CivilEngineering

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土木工程系Newsletter | September 2006 - February 2007

The University of Hong Kong

Honorary Professorship Certificate Presentation Ceremony

The Department held a ceremony on January 17, 2007 to honour nine outstanding dignitaries for their contributions in teaching and research to the Department and contributions in professional services to the community of Hong Kong. The list of Honorary Professors is: Professors Chan Hon Chuen, Cheung Yau Kai, Leslie Arthur Clark, John Hudson, Ko Hon Yim, Law Kum Tim, Sarah Liao Sau-Tung, Qian Yi, and Wang Shu Cheng. Professor T.S. Ng, Dean of Engineering presented the Certificates of Honorathe Certificates of Honorary Professorship for the Department, and Pro-Vice-Chancellors Professor C.F. Lee and Professor J.H.W. Lee also attended the ceremony.

Universitas 21 - Technical Session on Urban Water Management

Immediately following the International Symposium on Sustainable and Safe Water Supplies, the Universitas 21 - Technical Session on Urban Water Management organized by Professor Joseph H.W. Lee was held on January 17, 2007. Universitas 21 (U21) is an international network of 20 leading research-intensive universities in eleven countries, aiming to facilitate collaboration and cooperation among its members. In the past few years, U21 selected two strategic research themes as its major among its members. In the past few years, U21 selected two strategic research themes as its major collaborative research initiatives and Sustainable Water is one of them. The Technical Session provided an opportunity for the key drivers of the U21 water initiative to present the U21 sustainable water vision and to interact with key stakeholders in Hong Kong and the region. Cutting-edge research addressing the unique sustainable water issues in different cities was presented in the following lectures.

•U21 initiative: water futures for sustainable cities (Professor John Langford, Melbourne)••Vulnerability of two estuaries subject to climate change pressures (Professor Alan Ervine, Glasgow)•River restoration: challenges and opportunities in the urban environment (Professor Nicholas Clifford, Nottingham)•Real time hydro-environmental modeling and visualization system for public engagement (Professor Joseph H.W. Lee, HKU)•Using urban aquifers: an examination of issues and opportunities (Professor Rae Mackay, Birmingham)•A statistical approach to downscaling of sub-daily extreme rainfall processes for climate-related impact studies in urban areas (Professor studies in urban areas (Professor Van-Thanh-Van Nguyen, McGill)

Departmental Events

The Fourth Lumb LectureProfessor John A. Cherry of the University of Waterloo, Canada delivered The Fourth Lumb Lecture entitled “Geo-environmental Aspects of Groundwater Pollution” on October 14, 2006 at Loke Yew Hall, The University of Hong Kong. It was well attended by about 200 participants which included engineers, professionals, academics and students. The lecture, in commemoration of the late Professor Peter Lumb, takes place biennially and is organised by the Department and the Geotechnical Division of HKIE.Geotechnical Division of HKIE.

Journal of Hydro-environment ResearchProfessor J.H.W. Lee is the editor of the Journal of Hydro-environment Research that will be published by Elsevier in April 2007. The new journal represents a collaboration between Elsevier, the International Association of Hydraulic Engineering and Research (IAHR), its Asia Pacific Division (IAHR-APD) and the Korea Water Resources Association (KWRA). The journal provides an international platform for the dissemination of research and engineering applications related to water and hydraulic problems in the Asia-water and hydraulic problems in the Asia-Pacific region. As the official journal of the Asia Pacific Division of the International Association of Hydraulic Engineering and Research, the new journal is the brain-child of a team of Asia-Pacific water experts, whose vision is to provide a forum for promising young Asian researchers to develop and contribute to new knowledge and thinking on the world stage. Journal of Hydro-environment Research is financially sponsored by the KWRA and has taken two years from conception to the final publisher agreement with Elsevier. A Launching Symposium for the Journal was successfully organised by Professor A Launching Symposium for the Journal was successfully organised by Professor Lee and Dr. K.M. Lam, Deputy Editor, on January 18-19, 2007 at The University of Hong Kong. The Opening Ceremony was officiated by Professor Paul Tam, Pro-Vice-Chancellor of HKU, Ir C.K. Wong, Director of Drainage Services of the Government of Hong Kong, Dr. Christopher George, Executive Director of IAHR and Dr. H.S. Woo, Vice-President of the KWRA. It was attended by many members of the International Editorial and Advisory Board who are renowned Asia water experts from countries including India, Iran, Korea, Japan, Singapore, UK, USA, and Greater China (Mainland, Hong Kong, and and Taiwan). The technical presentations reflected the range and uniqueness of many Asia-Pacific water problems, as well as the commitment of the editors to launch a high quality international journal with APD characteristics. The Symposium also included a half-day technical visit to see the exquisite migratory birds on the wetlands in the Mai Po Nature Reserve, a RAMSAR site next to Deep Bay along the Hong Kong - Shenzhen Border - a water body facing immense environmental pressures arising from extremely rapid urban development.

International Symposium on Innovative Design of Steel StructuresThe Symposium organised by Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Hong Kong was held on November 10, 2006 in the Intercontinental Grand Stanford Hotel, Kowloon, Hong Kong. The opening remarks of the Symposium were delivered by Professor Y.K. Cheung, Special Advisor to the Vice-Chancellor of The University of Hong Kong, and the closing remarks were delivered by Ir Y.K. Cheng, Chairman of the Joint Structural Division of HKIE and IStructE. Nine prominent overseas and local academics, researchers and engineers presented and shared their and local academics, researchers and engineers presented and shared their experience on the latest development and technology in the field of steel and composite structures. The papers were published in the symposium proceedings, edited by the symposium chairman, Dr. B. Young. The symposium was attended by over 120 engineers from various government departments, consultant firms and construction companies. The sponsorship for this Symposium from the Corus Asia Limited is gratefully acknowledged.

International Symposium on Sustainable and Safe Water SuppliesA two-day International Symposium on Sustainable and Safe Supplies was held at HKU on January 15-16 at the Rayson Huang Theatre. This Symposium, which was attended by 314 participants including over 70 from Mainland China and overseas, was organized by Professor H.H.P. Fang of our Department with the support of Drs. A. Koenig and K.M. Lam plus three other colleagues from the Faculty of Science. The Hon. Professor Sarah Liao Sau-Tung, Secretary of ETWB, delivered the opening address and Ir C.C. Chan the closing address.opening address and Ir C.C. Chan the closing address.

Nineteen internationally renowned speakers from four continents were invited to deliver speeches in four areas related to Sustainable Water, which has been identified by HKU as one of its strategicresearch areas. Professor Peter Wilderer (the 2003 recipient of the prestigious Stockholm Water Prize) from Germany and two members of National Academy of Engineering from China and the U.S.A.(Professor Qian Yi of Tsinghua University and Professor Daniel P. Loucks of Cornell University)were among the speakers. Local speakers included Professors J.H.W. Lee, H.H.P. Fang and David Dudgeon of HKU and Professor Dudgeon of HKU and Professor Paul K.S. Lam of CityU. Other speakers were from Australia, U.S.A.,Singapore, Japan, Korea, Mainland China, Taiwan and Macau.

The 11th International Conference of Hong Kong Society for Transportation Studies (HKSTS)The 11th International Conference of Hong Kong Society for Transportation Studies (HKSTS), jointly organized by the HKSTS and the Department of Civil Engineering, School of Economics and Finance, School of Geography, and Research Group on Sustainable Cities at The University of Hong Kong, was successfully held from December 9-11, 2006. The theme was "Sustainable Transportation" with an aim to provide a forum for with an aim to provide a forum for exchanging innovative thinking on transportation and the environment, engineering systems, and the economy and society. The Conference received an overwhelming response from researchers the world over. Ninety-two papers were presented, covering a broad array of topics spanning the planning, operation, management, and control of the gamut of transportation modal hierarchy. The conference attracted unprecedented interest, with more than a hundred and fifty delegates from over twenty countries participating, both academic and professional.

Research Agreement Signing CeremonyThe Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Hong Kong (HKU) and Faculty of Construction and Land Use, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (HKPU) will be conducting for the first time a research project into “Reinventing Hong Kong construction industry for sustainable development”. This 15-month project is funded by the Construction Industry Institute-Hong Kong (CII-HK) and is immensely supported by the industry. The Chairman of CII-HK, The Honourable Sir David Akers-Jones, Chairman of the PCICB, MChairman of the PCICB, Mr. Keith Kerr, and Pro-Vice-Chancellor of HKU, Professor Chack-Fan Lee, were the officiating guests at the signing ceremony held at The University of Hong Kong on September 6, 2006.

The purpose of this study is to identify possible channels to reinvent the construction industry of Hong Kong so as to ensure a steadier workload and a more sustainable future of the industry. The results of this study will hopefully provide various construction stakeholders an indication of the niche markets for the immediate term while serving as a source of reference by policy-makers when formulating medium to long-term development strategies for the construction industformulating medium to long-term development strategies for the construction industry of Hong Kong.

Scholarship Presentation Ceremony 2006-07

The Scholarship Presentation Ceremony held on February 5, 2007 in Loke Yew Hall was attended by recipients, parents, school principals, donors and Department staff. There were a total of 27 recipients including B.Eng. and M.Sc. students. The Guest of Honour, The Hon. Professor Sarah Liao Sau-Tung delivered a speech as well as presented souvenirs to sponsors thanking them for their generosity in offering contributions to the cause of academic generosity in offering contributions to the cause of academic excellence. It was a chance not only for the students to thank their donors personally, but also for them to interact and exchange with prominent engineers from industry.

Professor H.H.P. Fang received the First Prize of China’s Petrochemical Industrial Association on November 13, 2006, for a project on the Removal of Nitrogenous Pollutants in Wastewaters from Petroleum Refineries, which was a project Professor FFang jointly worked with Professor Zhou Shaoqi of South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China.

Dr. B. Young received the Outstanding Young Researcher Award 2005-06 from HKU.

Professor S.C. Wong was awarded the NSFC Young Researcher Award from the National Natural Science Foundation of China to work on a research project entitled "Optimization theory and technology" with an amount of RMB 400,000 for a period of three years from Januathree years from January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2009. The research collaborator is Dr. Peng Zhang from Shanghai University.

Staff Awards

Professor J.H.W. Lee delivered an invited talk on “Civil engineering hydraulics at HKU - somerecent drainage research” at a R&D meeting held at the Hong Kong Drainage Services Department on April 28, 2006; and a seminar on Dalian Port Development entitled “Environmental engineering and sustainable “Environmental engineering and sustainable development - the Harbour Area Treatment Scheme (HATS) as an example” organised by the Dalian City Government and the Chinese Academy of Engineers on July 10-11, 2006.

Professor J.H.W. Lee delivered 3 invited lectures entitled “Urban flood control in Hong Kong” at the Department of Civil Engineering, Seoul National University, Korea on July 13, 2006; “Eutrophication dynamics in Hong Kong waters - an environmental hydraulic perspective” at the environmental hydraulic perspective” at the International Conference on Contrasting Marine Ecosystems held at HKUST on October 23-25, 2006; and “On the carrying capacity of coastal marine fish farms” at the International Workshop on Aquaculture and Environment at the Hong Kong Baptist University on December 6, 2006.University on December 6, 2006.

Dr. J. Yang visited the Institute of Geotechnical Engineering, Technical University of Berlin from August 30 to September 3, 2006 under the German Academic Exchange Service and the Research Grants Council of the Hong Kong Joint Research Scheme. He gave a seminar Joint Research Scheme. He gave a seminar entitled “End-bearing Capacity and Tip Settlement of Piles in Sandy Soils”.

Professor H.H.P. Fang delivered 3 seminars entitled “Applications of qRT-PCR on Environmental Microbial Quantification” at Washington University (St. Louis, U.S.A.) on November 13, 2006; a seminar entitled “Biofilm and Biocorrosion” in the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department at Environmental Engineering Department at Stanford University on November 16, 2006; and a technical seminar on “Applications of Advanced Biotechnology for Environmental Engineering” at the HKIE on November 29, 2006.

Dr. B. Young delivered a keynote lecture on “Design and behaviour of cold-formed stainless steel tubular structures” at the 2nd ASEAN Stainless Steel Conference, organized by the Malaysian Iron and Steel Industry Federation, held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, September 25-26, 2006.Malaysia, September 25-26, 2006.

Staff Activities

The Minister of Water Resources of China, Professor Wang Shucheng visited the Croucher Environmental Hydraulics Laboratory on October 24, 2006.

Professor H.H.P. Fang delivered 2 Invited speeches, entitled “Fe-hydrogenase diversity and hydrogen-producing population in an acidophilic sludge” at the 3rd International Symposium of Environmental Biotechnology held at National Cheng Kung University in Tainan, Taiwan on October 11-14, 2006 and one entitled “Applications of quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction for environmental microbial quantification” at the International Symposium on Biocatalysis and Bioenergy held at National Chung Hsing University in Taichung, Taiwan on December 6-8, 2006.

Dr. J. Yang delivered an invited lecture at the School of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Eastern China Jiao-Tong University on December 26, 2006. His lecture was entitled “Saturation Effects of Shallow Soils on Vertical Ground Motions”.

Professor Hai-Sui Yu, Professor of Geotechnical Engineering, University of Nottingham, visited the Department from January 4-12, 2007 under the auspices of the Szeto Wai Fellowship. His public lecture entitled “From In-Situ Soil Testing to Geotechnical Analysis” was delivered on January 6, 2007.

Dr. B. Young delivered a keynote lecture on “Design of stainless steel tubular sections subjected to web crippling under one-flange loading” at the 4th Cross-strait and Hong Kong Conference on Steel Structures, held in Shanghai, China, November 23-24, 2006.

Professor J.H.W. Lee delivered 2 invited lectures entitled “A harmful algal bloom (HAB) early warning system for mariculture management” at the Institute of Oceanology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao on January 9, 2007; and “Integrated physical and ecological management of the East River” at the International Symposium on Sustainable and Safe Water Supplies held at The University of Hong Kong on January 15-16, 2007.

Professor Wu-Seng Lung, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Virginia, visited the Department from January 17-25, 2007 under the auspices of the Environmental Hydraulics Visiting Fellowship. His public lecture entitled “Using Fate and Transport Models in Ecosystem Management” was delivered on January 23, 2007 and seminar entitled “Physical Insights in Fate and Transport Modeling” on January 24, 2007.

Professor H.H.P. Fang continued consultancy services to the Civil Engineering and Development Department of Hong Kong SAR government on the sediment bioremediationof Kai Tak Approach Channel.

Dr. A.T. Yeung was installed the Governor of Region 10 of the American Society of Civil Engineers by ASCE President Dennis R. Marten on October 20, 2006 in Chicago. The new international Region 10 was formed at the ASCE Annual Conference held in Chicago in October 2006 to complete the reorganization of ASCE’s governance structure, which includes nine domestic regions and the international region. The new Region 10 has a six-member Board of Governors and is chaired by the ASCE International Director, who serves on the ASCE Board. The Region 10 Board of Governors will look after the interests of ASCE’s international members, sections, and groups. An international member is now eligible to become ASCE president.

In the picture are the members of the ASCE Region 10 Board of Governors: Potenciano Leoncio of Philippines (back row first from left), Jaime Santamaria Serrano, Chair, of Colombia (back row second from right), Munirud Dean of Australia (back row first from right), Carlos Garcia-Reyes MacLellan of Colombia (three row first from right), C.R.Dutta of India (2nd row left), Gamal Elsaeed of Egypt (2nd row right) and Albert T. Yeung of Hong Kong (front row), with ASCE President Dennis R. Marten (third row first from left) and Executive Director Patrick J. Natale (back row 2nd from left).

Professor J.H.W. Lee has been re-appointed as a member of the Red Tide/Harmful Algal Bloom Expert Advisory Group, Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, HKSAR Government; and also appointed as a member of the International Editorial Board, Estuary Coastal and Shelf Science (ECSS), Elsevier.

Professor L.G. Tham and Dr. A.T. Yeung were appointed to the Training Review Subcommittee (Group I) of HKIE.

Dr. S.T. Smith joined the Department as Assistant Professor in January 2007. He received his BE (Civil, Hon. 1, 1994) and PhD (Structural Engineering, 1999) from The University of New South Wales (UNSW), Australia. Prior to joining HKU he was a Research Fellow at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and UNSW from 1999-2002, and from 2003-2006 a Lecturer then Senior Lecturer at the University of Technology Sydney. His research interests include the application of FRP composites to civil infrastructure,behaviour of RC structures, and plate buckling, and he was awarded the Howard Medal from the Institution of Civil Engineers, UK, in 2004.

Staff News

Dr. T. Zhang joined the Department as Assistant Professor in January 2007. He received his BSc and MPhil degrees from Nanjing University in 1990 and 1993, respectively, and received his Ph.D. degree from The University of Hong Kong in 2001. His research interests lie in the drinking water system biofilm, biological nutrient removal, saline wastewater treatment, sediment remediation, anaerobic membrane bioreactor, environmental molecular techniques and environmental toxicology. Dr. Zhang's main areas of teaching are in water quality and its measurement, water and wastewater treatment and environmental biotechnology.

Dr. A.T. Yeung was elected President of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Hong Kong Section 2006-2007 in October 2006. Dr. J. Yang was also elected a Director of the Board of Direction.

In the photo: (from left to right) Ir Dr. Patrick P.C. Cheung (Vice President) of ASD; Ir Berny Ng (Director) of OAP; Ir San Yee Bai (Director) of KCRC; Miss Barbara W.Y. Siu (Secretary) of HKUST; Ir Andy C.S. Yiu (Immediate Past President) of Chun Wo Construction and Engineering; Ir Dr. A.T. Yeung (President) of HKU; Dr. Limin Zhang (Treasurer) of HKUST; Professor Christopher Leung (Past President) of HKUST; Ir George Cheng (Past President) of China State; Dr. J. Yang (Director) of HKU; and Ir Dr. Mark Chan (Past President) of GEO. Other members of the Boardnot in the picture include: Ir Patrick Chan of KCRC; Ir Patrick Tam of OAP; and Dr. Yu Wang of CityU.

Dr A.W. Jayawardena was invited in December 2006 as one of the six international expert members to evaluate United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) contribution to the World Water Assessment Programme.The first panel meeting was held in the UNESCO headquarters in Paris.

Dr. A.T. Yeung was elected to the Council and Senate of The University of Hong Kong in December 2006 for a three-year term. He was appointed to the Graduate House Management Committee of the University from January 2007. He was also appointed to the Professional Assessment Committee of HKIE representing Civil Discipline.

Student AwardsAt The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers Prize Presentation Ceremony held in the Joint Professional Centre on December 8, 2006,

Mr. Chang Yan Fung David and Miss Mok Ka Yi (Year I BEng students) were awarded The HKIE Prize for Potential Engineering Students 2005-06.

Mr. Cheung Tsz Wai (Year I BEng student) received The HKIE Prize for Outstanding Engineering Students 2005-06.

Mr. Shiu Kwan Tai (Year 2 BEng student) received The HKIE Scholarship 2005-06.

Year 1 BEng students:Mr. Chan Chun Wing, Miss Chan Suet Ying, Mr. Chang Yan Fung David, Mr. Cheng Cheuk Hin, Mr. Fong Hiu Lok, Mr. Leung Ho Kwun Michael, Mr. Li Hon Yeung Simon, Miss Mok Ka Yi, Mr. Tsui Tak Shing, Mr. Wan Ting Ho, Mr. Wong Chak Kwan Peter, Miss Yu Hei Man and Mr. Yu Yat Hang were awarded the HKU Foundation Entrance Scholarship 2006-07.

Mr. Chan Shu Ning (Year 3 BEng student) was awarded the Robert H.N. Ho Scholarship 2005-06 from HSBC.

Mr. Cheng Cheuk Hin (Year I BEng student, middle) was awarded a gold prize at the 2nd Hang Lung Mathematics Prize Competition.

Ms. Eva Kong (MSc 2000 graduate) has become the the first winner from the Engineering industry of the prestigious South China Morning Post / Henley Management College Scholarship, which has been running for over 10 years. The Scholarship comprised a weeklong intensive executive training course in London (including flights and accommodation).Prospective candidates were evaluated against criteria including leadership potential, self presentation skills, willingness to take up challenges, ambition, and sense of ethics, with shortlisted candidates interviewed by the scholarship panel. Eva attended the “Essentials of Management” course in December 2006, and is already applying what she learnt in her work with Gammon Construction.

Mr. To Chiu Yin (MPhil student) was awarded Robert H.N. Ho Scholarship 2005-06 from HSBC. He was also presented the Best Student Awards 2006 during the Annual Dinner of the Joint Structural Division of HKIE and IStructE on January 19, 2007.

Mr. Shiu Kwan Tai (Year 2 BEng student) was awarded the AIA Foundation Scholarship 2006-07.

Miss Tsoi Yuk Chi (2006 graduate) won the runner-up (Chairman Award) and Mr. Wong Yat Fong (2006 graduate) the merit for The HKIE Student Project Competition.

Mr. Lee Chung Hin Lincoln (Year 2 BEng student, 2005-06) and Miss So Monique Leung (Year 2 BEng student) were awarded the CMA & Donors Scholarships 2006-07.

To view the soft version of this Newsletter, please visit our website on www.hku.hk/civil, or notify us via email at civdept@hkucc.hku.hk

The University of Hong Kong

Department of Civil EngineeringThe University of Hong Kong

designed by Stewart Chan

News from the Croucher Laboratory of Environmental HydraulicsTwo new research grants have been awarded to the Croucher Laboratory:

•“Real Time Hydro-environmental Modelling and Visualization System for Public Engagement”, Innovation and Technology Support Programme, Hong Kong Innovation and Technology Fund (ITF), HK$1,000,000, 2006-07. The Principal Investigator (PI) is Professor J.H.W. Lee and Co-PI is Dr. W.P. Wang of the Department of Computer Science. This is a joint inter-disciplinary project between civil engineering and computer science. between civil engineering and computer science.

•“Hydraulics of Bottom Rack Intakes for Supercritical Storm Flow Diversion”, Hong Kong Research Grants Council (RGC), HK$436,000, 2006-08. The Principal Investigator is Professor J.H.W. Lee.

The First Asia-Pacific Conference on FRP in Structures (APFIS 2007)

APFIS 2007 is the inaugural Asia-Pacific regional conference of the International Institute for FRP in Construction (IIFC) on the research and use of fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) composites in civil engineering structures. It will be held on December 12-14, 2007 in Hong Kong and is being organised by the Department of Civil Engineering of The University of Hong Kong.

Up-to-date information can be found on the conference website (http://www.hku.hk/apfis07/) with enquiries to be directed to the Chair of the Conferenquiries to be directed to the Chair of the Conference Organising Committee, Dr. Scott Smith (T: +852 2241 5699, F: +852 2559 5337, E: apfis07@hkucc.hku.hk).

Announcements & Upcoming Events

The Best Master's Thesis Award of the Hong Kong Section, American Society of Civil Engineers completed in 2005-06 was awarded to Mr. Wong Sze Man (MPhil 2006 graduate, left) for his thesis entitled “Seismic Performance of Reinforced Concrete Wall Structures under High Axial Load with Particular Application to Low-to-Moderate Seismic Regions”. The thesis studies the seismic performance of reinforced concrete shear walls which are widely used in medium-rise reinforced concrete shear walls which are widely used in medium-rise buildings in Hong Kong. Experimental and theoretical studies on the strength and ductility capacity of slender structural walls were conducted. The effects of axial load ratio and confinement on failure mode, ductility capacity, strength degradation and axial load capacity were investigated. It was found that ultimate drift ratios of shear walls can be significantly reduced under high axial load ratios. The results obtained are highly relevant to improving the seismic results obtained are highly relevant to improving the seismic resistance of buildings in Hong Kong.

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