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PolyU supports Rural Education Development by engaging with Yanglou Dong Primary School 2024

From 18 to 26 May 2024, a group of 53 students and academic staff from the Department of Land Surveying and Geo-Informatics (LSGI) at Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) embarked on a nine-day service-learning programme at Yanglou Dong Primary School in Chibi City, Hubei, China. The aim of this programme is to support the rural education development through hands-on teaching and practical experiences, fostering cultural exchange and emotional integration among the students and faculty. During the service-learning period, the PolyU students and faculty members engaged in meaningful interactions and learning activities with the students of Yanglou Dong Primary School. Our students brought advanced educational concepts and teaching methods, providing the local students with enriching and diverse learning experiences. The curriculum covered various subjects, including science, geography, English, arts, music, and physical education, aiming to broaden the students' horizons and stimulate their interest in multiple disciplines. Throughout the activities, the PolyU students not only imparted knowledge but also formed deep friendships with the primary school students. They attended classes and played together, becoming both mentors and friends. The local students warmly welcomed and expressed sincere gratitude to us, hoping to have more opportunities in the future to learn and interact with them. Additionally, the PolyU students also had exchanges with students from Wuhan University and the University of Hong Kong. Together, they discussed the current state and challenges of educational development and shared their teaching experiences and methods. This exchange not only deepened mutual understanding and friendship but also laid a solid foundation for future cooperation and communication. Our department highly values this service-learning programme, Dr. Lai Wai Lok, Associate Head (Teaching) and Associate Professor of LSGI, stated that this programme is not only an educational support initiative but also an opportunity for cultural exchange and emotional connection. Through such activities, more students and faculty members can understand the current conditions and needs of rural education and contribute their efforts to its development. Principal Yina of Yanglou Dong Primary School expressed heartfelt gratitude for the visit by the PolyU students and faculty. She noted that this activity provided unprecedented learning experiences and opportunities for the school's students, which is significant for improving the school's teaching quality and promoting the comprehensive development of students. The successful implementation of this service-learning programme by the Department of LSGI at PolyU at Yanglou Dong Primary School not only injected new vitality into rural education development but also provided valuable learning and exchange opportunities for both students and faculty. It is believed that such activities will continue to emerge in our lives, making greater contributions to the advancement of education in the future.

LSGI Scholar’s Granted Project aims to Develop Low-Cost Remote Sensing System for Detecting Illegal Dumping of Construction Waste in Hong Kong

Dr. ZHU Xiaolin, Associate Professor at the Department of Land Surveying & Geo-Informatics (LSGI) at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), was invited to share the findings of his project on the news media "DotDotNews" on 4 June 2024. His project, titled "Developing Low-Cost Remote Sensing System for Detecting Illegal Dumping of Construction Waste in Hong Kong", showcases the impact of granted projects of the Public Policy Research (PPR) Funding Scheme of the Chief Executive's Policy Unit of the HKSAR Government. The project aims to use satellite remote sensing technology to improve the efficiency and coverage of detecting illegal construction waste dumping activities. This technology acts as a "super eye in the sky," capturing hidden illegal dumping behaviors through high-resolution satellite imagery. The current government approach relies on patrols and surveillance cameras, which can be costly and have limited coverage. In contrast, the satellite remote sensing technology can quickly locate illegal dumping activities, enhance monitoring efficiency, and reduce the cost of enforcement. The project's findings will help the government formulate more effective policies to tackle illegal dumping, reduce environmental pollution, protect the ecosystem, and improve the public's quality of life, ultimately creating a better living environment for current and future generations. Thank you for the efforts made by Dr. Zhu and his research team. Online coverage (on 4 June 2024): DotDotNews    

International Study Tour in Singapore 2024

A group of 28 students and academic staff from the Department of Land Surveying and Geo-Informatics (LSGI) at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) participated in a study tour in Singapore from 19 to 23 May. The objective of this fruitful journey was to provide students with a learning platform to explore Singapore's urban development. During the tour, the LSGI students worked collaboratively, exchanging ideas on the concepts they observed. They visited various key locations such as the National Parks Board (NParks), Singapore City Gallery at the Urban Redevelopment Authority, Sustainable Singapore Gallery at Marina Barrage, Singapore Mobility Gallery at the Land Transport Authority, the Singapore Land Authority (SLA), Sky Green Farm, and the National University of Singapore. These visits provided the students with a comprehensive understanding of Singapore's innovative technologies and approaches that could be applied in Hong Kong to enhance urban greenery management. The highlight of the tour was the field trip to Sky Greens Farm, the world's first low-carbon, hydraulic-driven vertical farm. This ground-breaking facility showcases cutting-edge urban agricultural technology, including 6-9 meter tall rotating vertical planters and a capillary irrigation system that reuses organic waste materials, thereby promoting a sustainable closed-loop system. The visit provided valuable lessons on how densely populated cities, similar to Hong Kong, can implement vertical farming technologies to enhance local food production, utilize underused spaces effectively, and contribute to the development of eco-friendly urban environments. Throughout the trip, LSGI professors - Dr Yang XU, Associate Professor, Dr Shuo WANG, Associate Professor, and Dr Tiangang YIN, Assistant Professor – broadened the students' horizons on smart city and forestry-related topics, sharing techniques like using indirect data for tourist mobility tracing and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) for tree health monitoring. This experiential learning opportunity allowed the students to step beyond the traditional classroom setting, engage with real-world examples, and deepen their understanding of urban planning, sustainability, and technology integration – insights they can apply to Hong Kong's future development.  

LSGI two Scholars win Smart Living Partnership Awards 2023/24

We are pleased to announce that two scholars from the Department of Land Surveying and Geo-Informatics (LSGI) at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) have been recognized for their outstanding contributions to smart city development. Prof. DING Xiaoli, DoRILS and Chair Professor of Geomatics, and Ir Dr Wallace LAI, Associate Head (Teaching) and Associate Professor, have both been awarded the Smart Living Partnership Award 2023/24. Prof. Ding's project, "Outstanding Land Subsidence Monitoring Technology by Integrating Satellite Remote Sensing & Mobile Surveying," was recognized under the "Smart Building/ Environment Technology/ Green Technology" category. This innovative project, developed in collaboration with the Logistics and Supply Chain MultiTech R&D Centre (LSCM), aims to efficiently monitor land subsidence over large areas using satellite remote sensing and mobile surveying technologies. Ir Dr Lai's project, "Outstanding Imaging Technologies for Rapid Leakage Diagnosis of High-Pressure and Large Water Mains," was also awarded in the same category. This project focuses on using GPR and acoustic sensor networks to rapidly diagnose water leaks in Hong Kong's underground pressurized water mains. This work supports the government's goal of reducing water loss in the city's distribution network from 15% to 10% by 2030, through the application of advanced imaging and machine learning solutions. This success of this project relies on the collaboration between LSGI, Ming Hing Waterworks and Logistics and Supply Chain MultiTech R&D Centre (LSCM). The Smart Living Partnership Award 23/24 is presented by ETNet, a leading platform for exchanging financial information. The award aims to recognize and support outstanding companies or organizations that demonstrate a commitment to promoting Hong Kong as a smart city, improving the city's competitiveness, and increasing public awareness of digitalization. We congratulate Prof. Ding, Ir Dr Lai, and their respective research teams on their remarkable achievements! Their innovative work is evidence to LSGI's ongoing efforts to contribute to the development of a more sustainable and technologically advanced Hong Kong.   Online coverage: ETNet - https://polyu.me/4e0Kw94  

PolyU JUPAS Consultation Day 2024 - Part I

The PolyU JUPAS Consultation Day 2024 was concluded successfully on 18 May 2024 (Saturday). On the day of event, many recent DSE candidates and their parents showed great interest in our department. In addition to visiting our consultation counter to inquire about JUPAS subject selection strategies, students and parents also attended our programme information seminar and participated in mock admission interviews to gain a deeper understanding of our programme information and get practical interview experience with our professors! The presentations also featured LSGI student sharing their learning and life experiences at PolyU, which we believe was greatly beneficial for the attendees! Thank you for the support from students and parents. We look forward to seeing all again on PolyU campus!

LSGI Master Student Wins the Best Oral Presentation Award in the Nexus Forum 2024 - Sustainable Exploration of Interdisciplinary Research and Innovation

We are pleased to share that our student in the Master of Science (MSc) in Urban Informatics and Smart Cities programme, Mr. Haotian WANG (under the supervision of Dr. Xintao LIU, Associate Professor), from Department of Land Surveying and Geo-Informatics (LSGI) at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), has won the Best Oral Presentation Award at the Nexus Forum 2024 on “Sustainable Exploration of Interdisciplinary Research and Innovation”, which was held on the PolyU campus on 9-10 May 2024. Haotian’s award-winning research, titled “Exploring Urban Odor Characteristics from Citizens Perception: A Case Study of Hong Kong”, proposes a novel approach to explore the characteristics of urban odor from the citizens’ subjective perception. This new view utilizes social media data for dual analysis: keyword extraction and sentiment analysis map odor perception, and uses regression analysis evaluates their correlation with multifaceted urban environmental factors. The Nexus Forum 2024 was co-organized by PolyU and Cell Press, with a theme of “Sustainable Exploration of Interdisciplinary Research and Innovation”. The conference attracted over 150 participants, including international keynote speakers, authors, session chairs, staff members and students. The conference covered four main topics: interdisciplinary solutions for sustainable futures, innovative materials-based solutions, carbon neutrality and energy system transformations (CNEST), and advancements in data-driven science and technology. Nexus is Cell Press’s first partner journal in the physical sciences and the first title published in collaboration with a university. Its addition marks Cell Press’s continued growth in open access physical sciences titles, which include Cell Reports Physical Science and Cell Reports Sustainability.To learn more about Nexus, please visit https://www.cell.com/nexus/home . Congratulations to our MSc student, Haotian WANG, on this recognition!  

LSGI scholar engaged with media to discuss remote sensing research on space exploration and the I&T development

Prof. WU Bo, Associate Head (Research) & Professor of LSGI and Associate Director of the Research Centre for Deep Space Explorations (RCDSE), was interviewed by “GD Today”, sharing the experience of his team in the research works as well as his view on the evolution of innovation and technology (I&T) in Hong Kong. Prof. Wu and his research team are actively engaged in the Chang’e-7 and Tianwen-2 missions through devoting their own expertise to the projects. With the use of remote sensing data over the surfaces of the Moon or Mars and topographic analysis technologies, they construct detailed topographic maps of those surfaces, aiming to estimate safe and scientifically significant landing sites. Prof. Wu shared his experience in the research work for the Tianwen-2 mission. In that project, the lack of satisfactory data posed significant obstacles to the research on mapping and remote sensing analysis. Therefore, the team constructed a test site within the laboratory to simulate real environments for analysis and facilitate advancements in surveying, mapping, and remote sensing. The goal of this endeavor was to enable effective measurement and analysis of irregular stellar objects, as well as the identification and tracking of potential landing sites for future analysis. Additionally, Prof. Wu added that artificial intelligence techniques were utilized in satellite image processing, advancing research efficiency and reliability. Regarding I&T development, he believed that its position became more dominant in Hong Kong. Considering that situation and closer cooperation between Hong Kong and Mainland China, he commented that it was crucial for researchers in Hong Kong to proactively embrace the forthcoming research opportunities, thereby driving the progress and development of Hong Kong, the Greater Bay Area, and the nation.    Online coverage (on 11 May 2024): Nanfang Daily Southcn.com HK Today East Money

LSGI Scholar is appointed as the Founding Chair of Hong Kong Branch of the 142-year-old Canadian Institute of Geomatics (CIG)

We are pleased to announce that Prof. George Zhizhao LIU, a Professor at the Department of Land Surveying and Geo-Informatics (LSGI), The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) was recently appointed as the Founding Chair of Hong Kong Branch of the 142-year-old Canadian Institute of Geomatics (CIG). Prof. Liu is an internationally respected scholar with both industrial and academic experiences in basic research as well as applications of geomatics technologies. Over the years, Prof. Liu’s Micro-Laboratory of Atmospheric Research and Geomatics Engineering (Micro-LARGE) has made significant contributions to the community through unique developments and innovations in various areas, including Global Positioning System (GPS)/Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) precise positioning algorithms and data quality analysis, ionosphere scintillation monitoring and 3D Total Electron Content (TEC) modeling, impact of space weather on satellite navigation and flight operation, monitoring of atmospheric water vapor and 3D modeling, retrieval and calibration of satellite remote sensing water vapor data, and assimilation of atmospheric water vapor in Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) models. His Micro-LARGE Lab is the first one internationally to study and evaluate the impact of space weather on flight operation from an economic cost perspective and to propose response strategies, which was highly commended by senior scientist at the NASA JPL and was selected as a research highlight in the Nature Reviews Earth & Environment Journal (IF: 42.1). Multiple algorithms developed by the Micro-LARGE for GNSS data processing have been widely used by research groups in many universities, research institutions and industries worldwide. Prof. Liu’s Micro-LARGE Lab is the first one in the world to calibrate all-weather (including cloudy condition) near-infrared (NIR) band satellite remote sensing water vapor data and also the first one to assimilate all-weather NIR band satellite remote sensing water vapor data into NWP. Founded in 1882, the Canadian Institute of Geomatics (CIG) was originally known as the Canadian Institute of Surveying (CIS) until it was renamed in 1999. CIG is a professional organization that was initially established to support the surveying profession in Canada. Over the years, as the field of surveying evolved and expanded to include other geospatial technologies, the organization also evolved to reflect these changes. The establishment of the Hong Kong Branch is to establish a strong professional connection between the Canadian geomatics community and the one in Hong Kong and Asia. Geomatics, also known as geospatial technology, includes the tools and techniques used in land surveying, remote sensing, cartography, geographic information systems (GIS), global-navigation satellite systems (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, Beidou), photogrammetry, and related forms of earth mapping. The institute aims to lead the advancement of geomatics in Canada and worldwide and offers a platform for geospatial information professionals worldwide to share ideas, collaborate on research, and promote the use of geomatics in various sectors of the economy. CIG organizes conferences, seminars, and workshops, and publishes a peer-reviewed scientific journal called “Geomatica”. The institute also provides scholarships and awards to recognize individuals who have made significant contributions to the field of geomatics.  

LSGI Scholar's Expert Opinion Reveals China's Land Subsidence Study

Prof. DING Xiaoli, Chair Professor of Geomatics in the Department of LSGI at PolyU, has gained international recognition for his expertise on land subsidence issues. In recent interviews with Nature and BBC World Service's "Newshour", Prof. Ding discussed the research in a paper revealing alarming statistics: approximately 16% of the mapped areas in China's major cities are sinking rapidly. Within a century, one in ten residents in coastal cities could be living below sea level. He emphasised that subsidence is not exclusive to China, and excessive groundwater usage could be the primary cause, highlighting the importance of controlling groundwater usage as an effective solution. Online coverage Nature BBC World Service Recording

LSGI Research Team's GNSS Monitoring System Wins Gold at 49th Geneva Invention Exhibition

We are thrilled to announce that the project “Hong Kong GNSS Signal Quality Monitoring and Interference Detection System,” led by Prof. Wu Chen, Head of the Department of Land Surveying and Geo-Informatics (LSGI), in cooperation with the Logistics and Supply Chain MultiTech R&D Centre (LSCM), has been awarded the Gold Medal at the 49th International Exhibition of Inventions in Geneva, held from 17-21 April 2024. The International Exhibition of Inventions in Geneva is one of the most prestigious events in the field of innovation and technology, attracting inventors and researchers from around the globe. Winning a Gold Medal at this event is a testament to the ground-breaking nature and exceptional quality of our project. The Hong Kong GNSS Signal Quality Monitoring and Interference Detection System is an innovative solution designed to continuously monitor the quality of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) data in specific local areas. It identifies any sources that may interfere with GNSS signals, ensuring the integrity and reliability of satellite-based navigation and positioning services. This system is designed for global deployment and offers comprehensive monitoring, locating, and warning services. It significantly enhances the positioning service for various applications, including unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), communication systems, and other critical infrastructure that rely on accurate GNSS data. The development of this system involved cutting-edge research and collaboration between LSGI and LSCM, showcasing the synergy between academic research and practical application. The system's ability to detect and mitigate interference in GNSS signals is crucial for maintaining the accuracy and reliability of navigation and positioning services, which are vital for numerous industries and applications worldwide. A key contributor to this project is Dr. Weng Duojie, Research Assistant Professor of LSGI, whose expertise and dedication have been instrumental in the success of the system. The recognition at the International Exhibition of Inventions in Geneva underscores the significant impact and potential of our research and development efforts. It highlights the importance of our work in advancing technology and contributing to the global community. This achievement would not have been possible without the dedication and hard work of Prof. Wu Chen, Dr. Weng Duojie and the entire research team. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to the team for this outstanding achievement.