impact of mechanics and geo-chemistry on the analysis of pavement performance. Participants also had a chance to tour the Tsing Ma Bridge, the Hong Kong Airport Third Runway, and the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge.

Promoting research and development in pavement engineering, the 3-day conference was supported by Shell Bitumen, TIPTOP China Limited, Earth Products China Limited, Anton Paar GmbH, Asphalt Surfaces (International) Limited, Build & Test Technology Limited, Excel Asphalt Limited, Hong Kong Asphalt (Green) Limited, Jiangsu Provincial Institute of Traffic Science, K. Wah Construction Materials, FCE, CEE, and the Research Institute for Sustainable Urban Development of PolyU.

Participants of the conference

To share some recent stories of success in securing competitive funding from the Hong Kong Research Grants Council (RGC), the Faculty of Construction and Environment (FCE) Annual Forum was held on 1 September 2017. Opening the forum was Prof. Xiang-dong Li, Associate Dean (Research), who stressed the importance of research grants for academic careers and the university. About 100 scholars and researchers attended the event, which featured 6 speakers. Dr Mesthrige Jayantha Wadu, a Research Assistant Professor of the Department of Building and Real Estate (BRE) shared his experience of writing a proposal for the Early Career Scheme, while Dr Mingli Chen of the Department of Building Services Engineering (BSE) shared his experience of securing grants from the General Research Fund. Prof. Kwok-Fai Chung, Associate Head (Academic Development) of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE), spoke as a member of the RGC Engineering Panel. Prof. Paul Lam, Chief-of-Staff (Vice-President) of the City University of Hong Kong as well as Chair Professor of Biology of the Department of Chemistry and Director of State Key Laboratory in Marine Pollution, was there on account of his success in securing a Collaborative Research Fund, while Prof. Tao Wang, Chair Professor of Atmospheric Environment of CEE, talked about his success in getting funding from the Theme-based Research Scheme. Finally, Prof. Xiaoli Ding, Associate Dean (Partnership), shared his experience in recruiting PhD students through the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme. The discussion generated by the speakers was inspiring and motivating. Concluding remarks were delivered by Prof. You-Lin Xu, Dean of FCE, who also presented a souvenir to Prof. Lam.

From 5 to 11 July 2017, a group of 21 nondestructive testing (NDT) engineers from the US, Poland, Finland, Croatia, Ireland, Australia, Germany, Switzerland, China, Hong Kong attended a workshop in Berlin, Germany. Organized by Dr Herbert Wiggenhauser, Head of the Department in Non-destructive Damage Assessment and Environmental Measurement Methods of the Federal Institute of Materials Research and Testing (BAM), Berlin, and co-organized by Ir Dr Wallace W.L. Lai of LSGI, the workshop was the fifth run since the first one began in 2013. Covering everything from the basics to the advances in NDT-CE technologies, the workshop included testing, evaluation and imaging technologies in civil engineering, such as classical NDT, concept of validation, principles and hands-on practice of impact echo, ground penetrating radar, ultrasonics, thermography, laser-induced spectroscopy, geophysical methods, pile testing, surface wave, electrochemistry of corrosion process, moisture measurement, data fusion, etc. There was also a one-day visit to a test site in Horstwalde (a forest 50 km away from Berlin), where a few practical survey instruments were demonstrated. The workshop was highly rated by the participants. The next one will be in 2018. For more information, please refer to http://www.ndte-training.bam.de/en/home/index.htm.

Participants of the workshop in Berlin

The FCE Award for Outstanding PhD Thesis comes with a cash prize of HK$10,000 and a certificate signed by the Faculty Dean. She will receive the award at the Faculty Congregation and Prize Presentation Ceremony in late October.

As part of the training for a career in the construction industry, 120 Higher Diploma students and 7 undergraduates from the Department of Building and Real Estate (BRE) participated in a summer construction project to build 3 shelters. Under the supervision of professional engineers at PolyU’s Industrial Centre, students assumed one of various roles that are commonly found in real life construction projects, such as Authorized Person, Project Manager, Registered Structural Engineer, Site Engineer, Quantity Surveyor, BIM Engineer, Safety Officer etc. to implement the project. Construction materials were mainly donated by the Contractor’s Authorised Signatory Association and the Registered Minor Works Contractor Signatory Association. Using advanced technologies and equipment, students designed the shelters with the aid of Autodesk Revits, a building information modeling software, and planned a schedule for the construction project with the aid of Microsoft Project, a project management software. Not only were they exposed to science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education in the process, students also learnt about the importance of teamwork. The finished shelters were later given to the Ebenezer School & Home for the Visually Impaired in a ceremony on 1 August 2017.

Meanwhile, 67 Higher Diploma students in Civil Engineering from the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) put their skills to practical use in a construction project in Lai Chi Wo. Working in teams, they made enhancements to some farm paths, built a roof cover, and drew a 3-dimensional model of the village. It was a great learning experience for them all, thanks to the support from staff of the Industrial Centre.

From 7 to 11 August 2017, 10 undergraduates and postgraduates from the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) went on an exchange programme to Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST) in Wuhan, China. Organized by Dr Songye Zhu of CEE and Dr Wenai Shen from HUST, the programme allowed students from both universities to learn from one another in an academic seminar on seismic base isolation techniques. In addition to sharing sessions, there were tours to Hubei Key Laboratory in Structural Control, the Wuhan National High Magnetic Field Center, and the Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics; field trips to Gezhou Dam, the Three Gorges Dam, and the Yiling Yangtze River Bridge; as well as visits to the Yellow Crane Tower Park, the Memorial Hall of Wuchang Uprising in 1911 Revolution, and the Yichang Planning Exhibition Hall. All the students agreed that the exchange provided a valuable opportunity for them to broaden their perspectives and make new friends.

On 29 August 2017, incoming freshmen of the Faculty’s full-time undergraduate degree and higher diploma programmes came to PolyU for one of several orientations. Each of the new students attended the respective orientation of his/ her chosen programme/ department. At the orientation for the Broad Discipline of Construction and Environment (BDCE), students were welcomed and introduced to the BDCE team by Prof. Geoffrey Shen, Associate Dean (Teaching) of the Faculty of Construction and Environment (FCE). They were also introduced to the BDCE curriculum and academic advising for it by Prof. Yat-Hung Chiang, the BDCE Programme Leader. The BDCE academic advisors from the Faculty’s 4 departments then took turns introducing the respective departments, namely, Dr Daniel Chan for the Department of Building and Real Estate (BRE), Dr Wai-Ling Lee for the Department of Building Services Engineering (BSE), Prof. Kwok-Fai Chung for the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE), and Dr Lilian Pun for the Department of Land Surveying and Geo-Informatics (LSGI). The University Health Service (UHS) was also on hand to introduce its services for mental wellness, as was the Centre for Student Advancement and Resources (Centre STARS), which gave a briefing before the orientation concluded.

An orientation for full-time MSc students newly admitted to FCE was held on 28 August 2017. After Prof. You-Lin Xu, Dean of FCE, welcomed them and introduced the Faculty, the Postgraduate Scheme in Construction and Environment was introduced to them by Prof. Geoffrey Shen, Chairman of the Postgraduate Scheme. The Heads of the 4 FCE departments then introduced their respective department, namely, Prof. Albert Chan for BRE, Prof. Ya-Ping Du (Associate Head) for BSE, Prof. William Lam for CEE, and Prof. John Shi for LSGI. A Senior Medical Officer from the UHS, Dr Dana Lo, also introduced its services for mental wellness before students attended one of ten break-out sessions to meet their programme leaders.