P.1 Words from the Head P.2 Departmental Update P.3 New Faculty Members P.5 973 Project P.6 Alumni Profile P.7 HKUST CEE PGSA P.8 News and Upcoming Events
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
News [email protected]
01 Department’s Update 04 Prof. Thomas Hu's Toy Stories (I) 02 CEEAA AGM and Facebook Professor Guanghao Chen has Departmental 20th Issue 4 January 2012 Group 06 Alumni Profile been elected a Fellow of the Anniversary Celebration 03 New Faculty Members 07 News International Water Association Dinner on 8 June, 2012 (IWA) The year 2012 will mark the 20th anniversary of the formation of our Professor Guanghao Chen has been Department of Civil and Environmental elected a Fellow of International Water Engineering, at HKUST. The department Association (IWA) in recognition of his and the CEEAA alumni association will Update extraordinary contributions to worldwide Department’s organize a celebration dinner on 8 June, water research. He is among the second 2012 (Friday), tentatively in Tsim Sha batch of awardees of the IWA Fellows Undergraduate Students Statistics Awards Tsui, Hong Kong. For alumni, please Program since it was launched in 2011. reserve this date in your diaries. More In the 2011 Fall semester, there were 388 undergraduate students Dr. Huanfeng Duan, who will graduate this year, has been awarded a details on the arrangements and The IWA Fellows Program was launched in in our department with around 82% on the CIVL stream, 13% on PhD Research Excellence Award 2011 from HKUST. At the same registration will be announced later. 2010 to recognize the professional the CIEV stream, and 5% on the Dual Degree stream as their time, Miss Hong Zhu and Mr. Woon Kai Xiang are awardees of the excellence of its members. The fellowship major. AGS (Association of Geotechnical & Geoenvironmental Specialists, is bestowed on those IWA members who, Hong Kong) scholarship 2011. Our 2011 UG graduate Ms. In the summer, 119 undergraduate students graduated from the in the judgment of their peers, have made Ms. Yi-Chen Sun, pursuing her Yi-Chen Sun continued her department, commencing a new phase in their future careers. We a distinguished contribution to the postgraduate study at MIT study at MIT congratulate them on this great achievement. Among the Welcome advancement or application of water graduates, 95% went to the industry to start their careers while the science and technology, bringing Let’s welcome Prof. Ilias Dimitrakopoulos, Prof. Tze Ling Ng, and One of our 2011 UG graduates, Ms. rest were continuing with graduate studies. This demonstrates the significant benefits to society. In 2010, 34 Prof. Ben Chan who joined our department in the 2011 Fall Student Paper Award 2011 Yi-Chen Sun received offers from achievements of our students in maintaining the pedigree of our fellows from 15 countries and regions semester. several top universities including MIT, department and HKUST. We wish all graduates a successful career were elected. Professor Chen is among CHAM Shuk Wun and YIP Ka Yin together Stanford, CalTech, Purdue, and the and a bright future. Prof. Ilias Dimitrakopoulos gained his PhD in 2009 from the the program’s second batch of fellows have won the Institute of Highways and Georgia Institute of Technology to join Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH), Greece. He is now elected in 2011. Transportation (IHT) Student Paper Award their Master/PhD programs. Some of Our department’s tradition with respect to student summer focusing on research with respect to structural engineering, 2011. The title of their award winning the offers also provide a scholarship internships again proved successful this year, although it was bridge engineering and earthquake engineering. paper was: Modeling Transport and/or financial support. Ms. Sun challenging to secure suitable positions for all of our year 2-to-3 Management and Land Value. eventually took up an offer from MIT, students. We thank our faculty for their great effort in this regard. Prof. Tze Ling Ng obtained her PhD from the University of Illinois with a Schoettler Fellowship, on an at Urbana-Champaign in 2010. Her current research interests MPhil program. Postgraduate Students Statistics include water quality policy modeling, water resources planning and management, environmental modeling and optimization. In addition to around 400 undergraduate students, approximately 140 Prof. Ben Chan was a PhD student in the department, graduating graduate students are part of our HKUST civil engineering family, in 2008. It is like a reunion for the department with Prof. Chan working on their research projects. Currently, there are 69% of
Printed on recycled paper Printed on recycled joining us as a Visiting Assistant Professor His current research postgrads on PhD programs and 31% on MPhil programs. 20 includes bridge design, structure retrofitting, and engineering students completed their postgraduate studies in the summer, and materials. unlike the undergraduates, more than half (60%) are now continuing their careers in academia.
The awardees with Prof. Hong K Lo PTC-G14553
Editorial Board Contact Us Jack Cheng Email: [email protected] Ilias Dimitrakopoulos Tel: (852) 2358-7154 Website: http://www.ce.ust.hk/ Share your joys and happiness with your fellow Thomas Hu classmates! Emily Ma Send us photos of your wedding or newborns! JP Wang
08 01
Department’s Update New Faculty Members
Newborns Dr. Ilias Dimitrakopoulos Dr. Tze Ling Ng
We would like to congratulate Prof. Tim We also welcome Dr. Ilias Dimitrakopoulos to the department! We welcome Dr. Tze Ling Tse for the arrival of his son Arthur Tse, As the surname suggests, Ilias comes from Greece, where he Ng to the department! Tze and our EO (Executive Officer) Ms. Emily grew up and studied. Ilias (which is also spelled as “Elias”) Ling received her M.S. and Ma for the arrival of her son Codlin received his Diploma, M.Sc and Ph.D, from the Civil Engineering Ph.D. in Environmental Wong. Department of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, in Engineering from the
Greece. In 2010 Ilias left Greece to work for a year as a Department of Civil and Codlin Wong, the newborn baby boy of Arthur Tse, the newborn baby boy of Postdoctoral Researcher in the Engineering Department of the Environmental Engineering, Emily Ma (our EO) Prof. Tim Tse says, ‘Merry Christmas and University of Cambridge, U.K., where he enjoyed the motivating University of Illinois at Happy New Year to you all.” academic environment and creative collaborations. Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). She also worked there for Ilias' research is on structural engineering, bridge engineering a year as a Postdoctoral and life-cycle-cost analysis of civil infrastructures. He focuses on Research Associate before nonlinear and non-smooth phenomena with an emphasis on CEEAA Annual General coming to HKUST. dimensional and advanced similarity analysis. Meeting and Facebook Group Tze Ling’s research focuses on the use and development Ilias visited Asia for the first time last May during the interview of mathematical simulation and optimization models for process, and this was a life-long dream for him. He is amazed environmental planning and management purposes. She CEEAA (HKUST Civil and Environmental by the cultural wealth of Hong Kong and spends any free time is interested in, amongst other things, the adaptive Engineering Alumni Association) held its he has getting to know Hong Kong and its people. His hobbies management of urban water supply systems under Annual General Meeting on 28 October, during the past years have been weight lifting, kick boxing, and non-stationary conditions, interdependencies between 2011 at the Royal Plaza Hotel, Mongkok. In also, curiously, yoga and tango dancing. water and energy, and the environmental impact of the AGM, the 3rd Board was formed and biofuels. approved. The new CEEAA President Derrick Leung discussed the future plans Tze Ling hails from Penang, Malaysia and is excited to be of the alumni association and suggested in Hong Kong, where she finds the bus sevices and upcoming activities. A wine tasting dinner summer humidity to be quite fascinating. In her free time, and a cooking competition are in the 2012 Tze Ling enjoys reading movie spoilers on the Internet, plan. A dinner gathering celebrating the exploring the back streets of Hong Kong, and having a 20th anniversary of our department will nice cup of green tea frappuccino with a good book and also be organized on 8 June 2012 (Friday). relaxing music.
A Facebook group for CEEAA has been created at http://www.facebook.com/groups/ hkustceeaa/. If you are one of our alumni, please join the Facebook group to connect virtually with other alumni. Please also actively participate in and support the CEEAA Annual General Meeting future events of CEEAA. The third board members of the HKUST CEEAA were elected and are listed below: President: Derrick Leung Vice Presidents: Gigi Cheung, Jack Cheng Treasurer: Kevin So Secretary: Robert Cheung Web Manager: Alan Li Membership Officer: Clifford Phung Recreation and Development Officers: Norris Ng, Cheung Ting Kwok (Paul) Public Relationship Officers: Andy Chan, Kim Lui Graduate Representatives: Amy Poon, Alex Ng Committee Members (Supporting): Barbara Siu, Wong Wai Yu, Ryan Yan, Barry Wong Consultants: Prof. Chris Leung, Prof. C.C. Chang, Prof. Y.K. Tung
02 03
Prof. Thomas Hu’s Toy Stories
People who grew up in Hong Kong during His collection consists of 4 categories: (1) (1) Chogokin (超合金) In recent years, in response to public The price of some rare Chogokin toys has (2) Jumbo Machinder the 70s or 80s may remember some Chogokin ( 超合金 ), (2) Jumbo Machinder nostalgia, Bandai has produced new risen sharply over the last 10 years or so. These die-cast metal toys were primarily As the name may suggest, toys in this popular super-hero cartoons and TV (2-ft tall polyethylene figures), (3) model versions of selected Chogokin characters, For example, the “Combattler Boxset”, as made by the Japanese company Popy, a category are huge in size compared to shows from that era, such as Ultraman, kits, and (4) others. The first two are now called the Soul of Chogokin series. shown below, may now cost more than spin-off of Bandai. They came in various some others. Also primarily made by Kamen Rider and Mazinger Z, etc. Many presented in this newsletter, and the rest Thomas has bought a few of them, but 15 brand new i-phones, having tripled its sizes, ranging from a few inches tall to Popy, they typically stand over two feet toys based on those characters were also will be covered in the next issue. his main interest is still in the old ones. price compared to just a few years ago. so-called deluxe box-sets, which were tall, and cost hundreds of dollars back in produced. Due to Prof. Hu’ s fond Although the old versions are often Moreover, they are now almost bigger and often more costly. These toys the 70s (a dollar or two would buy memories of those good old days, he has smaller and less detailed, he still prefers impossible to find. required no assembly, came with many breakfast back then). Therefore, Thomas been collecting such old toys as a hobby. them to their new counterparts since the detailed features such as weapons or fists never had the luxury of acquiring a Jumbo old toys bring about a wonderful sense of that could be shot, and often had Machinder during his childhood, and only nostalgia and an antique feel. “transformation” modes. For example, started to collect these in the early 90s. the famous “Voltes V”--which came in Unfortunately, as these toys turned out to five separate jets--can be combined into a be too bulky to keep, and identical retro giant robot standing over a foot tall, just versions started appearing (which could like in the cartoon. bring down the re-sale value of the originals), he has sold most of them now. This turned out to be a bad decision, as most of what he sold now cost 300%-500% more, and are difficult to find. The only one left is the Great Mazinger seen below. Some of us may Part of Prof. Hu’s toy collection remember an old toothpaste commercial, where this toy (probably a lucky draw prize for toothpaste buyers) was seen firing its fists as a weapon.
Chogokin vs. Soul of Chogokin (top: Combattler Base; bottom: Daiko Maryu) The Voltes V Boxsets (top left: model kit; bottom: Chogokin) Related YouTube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwRe The Daltanious Boxset (robot, lion and e6L92sY plane that combine into a large robot) The Combattler: 5 boxes (common) vs. 1 boxset (rare)
Jumbo Machinder (right) vs. Chogokin (top left) vs. 12” figure (bottom left) Related YouTube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOE1 O57nkx0
Popular Chogokin toys, e.g. (top, front row) the Daiku Maryu, Mach Baron, Grendizer, etc. (The rest of Prof. Hu’s toy collection will be covered in the next issue of the newsletter)
04 05
Alumni Profile News
received the Senior Research Prize in the 96 – 99 BEng. HKUST CIVL PG Team won the Best Professor Christopher Leung Ir. Wai Yu Wong Presentation Award First Prize named RILEM Fellow area of Computational Methods in (BEng 99) 99 – 99 Project Coordinator, Flourcity Architectural Limited 99 – 01 Graduate Engineer, China Harbour – CWF Joint Venture in IDEERS 2011 Structural Dynamics with the following BEng (Hons), 01 – 02 Assistant Engineer, China Harbour Engineering Company Group During the 65th RILEM Week, held in citation: "For his many pioneering seminal CEng, MICE 02 – 03 Assistant Engineer (seconded), Hyder Consulting Limited Our PG team comprising Luk Sung Hei Hong Kong between Sept.4 to Sept.8, contributions in Computational Stochastic 03 – 06 Site Engineer, China Harbour Engineering Company Limited (team leader), Suen Po Chi, Wang Zhe, Professor Christopher Leung was named Dynamics and Systems Identification”. 06 – 07 Senior Site Engineer, Chun Wo Holdings Limited and Du Wenqi has won the Best a Fellow of RILEM (the International The award was delivered at the 8th 07 – 09 Project Engineer, Paul Y. Engineering Group Limited Presentation Award First Prize in Union of Laboratories and Experts in International Conference on Structural 09 – 10 APM, Paul Y. Engineering Group Limited "Introducing and Demonstrating Materials, Systems and Structures) for his Dynamics (EURODYN 2011), Leuven, 10 – 11 Project Manager, Paul Y. Engineering Group Limited Earthquake Engineering Research in "exceptional contribution to RILEM's Belgium, July 4-6, 2011. Schools 2011 (IDEERS 2011)" held by the work". RILEM is a leading international National Center for Research on association for the advancement of As the 3rd Board Committee of our Alumni control for each step of bridge segment Fresh graduates may have many job The HKIE Outstanding Paper Earthquake Engineering in Taipei. construction materials and their Association (CEEAA) was formed and construction were really interesting to me. opportunities and need not worry about Award for Young application in structures. Since the Fellow approved, Ir. Wai Yu Wong (“Ar Wai”) their careers in these years. However, the Engineers/Researchers 2011 Grade was established in 1994, only 51 finished his 10-year serving as President of construction industry often has ups and Ir. Dr. Simon Wong received Fellows have been elected. Professor the 2nd Board. Since his graduation at You have served as the downs with a cycle length of several Ms Cheryl Cham, a graduate of the the Building Structures Design Leung is the first RILEM Fellow from an HKUST in 1999, he has gained over 12 President of CEEAA for 10 years. So we should always equip Department of Civil and Environmental Award from the HKIE Joint Institution in China and the third from the years of experience on site construction years since 2001. What is your ourselves and be prepared for potentially Engineering in 2008, and Professor Kenny Structural Division (JSD) Asia-Pacific Region. work. He is now working as the Project opinion on the Alumni bad times. Kwok, Emeritus Professor, have received Manager / Site Agent at Paul Y. Engineering Association? The HKIE Joint Structural Division (JSD) the HKIE Outstanding Paper Award for Group Limited on a building project, Tuen has awarded Ir. Dr. Simon Wong, a PhD Professor Lambros Katafygiotis Young Engineers/Researchers 2011 for their I became the President of CEEAA because Mun Swimming Pool Complex. Any advice to fresh CIVL graduate from our Department in 2005, was awarded Research Prize by paper entitled “Terrain Characterisation and at that time I thought we needed graduates? the Building Structures Design Award to the European Association for Design Wind Profiles for Hong Kong”. The somebody to take up the leading role in the honor his remarkable result in the HKIE Structural Dynamics paper presents her Final Year Project work Alumni Association anyway. Establishing First, do not be afraid of suffering What construction projects Structural Examination taken in 2010. The that was supervised by Professor Kwok, in alumni bonding through the Alumni immediate setbacks. Your efforts will have you been involved in? Award was presented during the JSD The Senior and Junior Research Prizes are which the Hong Kong wind characteristics Association is important. At the beginning finally be rewarded. Second, focus on and Which one was the most Annual Dinner in late October 2011. The awarded every three years by the obtained from studies undertaken in the of my serving in the Association, we be responsible for your own jobs. Some unforgettable? JSD Awards were established to European Association for Structural CLP Power Wind/Wave Tunnel Facilities organized a geological trip to Cape people do not have a dedicated and recognize the best Hong Kong candidates Dynamics (EASD) in recognition of (WWTF) over the years were analyzed. In the past years, I have participated in 鶴咀 cautious attitude at work. Third, be hard D'Aguilar ( ) in Hong Kong South and who have scored the highest marks in the outstanding contributions in various fields More representative wind profiles were different kind of projects in the civil, several Continuing Professional working. Your hard work will be eventually Chartered membership Examination of of structural dynamics (methodology then proposed for adoption in a future foundation and building engineering fields. Development (CPD) seminars. noticed and appreciated by your boss, the Institution of Structural Engineers development, computation or application). edition of the Code of Practice on Wind Through these projects, I have gained Unfortunately in recent years, CEEAA sooner or later. (IStructE) or the HKIE Structural This year, Professor Lambros Katafygiotis Effects Hong Kong. experience in planning, design, activities have decreased significantly due Examination. The HKIE Structural programming and coordination, to the busy schedule of Committee Examination consists of two parts: (1) consultation with the various authorities, members and the low activity attendance. written examination and (2) interview. site supervision, and schedule and budget As the Alumni Association has been Applicants passing both parts and control. The most unforgettable project re-activated with a new Board Committee, I meeting the experience requirements was the Route 8 Ngong Shuen Chau look forward to the upcoming CEEAA under the relevant routes to membership Viaduct, which connects the Stonecutters activities and a stronger bonding among our are eligible to become Corporate Bridge with the West Kowloon Highway. alumni. Members of the HKIE in the Structural The contract value of the project was about Discipline. The HKIE Joint Structural $1.5 billion. During the viaduct bridge Division (JSD) was formed by the HKIE construction, the West Kowloon Highway How do you see the future of Structural Division and the IStructE (Hong was temporary closed during the mid-night the Hong Kong construction Kong Division) in 1979/80. Currently, the time for 3 months. Our team needed to industry? HKIE Structural Division is one of the prepare the traffic schemes and There will be many new projects coming largest divisions in the HKIE with over contingency plans for the road closure. up in the next 5 to 6 years. Therefore, we 5000 members. Then I was given the chance to join the “Ah Wai”and family should be prepared for another Golden bridge launching girder operations. The Age in the local construction industry. design of the girder kinematics and the Ir. Dr. Simon Wong (Right) was awarded the Building Structures Design Award from the HKIE Joint Structural Division
06 07 P.1 Words from the Head P.2 Departmental Update P.3 New Faculty Members P.5 973 Project P.6 Alumni Profile P.7 HKUST CEE PGSA P.8 News and Upcoming Events
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
News [email protected]
01 Department’s Update 04 Prof. Thomas Hu's Toy Stories (I) 02 CEEAA AGM and Facebook Professor Guanghao Chen has Departmental 20th Issue 4 January 2012 Group 06 Alumni Profile been elected a Fellow of the Anniversary Celebration 03 New Faculty Members 07 News International Water Association Dinner on 8 June, 2012 (IWA) The year 2012 will mark the 20th anniversary of the formation of our Professor Guanghao Chen has been Department of Civil and Environmental elected a Fellow of International Water Engineering, at HKUST. The department Association (IWA) in recognition of his and the CEEAA alumni association will Update extraordinary contributions to worldwide Department’s organize a celebration dinner on 8 June, water research. He is among the second 2012 (Friday), tentatively in Tsim Sha batch of awardees of the IWA Fellows Undergraduate Students Statistics Awards Tsui, Hong Kong. For alumni, please Program since it was launched in 2011. reserve this date in your diaries. More In the 2011 Fall semester, there were 388 undergraduate students Dr. Huanfeng Duan, who will graduate this year, has been awarded a details on the arrangements and The IWA Fellows Program was launched in in our department with around 82% on the CIVL stream, 13% on PhD Research Excellence Award 2011 from HKUST. At the same registration will be announced later. 2010 to recognize the professional the CIEV stream, and 5% on the Dual Degree stream as their time, Miss Hong Zhu and Mr. Woon Kai Xiang are awardees of the excellence of its members. The fellowship major. AGS (Association of Geotechnical & Geoenvironmental Specialists, is bestowed on those IWA members who, Hong Kong) scholarship 2011. Our 2011 UG graduate Ms. In the summer, 119 undergraduate students graduated from the in the judgment of their peers, have made Ms. Yi-Chen Sun, pursuing her Yi-Chen Sun continued her department, commencing a new phase in their future careers. We a distinguished contribution to the postgraduate study at MIT study at MIT congratulate them on this great achievement. Among the Welcome advancement or application of water graduates, 95% went to the industry to start their careers while the science and technology, bringing Let’s welcome Prof. Ilias Dimitrakopoulos, Prof. Tze Ling Ng, and One of our 2011 UG graduates, Ms. rest were continuing with graduate studies. This demonstrates the significant benefits to society. In 2010, 34 Prof. Ben Chan who joined our department in the 2011 Fall Student Paper Award 2011 Yi-Chen Sun received offers from achievements of our students in maintaining the pedigree of our fellows from 15 countries and regions semester. several top universities including MIT, department and HKUST. We wish all graduates a successful career were elected. Professor Chen is among CHAM Shuk Wun and YIP Ka Yin together Stanford, CalTech, Purdue, and the and a bright future. Prof. Ilias Dimitrakopoulos gained his PhD in 2009 from the the program’s second batch of fellows have won the Institute of Highways and Georgia Institute of Technology to join Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH), Greece. He is now elected in 2011. Transportation (IHT) Student Paper Award their Master/PhD programs. Some of Our department’s tradition with respect to student summer focusing on research with respect to structural engineering, 2011. The title of their award winning the offers also provide a scholarship internships again proved successful this year, although it was bridge engineering and earthquake engineering. paper was: Modeling Transport and/or financial support. Ms. Sun challenging to secure suitable positions for all of our year 2-to-3 Management and Land Value. eventually took up an offer from MIT, students. We thank our faculty for their great effort in this regard. Prof. Tze Ling Ng obtained her PhD from the University of Illinois with a Schoettler Fellowship, on an at Urbana-Champaign in 2010. Her current research interests MPhil program. Postgraduate Students Statistics include water quality policy modeling, water resources planning and management, environmental modeling and optimization. In addition to around 400 undergraduate students, approximately 140 Prof. Ben Chan was a PhD student in the department, graduating graduate students are part of our HKUST civil engineering family, in 2008. It is like a reunion for the department with Prof. Chan working on their research projects. Currently, there are 69% of
Printed on recycled paper Printed on recycled joining us as a Visiting Assistant Professor His current research postgrads on PhD programs and 31% on MPhil programs. 20 includes bridge design, structure retrofitting, and engineering students completed their postgraduate studies in the summer, and materials. unlike the undergraduates, more than half (60%) are now continuing their careers in academia.
The awardees with Prof. Hong K Lo PTC-G14553
Editorial Board Contact Us Jack Cheng Email: [email protected] Ilias Dimitrakopoulos Tel: (852) 2358-7154 Website: http://www.ce.ust.hk/ Share your joys and happiness with your fellow Thomas Hu classmates! Emily Ma Send us photos of your wedding or newborns! JP Wang
08 01
Department’s Update New Faculty Members
Newborns Dr. Ilias Dimitrakopoulos Dr. Tze Ling Ng
We would like to congratulate Prof. Tim We also welcome Dr. Ilias Dimitrakopoulos to the department! We welcome Dr. Tze Ling Tse for the arrival of his son Arthur Tse, As the surname suggests, Ilias comes from Greece, where he Ng to the department! Tze and our EO (Executive Officer) Ms. Emily grew up and studied. Ilias (which is also spelled as “Elias”) Ling received her M.S. and Ma for the arrival of her son Codlin received his Diploma, M.Sc and Ph.D, from the Civil Engineering Ph.D. in Environmental Wong. Department of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, in Engineering from the
Greece. In 2010 Ilias left Greece to work for a year as a Department of Civil and Codlin Wong, the newborn baby boy of Arthur Tse, the newborn baby boy of Postdoctoral Researcher in the Engineering Department of the Environmental Engineering, Emily Ma (our EO) Prof. Tim Tse says, ‘Merry Christmas and University of Cambridge, U.K., where he enjoyed the motivating University of Illinois at Happy New Year to you all.” academic environment and creative collaborations. Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). She also worked there for Ilias' research is on structural engineering, bridge engineering a year as a Postdoctoral and life-cycle-cost analysis of civil infrastructures. He focuses on Research Associate before nonlinear and non-smooth phenomena with an emphasis on CEEAA Annual General coming to HKUST. dimensional and advanced similarity analysis. Meeting and Facebook Group Tze Ling’s research focuses on the use and development Ilias visited Asia for the first time last May during the interview of mathematical simulation and optimization models for process, and this was a life-long dream for him. He is amazed environmental planning and management purposes. She CEEAA (HKUST Civil and Environmental by the cultural wealth of Hong Kong and spends any free time is interested in, amongst other things, the adaptive Engineering Alumni Association) held its he has getting to know Hong Kong and its people. His hobbies management of urban water supply systems under Annual General Meeting on 28 October, during the past years have been weight lifting, kick boxing, and non-stationary conditions, interdependencies between 2011 at the Royal Plaza Hotel, Mongkok. In also, curiously, yoga and tango dancing. water and energy, and the environmental impact of the AGM, the 3rd Board was formed and biofuels. approved. The new CEEAA President Derrick Leung discussed the future plans Tze Ling hails from Penang, Malaysia and is excited to be of the alumni association and suggested in Hong Kong, where she finds the bus sevices and upcoming activities. A wine tasting dinner summer humidity to be quite fascinating. In her free time, and a cooking competition are in the 2012 Tze Ling enjoys reading movie spoilers on the Internet, plan. A dinner gathering celebrating the exploring the back streets of Hong Kong, and having a 20th anniversary of our department will nice cup of green tea frappuccino with a good book and also be organized on 8 June 2012 (Friday). relaxing music.
A Facebook group for CEEAA has been created at http://www.facebook.com/groups/ hkustceeaa/. If you are one of our alumni, please join the Facebook group to connect virtually with other alumni. Please also actively participate in and support the CEEAA Annual General Meeting future events of CEEAA. The third board members of the HKUST CEEAA were elected and are listed below: President: Derrick Leung Vice Presidents: Gigi Cheung, Jack Cheng Treasurer: Kevin So Secretary: Robert Cheung Web Manager: Alan Li Membership Officer: Clifford Phung Recreation and Development Officers: Norris Ng, Cheung Ting Kwok (Paul) Public Relationship Officers: Andy Chan, Kim Lui Graduate Representatives: Amy Poon, Alex Ng Committee Members (Supporting): Barbara Siu, Wong Wai Yu, Ryan Yan, Barry Wong Consultants: Prof. Chris Leung, Prof. C.C. Chang, Prof. Y.K. Tung
02 03
Prof. Thomas Hu’s Toy Stories
People who grew up in Hong Kong during His collection consists of 4 categories: (1) (1) Chogokin (超合金) In recent years, in response to public The price of some rare Chogokin toys has (2) Jumbo Machinder the 70s or 80s may remember some Chogokin ( 超合金 ), (2) Jumbo Machinder nostalgia, Bandai has produced new risen sharply over the last 10 years or so. These die-cast metal toys were primarily As the name may suggest, toys in this popular super-hero cartoons and TV (2-ft tall polyethylene figures), (3) model versions of selected Chogokin characters, For example, the “Combattler Boxset”, as made by the Japanese company Popy, a category are huge in size compared to shows from that era, such as Ultraman, kits, and (4) others. The first two are now called the Soul of Chogokin series. shown below, may now cost more than spin-off of Bandai. They came in various some others. Also primarily made by Kamen Rider and Mazinger Z, etc. Many presented in this newsletter, and the rest Thomas has bought a few of them, but 15 brand new i-phones, having tripled its sizes, ranging from a few inches tall to Popy, they typically stand over two feet toys based on those characters were also will be covered in the next issue. his main interest is still in the old ones. price compared to just a few years ago. so-called deluxe box-sets, which were tall, and cost hundreds of dollars back in produced. Due to Prof. Hu’ s fond Although the old versions are often Moreover, they are now almost bigger and often more costly. These toys the 70s (a dollar or two would buy memories of those good old days, he has smaller and less detailed, he still prefers impossible to find. required no assembly, came with many breakfast back then). Therefore, Thomas been collecting such old toys as a hobby. them to their new counterparts since the detailed features such as weapons or fists never had the luxury of acquiring a Jumbo old toys bring about a wonderful sense of that could be shot, and often had Machinder during his childhood, and only nostalgia and an antique feel. “transformation” modes. For example, started to collect these in the early 90s. the famous “Voltes V”--which came in Unfortunately, as these toys turned out to five separate jets--can be combined into a be too bulky to keep, and identical retro giant robot standing over a foot tall, just versions started appearing (which could like in the cartoon. bring down the re-sale value of the originals), he has sold most of them now. This turned out to be a bad decision, as most of what he sold now cost 300%-500% more, and are difficult to find. The only one left is the Great Mazinger seen below. Some of us may Part of Prof. Hu’s toy collection remember an old toothpaste commercial, where this toy (probably a lucky draw prize for toothpaste buyers) was seen firing its fists as a weapon.
Chogokin vs. Soul of Chogokin (top: Combattler Base; bottom: Daiko Maryu) The Voltes V Boxsets (top left: model kit; bottom: Chogokin) Related YouTube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwRe The Daltanious Boxset (robot, lion and e6L92sY plane that combine into a large robot) The Combattler: 5 boxes (common) vs. 1 boxset (rare)
Jumbo Machinder (right) vs. Chogokin (top left) vs. 12” figure (bottom left) Related YouTube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOE1 O57nkx0
Popular Chogokin toys, e.g. (top, front row) the Daiku Maryu, Mach Baron, Grendizer, etc. (The rest of Prof. Hu’s toy collection will be covered in the next issue of the newsletter)
04 05
Alumni Profile News
received the Senior Research Prize in the 96 – 99 BEng. HKUST CIVL PG Team won the Best Professor Christopher Leung Ir. Wai Yu Wong Presentation Award First Prize named RILEM Fellow area of Computational Methods in (BEng 99) 99 – 99 Project Coordinator, Flourcity Architectural Limited 99 – 01 Graduate Engineer, China Harbour – CWF Joint Venture in IDEERS 2011 Structural Dynamics with the following BEng (Hons), 01 – 02 Assistant Engineer, China Harbour Engineering Company Group During the 65th RILEM Week, held in citation: "For his many pioneering seminal CEng, MICE 02 – 03 Assistant Engineer (seconded), Hyder Consulting Limited Our PG team comprising Luk Sung Hei Hong Kong between Sept.4 to Sept.8, contributions in Computational Stochastic 03 – 06 Site Engineer, China Harbour Engineering Company Limited (team leader), Suen Po Chi, Wang Zhe, Professor Christopher Leung was named Dynamics and Systems Identification”. 06 – 07 Senior Site Engineer, Chun Wo Holdings Limited and Du Wenqi has won the Best a Fellow of RILEM (the International The award was delivered at the 8th 07 – 09 Project Engineer, Paul Y. Engineering Group Limited Presentation Award First Prize in Union of Laboratories and Experts in International Conference on Structural 09 – 10 APM, Paul Y. Engineering Group Limited "Introducing and Demonstrating Materials, Systems and Structures) for his Dynamics (EURODYN 2011), Leuven, 10 – 11 Project Manager, Paul Y. Engineering Group Limited Earthquake Engineering Research in "exceptional contribution to RILEM's Belgium, July 4-6, 2011. Schools 2011 (IDEERS 2011)" held by the work". RILEM is a leading international National Center for Research on association for the advancement of As the 3rd Board Committee of our Alumni control for each step of bridge segment Fresh graduates may have many job The HKIE Outstanding Paper Earthquake Engineering in Taipei. construction materials and their Association (CEEAA) was formed and construction were really interesting to me. opportunities and need not worry about Award for Young application in structures. Since the Fellow approved, Ir. Wai Yu Wong (“Ar Wai”) their careers in these years. However, the Engineers/Researchers 2011 Grade was established in 1994, only 51 finished his 10-year serving as President of construction industry often has ups and Ir. Dr. Simon Wong received Fellows have been elected. Professor the 2nd Board. Since his graduation at You have served as the downs with a cycle length of several Ms Cheryl Cham, a graduate of the the Building Structures Design Leung is the first RILEM Fellow from an HKUST in 1999, he has gained over 12 President of CEEAA for 10 years. So we should always equip Department of Civil and Environmental Award from the HKIE Joint Institution in China and the third from the years of experience on site construction years since 2001. What is your ourselves and be prepared for potentially Engineering in 2008, and Professor Kenny Structural Division (JSD) Asia-Pacific Region. work. He is now working as the Project opinion on the Alumni bad times. Kwok, Emeritus Professor, have received Manager / Site Agent at Paul Y. Engineering Association? The HKIE Joint Structural Division (JSD) the HKIE Outstanding Paper Award for Group Limited on a building project, Tuen has awarded Ir. Dr. Simon Wong, a PhD Professor Lambros Katafygiotis Young Engineers/Researchers 2011 for their I became the President of CEEAA because Mun Swimming Pool Complex. Any advice to fresh CIVL graduate from our Department in 2005, was awarded Research Prize by paper entitled “Terrain Characterisation and at that time I thought we needed graduates? the Building Structures Design Award to the European Association for Design Wind Profiles for Hong Kong”. The somebody to take up the leading role in the honor his remarkable result in the HKIE Structural Dynamics paper presents her Final Year Project work Alumni Association anyway. Establishing First, do not be afraid of suffering What construction projects Structural Examination taken in 2010. The that was supervised by Professor Kwok, in alumni bonding through the Alumni immediate setbacks. Your efforts will have you been involved in? Award was presented during the JSD The Senior and Junior Research Prizes are which the Hong Kong wind characteristics Association is important. At the beginning finally be rewarded. Second, focus on and Which one was the most Annual Dinner in late October 2011. The awarded every three years by the obtained from studies undertaken in the of my serving in the Association, we be responsible for your own jobs. Some unforgettable? JSD Awards were established to European Association for Structural CLP Power Wind/Wave Tunnel Facilities organized a geological trip to Cape people do not have a dedicated and recognize the best Hong Kong candidates Dynamics (EASD) in recognition of (WWTF) over the years were analyzed. In the past years, I have participated in 鶴咀 cautious attitude at work. Third, be hard D'Aguilar ( ) in Hong Kong South and who have scored the highest marks in the outstanding contributions in various fields More representative wind profiles were different kind of projects in the civil, several Continuing Professional working. Your hard work will be eventually Chartered membership Examination of of structural dynamics (methodology then proposed for adoption in a future foundation and building engineering fields. Development (CPD) seminars. noticed and appreciated by your boss, the Institution of Structural Engineers development, computation or application). edition of the Code of Practice on Wind Through these projects, I have gained Unfortunately in recent years, CEEAA sooner or later. (IStructE) or the HKIE Structural This year, Professor Lambros Katafygiotis Effects Hong Kong. experience in planning, design, activities have decreased significantly due Examination. The HKIE Structural programming and coordination, to the busy schedule of Committee Examination consists of two parts: (1) consultation with the various authorities, members and the low activity attendance. written examination and (2) interview. site supervision, and schedule and budget As the Alumni Association has been Applicants passing both parts and control. The most unforgettable project re-activated with a new Board Committee, I meeting the experience requirements was the Route 8 Ngong Shuen Chau look forward to the upcoming CEEAA under the relevant routes to membership Viaduct, which connects the Stonecutters activities and a stronger bonding among our are eligible to become Corporate Bridge with the West Kowloon Highway. alumni. Members of the HKIE in the Structural The contract value of the project was about Discipline. The HKIE Joint Structural $1.5 billion. During the viaduct bridge Division (JSD) was formed by the HKIE construction, the West Kowloon Highway How do you see the future of Structural Division and the IStructE (Hong was temporary closed during the mid-night the Hong Kong construction Kong Division) in 1979/80. Currently, the time for 3 months. Our team needed to industry? HKIE Structural Division is one of the prepare the traffic schemes and There will be many new projects coming largest divisions in the HKIE with over contingency plans for the road closure. up in the next 5 to 6 years. Therefore, we 5000 members. Then I was given the chance to join the “Ah Wai”and family should be prepared for another Golden bridge launching girder operations. The Age in the local construction industry. design of the girder kinematics and the Ir. Dr. Simon Wong (Right) was awarded the Building Structures Design Award from the HKIE Joint Structural Division
06 07 P.1 Words from the Head P.2 Departmental Update P.3 New Faculty Members P.5 973 Project P.6 Alumni Profile P.7 HKUST CEE PGSA P.8 News and Upcoming Events
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
News [email protected]
01 Department’s Update 04 Prof. Thomas Hu's Toy Stories (I) 02 CEEAA AGM and Facebook Professor Guanghao Chen has Departmental 20th Issue 4 January 2012 Group 06 Alumni Profile been elected a Fellow of the Anniversary Celebration 03 New Faculty Members 07 News International Water Association Dinner on 8 June, 2012 (IWA) The year 2012 will mark the 20th anniversary of the formation of our Professor Guanghao Chen has been Department of Civil and Environmental elected a Fellow of International Water Engineering, at HKUST. The department Association (IWA) in recognition of his and the CEEAA alumni association will Update extraordinary contributions to worldwide Department’s organize a celebration dinner on 8 June, water research. He is among the second 2012 (Friday), tentatively in Tsim Sha batch of awardees of the IWA Fellows Undergraduate Students Statistics Awards Tsui, Hong Kong. For alumni, please Program since it was launched in 2011. reserve this date in your diaries. More In the 2011 Fall semester, 388 undergraduate students were taking a Dr. Huanfeng Duan, who will graduate this year, has been awarded a details on the arrangements and The IWA Fellows Program was launched in variety of civil engineering courses, with around 82% on the CIVL PhD Research Excellence Award 2011 from HKUST. At the same registration will be announced later. 2010 to recognize the professional stream, with the rest taking either CIEV (13%) or the Dual Degree time, Miss Hong Zhu and Mr. Woon Kai Xiang are awardees of the excellence of its members. The fellowship (5%) as their major. AGS (Association of Geotechnical & Geoenvironmental Specialists, is bestowed on those IWA members who, Hong Kong) scholarship 2011. Our 2011 UG graduate Ms. In the summer, 119 undergraduate students graduated from the in the judgment of their peers, have made Ms. Yi-Chen Sun, pursuing her Yi-Chen Sun continued her department, commencing a new phase in their future careers. Let’ s a distinguished contribution to the postgraduate study at MIT study at MIT first congratulate them on this great achievement. Among the Welcome advancement or application of water graduates, 95% took engineering posts to start their careers, just as science and technology, bringing One of our 2011 UG graduates, Ms. they planned from the very first day they walked into the HKUST Let’s welcome Prof. Ilias Dimitrakopoulos, Prof. Tze Ling Ng, and significant benefits to society. In 2010, 34 Student Paper Award 2011 Yi-Chen Sun received offers from campus, while the rest are continuing with graduate studies. Keep Prof. Ben Chan who joined our department in the 2011 Fall fellows from 15 countries and regions several top universities including MIT, up the good work in studying diligently at HKUST, and maintain the semester. were elected. Professor Chen is among CHAM Shuk Wun and YIP Ka Yin together Stanford, CalTech, Purdue, and the pedigree of our department and HKUST. We wish all graduates a Prof. Ilias Dimitrakopoulos gained his PhD in 2009 from the the program’s second batch of fellows have won the Institute of Highways and Georgia Institute of Technology to join successful career and future. Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH), Greece. He is now elected in 2011. Transportation (IHT) Student Paper Award their Master/PhD programs. Some of focusing on research with respect to structural engineering, 2011. The title of their award winning the offers also provide a scholarship Our department’ s tradition with respect to student summer bridge engineering and earthquake engineering. paper was: Modeling Transport and/or financial support. Ms. Sun internships again proved successful this year, although it was Management and Land Value. eventually took up an offer from MIT, challenging to secure suitable positions for all of our year 2-to-3 Prof. Tze Ling Ng obtained her PhD from the University of Illinois with a Schoettler Fellowship, on an students. We thank our faculty for their great effort in this regard. at Urbana-Champaign in 2010. Her current research interests MPhil program. include water quality policy modeling, water resources planning Postgraduate Students Statistics and management, environmental modeling and optimization.
In addition to around 400 undergraduate students, approximately 140 Prof. Ben Chan was a PhD student in the department, graduating graduate students are part of our HKUST civil engineering family, in 2008. It is like a reunion for the department with Prof. Chan
Printed on recycled paper Printed on recycled working on their research projects. Currently, there are 69% of joining us as a Visiting Assistant Professor His current research postgrads on PhD programs and 31% on MPhil programs. 20 includes bridge design, structure retrofitting, and engineering students completed their postgraduate studies in the summer, and materials. unlike the undergraduates, more than half (60%) are now continuing their careers in academia.
The awardees with Prof. Hong K Lo PTC-G14553
Editorial Board Contact Us Jack Cheng Email: [email protected] Ilias Dimitrakopoulos Tel: (852) 2358-7154 Website: http://www.ce.ust.hk/ Share your joys and happiness with your fellow Thomas Hu classmates! Emily Ma Send us photos of your wedding or newborns! JP Wang
08 01
Department’s Update New Faculty Members
Newborns Dr. Ilias Dimitrakopoulos Dr. Tze Ling Ng
We would like to congratulate Prof. Tim We also welcome Dr. Ilias Dimitrakopoulos to the department! We welcome Dr. Tze Ling Tse for the arrival of his son Arthur Tse, As the surname suggests, Ilias comes from Greece, where he Ng to the department! Tze and our EO (Executive Officer) Ms. Emily grew up and studied. Ilias (which is also spelled as “Elias”) Ling received her M.S. and Ma for the arrival of her son Codlin received his Diploma, M.Sc and Ph.D, from the Civil Engineering Ph.D. in Environmental Wong. Department of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, in Engineering from the
Greece. In 2010 Ilias left Greece to work for a year as a Department of Civil and Codlin Wong, the newborn baby boy of Arthur Tse, the newborn baby boy of Postdoctoral Researcher in the Engineering Department of the Environmental Engineering, Emily Ma (our EO) Prof. Tim Tse says, ‘Merry Christmas and University of Cambridge, U.K., where he enjoyed the motivating University of Illinois at Happy New Year to you all.” academic environment and creative collaborations. Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). She also worked there for Ilias' research is on structural engineering, bridge engineering a year as a Postdoctoral and life-cycle-cost analysis of civil infrastructures. He focuses on Research Associate before nonlinear and non-smooth phenomena with an emphasis on CEEAA Annual General coming to HKUST. dimensional and advanced similarity analysis. Meeting and Facebook Group Tze Ling’s research focuses on the use and development Ilias visited Asia for the first time last May during the interview of mathematical simulation and optimization models for process, and this was a life-long dream for him. He is amazed environmental planning and management purposes. She CEEAA (HKUST Civil and Environmental by the cultural wealth of Hong Kong and spends any free time is interested in, amongst other things, the adaptive Engineering Alumni Association) held its he has getting to know Hong Kong and its people. His hobbies management of urban water supply systems under Annual General Meeting on 28 October, during the past years have been weight lifting, kick boxing, and non-stationary conditions, interdependencies between 2011 at the Royal Plaza Hotel, Mongkok. In also, curiously, yoga and tango dancing. water and energy, and the environmental impact of the AGM, the 3rd Board was formed and biofuels. approved. The new CEEAA President Derrick Leung discussed the future plans Tze Ling hails from Penang, Malaysia and is excited to be of the alumni association and suggested in Hong Kong, where she finds the bus sevices and upcoming activities. A wine tasting dinner summer humidity to be quite fascinating. In her free time, and a cooking competition are in the 2012 Tze Ling enjoys reading movie spoilers on the Internet, plan. A dinner gathering celebrating the exploring the back streets of Hong Kong, and having a 20th anniversary of our department will nice cup of green tea frappuccino with a good book and also be organized on 8 June 2012 (Friday). relaxing music.
A Facebook group for CEEAA has been created at http://www.facebook.com/groups/ hkustceeaa/. If you are one of our alumni, please join the Facebook group to connect virtually with other alumni. Please also actively participate in and support the CEEAA Annual General Meeting future events of CEEAA. The third board members of the HKUST CEEAA were elected and are listed below: President: Derrick Leung Vice Presidents: Gigi Cheung, Jack Cheng Treasurer: Kevin So Secretary: Robert Cheung Web Manager: Alan Li Membership Officer: Clifford Phung Recreation and Development Officers: Norris Ng, Cheung Ting Kwok (Paul) Public Relationship Officers: Andy Chan, Kim Lui Graduate Representatives: Amy Poon, Alex Ng Committee Members (Supporting): Barbara Siu, Wong Wai Yu, Ryan Yan, Barry Wong Consultants: Prof. Chris Leung, Prof. C.C. Chang, Prof. Y.K. Tung
02 03
Prof. Thomas Hu’s Toy Stories
People who grew up in Hong Kong during His collection consists of 4 categories: (1) (1) Chogokin (超合金) In recent years, in response to public The price of some rare Chogokin toys has (2) Jumbo Machinder the 70s or 80s may remember some Chogokin ( 超合金 ), (2) Jumbo Machinder nostalgia, Bandai has produced new risen sharply over the last 10 years or so. These die-cast metal toys were primarily As the name may suggest, toys in this popular super-hero cartoons and TV (2-ft tall polyethylene figures), (3) model versions of selected Chogokin characters, For example, the “Combattler Boxset”, as made by the Japanese company Popy, a category are huge in size compared to shows from that era, such as Ultraman, kits, and (4) others. The first two are now called the Soul of Chogokin series. shown below, may now cost more than spin-off of Bandai. They came in various some others. Also primarily made by Kamen Rider and Mazinger Z, etc. Many presented in this newsletter, and the rest Thomas has bought a few of them, but 15 brand new i-phones, having tripled its sizes, ranging from a few inches tall to Popy, they typically stand over two feet toys based on those characters were also will be covered in the next issue. his main interest is still in the old ones. price compared to just a few years ago. so-called deluxe box-sets, which were tall, and cost hundreds of dollars back in produced. Due to Prof. Hu’ s fond Although the old versions are often Moreover, they are now almost bigger and often more costly. These toys the 70s (a dollar or two would buy memories of those good old days, he has smaller and less detailed, he still prefers impossible to find. required no assembly, came with many breakfast back then). Therefore, Thomas been collecting such old toys as a hobby. them to their new counterparts since the detailed features such as weapons or fists never had the luxury of acquiring a Jumbo old toys bring about a wonderful sense of that could be shot, and often had Machinder during his childhood, and only nostalgia and an antique feel. “transformation” modes. For example, started to collect these in the early 90s. the famous “Voltes V”--which came in Unfortunately, as these toys turned out to five separate jets--can be combined into a be too bulky to keep, and identical retro giant robot standing over a foot tall, just versions started appearing (which could like in the cartoon. bring down the re-sale value of the originals), he has sold most of them now. This turned out to be a bad decision, as most of what he sold now cost 300%-500% more, and are difficult to find. The only one left is the Great Mazinger seen below. Some of us may Part of Prof. Hu’s toy collection remember an old toothpaste commercial, where this toy (probably a lucky draw prize for toothpaste buyers) was seen firing its fists as a weapon.
Chogokin vs. Soul of Chogokin (top: Combattler Base; bottom: Daiko Maryu) The Voltes V Boxsets (top left: model kit; bottom: Chogokin) Related YouTube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwRe The Daltanious Boxset (robot, lion and e6L92sY plane that combine into a large robot) Chogokin vs. Soul of Chogokin (top: Combattler Base; bottom: Daiko Maryu)
Jumbo Machinder (right) vs. Chogokin (top left) vs. 12” figure (bottom left) Related YouTube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOE1 O57nkx0
Popular Chogokin toys, e.g. (top, front row) the Daiku Maryu, Mach Baron, Grendizer, etc. (The rest of Prof. Hu’s toy collection will be covered in the next issue of the newsletter)
04 05
Alumni Profile News
received the Senior Research Prize in the 96 – 99 BEng. HKUST CIVL PG Team won the Best Professor Christopher Leung Ir. Wai Yu Wong Presentation Award First Prize named RILEM Fellow area of Computational Methods in (BEng 99) 99 – 99 Project Coordinator, Flourcity Architectural Limited 99 – 01 Graduate Engineer, China Harbour – CWF Joint Venture in IDEERS 2011 Structural Dynamics with the following BEng (Hons), 01 – 02 Assistant Engineer, China Harbour Engineering Company Group During the 65th RILEM Week, held in citation: "For his many pioneering seminal CEng, MICE 02 – 03 Assistant Engineer (seconded), Hyder Consulting Limited Our PG team comprising Luk Sung Hei Hong Kong between Sept.4 to Sept.8, contributions in Computational Stochastic 03 – 06 Site Engineer, China Harbour Engineering Company Limited (team leader), Suen Po Chi, Wang Zhe, Professor Christopher Leung was named Dynamics and Systems Identification”. 06 – 07 Senior Site Engineer, Chun Wo Holdings Limited and Du Wenqi has won the Best a Fellow of RILEM (the International The award was delivered at the 8th 07 – 09 Project Engineer, Paul Y. Engineering Group Limited Presentation Award First Prize in Union of Laboratories and Experts in International Conference on Structural 09 – 10 APM, Paul Y. Engineering Group Limited "Introducing and Demonstrating Materials, Systems and Structures) for his Dynamics (EURODYN 2011), Leuven, 10 – 11 Project Manager, Paul Y. Engineering Group Limited Earthquake Engineering Research in "exceptional contribution to RILEM's Belgium, July 4-6, 2011. Schools 2011 (IDEERS 2011)" held by the work". RILEM is a leading international National Center for Research on association for the advancement of As the 3rd Board Committee of our Alumni control for each step of bridge segment Fresh graduates may have many job The HKIE Outstanding Paper Earthquake Engineering in Taipei. construction materials and their Association (CEEAA) was formed and construction were really interesting to me. opportunities and need not worry about Award for Young application in structures. Since the Fellow approved, Ir. Wai Yu Wong (“Ar Wai”) their careers in these years. However, the Engineers/Researchers 2011 Grade was established in 1994, only 51 finished his 10-year serving as President of construction industry often has ups and Ir. Dr. Simon Wong received Fellows have been elected. Professor the 2nd Board. Since his graduation at You have served as the downs with a cycle length of several Ms Cheryl Cham, a graduate of the the Building Structures Design Leung is the first RILEM Fellow from an HKUST in 1999, he has gained over 12 President of CEEAA for 10 years. So we should always equip Department of Civil and Environmental Award from the HKIE Joint Institution in China and the third from the years of experience on site construction years since 2001. What is your ourselves and be prepared for potentially Engineering in 2008, and Professor Kenny Structural Division (JSD) Asia-Pacific Region. work. He is now working as the Project opinion on the Alumni bad times. Kwok, Emeritus Professor, have received Manager / Site Agent at Paul Y. Engineering Association? The HKIE Joint Structural Division (JSD) the HKIE Outstanding Paper Award for Group Limited on a building project, Tuen has awarded Ir. Dr. Simon Wong, a PhD Professor Lambros Katafygiotis Young Engineers/Researchers 2011 for their I became the President of CEEAA because Mun Swimming Pool Complex. Any advice to fresh CIVL graduate from our Department in 2005, was awarded Research Prize by paper entitled “Terrain Characterisation and at that time I thought we needed graduates? the Building Structures Design Award to the European Association for Design Wind Profiles for Hong Kong”. The somebody to take up the leading role in the honor his remarkable result in the HKIE Structural Dynamics paper presents her Final Year Project work Alumni Association anyway. Establishing First, do not be afraid of suffering What construction projects Structural Examination taken in 2010. The that was supervised by Professor Kwok, in alumni bonding through the Alumni immediate setbacks. Your efforts will have you been involved in? Award was presented during the JSD The Senior and Junior Research Prizes are which the Hong Kong wind characteristics Association is important. At the beginning finally be rewarded. Second, focus on and Which one was the most Annual Dinner in late October 2011. The awarded every three years by the obtained from studies undertaken in the of my serving in the Association, we be responsible for your own jobs. Some unforgettable? JSD Awards were established to European Association for Structural CLP Power Wind/Wave Tunnel Facilities organized a geological trip to Cape people do not have a dedicated and recognize the best Hong Kong candidates Dynamics (EASD) in recognition of (WWTF) over the years were analyzed. In the past years, I have participated in 鶴咀 cautious attitude at work. Third, be hard D'Aguilar ( ) in Hong Kong South and who have scored the highest marks in the outstanding contributions in various fields More representative wind profiles were different kind of projects in the civil, several Continuing Professional working. Your hard work will be eventually Chartered membership Examination of of structural dynamics (methodology then proposed for adoption in a future foundation and building engineering fields. Development (CPD) seminars. noticed and appreciated by your boss, the Institution of Structural Engineers development, computation or application). edition of the Code of Practice on Wind Through these projects, I have gained Unfortunately in recent years, CEEAA sooner or later. (IStructE) or the HKIE Structural This year, Professor Lambros Katafygiotis Effects Hong Kong. experience in planning, design, activities have decreased significantly due Examination. The HKIE Structural programming and coordination, to the busy schedule of Committee Examination consists of two parts: (1) consultation with the various authorities, members and the low activity attendance. written examination and (2) interview. site supervision, and schedule and budget As the Alumni Association has been Applicants passing both parts and control. The most unforgettable project re-activated with a new Board Committee, I meeting the experience requirements was the Route 8 Ngong Shuen Chau look forward to the upcoming CEEAA under the relevant routes to membership Viaduct, which connects the Stonecutters activities and a stronger bonding among our are eligible to become Corporate Bridge with the West Kowloon Highway. alumni. Members of the HKIE in the Structural The contract value of the project was about Discipline. The HKIE Joint Structural $1.5 billion. During the viaduct bridge Division (JSD) was formed by the HKIE construction, the West Kowloon Highway How do you see the future of Structural Division and the IStructE (Hong was temporary closed during the mid-night the Hong Kong construction Kong Division) in 1979/80. Currently, the time for 3 months. Our team needed to industry? HKIE Structural Division is one of the prepare the traffic schemes and There will be many new projects coming largest divisions in the HKIE with over contingency plans for the road closure. up in the next 5 to 6 years. Therefore, we 5000 members. Then I was given the chance to join the “Ah Wai”and family should be prepared for another Golden bridge launching girder operations. The Age in the local construction industry. design of the girder kinematics and the Ir. Dr. Simon Wong (Right) was awarded the Building Structures Design Award from the HKIE Joint Structural Division
06 07 P.1 Words from the Head P.2 Departmental Update P.3 New Faculty Members P.5 973 Project P.6 Alumni Profile P.7 HKUST CEE PGSA P.8 News and Upcoming Events
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
News [email protected]
01 Department’s Update 04 Prof. Thomas Hu's Toy Stories (I) 02 CEEAA AGM and Facebook Professor Guanghao Chen has Departmental 20th Issue 4 January 2012 Group 06 Alumni Profile been elected a Fellow of the Anniversary Celebration 03 New Faculty Members 07 News International Water Association Dinner on 8 June, 2012 (IWA) The year 2012 will mark the 20th anniversary of the formation of our Professor Guanghao Chen has been Department of Civil and Environmental elected a Fellow of International Water Engineering, at HKUST. The department Association (IWA) in recognition of his and the CEEAA alumni association will Update extraordinary contributions to worldwide Department’s organize a celebration dinner on 8 June, water research. He is among the second 2012 (Friday), tentatively in Tsim Sha batch of awardees of the IWA Fellows Undergraduate Students Statistics Awards Tsui, Hong Kong. For alumni, please Program since it was launched in 2011. reserve this date in your diaries. More In the 2011 Fall semester, 388 undergraduate students were taking a Dr. Huanfeng Duan, who will graduate this year, has been awarded a details on the arrangements and The IWA Fellows Program was launched in variety of civil engineering courses, with around 82% on the CIVL PhD Research Excellence Award 2011 from HKUST. At the same registration will be announced later. 2010 to recognize the professional stream, with the rest taking either CIEV (13%) or the Dual Degree time, Miss Hong Zhu and Mr. Woon Kai Xiang are awardees of the excellence of its members. The fellowship (5%) as their major. AGS (Association of Geotechnical & Geoenvironmental Specialists, is bestowed on those IWA members who, Hong Kong) scholarship 2011. Our 2011 UG graduate Ms. In the summer, 119 undergraduate students graduated from the in the judgment of their peers, have made Ms. Yi-Chen Sun, pursuing her Yi-Chen Sun continued her department, commencing a new phase in their future careers. Let’ s a distinguished contribution to the postgraduate study at MIT study at MIT first congratulate them on this great achievement. Among the Welcome advancement or application of water graduates, 95% took engineering posts to start their careers, just as science and technology, bringing One of our 2011 UG graduates, Ms. they planned from the very first day they walked into the HKUST Let’s welcome Prof. Ilias Dimitrakopoulos, Prof. Tze Ling Ng, and significant benefits to society. In 2010, 34 Student Paper Award 2011 Yi-Chen Sun received offers from campus, while the rest are continuing with graduate studies. Keep Prof. Ben Chan who joined our department in the 2011 Fall fellows from 15 countries and regions several top universities including MIT, up the good work in studying diligently at HKUST, and maintain the semester. were elected. Professor Chen is among CHAM Shuk Wun and YIP Ka Yin together Stanford, CalTech, Purdue, and the pedigree of our department and HKUST. We wish all graduates a Prof. Ilias Dimitrakopoulos gained his PhD in 2009 from the the program’s second batch of fellows have won the Institute of Highways and Georgia Institute of Technology to join successful career and future. Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH), Greece. He is now elected in 2011. Transportation (IHT) Student Paper Award their Master/PhD programs. Some of focusing on research with respect to structural engineering, 2011. The title of their award winning the offers also provide a scholarship Our department’ s tradition with respect to student summer bridge engineering and earthquake engineering. paper was: Modeling Transport and/or financial support. Ms. Sun internships again proved successful this year, although it was Management and Land Value. eventually took up an offer from MIT, challenging to secure suitable positions for all of our year 2-to-3 Prof. Tze Ling Ng obtained her PhD from the University of Illinois with a Schoettler Fellowship, on an students. We thank our faculty for their great effort in this regard. at Urbana-Champaign in 2010. Her current research interests MPhil program. include water quality policy modeling, water resources planning Postgraduate Students Statistics and management, environmental modeling and optimization.
In addition to around 400 undergraduate students, approximately 140 Prof. Ben Chan was a PhD student in the department, graduating graduate students are part of our HKUST civil engineering family, in 2008. It is like a reunion for the department with Prof. Chan
Printed on recycled paper Printed on recycled working on their research projects. Currently, there are 69% of joining us as a Visiting Assistant Professor His current research postgrads on PhD programs and 31% on MPhil programs. 20 includes bridge design, structure retrofitting, and engineering students completed their postgraduate studies in the summer, and materials. unlike the undergraduates, more than half (60%) are now continuing their careers in academia.
The awardees with Prof. Hong K Lo PTC-G14553
Editorial Board Contact Us Jack Cheng Email: [email protected] Ilias Dimitrakopoulos Tel: (852) 2358-7154 Website: http://www.ce.ust.hk/ Share your joys and happiness with your fellow Thomas Hu classmates! Emily Ma Send us photos of your wedding or newborns! JP Wang
08 01
Department’s Update New Faculty Members
Newborns Dr. Ilias Dimitrakopoulos Dr. Tze Ling Ng
We would like to congratulate Prof. Tim We also welcome Dr. Ilias Dimitrakopoulos to the department! We welcome Dr. Tze Ling Tse for the arrival of his son Arthur Tse, As the surname suggests, Ilias comes from Greece, where he Ng to the department! Tze and our EO (Executive Officer) Ms. Emily grew up and studied. Ilias (which is also spelled as “Elias”) Ling received her M.S. and Ma for the arrival of her son Codlin received his Diploma, M.Sc and Ph.D, from the Civil Engineering Ph.D. in Environmental Wong. Department of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, in Engineering from the
Greece. In 2010 Ilias left Greece to work for a year as a Department of Civil and Codlin Wong, the newborn baby boy of Arthur Tse, the newborn baby boy of Postdoctoral Researcher in the Engineering Department of the Environmental Engineering, Emily Ma (our EO) Prof. Tim Tse says, ‘Merry Christmas and University of Cambridge, U.K., where he enjoyed the motivating University of Illinois at Happy New Year to you all.” academic environment and creative collaborations. Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). She also worked there for Ilias' research is on structural engineering, bridge engineering a year as a Postdoctoral and life-cycle-cost analysis of civil infrastructures. He focuses on Research Associate before nonlinear and non-smooth phenomena with an emphasis on CEEAA Annual General coming to HKUST. dimensional and advanced similarity analysis. Meeting and Facebook Group Tze Ling’s research focuses on the use and development Ilias visited Asia for the first time last May during the interview of mathematical simulation and optimization models for process, and this was a life-long dream for him. He is amazed environmental planning and management purposes. She CEEAA (HKUST Civil and Environmental by the cultural wealth of Hong Kong and spends any free time is interested in, amongst other things, the adaptive Engineering Alumni Association) held its he has getting to know Hong Kong and its people. His hobbies management of urban water supply systems under Annual General Meeting on 28 October, during the past years have been weight lifting, kick boxing, and non-stationary conditions, interdependencies between 2011 at the Royal Plaza Hotel, Mongkok. In also, curiously, yoga and tango dancing. water and energy, and the environmental impact of the AGM, the 3rd Board was formed and biofuels. approved. The new CEEAA President Derrick Leung discussed the future plans Tze Ling hails from Penang, Malaysia and is excited to be of the alumni association and suggested in Hong Kong, where she finds the bus sevices and upcoming activities. A wine tasting dinner summer humidity to be quite fascinating. In her free time, and a cooking competition are in the 2012 Tze Ling enjoys reading movie spoilers on the Internet, plan. A dinner gathering celebrating the exploring the back streets of Hong Kong, and having a 20th anniversary of our department will nice cup of green tea frappuccino with a good book and also be organized on 8 June 2012 (Friday). relaxing music.
A Facebook group for CEEAA has been created at http://www.facebook.com/groups/ hkustceeaa/. If you are one of our alumni, please join the Facebook group to connect virtually with other alumni. Please also actively participate in and support the CEEAA Annual General Meeting future events of CEEAA. The third board members of the HKUST CEEAA were elected and are listed below: President: Derrick Leung Vice Presidents: Gigi Cheung, Jack Cheng Treasurer: Kevin So Secretary: Robert Cheung Web Manager: Alan Li Membership Officer: Clifford Phung Recreation and Development Officers: Norris Ng, Cheung Ting Kwok (Paul) Public Relationship Officers: Andy Chan, Kim Lui Graduate Representatives: Amy Poon, Alex Ng Committee Members (Supporting): Barbara Siu, Wong Wai Yu, Ryan Yan, Barry Wong Consultants: Prof. Chris Leung, Prof. C.C. Chang, Prof. Y.K. Tung
02 03
Prof. Thomas Hu’s Toy Stories
People who grew up in Hong Kong during His collection consists of 4 categories: (1) (1) Chogokin (超合金) In recent years, in response to public The price of some rare Chogokin toys has (2) Jumbo Machinder the 70s or 80s may remember some Chogokin ( 超合金 ), (2) Jumbo Machinder nostalgia, Bandai has produced new risen sharply over the last 10 years or so. These die-cast metal toys were primarily As the name may suggest, toys in this popular super-hero cartoons and TV (2-ft tall polyethylene figures), (3) model versions of selected Chogokin characters, For example, the “Combattler Boxset”, as made by the Japanese company Popy, a category are huge in size compared to shows from that era, such as Ultraman, kits, and (4) others. The first two are now called the Soul of Chogokin series. shown below, may now cost more than spin-off of Bandai. They came in various some others. Also primarily made by Kamen Rider and Mazinger Z, etc. Many presented in this newsletter, and the rest Thomas has bought a few of them, but 15 brand new i-phones, having tripled its sizes, ranging from a few inches tall to Popy, they typically stand over two feet toys based on those characters were also will be covered in the next issue. his main interest is still in the old ones. price compared to just a few years ago. so-called deluxe box-sets, which were tall, and cost hundreds of dollars back in produced. Due to Prof. Hu’ s fond Although the old versions are often Moreover, they are now almost bigger and often more costly. These toys the 70s (a dollar or two would buy memories of those good old days, he has smaller and less detailed, he still prefers impossible to find. required no assembly, came with many breakfast back then). Therefore, Thomas been collecting such old toys as a hobby. them to their new counterparts since the detailed features such as weapons or fists never had the luxury of acquiring a Jumbo old toys bring about a wonderful sense of that could be shot, and often had Machinder during his childhood, and only nostalgia and an antique feel. “transformation” modes. For example, started to collect these in the early 90s. the famous “Voltes V”--which came in Unfortunately, as these toys turned out to five separate jets--can be combined into a be too bulky to keep, and identical retro giant robot standing over a foot tall, just versions started appearing (which could like in the cartoon. bring down the re-sale value of the originals), he has sold most of them now. This turned out to be a bad decision, as most of what he sold now cost 300%-500% more, and are difficult to find. The only one left is the Great Mazinger seen below. Some of us may Part of Prof. Hu’s toy collection remember an old toothpaste commercial, where this toy (probably a lucky draw prize for toothpaste buyers) was seen firing its fists as a weapon.
Chogokin vs. Soul of Chogokin (top: Combattler Base; bottom: Daiko Maryu) The Voltes V Boxsets (top left: model kit; bottom: Chogokin) Related YouTube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwRe The Daltanious Boxset (robot, lion and e6L92sY plane that combine into a large robot) The Combattler: 5 boxes (common) vs. 1 boxset (rare)
Jumbo Machinder (right) vs. Chogokin (top left) vs. 12” figure (bottom left) Related YouTube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOE1 O57nkx0
Popular Chogokin toys, e.g. (top, front row) the Daiku Maryu, Mach Baron, Grendizer, etc. (The rest of Prof. Hu’s toy collection will be covered in the next issue of the newsletter)
04 05
Alumni Profile News
received the Senior Research Prize in the 96 – 99 BEng. HKUST CIVL PG Team won the Best Professor Christopher Leung Ir. Wai Yu Wong Presentation Award First Prize named RILEM Fellow area of Computational Methods in (BEng 99) 99 – 99 Project Coordinator, Flourcity Architectural Limited 99 – 01 Graduate Engineer, China Harbour – CWF Joint Venture in IDEERS 2011 Structural Dynamics with the following BEng (Hons), 01 – 02 Assistant Engineer, China Harbour Engineering Company Group During the 65th RILEM Week, held in citation: "For his many pioneering seminal CEng, MICE 02 – 03 Assistant Engineer (seconded), Hyder Consulting Limited Our PG team comprising Luk Sung Hei Hong Kong between Sept.4 to Sept.8, contributions in Computational Stochastic 03 – 06 Site Engineer, China Harbour Engineering Company Limited (team leader), Suen Po Chi, Wang Zhe, Professor Christopher Leung was named Dynamics and Systems Identification”. 06 – 07 Senior Site Engineer, Chun Wo Holdings Limited and Du Wenqi has won the Best a Fellow of RILEM (the International The award was delivered at the 8th 07 – 09 Project Engineer, Paul Y. Engineering Group Limited Presentation Award First Prize in Union of Laboratories and Experts in International Conference on Structural 09 – 10 APM, Paul Y. Engineering Group Limited "Introducing and Demonstrating Materials, Systems and Structures) for his Dynamics (EURODYN 2011), Leuven, 10 – 11 Project Manager, Paul Y. Engineering Group Limited Earthquake Engineering Research in "exceptional contribution to RILEM's Belgium, July 4-6, 2011. Schools 2011 (IDEERS 2011)" held by the work". RILEM is a leading international National Center for Research on association for the advancement of As the 3rd Board Committee of our Alumni control for each step of bridge segment Fresh graduates may have many job The HKIE Outstanding Paper Earthquake Engineering in Taipei. construction materials and their Association (CEEAA) was formed and construction were really interesting to me. opportunities and need not worry about Award for Young application in structures. Since the Fellow approved, Ir. Wai Yu Wong (“Ar Wai”) their careers in these years. However, the Engineers/Researchers 2011 Grade was established in 1994, only 51 finished his 10-year serving as President of construction industry often has ups and Ir. Dr. Simon Wong received Fellows have been elected. Professor the 2nd Board. Since his graduation at You have served as the downs with a cycle length of several Ms Cheryl Cham, a graduate of the the Building Structures Design Leung is the first RILEM Fellow from an HKUST in 1999, he has gained over 12 President of CEEAA for 10 years. So we should always equip Department of Civil and Environmental Award from the HKIE Joint Institution in China and the third from the years of experience on site construction years since 2001. What is your ourselves and be prepared for potentially Engineering in 2008, and Professor Kenny Structural Division (JSD) Asia-Pacific Region. work. He is now working as the Project opinion on the Alumni bad times. Kwok, Emeritus Professor, have received Manager / Site Agent at Paul Y. Engineering Association? The HKIE Joint Structural Division (JSD) the HKIE Outstanding Paper Award for Group Limited on a building project, Tuen has awarded Ir. Dr. Simon Wong, a PhD Professor Lambros Katafygiotis Young Engineers/Researchers 2011 for their I became the President of CEEAA because Mun Swimming Pool Complex. Any advice to fresh CIVL graduate from our Department in 2005, was awarded Research Prize by paper entitled “Terrain Characterisation and at that time I thought we needed graduates? the Building Structures Design Award to the European Association for Design Wind Profiles for Hong Kong”. The somebody to take up the leading role in the honor his remarkable result in the HKIE Structural Dynamics paper presents her Final Year Project work Alumni Association anyway. Establishing First, do not be afraid of suffering What construction projects Structural Examination taken in 2010. The that was supervised by Professor Kwok, in alumni bonding through the Alumni immediate setbacks. Your efforts will have you been involved in? Award was presented during the JSD The Senior and Junior Research Prizes are which the Hong Kong wind characteristics Association is important. At the beginning finally be rewarded. Second, focus on and Which one was the most Annual Dinner in late October 2011. The awarded every three years by the obtained from studies undertaken in the of my serving in the Association, we be responsible for your own jobs. Some unforgettable? JSD Awards were established to European Association for Structural CLP Power Wind/Wave Tunnel Facilities organized a geological trip to Cape people do not have a dedicated and recognize the best Hong Kong candidates Dynamics (EASD) in recognition of (WWTF) over the years were analyzed. In the past years, I have participated in 鶴咀 cautious attitude at work. Third, be hard D'Aguilar ( ) in Hong Kong South and who have scored the highest marks in the outstanding contributions in various fields More representative wind profiles were different kind of projects in the civil, several Continuing Professional working. Your hard work will be eventually Chartered membership Examination of of structural dynamics (methodology then proposed for adoption in a future foundation and building engineering fields. Development (CPD) seminars. noticed and appreciated by your boss, the Institution of Structural Engineers development, computation or application). edition of the Code of Practice on Wind Through these projects, I have gained Unfortunately in recent years, CEEAA sooner or later. (IStructE) or the HKIE Structural This year, Professor Lambros Katafygiotis Effects Hong Kong. experience in planning, design, activities have decreased significantly due Examination. The HKIE Structural programming and coordination, to the busy schedule of Committee Examination consists of two parts: (1) consultation with the various authorities, members and the low activity attendance. written examination and (2) interview. site supervision, and schedule and budget As the Alumni Association has been Applicants passing both parts and control. The most unforgettable project re-activated with a new Board Committee, I meeting the experience requirements was the Route 8 Ngong Shuen Chau look forward to the upcoming CEEAA under the relevant routes to membership Viaduct, which connects the Stonecutters activities and a stronger bonding among our are eligible to become Corporate Bridge with the West Kowloon Highway. alumni. Members of the HKIE in the Structural The contract value of the project was about Discipline. The HKIE Joint Structural $1.5 billion. During the viaduct bridge Division (JSD) was formed by the HKIE construction, the West Kowloon Highway How do you see the future of Structural Division and the IStructE (Hong was temporary closed during the mid-night the Hong Kong construction Kong Division) in 1979/80. Currently, the time for 3 months. Our team needed to industry? HKIE Structural Division is one of the prepare the traffic schemes and There will be many new projects coming largest divisions in the HKIE with over contingency plans for the road closure. up in the next 5 to 6 years. Therefore, we 5000 members. Then I was given the chance to join the “Ah Wai”and family should be prepared for another Golden bridge launching girder operations. The Age in the local construction industry. design of the girder kinematics and the Ir. Dr. Simon Wong (Right) was awarded the Building Structures Design Award from the HKIE Joint Structural Division
06 07 P.1 Words from the Head P.2 Departmental Update P.3 New Faculty Members P.5 973 Project P.6 Alumni Profile P.7 HKUST CEE PGSA P.8 News and Upcoming Events
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
News [email protected]
01 Department’s Update 04 Prof. Thomas Hu's Toy Stories (I) 02 CEEAA AGM and Facebook Professor Guanghao Chen has Departmental 20th Issue 4 January 2012 Group 06 Alumni Profile been elected a Fellow of the Anniversary Celebration 03 New Faculty Members 07 News International Water Association Dinner on 8 June, 2012 (IWA) The year 2012 will mark the 20th anniversary of the formation of our Professor Guanghao Chen has been Department of Civil and Environmental elected a Fellow of International Water Engineering, at HKUST. The department Association (IWA) in recognition of his and the CEEAA alumni association will Update extraordinary contributions to worldwide Department’s organize a celebration dinner on 8 June, water research. He is among the second 2012 (Friday), tentatively in Tsim Sha batch of awardees of the IWA Fellows Undergraduate Students Statistics Awards Tsui, Hong Kong. For alumni, please Program since it was launched in 2011. reserve this date in your diaries. More In the 2011 Fall semester, 388 undergraduate students were taking a Dr. Huanfeng Duan, who will graduate this year, has been awarded a details on the arrangements and The IWA Fellows Program was launched in variety of civil engineering courses, with around 82% on the CIVL PhD Research Excellence Award 2011 from HKUST. At the same registration will be announced later. 2010 to recognize the professional stream, with the rest taking either CIEV (13%) or the Dual Degree time, Miss Hong Zhu and Mr. Woon Kai Xiang are awardees of the excellence of its members. The fellowship (5%) as their major. AGS (Association of Geotechnical & Geoenvironmental Specialists, is bestowed on those IWA members who, Hong Kong) scholarship 2011. Our 2011 UG graduate Ms. In the summer, 119 undergraduate students graduated from the in the judgment of their peers, have made Ms. Yi-Chen Sun, pursuing her Yi-Chen Sun continued her department, commencing a new phase in their future careers. Let’ s a distinguished contribution to the postgraduate study at MIT study at MIT first congratulate them on this great achievement. Among the Welcome advancement or application of water graduates, 95% took engineering posts to start their careers, just as science and technology, bringing One of our 2011 UG graduates, Ms. they planned from the very first day they walked into the HKUST Let’s welcome Prof. Ilias Dimitrakopoulos, Prof. Tze Ling Ng, and significant benefits to society. In 2010, 34 Student Paper Award 2011 Yi-Chen Sun received offers from campus, while the rest are continuing with graduate studies. Keep Prof. Ben Chan who joined our department in the 2011 Fall fellows from 15 countries and regions several top universities including MIT, up the good work in studying diligently at HKUST, and maintain the semester. were elected. Professor Chen is among CHAM Shuk Wun and YIP Ka Yin together Stanford, CalTech, Purdue, and the pedigree of our department and HKUST. We wish all graduates a Prof. Ilias Dimitrakopoulos gained his PhD in 2009 from the the program’s second batch of fellows have won the Institute of Highways and Georgia Institute of Technology to join successful career and future. Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH), Greece. He is now elected in 2011. Transportation (IHT) Student Paper Award their Master/PhD programs. Some of focusing on research with respect to structural engineering, 2011. The title of their award winning the offers also provide a scholarship Our department’ s tradition with respect to student summer bridge engineering and earthquake engineering. paper was: Modeling Transport and/or financial support. Ms. Sun internships again proved successful this year, although it was Management and Land Value. eventually took up an offer from MIT, challenging to secure suitable positions for all of our year 2-to-3 Prof. Tze Ling Ng obtained her PhD from the University of Illinois with a Schoettler Fellowship, on an students. We thank our faculty for their great effort in this regard. at Urbana-Champaign in 2010. Her current research interests MPhil program. include water quality policy modeling, water resources planning Postgraduate Students Statistics and management, environmental modeling and optimization.
In addition to around 400 undergraduate students, approximately 140 Prof. Ben Chan was a PhD student in the department, graduating graduate students are part of our HKUST civil engineering family, in 2008. It is like a reunion for the department with Prof. Chan
Printed on recycled paper Printed on recycled working on their research projects. Currently, there are 69% of joining us as a Visiting Assistant Professor His current research postgrads on PhD programs and 31% on MPhil programs. 20 includes bridge design, structure retrofitting, and engineering students completed their postgraduate studies in the summer, and materials. unlike the undergraduates, more than half (60%) are now continuing their careers in academia.
The awardees with Prof. Hong K Lo PTC-G14553
Editorial Board Contact Us Jack Cheng Email: [email protected] Ilias Dimitrakopoulos Tel: (852) 2358-7154 Website: http://www.ce.ust.hk/ Share your joys and happiness with your fellow Thomas Hu classmates! Emily Ma Send us photos of your wedding or newborns! JP Wang
08 01
Department’s Update New Faculty Members
Newborns Dr. Ilias Dimitrakopoulos Dr. Tze Ling Ng
We would like to congratulate Prof. Tim We also welcome Dr. Ilias Dimitrakopoulos to the department! We welcome Dr. Tze Ling Tse for the arrival of his son Arthur Tse, As the surname suggests, Ilias comes from Greece, where he Ng to the department! Tze and our EO (Executive Officer) Ms. Emily grew up and studied. Ilias (which is also spelled as “Elias”) Ling received her M.S. and Ma for the arrival of her son Codlin received his Diploma, M.Sc and Ph.D, from the Civil Engineering Ph.D. in Environmental Wong. Department of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, in Engineering from the
Greece. In 2010 Ilias left Greece to work for a year as a Department of Civil and Codlin Wong, the newborn baby boy of Arthur Tse, the newborn baby boy of Postdoctoral Researcher in the Engineering Department of the Environmental Engineering, Emily Ma (our EO) Prof. Tim Tse says, ‘Merry Christmas and University of Cambridge, U.K., where he enjoyed the motivating University of Illinois at Happy New Year to you all.” academic environment and creative collaborations. Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). She also worked there for Ilias' research is on structural engineering, bridge engineering a year as a Postdoctoral and life-cycle-cost analysis of civil infrastructures. He focuses on Research Associate before nonlinear and non-smooth phenomena with an emphasis on CEEAA Annual General coming to HKUST. dimensional and advanced similarity analysis. Meeting and Facebook Group Tze Ling’s research focuses on the use and development Ilias visited Asia for the first time last May during the interview of mathematical simulation and optimization models for process, and this was a life-long dream for him. He is amazed environmental planning and management purposes. She CEEAA (HKUST Civil and Environmental by the cultural wealth of Hong Kong and spends any free time is interested in, amongst other things, the adaptive Engineering Alumni Association) held its he has getting to know Hong Kong and its people. His hobbies management of urban water supply systems under Annual General Meeting on 28 October, during the past years have been weight lifting, kick boxing, and non-stationary conditions, interdependencies between 2011 at the Royal Plaza Hotel, Mongkok. In also, curiously, yoga and tango dancing. water and energy, and the environmental impact of the AGM, the 3rd Board was formed and biofuels. approved. The new CEEAA President Derrick Leung discussed the future plans Tze Ling hails from Penang, Malaysia and is excited to be of the alumni association and suggested in Hong Kong, where she finds the bus sevices and upcoming activities. A wine tasting dinner summer humidity to be quite fascinating. In her free time, and a cooking competition are in the 2012 Tze Ling enjoys reading movie spoilers on the Internet, plan. A dinner gathering celebrating the exploring the back streets of Hong Kong, and having a 20th anniversary of our department will nice cup of green tea frappuccino with a good book and also be organized on 8 June 2012 (Friday). relaxing music.
A Facebook group for CEEAA has been created at http://www.facebook.com/groups/ hkustceeaa/. If you are one of our alumni, please join the Facebook group to connect virtually with other alumni. Please also actively participate in and support the CEEAA Annual General Meeting future events of CEEAA. The third board members of the HKUST CEEAA were elected and are listed below: President: Derrick Leung Vice Presidents: Gigi Cheung, Jack Cheng Treasurer: Kevin So Secretary: Robert Cheung Web Manager: Alan Li Membership Officer: Clifford Phung Recreation and Development Officers: Norris Ng, Cheung Ting Kwok (Paul) Public Relationship Officers: Andy Chan, Kim Lui Graduate Representatives: Amy Poon, Alex Ng Committee Members (Supporting): Barbara Siu, Wong Wai Yu, Ryan Yan, Barry Wong Consultants: Prof. Chris Leung, Prof. C.C. Chang, Prof. Y.K. Tung
02 03
Prof. Thomas Hu’s Toy Stories
People who grew up in Hong Kong during His collection consists of 4 categories: (1) (1) Chogokin (超合金) In recent years, in response to public The price of some rare Chogokin toys has (2) Jumbo Machinder the 70s or 80s may remember some Chogokin ( 超合金 ), (2) Jumbo Machinder nostalgia, Bandai has produced new risen sharply over the last 10 years or so. These die-cast metal toys were primarily As the name may suggest, toys in this popular super-hero cartoons and TV (2-ft tall polyethylene figures), (3) model versions of selected Chogokin characters, For example, the “Combattler Boxset”, as made by the Japanese company Popy, a category are huge in size compared to shows from that era, such as Ultraman, kits, and (4) others. The first two are now called the Soul of Chogokin series. shown below, may now cost more than spin-off of Bandai. They came in various some others. Also primarily made by Kamen Rider and Mazinger Z, etc. Many presented in this newsletter, and the rest Thomas has bought a few of them, but 15 brand new i-phones, having tripled its sizes, ranging from a few inches tall to Popy, they typically stand over two feet toys based on those characters were also will be covered in the next issue. his main interest is still in the old ones. price compared to just a few years ago. so-called deluxe box-sets, which were tall, and cost hundreds of dollars back in produced. Due to Prof. Hu’ s fond Although the old versions are often Moreover, they are now almost bigger and often more costly. These toys the 70s (a dollar or two would buy memories of those good old days, he has smaller and less detailed, he still prefers impossible to find. required no assembly, came with many breakfast back then). Therefore, Thomas been collecting such old toys as a hobby. them to their new counterparts since the detailed features such as weapons or fists never had the luxury of acquiring a Jumbo old toys bring about a wonderful sense of that could be shot, and often had Machinder during his childhood, and only nostalgia and an antique feel. “transformation” modes. For example, started to collect these in the early 90s. the famous “Voltes V”--which came in Unfortunately, as these toys turned out to five separate jets--can be combined into a be too bulky to keep, and identical retro giant robot standing over a foot tall, just versions started appearing (which could like in the cartoon. bring down the re-sale value of the originals), he has sold most of them now. This turned out to be a bad decision, as most of what he sold now cost 300%-500% more, and are difficult to find. The only one left is the Great Mazinger seen below. Some of us may Part of Prof. Hu’s toy collection remember an old toothpaste commercial, where this toy (probably a lucky draw prize for toothpaste buyers) was seen firing its fists as a weapon.
Chogokin vs. Soul of Chogokin (top: Combattler Base; bottom: Daiko Maryu) The Voltes V Boxsets (top left: model kit; bottom: Chogokin) Related YouTube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwRe The Daltanious Boxset (robot, lion and e6L92sY plane that combine into a large robot) The Combattler: 5 boxes (common) vs. 1 boxset (rare)
Jumbo Machinder (right) vs. Chogokin (top left) vs. 12” figure (bottom left) Related YouTube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOE1 O57nkx0
Popular Chogokin toys, e.g. (top, front row) the Daiku Maryu, Mach Baron, Grendizer, etc. (The rest of Prof. Hu’s toy collection will be covered in the next issue of the newsletter)
04 05
Alumni Profile News
received the Senior Research Prize in the 96 – 99 BEng. HKUST CIVL PG Team won the Best Professor Christopher Leung Ir. Wai Yu Wong Presentation Award First Prize named RILEM Fellow area of Computational Methods in (BEng 99) 99 – 99 Project Coordinator, Flourcity Architectural Limited 99 – 01 Graduate Engineer, China Harbour – CWF Joint Venture in IDEERS 2011 Structural Dynamics with the following BEng (Hons), 01 – 02 Assistant Engineer, China Harbour Engineering Company Group During the 65th RILEM Week, held in citation: "For his many pioneering seminal CEng, MICE 02 – 03 Assistant Engineer (seconded), Hyder Consulting Limited Our PG team comprising Luk Sung Hei Hong Kong between Sept.4 to Sept.8, contributions in Computational Stochastic 03 – 06 Site Engineer, China Harbour Engineering Company Limited (team leader), Suen Po Chi, Wang Zhe, Professor Christopher Leung was named Dynamics and Systems Identification”. 06 – 07 Senior Site Engineer, Chun Wo Holdings Limited and Du Wenqi has won the Best a Fellow of RILEM (the International The award was delivered at the 8th 07 – 09 Project Engineer, Paul Y. Engineering Group Limited Presentation Award First Prize in Union of Laboratories and Experts in International Conference on Structural 09 – 10 APM, Paul Y. Engineering Group Limited "Introducing and Demonstrating Materials, Systems and Structures) for his Dynamics (EURODYN 2011), Leuven, 10 – 11 Project Manager, Paul Y. Engineering Group Limited Earthquake Engineering Research in "exceptional contribution to RILEM's Belgium, July 4-6, 2011. Schools 2011 (IDEERS 2011)" held by the work". RILEM is a leading international National Center for Research on association for the advancement of As the 3rd Board Committee of our Alumni control for each step of bridge segment Fresh graduates may have many job The HKIE Outstanding Paper Earthquake Engineering in Taipei. construction materials and their Association (CEEAA) was formed and construction were really interesting to me. opportunities and need not worry about Award for Young application in structures. Since the Fellow approved, Ir. Wai Yu Wong (“Ar Wai”) their careers in these years. However, the Engineers/Researchers 2011 Grade was established in 1994, only 51 finished his 10-year serving as President of construction industry often has ups and Ir. Dr. Simon Wong received Fellows have been elected. Professor the 2nd Board. Since his graduation at You have served as the downs with a cycle length of several Ms Cheryl Cham, a graduate of the the Building Structures Design Leung is the first RILEM Fellow from an HKUST in 1999, he has gained over 12 President of CEEAA for 10 years. So we should always equip Department of Civil and Environmental Award from the HKIE Joint Institution in China and the third from the years of experience on site construction years since 2001. What is your ourselves and be prepared for potentially Engineering in 2008, and Professor Kenny Structural Division (JSD) Asia-Pacific Region. work. He is now working as the Project opinion on the Alumni bad times. Kwok, Emeritus Professor, have received Manager / Site Agent at Paul Y. Engineering Association? The HKIE Joint Structural Division (JSD) the HKIE Outstanding Paper Award for Group Limited on a building project, Tuen has awarded Ir. Dr. Simon Wong, a PhD Professor Lambros Katafygiotis Young Engineers/Researchers 2011 for their I became the President of CEEAA because Mun Swimming Pool Complex. Any advice to fresh CIVL graduate from our Department in 2005, was awarded Research Prize by paper entitled “Terrain Characterisation and at that time I thought we needed graduates? the Building Structures Design Award to the European Association for Design Wind Profiles for Hong Kong”. The somebody to take up the leading role in the honor his remarkable result in the HKIE Structural Dynamics paper presents her Final Year Project work Alumni Association anyway. Establishing First, do not be afraid of suffering What construction projects Structural Examination taken in 2010. The that was supervised by Professor Kwok, in alumni bonding through the Alumni immediate setbacks. Your efforts will have you been involved in? Award was presented during the JSD The Senior and Junior Research Prizes are which the Hong Kong wind characteristics Association is important. At the beginning finally be rewarded. Second, focus on and Which one was the most Annual Dinner in late October 2011. The awarded every three years by the obtained from studies undertaken in the of my serving in the Association, we be responsible for your own jobs. Some unforgettable? JSD Awards were established to European Association for Structural CLP Power Wind/Wave Tunnel Facilities organized a geological trip to Cape people do not have a dedicated and recognize the best Hong Kong candidates Dynamics (EASD) in recognition of (WWTF) over the years were analyzed. In the past years, I have participated in 鶴咀 cautious attitude at work. Third, be hard D'Aguilar ( ) in Hong Kong South and who have scored the highest marks in the outstanding contributions in various fields More representative wind profiles were different kind of projects in the civil, several Continuing Professional working. Your hard work will be eventually Chartered membership Examination of of structural dynamics (methodology then proposed for adoption in a future foundation and building engineering fields. Development (CPD) seminars. noticed and appreciated by your boss, the Institution of Structural Engineers development, computation or application). edition of the Code of Practice on Wind Through these projects, I have gained Unfortunately in recent years, CEEAA sooner or later. (IStructE) or the HKIE Structural This year, Professor Lambros Katafygiotis Effects Hong Kong. experience in planning, design, activities have decreased significantly due Examination. The HKIE Structural programming and coordination, to the busy schedule of Committee Examination consists of two parts: (1) consultation with the various authorities, members and the low activity attendance. written examination and (2) interview. site supervision, and schedule and budget As the Alumni Association has been Applicants passing both parts and control. The most unforgettable project re-activated with a new Board Committee, I meeting the experience requirements was the Route 8 Ngong Shuen Chau look forward to the upcoming CEEAA under the relevant routes to membership Viaduct, which connects the Stonecutters activities and a stronger bonding among our are eligible to become Corporate Bridge with the West Kowloon Highway. alumni. Members of the HKIE in the Structural The contract value of the project was about Discipline. The HKIE Joint Structural $1.5 billion. During the viaduct bridge Division (JSD) was formed by the HKIE construction, the West Kowloon Highway How do you see the future of Structural Division and the IStructE (Hong was temporary closed during the mid-night the Hong Kong construction Kong Division) in 1979/80. Currently, the time for 3 months. Our team needed to industry? HKIE Structural Division is one of the prepare the traffic schemes and There will be many new projects coming largest divisions in the HKIE with over contingency plans for the road closure. up in the next 5 to 6 years. Therefore, we 5000 members. Then I was given the chance to join the “Ah Wai”and family should be prepared for another Golden bridge launching girder operations. The Age in the local construction industry. design of the girder kinematics and the Ir. Dr. Simon Wong (Right) was awarded the Building Structures Design Award from the HKIE Joint Structural Division
06 07 P.1 Words from the Head P.2 Departmental Update P.3 New Faculty Members P.5 973 Project P.6 Alumni Profile P.7 HKUST CEE PGSA P.8 News and Upcoming Events
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
News [email protected]
01 Department’s Update 04 Prof. Thomas Hu's Toy Stories (I) 02 CEEAA AGM and Facebook Professor Guanghao Chen has Departmental 20th Issue 4 January 2012 Group 06 Alumni Profile been elected a Fellow of the Anniversary Celebration 03 New Faculty Members 07 News International Water Association Dinner on 8 June, 2012 (IWA) The year 2012 will mark the 20th anniversary of the formation of our Professor Guanghao Chen has been Department of Civil and Environmental elected a Fellow of International Water Engineering, at HKUST. The department Association (IWA) in recognition of his and the CEEAA alumni association will Update extraordinary contributions to worldwide Department’s organize a celebration dinner on 8 June, water research. He is among the second 2012 (Friday), tentatively in Tsim Sha batch of awardees of the IWA Fellows Undergraduate Students Statistics Awards Tsui, Hong Kong. For alumni, please Program since it was launched in 2011. reserve this date in your diaries. More In the 2011 Fall semester, 388 undergraduate students were taking a Dr. Huanfeng Duan, who will graduate this year, has been awarded a details on the arrangements and The IWA Fellows Program was launched in variety of civil engineering courses, with around 82% on the CIVL PhD Research Excellence Award 2011 from HKUST. At the same registration will be announced later. 2010 to recognize the professional stream, with the rest taking either CIEV (13%) or the Dual Degree time, Miss Hong Zhu and Mr. Woon Kai Xiang are awardees of the excellence of its members. The fellowship (5%) as their major. AGS (Association of Geotechnical & Geoenvironmental Specialists, is bestowed on those IWA members who, Hong Kong) scholarship 2011. Our 2011 UG graduate Ms. In the summer, 119 undergraduate students graduated from the in the judgment of their peers, have made Ms. Yi-Chen Sun, pursuing her Yi-Chen Sun continued her department, commencing a new phase in their future careers. Let’ s a distinguished contribution to the postgraduate study at MIT study at MIT first congratulate them on this great achievement. Among the Welcome advancement or application of water graduates, 95% took engineering posts to start their careers, just as science and technology, bringing One of our 2011 UG graduates, Ms. they planned from the very first day they walked into the HKUST Let’s welcome Prof. Ilias Dimitrakopoulos, Prof. Tze Ling Ng, and significant benefits to society. In 2010, 34 Student Paper Award 2011 Yi-Chen Sun received offers from campus, while the rest are continuing with graduate studies. Keep Prof. Ben Chan who joined our department in the 2011 Fall fellows from 15 countries and regions several top universities including MIT, up the good work in studying diligently at HKUST, and maintain the semester. were elected. Professor Chen is among CHAM Shuk Wun and YIP Ka Yin together Stanford, CalTech, Purdue, and the pedigree of our department and HKUST. We wish all graduates a Prof. Ilias Dimitrakopoulos gained his PhD in 2009 from the the program’s second batch of fellows have won the Institute of Highways and Georgia Institute of Technology to join successful career and future. Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH), Greece. He is now elected in 2011. Transportation (IHT) Student Paper Award their Master/PhD programs. Some of focusing on research with respect to structural engineering, 2011. The title of their award winning the offers also provide a scholarship Our department’ s tradition with respect to student summer bridge engineering and earthquake engineering. paper was: Modeling Transport and/or financial support. Ms. Sun internships again proved successful this year, although it was Management and Land Value. eventually took up an offer from MIT, challenging to secure suitable positions for all of our year 2-to-3 Prof. Tze Ling Ng obtained her PhD from the University of Illinois with a Schoettler Fellowship, on an students. We thank our faculty for their great effort in this regard. at Urbana-Champaign in 2010. Her current research interests MPhil program. include water quality policy modeling, water resources planning Postgraduate Students Statistics and management, environmental modeling and optimization.
In addition to around 400 undergraduate students, approximately 140 Prof. Ben Chan was a PhD student in the department, graduating graduate students are part of our HKUST civil engineering family, in 2008. It is like a reunion for the department with Prof. Chan
Printed on recycled paper Printed on recycled working on their research projects. Currently, there are 69% of joining us as a Visiting Assistant Professor His current research postgrads on PhD programs and 31% on MPhil programs. 20 includes bridge design, structure retrofitting, and engineering students completed their postgraduate studies in the summer, and materials. unlike the undergraduates, more than half (60%) are now continuing their careers in academia.
The awardees with Prof. Hong K Lo PTC-G14553
Editorial Board Contact Us Jack Cheng Email: [email protected] Ilias Dimitrakopoulos Tel: (852) 2358-7154 Website: http://www.ce.ust.hk/ Share your joys and happiness with your fellow Thomas Hu classmates! Emily Ma Send us photos of your wedding or newborns! JP Wang
08 01
Department’s Update New Faculty Members
Newborns Dr. Ilias Dimitrakopoulos Dr. Tze Ling Ng
We would like to congratulate Prof. Tim We also welcome Dr. Ilias Dimitrakopoulos to the department! We welcome Dr. Tze Ling Tse for the arrival of his son Arthur Tse, As the surname suggests, Ilias comes from Greece, where he Ng to the department! Tze and our EO (Executive Officer) Ms. Emily grew up and studied. Ilias (which is also spelled as “Elias”) Ling received her M.S. and Ma for the arrival of her son Codlin received his Diploma, M.Sc and Ph.D, from the Civil Engineering Ph.D. in Environmental Wong. Department of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, in Engineering from the
Greece. In 2010 Ilias left Greece to work for a year as a Department of Civil and Codlin Wong, the newborn baby boy of Arthur Tse, the newborn baby boy of Postdoctoral Researcher in the Engineering Department of the Environmental Engineering, Emily Ma (our EO) Prof. Tim Tse says, ‘Merry Christmas and University of Cambridge, U.K., where he enjoyed the motivating University of Illinois at Happy New Year to you all.” academic environment and creative collaborations. Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). She also worked there for Ilias' research is on structural engineering, bridge engineering a year as a Postdoctoral and life-cycle-cost analysis of civil infrastructures. He focuses on Research Associate before nonlinear and non-smooth phenomena with an emphasis on CEEAA Annual General coming to HKUST. dimensional and advanced similarity analysis. Meeting and Facebook Group Tze Ling’s research focuses on the use and development Ilias visited Asia for the first time last May during the interview of mathematical simulation and optimization models for process, and this was a life-long dream for him. He is amazed environmental planning and management purposes. She CEEAA (HKUST Civil and Environmental by the cultural wealth of Hong Kong and spends any free time is interested in, amongst other things, the adaptive Engineering Alumni Association) held its he has getting to know Hong Kong and its people. His hobbies management of urban water supply systems under Annual General Meeting on 28 October, during the past years have been weight lifting, kick boxing, and non-stationary conditions, interdependencies between 2011 at the Royal Plaza Hotel, Mongkok. In also, curiously, yoga and tango dancing. water and energy, and the environmental impact of the AGM, the 3rd Board was formed and biofuels. approved. The new CEEAA President Derrick Leung discussed the future plans Tze Ling hails from Penang, Malaysia and is excited to be of the alumni association and suggested in Hong Kong, where she finds the bus sevices and upcoming activities. A wine tasting dinner summer humidity to be quite fascinating. In her free time, and a cooking competition are in the 2012 Tze Ling enjoys reading movie spoilers on the Internet, plan. A dinner gathering celebrating the exploring the back streets of Hong Kong, and having a 20th anniversary of our department will nice cup of green tea frappuccino with a good book and also be organized on 8 June 2012 (Friday). relaxing music.
A Facebook group for CEEAA has been created at http://www.facebook.com/groups/ hkustceeaa/. If you are one of our alumni, please join the Facebook group to connect virtually with other alumni. Please also actively participate in and support the CEEAA Annual General Meeting future events of CEEAA. The third board members of the HKUST CEEAA were elected and are listed below: President: Derrick Leung Vice Presidents: Gigi Cheung, Jack Cheng Treasurer: Kevin So Secretary: Robert Cheung Web Manager: Alan Li Membership Officer: Clifford Phung Recreation and Development Officers: Norris Ng, Cheung Ting Kwok (Paul) Public Relationship Officers: Andy Chan, Kim Lui Graduate Representatives: Amy Poon, Alex Ng Committee Members (Supporting): Barbara Siu, Wong Wai Yu, Ryan Yan, Barry Wong Consultants: Prof. Chris Leung, Prof. C.C. Chang, Prof. Y.K. Tung
02 03
Prof. Thomas Hu’s Toy Stories
People who grew up in Hong Kong during His collection consists of 4 categories: (1) (1) Chogokin (超合金) In recent years, in response to public The price of some rare Chogokin toys has (2) Jumbo Machinder the 70s or 80s may remember some Chogokin ( 超合金 ), (2) Jumbo Machinder nostalgia, Bandai has produced new risen sharply over the last 10 years or so. These die-cast metal toys were primarily As the name may suggest, toys in this popular super-hero cartoons and TV (2-ft tall polyethylene figures), (3) model versions of selected Chogokin characters, For example, the “Combattler Boxset”, as made by the Japanese company Popy, a category are huge in size compared to shows from that era, such as Ultraman, kits, and (4) others. The first two are now called the Soul of Chogokin series. shown below, may now cost more than spin-off of Bandai. They came in various some others. Also primarily made by Kamen Rider and Mazinger Z, etc. Many presented in this newsletter, and the rest Thomas has bought a few of them, but 15 brand new i-phones, having tripled its sizes, ranging from a few inches tall to Popy, they typically stand over two feet toys based on those characters were also will be covered in the next issue. his main interest is still in the old ones. price compared to just a few years ago. so-called deluxe box-sets, which were tall, and cost hundreds of dollars back in produced. Due to Prof. Hu’ s fond Although the old versions are often Moreover, they are now almost bigger and often more costly. These toys the 70s (a dollar or two would buy memories of those good old days, he has smaller and less detailed, he still prefers impossible to find. required no assembly, came with many breakfast back then). Therefore, Thomas been collecting such old toys as a hobby. them to their new counterparts since the detailed features such as weapons or fists never had the luxury of acquiring a Jumbo old toys bring about a wonderful sense of that could be shot, and often had Machinder during his childhood, and only nostalgia and an antique feel. “transformation” modes. For example, started to collect these in the early 90s. the famous “Voltes V”--which came in Unfortunately, as these toys turned out to five separate jets--can be combined into a be too bulky to keep, and identical retro giant robot standing over a foot tall, just versions started appearing (which could like in the cartoon. bring down the re-sale value of the originals), he has sold most of them now. This turned out to be a bad decision, as most of what he sold now cost 300%-500% more, and are difficult to find. The only one left is the Great Mazinger seen below. Some of us may Part of Prof. Hu’s toy collection remember an old toothpaste commercial, where this toy (probably a lucky draw prize for toothpaste buyers) was seen firing its fists as a weapon.
Chogokin vs. Soul of Chogokin (top: Combattler Base; bottom: Daiko Maryu) The Voltes V Boxsets (top left: model kit; bottom: Chogokin) Related YouTube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwRe The Daltanious Boxset (robot, lion and e6L92sY plane that combine into a large robot) Chogokin vs. Soul of Chogokin (top: Combattler Base; bottom: Daiko Maryu)
Jumbo Machinder (right) vs. Chogokin (top left) vs. 12” figure (bottom left) Related YouTube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOE1 O57nkx0
Popular Chogokin toys, e.g. (top, front row) the Daiku Maryu, Mach Baron, Grendizer, etc. (The rest of Prof. Hu’s toy collection will be covered in the next issue of the newsletter)
04 05
Alumni Profile News
received the Senior Research Prize in the 96 – 99 BEng. HKUST CIVL PG Team won the Best Professor Christopher Leung Ir. Wai Yu Wong Presentation Award First Prize named RILEM Fellow area of Computational Methods in (BEng 99) 99 – 99 Project Coordinator, Flourcity Architectural Limited 99 – 01 Graduate Engineer, China Harbour – CWF Joint Venture in IDEERS 2011 Structural Dynamics with the following BEng (Hons), 01 – 02 Assistant Engineer, China Harbour Engineering Company Group During the 65th RILEM Week, held in citation: "For his many pioneering seminal CEng, MICE 02 – 03 Assistant Engineer (seconded), Hyder Consulting Limited Our PG team comprising Luk Sung Hei Hong Kong between Sept.4 to Sept.8, contributions in Computational Stochastic 03 – 06 Site Engineer, China Harbour Engineering Company Limited (team leader), Suen Po Chi, Wang Zhe, Professor Christopher Leung was named Dynamics and Systems Identification”. 06 – 07 Senior Site Engineer, Chun Wo Holdings Limited and Du Wenqi has won the Best a Fellow of RILEM (the International The award was delivered at the 8th 07 – 09 Project Engineer, Paul Y. Engineering Group Limited Presentation Award First Prize in Union of Laboratories and Experts in International Conference on Structural 09 – 10 APM, Paul Y. Engineering Group Limited "Introducing and Demonstrating Materials, Systems and Structures) for his Dynamics (EURODYN 2011), Leuven, 10 – 11 Project Manager, Paul Y. Engineering Group Limited Earthquake Engineering Research in "exceptional contribution to RILEM's Belgium, July 4-6, 2011. Schools 2011 (IDEERS 2011)" held by the work". RILEM is a leading international National Center for Research on association for the advancement of As the 3rd Board Committee of our Alumni control for each step of bridge segment Fresh graduates may have many job The HKIE Outstanding Paper Earthquake Engineering in Taipei. construction materials and their Association (CEEAA) was formed and construction were really interesting to me. opportunities and need not worry about Award for Young application in structures. Since the Fellow approved, Ir. Wai Yu Wong (“Ar Wai”) their careers in these years. However, the Engineers/Researchers 2011 Grade was established in 1994, only 51 finished his 10-year serving as President of construction industry often has ups and Ir. Dr. Simon Wong received Fellows have been elected. Professor the 2nd Board. Since his graduation at You have served as the downs with a cycle length of several Ms Cheryl Cham, a graduate of the the Building Structures Design Leung is the first RILEM Fellow from an HKUST in 1999, he has gained over 12 President of CEEAA for 10 years. So we should always equip Department of Civil and Environmental Award from the HKIE Joint Institution in China and the third from the years of experience on site construction years since 2001. What is your ourselves and be prepared for potentially Engineering in 2008, and Professor Kenny Structural Division (JSD) Asia-Pacific Region. work. He is now working as the Project opinion on the Alumni bad times. Kwok, Emeritus Professor, have received Manager / Site Agent at Paul Y. Engineering Association? The HKIE Joint Structural Division (JSD) the HKIE Outstanding Paper Award for Group Limited on a building project, Tuen has awarded Ir. Dr. Simon Wong, a PhD Professor Lambros Katafygiotis Young Engineers/Researchers 2011 for their I became the President of CEEAA because Mun Swimming Pool Complex. Any advice to fresh CIVL graduate from our Department in 2005, was awarded Research Prize by paper entitled “Terrain Characterisation and at that time I thought we needed graduates? the Building Structures Design Award to the European Association for Design Wind Profiles for Hong Kong”. The somebody to take up the leading role in the honor his remarkable result in the HKIE Structural Dynamics paper presents her Final Year Project work Alumni Association anyway. Establishing First, do not be afraid of suffering What construction projects Structural Examination taken in 2010. The that was supervised by Professor Kwok, in alumni bonding through the Alumni immediate setbacks. Your efforts will have you been involved in? Award was presented during the JSD The Senior and Junior Research Prizes are which the Hong Kong wind characteristics Association is important. At the beginning finally be rewarded. Second, focus on and Which one was the most Annual Dinner in late October 2011. The awarded every three years by the obtained from studies undertaken in the of my serving in the Association, we be responsible for your own jobs. Some unforgettable? JSD Awards were established to European Association for Structural CLP Power Wind/Wave Tunnel Facilities organized a geological trip to Cape people do not have a dedicated and recognize the best Hong Kong candidates Dynamics (EASD) in recognition of (WWTF) over the years were analyzed. In the past years, I have participated in 鶴咀 cautious attitude at work. Third, be hard D'Aguilar ( ) in Hong Kong South and who have scored the highest marks in the outstanding contributions in various fields More representative wind profiles were different kind of projects in the civil, several Continuing Professional working. Your hard work will be eventually Chartered membership Examination of of structural dynamics (methodology then proposed for adoption in a future foundation and building engineering fields. Development (CPD) seminars. noticed and appreciated by your boss, the Institution of Structural Engineers development, computation or application). edition of the Code of Practice on Wind Through these projects, I have gained Unfortunately in recent years, CEEAA sooner or later. (IStructE) or the HKIE Structural This year, Professor Lambros Katafygiotis Effects Hong Kong. experience in planning, design, activities have decreased significantly due Examination. The HKIE Structural programming and coordination, to the busy schedule of Committee Examination consists of two parts: (1) consultation with the various authorities, members and the low activity attendance. written examination and (2) interview. site supervision, and schedule and budget As the Alumni Association has been Applicants passing both parts and control. The most unforgettable project re-activated with a new Board Committee, I meeting the experience requirements was the Route 8 Ngong Shuen Chau look forward to the upcoming CEEAA under the relevant routes to membership Viaduct, which connects the Stonecutters activities and a stronger bonding among our are eligible to become Corporate Bridge with the West Kowloon Highway. alumni. Members of the HKIE in the Structural The contract value of the project was about Discipline. The HKIE Joint Structural $1.5 billion. During the viaduct bridge Division (JSD) was formed by the HKIE construction, the West Kowloon Highway How do you see the future of Structural Division and the IStructE (Hong was temporary closed during the mid-night the Hong Kong construction Kong Division) in 1979/80. Currently, the time for 3 months. Our team needed to industry? HKIE Structural Division is one of the prepare the traffic schemes and There will be many new projects coming largest divisions in the HKIE with over contingency plans for the road closure. up in the next 5 to 6 years. Therefore, we 5000 members. Then I was given the chance to join the “Ah Wai”and family should be prepared for another Golden bridge launching girder operations. The Age in the local construction industry. design of the girder kinematics and the Ir. Dr. Simon Wong (Right) was awarded the Building Structures Design Award from the HKIE Joint Structural Division
06 07 P.1 Words from the Head P.2 Departmental Update P.3 New Faculty Members P.5 973 Project P.6 Alumni Profile P.7 HKUST CEE PGSA P.8 News and Upcoming Events
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
News [email protected]
01 Department’s Update 04 Prof. Thomas Hu's Toy Stories (I) 02 CEEAA AGM and Facebook Professor Guanghao Chen has Departmental 20th Issue 4 January 2012 Group 06 Alumni Profile been elected a Fellow of the Anniversary Celebration 03 New Faculty Members 07 News International Water Association Dinner on 8 June, 2012 (IWA) The year 2012 will mark the 20th anniversary of the formation of our Professor Guanghao Chen has been Department of Civil and Environmental elected a Fellow of International Water Engineering, at HKUST. The department Association (IWA) in recognition of his and the CEEAA alumni association will Update extraordinary contributions to worldwide Department’s organize a celebration dinner on 8 June, water research. He is among the second 2012 (Friday), tentatively in Tsim Sha batch of awardees of the IWA Fellows Undergraduate Students Statistics Awards Tsui, Hong Kong. For alumni, please Program since it was launched in 2011. reserve this date in your diaries. More In the 2011 Fall semester, 388 undergraduate students were taking a Dr. Huanfeng Duan, who will graduate this year, has been awarded a details on the arrangements and The IWA Fellows Program was launched in variety of civil engineering courses, with around 82% on the CIVL PhD Research Excellence Award 2011 from HKUST. At the same registration will be announced later. 2010 to recognize the professional stream, with the rest taking either CIEV (13%) or the Dual Degree time, Miss Hong Zhu and Mr. Woon Kai Xiang are awardees of the excellence of its members. The fellowship (5%) as their major. AGS (Association of Geotechnical & Geoenvironmental Specialists, is bestowed on those IWA members who, Hong Kong) scholarship 2011. Our 2011 UG graduate Ms. In the summer, 119 undergraduate students graduated from the in the judgment of their peers, have made Ms. Yi-Chen Sun, pursuing her Yi-Chen Sun continued her department, commencing a new phase in their future careers. Let’ s a distinguished contribution to the postgraduate study at MIT study at MIT first congratulate them on this great achievement. Among the Welcome advancement or application of water graduates, 95% took engineering posts to start their careers, just as science and technology, bringing One of our 2011 UG graduates, Ms. they planned from the very first day they walked into the HKUST Let’s welcome Prof. Ilias Dimitrakopoulos, Prof. Tze Ling Ng, and significant benefits to society. In 2010, 34 Student Paper Award 2011 Yi-Chen Sun received offers from campus, while the rest are continuing with graduate studies. Keep Prof. Ben Chan who joined our department in the 2011 Fall fellows from 15 countries and regions several top universities including MIT, up the good work in studying diligently at HKUST, and maintain the semester. were elected. Professor Chen is among CHAM Shuk Wun and YIP Ka Yin together Stanford, CalTech, Purdue, and the pedigree of our department and HKUST. We wish all graduates a Prof. Ilias Dimitrakopoulos gained his PhD in 2009 from the the program’s second batch of fellows have won the Institute of Highways and Georgia Institute of Technology to join successful career and future. Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH), Greece. He is now elected in 2011. Transportation (IHT) Student Paper Award their Master/PhD programs. Some of focusing on research with respect to structural engineering, 2011. The title of their award winning the offers also provide a scholarship Our department’ s tradition with respect to student summer bridge engineering and earthquake engineering. paper was: Modeling Transport and/or financial support. Ms. Sun internships again proved successful this year, although it was Management and Land Value. eventually took up an offer from MIT, challenging to secure suitable positions for all of our year 2-to-3 Prof. Tze Ling Ng obtained her PhD from the University of Illinois with a Schoettler Fellowship, on an students. We thank our faculty for their great effort in this regard. at Urbana-Champaign in 2010. Her current research interests MPhil program. include water quality policy modeling, water resources planning Postgraduate Students Statistics and management, environmental modeling and optimization.
In addition to around 400 undergraduate students, approximately 140 Prof. Ben Chan was a PhD student in the department, graduating graduate students are part of our HKUST civil engineering family, in 2008. It is like a reunion for the department with Prof. Chan
Printed on recycled paper Printed on recycled working on their research projects. Currently, there are 69% of joining us as a Visiting Assistant Professor His current research postgrads on PhD programs and 31% on MPhil programs. 20 includes bridge design, structure retrofitting, and engineering students completed their postgraduate studies in the summer, and materials. unlike the undergraduates, more than half (60%) are now continuing their careers in academia.
The awardees with Prof. Hong K Lo PTC-G14553
Editorial Board Contact Us Jack Cheng Email: [email protected] Ilias Dimitrakopoulos Tel: (852) 2358-7154 Website: http://www.ce.ust.hk/ Share your joys and happiness with your fellow Thomas Hu classmates! Emily Ma Send us photos of your wedding or newborns! JP Wang
08 01
Department’s Update New Faculty Members
Newborns Dr. Ilias Dimitrakopoulos Dr. Tze Ling Ng
We would like to congratulate Prof. Tim We also welcome Dr. Ilias Dimitrakopoulos to the department! We welcome Dr. Tze Ling Tse for the arrival of his son Arthur Tse, As the surname suggests, Ilias comes from Greece, where he Ng to the department! Tze and our EO (Executive Officer) Ms. Emily grew up and studied. Ilias (which is also spelled as “Elias”) Ling received her M.S. and Ma for the arrival of her son Codlin received his Diploma, M.Sc and Ph.D, from the Civil Engineering Ph.D. in Environmental Wong. Department of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, in Engineering from the
Greece. In 2010 Ilias left Greece to work for a year as a Department of Civil and Codlin Wong, the newborn baby boy of Arthur Tse, the newborn baby boy of Postdoctoral Researcher in the Engineering Department of the Environmental Engineering, Emily Ma (our EO) Prof. Tim Tse says, ‘Merry Christmas and University of Cambridge, U.K., where he enjoyed the motivating University of Illinois at Happy New Year to you all.” academic environment and creative collaborations. Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). She also worked there for Ilias' research is on structural engineering, bridge engineering a year as a Postdoctoral and life-cycle-cost analysis of civil infrastructures. He focuses on Research Associate before nonlinear and non-smooth phenomena with an emphasis on CEEAA Annual General coming to HKUST. dimensional and advanced similarity analysis. Meeting and Facebook Group Tze Ling’s research focuses on the use and development Ilias visited Asia for the first time last May during the interview of mathematical simulation and optimization models for process, and this was a life-long dream for him. He is amazed environmental planning and management purposes. She CEEAA (HKUST Civil and Environmental by the cultural wealth of Hong Kong and spends any free time is interested in, amongst other things, the adaptive Engineering Alumni Association) held its he has getting to know Hong Kong and its people. His hobbies management of urban water supply systems under Annual General Meeting on 28 October, during the past years have been weight lifting, kick boxing, and non-stationary conditions, interdependencies between 2011 at the Royal Plaza Hotel, Mongkok. In also, curiously, yoga and tango dancing. water and energy, and the environmental impact of the AGM, the 3rd Board was formed and biofuels. approved. The new CEEAA President Derrick Leung discussed the future plans Tze Ling hails from Penang, Malaysia and is excited to be of the alumni association and suggested in Hong Kong, where she finds the bus sevices and upcoming activities. A wine tasting dinner summer humidity to be quite fascinating. In her free time, and a cooking competition are in the 2012 Tze Ling enjoys reading movie spoilers on the Internet, plan. A dinner gathering celebrating the exploring the back streets of Hong Kong, and having a 20th anniversary of our department will nice cup of green tea frappuccino with a good book and also be organized on 8 June 2012 (Friday). relaxing music.
A Facebook group for CEEAA has been created at http://www.facebook.com/groups/ hkustceeaa/. If you are one of our alumni, please join the Facebook group to connect virtually with other alumni. Please also actively participate in and support the CEEAA Annual General Meeting future events of CEEAA. The third board members of the HKUST CEEAA were elected and are listed below: President: Derrick Leung Vice Presidents: Gigi Cheung, Jack Cheng Treasurer: Kevin So Secretary: Robert Cheung Web Manager: Alan Li Membership Officer: Clifford Phung Recreation and Development Officers: Norris Ng, Cheung Ting Kwok (Paul) Public Relationship Officers: Andy Chan, Kim Lui Graduate Representatives: Amy Poon, Alex Ng Committee Members (Supporting): Barbara Siu, Wong Wai Yu, Ryan Yan, Barry Wong Consultants: Prof. Chris Leung, Prof. C.C. Chang, Prof. Y.K. Tung
02 03
Prof. Thomas Hu’s Toy Stories
People who grew up in Hong Kong during His collection consists of 4 categories: (1) (1) Chogokin (超合金) In recent years, in response to public The price of some rare Chogokin toys has (2) Jumbo Machinder the 70s or 80s may remember some Chogokin ( 超合金 ), (2) Jumbo Machinder nostalgia, Bandai has produced new risen sharply over the last 10 years or so. These die-cast metal toys were primarily As the name may suggest, toys in this popular super-hero cartoons and TV (2-ft tall polyethylene figures), (3) model versions of selected Chogokin characters, For example, the “Combattler Boxset”, as made by the Japanese company Popy, a category are huge in size compared to shows from that era, such as Ultraman, kits, and (4) others. The first two are now called the Soul of Chogokin series. shown below, may now cost more than spin-off of Bandai. They came in various some others. Also primarily made by Kamen Rider and Mazinger Z, etc. Many presented in this newsletter, and the rest Thomas has bought a few of them, but 15 brand new i-phones, having tripled its sizes, ranging from a few inches tall to Popy, they typically stand over two feet toys based on those characters were also will be covered in the next issue. his main interest is still in the old ones. price compared to just a few years ago. so-called deluxe box-sets, which were tall, and cost hundreds of dollars back in produced. Due to Prof. Hu’ s fond Although the old versions are often Moreover, they are now almost bigger and often more costly. These toys the 70s (a dollar or two would buy memories of those good old days, he has smaller and less detailed, he still prefers impossible to find. required no assembly, came with many breakfast back then). Therefore, Thomas been collecting such old toys as a hobby. them to their new counterparts since the detailed features such as weapons or fists never had the luxury of acquiring a Jumbo old toys bring about a wonderful sense of that could be shot, and often had Machinder during his childhood, and only nostalgia and an antique feel. “transformation” modes. For example, started to collect these in the early 90s. the famous “Voltes V”--which came in Unfortunately, as these toys turned out to five separate jets--can be combined into a be too bulky to keep, and identical retro giant robot standing over a foot tall, just versions started appearing (which could like in the cartoon. bring down the re-sale value of the originals), he has sold most of them now. This turned out to be a bad decision, as most of what he sold now cost 300%-500% more, and are difficult to find. The only one left is the Great Mazinger seen below. Some of us may Part of Prof. Hu’s toy collection remember an old toothpaste commercial, where this toy (probably a lucky draw prize for toothpaste buyers) was seen firing its fists as a weapon.
Chogokin vs. Soul of Chogokin (top: Combattler Base; bottom: Daiko Maryu) The Voltes V Boxsets (top left: model kit; bottom: Chogokin) Related YouTube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwRe The Daltanious Boxset (robot, lion and e6L92sY plane that combine into a large robot) Chogokin vs. Soul of Chogokin (top: Combattler Base; bottom: Daiko Maryu)
Jumbo Machinder (right) vs. Chogokin (top left) vs. 12” figure (bottom left) Related YouTube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOE1 O57nkx0
Popular Chogokin toys, e.g. (top, front row) the Daiku Maryu, Mach Baron, Grendizer, etc. (The rest of Prof. Hu’s toy collection will be covered in the next issue of the newsletter)
04 05
Alumni Profile News
received the Senior Research Prize in the 96 – 99 BEng. HKUST CIVL PG Team won the Best Professor Christopher Leung Ir. Wai Yu Wong Presentation Award First Prize named RILEM Fellow area of Computational Methods in (BEng 99) 99 – 99 Project Coordinator, Flourcity Architectural Limited 99 – 01 Graduate Engineer, China Harbour – CWF Joint Venture in IDEERS 2011 Structural Dynamics with the following BEng (Hons), 01 – 02 Assistant Engineer, China Harbour Engineering Company Group During the 65th RILEM Week, held in citation: "For his many pioneering seminal CEng, MICE 02 – 03 Assistant Engineer (seconded), Hyder Consulting Limited Our PG team comprising Luk Sung Hei Hong Kong between Sept.4 to Sept.8, contributions in Computational Stochastic 03 – 06 Site Engineer, China Harbour Engineering Company Limited (team leader), Suen Po Chi, Wang Zhe, Professor Christopher Leung was named Dynamics and Systems Identification”. 06 – 07 Senior Site Engineer, Chun Wo Holdings Limited and Du Wenqi has won the Best a Fellow of RILEM (the International The award was delivered at the 8th 07 – 09 Project Engineer, Paul Y. Engineering Group Limited Presentation Award First Prize in Union of Laboratories and Experts in International Conference on Structural 09 – 10 APM, Paul Y. Engineering Group Limited "Introducing and Demonstrating Materials, Systems and Structures) for his Dynamics (EURODYN 2011), Leuven, 10 – 11 Project Manager, Paul Y. Engineering Group Limited Earthquake Engineering Research in "exceptional contribution to RILEM's Belgium, July 4-6, 2011. Schools 2011 (IDEERS 2011)" held by the work". RILEM is a leading international National Center for Research on association for the advancement of As the 3rd Board Committee of our Alumni control for each step of bridge segment Fresh graduates may have many job The HKIE Outstanding Paper Earthquake Engineering in Taipei. construction materials and their Association (CEEAA) was formed and construction were really interesting to me. opportunities and need not worry about Award for Young application in structures. Since the Fellow approved, Ir. Wai Yu Wong (“Ar Wai”) their careers in these years. However, the Engineers/Researchers 2011 Grade was established in 1994, only 51 finished his 10-year serving as President of construction industry often has ups and Ir. Dr. Simon Wong received Fellows have been elected. Professor the 2nd Board. Since his graduation at You have served as the downs with a cycle length of several Ms Cheryl Cham, a graduate of the the Building Structures Design Leung is the first RILEM Fellow from an HKUST in 1999, he has gained over 12 President of CEEAA for 10 years. So we should always equip Department of Civil and Environmental Award from the HKIE Joint Institution in China and the third from the years of experience on site construction years since 2001. What is your ourselves and be prepared for potentially Engineering in 2008, and Professor Kenny Structural Division (JSD) Asia-Pacific Region. work. He is now working as the Project opinion on the Alumni bad times. Kwok, Emeritus Professor, have received Manager / Site Agent at Paul Y. Engineering Association? The HKIE Joint Structural Division (JSD) the HKIE Outstanding Paper Award for Group Limited on a building project, Tuen has awarded Ir. Dr. Simon Wong, a PhD Professor Lambros Katafygiotis Young Engineers/Researchers 2011 for their I became the President of CEEAA because Mun Swimming Pool Complex. Any advice to fresh CIVL graduate from our Department in 2005, was awarded Research Prize by paper entitled “Terrain Characterisation and at that time I thought we needed graduates? the Building Structures Design Award to the European Association for Design Wind Profiles for Hong Kong”. The somebody to take up the leading role in the honor his remarkable result in the HKIE Structural Dynamics paper presents her Final Year Project work Alumni Association anyway. Establishing First, do not be afraid of suffering What construction projects Structural Examination taken in 2010. The that was supervised by Professor Kwok, in alumni bonding through the Alumni immediate setbacks. Your efforts will have you been involved in? Award was presented during the JSD The Senior and Junior Research Prizes are which the Hong Kong wind characteristics Association is important. At the beginning finally be rewarded. Second, focus on and Which one was the most Annual Dinner in late October 2011. The awarded every three years by the obtained from studies undertaken in the of my serving in the Association, we be responsible for your own jobs. Some unforgettable? JSD Awards were established to European Association for Structural CLP Power Wind/Wave Tunnel Facilities organized a geological trip to Cape people do not have a dedicated and recognize the best Hong Kong candidates Dynamics (EASD) in recognition of (WWTF) over the years were analyzed. In the past years, I have participated in 鶴咀 cautious attitude at work. Third, be hard D'Aguilar ( ) in Hong Kong South and who have scored the highest marks in the outstanding contributions in various fields More representative wind profiles were different kind of projects in the civil, several Continuing Professional working. Your hard work will be eventually Chartered membership Examination of of structural dynamics (methodology then proposed for adoption in a future foundation and building engineering fields. Development (CPD) seminars. noticed and appreciated by your boss, the Institution of Structural Engineers development, computation or application). edition of the Code of Practice on Wind Through these projects, I have gained Unfortunately in recent years, CEEAA sooner or later. (IStructE) or the HKIE Structural This year, Professor Lambros Katafygiotis Effects Hong Kong. experience in planning, design, activities have decreased significantly due Examination. The HKIE Structural programming and coordination, to the busy schedule of Committee Examination consists of two parts: (1) consultation with the various authorities, members and the low activity attendance. written examination and (2) interview. site supervision, and schedule and budget As the Alumni Association has been Applicants passing both parts and control. The most unforgettable project re-activated with a new Board Committee, I meeting the experience requirements was the Route 8 Ngong Shuen Chau look forward to the upcoming CEEAA under the relevant routes to membership Viaduct, which connects the Stonecutters activities and a stronger bonding among our are eligible to become Corporate Bridge with the West Kowloon Highway. alumni. Members of the HKIE in the Structural The contract value of the project was about Discipline. The HKIE Joint Structural $1.5 billion. During the viaduct bridge Division (JSD) was formed by the HKIE construction, the West Kowloon Highway How do you see the future of Structural Division and the IStructE (Hong was temporary closed during the mid-night the Hong Kong construction Kong Division) in 1979/80. Currently, the time for 3 months. Our team needed to industry? HKIE Structural Division is one of the prepare the traffic schemes and There will be many new projects coming largest divisions in the HKIE with over contingency plans for the road closure. up in the next 5 to 6 years. Therefore, we 5000 members. Then I was given the chance to join the “Ah Wai”and family should be prepared for another Golden bridge launching girder operations. The Age in the local construction industry. design of the girder kinematics and the Ir. Dr. Simon Wong (Right) was awarded the Building Structures Design Award from the HKIE Joint Structural Division
06 07 P.1 Words from the Head P.2 Departmental Update P.3 New Faculty Members P.5 973 Project P.6 Alumni Profile P.7 HKUST CEE PGSA P.8 News and Upcoming Events
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
News [email protected]
01 Department’s Update 04 Prof. Thomas Hu's Toy Stories (I) 02 CEEAA AGM and Facebook Professor Guanghao Chen has Departmental 20th Issue 4 January 2012 Group 06 Alumni Profile been elected a Fellow of the Anniversary Celebration 03 New Faculty Members 07 News International Water Association Dinner on 8 June, 2012 (IWA) The year 2012 will mark the 20th anniversary of the formation of our Professor Guanghao Chen has been Department of Civil and Environmental elected a Fellow of International Water Engineering, at HKUST. The department Association (IWA) in recognition of his and the CEEAA alumni association will Update extraordinary contributions to worldwide Department’s organize a celebration dinner on 8 June, water research. He is among the second 2012 (Friday), tentatively in Tsim Sha batch of awardees of the IWA Fellows Undergraduate Students Statistics Awards Tsui, Hong Kong. For alumni, please Program since it was launched in 2011. reserve this date in your diaries. More In the 2011 Fall semester, there were 388 undergraduate students Dr. Huanfeng Duan, who will graduate this year, has been awarded a details on the arrangements and The IWA Fellows Program was launched in in our department with around 82% on the CIVL stream, 13% on PhD Research Excellence Award 2011 from HKUST. At the same registration will be announced later. 2010 to recognize the professional the CIEV stream, and 5% on the Dual Degree stream as their time, Miss Hong Zhu and Mr. Woon Kai Xiang are awardees of the excellence of its members. The fellowship major. AGS (Association of Geotechnical & Geoenvironmental Specialists, is bestowed on those IWA members who, Hong Kong) scholarship 2011. Our 2011 UG graduate Ms. In the summer, 119 undergraduate students graduated from the in the judgment of their peers, have made Ms. Yi-Chen Sun, pursuing her Yi-Chen Sun continued her department, commencing a new phase in their future careers. We a distinguished contribution to the postgraduate study at MIT study at MIT congratulate them on this great achievement. Among the Welcome advancement or application of water graduates, 95% went to the industry to start their careers while the science and technology, bringing Let’s welcome Prof. Ilias Dimitrakopoulos, Prof. Tze Ling Ng, and One of our 2011 UG graduates, Ms. rest were continuing with graduate studies. This demonstrates the significant benefits to society. In 2010, 34 Prof. Ben Chan who joined our department in the 2011 Fall Student Paper Award 2011 Yi-Chen Sun received offers from achievements of our students in maintaining the pedigree of our fellows from 15 countries and regions semester. several top universities including MIT, department and HKUST. We wish all graduates a successful career were elected. Professor Chen is among CHAM Shuk Wun and YIP Ka Yin together Stanford, CalTech, Purdue, and the and a bright future. Prof. Ilias Dimitrakopoulos gained his PhD in 2009 from the the program’s second batch of fellows have won the Institute of Highways and Georgia Institute of Technology to join Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH), Greece. He is now elected in 2011. Transportation (IHT) Student Paper Award their Master/PhD programs. Some of Our department’s tradition with respect to student summer focusing on research with respect to structural engineering, 2011. The title of their award winning the offers also provide a scholarship internships again proved successful this year, although it was bridge engineering and earthquake engineering. paper was: Modeling Transport and/or financial support. Ms. Sun challenging to secure suitable positions for all of our year 2-to-3 Management and Land Value. eventually took up an offer from MIT, students. We thank our faculty for their great effort in this regard. Prof. Tze Ling Ng obtained her PhD from the University of Illinois with a Schoettler Fellowship, on an at Urbana-Champaign in 2010. Her current research interests MPhil program. Postgraduate Students Statistics include water quality policy modeling, water resources planning and management, environmental modeling and optimization. In addition to around 400 undergraduate students, approximately 140 Prof. Ben Chan was a PhD student in the department, graduating graduate students are part of our HKUST civil engineering family, in 2008. It is like a reunion for the department with Prof. Chan working on their research projects. Currently, there are 69% of
Printed on recycled paper Printed on recycled joining us as a Visiting Assistant Professor His current research postgrads on PhD programs and 31% on MPhil programs. 20 includes bridge design, structure retrofitting, and engineering students completed their postgraduate studies in the summer, and materials. unlike the undergraduates, more than half (60%) are now continuing their careers in academia.
The awardees with Prof. Hong K Lo PTC-G14553
Editorial Board Contact Us Jack Cheng Email: [email protected] Ilias Dimitrakopoulos Tel: (852) 2358-7154 Website: http://www.ce.ust.hk/ Share your joys and happiness with your fellow Thomas Hu classmates! Emily Ma Send us photos of your wedding or newborns! JP Wang
08 01
Department’s Update New Faculty Members
Newborns Dr. Ilias Dimitrakopoulos Dr. Tze Ling Ng
We would like to congratulate Prof. Tim We also welcome Dr. Ilias Dimitrakopoulos to the department! We welcome Dr. Tze Ling Tse for the arrival of his son Arthur Tse, As the surname suggests, Ilias comes from Greece, where he Ng to the department! Tze and our EO (Executive Officer) Ms. Emily grew up and studied. Ilias (which is also spelled as “Elias”) Ling received her M.S. and Ma for the arrival of her son Codlin received his Diploma, M.Sc and Ph.D, from the Civil Engineering Ph.D. in Environmental Wong. Department of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, in Engineering from the
Greece. In 2010 Ilias left Greece to work for a year as a Department of Civil and Codlin Wong, the newborn baby boy of Arthur Tse, the newborn baby boy of Postdoctoral Researcher in the Engineering Department of the Environmental Engineering, Emily Ma (our EO) Prof. Tim Tse says, ‘Merry Christmas and University of Cambridge, U.K., where he enjoyed the motivating University of Illinois at Happy New Year to you all.” academic environment and creative collaborations. Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). She also worked there for Ilias' research is on structural engineering, bridge engineering a year as a Postdoctoral and life-cycle-cost analysis of civil infrastructures. He focuses on Research Associate before nonlinear and non-smooth phenomena with an emphasis on CEEAA Annual General coming to HKUST. dimensional and advanced similarity analysis. Meeting and Facebook Group Tze Ling’s research focuses on the use and development Ilias visited Asia for the first time last May during the interview of mathematical simulation and optimization models for process, and this was a life-long dream for him. He is amazed environmental planning and management purposes. She CEEAA (HKUST Civil and Environmental by the cultural wealth of Hong Kong and spends any free time is interested in, amongst other things, the adaptive Engineering Alumni Association) held its he has getting to know Hong Kong and its people. His hobbies management of urban water supply systems under Annual General Meeting on 28 October, during the past years have been weight lifting, kick boxing, and non-stationary conditions, interdependencies between 2011 at the Royal Plaza Hotel, Mongkok. In also, curiously, yoga and tango dancing. water and energy, and the environmental impact of the AGM, the 3rd Board was formed and biofuels. approved. The new CEEAA President Derrick Leung discussed the future plans Tze Ling hails from Penang, Malaysia and is excited to be of the alumni association and suggested in Hong Kong, where she finds the bus sevices and upcoming activities. A wine tasting dinner summer humidity to be quite fascinating. In her free time, and a cooking competition are in the 2012 Tze Ling enjoys reading movie spoilers on the Internet, plan. A dinner gathering celebrating the exploring the back streets of Hong Kong, and having a 20th anniversary of our department will nice cup of green tea frappuccino with a good book and also be organized on 8 June 2012 (Friday). relaxing music.
A Facebook group for CEEAA has been created at http://www.facebook.com/groups/ hkustceeaa/. If you are one of our alumni, please join the Facebook group to connect virtually with other alumni. Please also actively participate in and support the CEEAA Annual General Meeting future events of CEEAA. The third board members of the HKUST CEEAA were elected and are listed below: President: Derrick Leung Vice Presidents: Gigi Cheung, Jack Cheng Treasurer: Kevin So Secretary: Robert Cheung Web Manager: Alan Li Membership Officer: Clifford Phung Recreation and Development Officers: Norris Ng, Cheung Ting Kwok (Paul) Public Relationship Officers: Andy Chan, Kim Lui Graduate Representatives: Amy Poon, Alex Ng Committee Members (Supporting): Barbara Siu, Wong Wai Yu, Ryan Yan, Barry Wong Consultants: Prof. Chris Leung, Prof. C.C. Chang, Prof. Y.K. Tung
02 03
Prof. Thomas Hu’s Toy Stories
People who grew up in Hong Kong during His collection consists of 4 categories: (1) (1) Chogokin (超合金) In recent years, in response to public The price of some rare Chogokin toys has (2) Jumbo Machinder the 70s or 80s may remember some Chogokin ( 超合金 ), (2) Jumbo Machinder nostalgia, Bandai has produced new risen sharply over the last 10 years or so. These die-cast metal toys were primarily As the name may suggest, toys in this popular super-hero cartoons and TV (2-ft tall polyethylene figures), (3) model versions of selected Chogokin characters, For example, the “Combattler Boxset”, as made by the Japanese company Popy, a category are huge in size compared to shows from that era, such as Ultraman, kits, and (4) others. The first two are now called the Soul of Chogokin series. shown below, may now cost more than spin-off of Bandai. They came in various some others. Also primarily made by Kamen Rider and Mazinger Z, etc. Many presented in this newsletter, and the rest Thomas has bought a few of them, but 15 brand new i-phones, having tripled its sizes, ranging from a few inches tall to Popy, they typically stand over two feet toys based on those characters were also will be covered in the next issue. his main interest is still in the old ones. price compared to just a few years ago. so-called deluxe box-sets, which were tall, and cost hundreds of dollars back in produced. Due to Prof. Hu’ s fond Although the old versions are often Moreover, they are now almost bigger and often more costly. These toys the 70s (a dollar or two would buy memories of those good old days, he has smaller and less detailed, he still prefers impossible to find. required no assembly, came with many breakfast back then). Therefore, Thomas been collecting such old toys as a hobby. them to their new counterparts since the detailed features such as weapons or fists never had the luxury of acquiring a Jumbo old toys bring about a wonderful sense of that could be shot, and often had Machinder during his childhood, and only nostalgia and an antique feel. “transformation” modes. For example, started to collect these in the early 90s. the famous “Voltes V”--which came in Unfortunately, as these toys turned out to five separate jets--can be combined into a be too bulky to keep, and identical retro giant robot standing over a foot tall, just versions started appearing (which could like in the cartoon. bring down the re-sale value of the originals), he has sold most of them now. This turned out to be a bad decision, as most of what he sold now cost 300%-500% more, and are difficult to find. The only one left is the Great Mazinger seen below. Some of us may Part of Prof. Hu’s toy collection remember an old toothpaste commercial, where this toy (probably a lucky draw prize for toothpaste buyers) was seen firing its fists as a weapon.
Chogokin vs. Soul of Chogokin (top: Combattler Base; bottom: Daiko Maryu) The Voltes V Boxsets (top left: model kit; bottom: Chogokin) Related YouTube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwRe The Daltanious Boxset (robot, lion and e6L92sY plane that combine into a large robot) The Combattler: 5 boxes (common) vs. 1 boxset (rare)
Jumbo Machinder (right) vs. Chogokin (top left) vs. 12” figure (bottom left) Related YouTube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOE1 O57nkx0
Popular Chogokin toys, e.g. (top, front row) the Daiku Maryu, Mach Baron, Grendizer, etc. (The rest of Prof. Hu’s toy collection will be covered in the next issue of the newsletter)
04 05
Alumni Profile News
received the Senior Research Prize in the 96 – 99 BEng. HKUST CIVL PG Team won the Best Professor Christopher Leung Ir. Wai Yu Wong Presentation Award First Prize named RILEM Fellow area of Computational Methods in (BEng 99) 99 – 99 Project Coordinator, Flourcity Architectural Limited 99 – 01 Graduate Engineer, China Harbour – CWF Joint Venture in IDEERS 2011 Structural Dynamics with the following BEng (Hons), 01 – 02 Assistant Engineer, China Harbour Engineering Company Group During the 65th RILEM Week, held in citation: "For his many pioneering seminal CEng, MICE 02 – 03 Assistant Engineer (seconded), Hyder Consulting Limited Our PG team comprising Luk Sung Hei Hong Kong between Sept.4 to Sept.8, contributions in Computational Stochastic 03 – 06 Site Engineer, China Harbour Engineering Company Limited (team leader), Suen Po Chi, Wang Zhe, Professor Christopher Leung was named Dynamics and Systems Identification”. 06 – 07 Senior Site Engineer, Chun Wo Holdings Limited and Du Wenqi has won the Best a Fellow of RILEM (the International The award was delivered at the 8th 07 – 09 Project Engineer, Paul Y. Engineering Group Limited Presentation Award First Prize in Union of Laboratories and Experts in International Conference on Structural 09 – 10 APM, Paul Y. Engineering Group Limited "Introducing and Demonstrating Materials, Systems and Structures) for his Dynamics (EURODYN 2011), Leuven, 10 – 11 Project Manager, Paul Y. Engineering Group Limited Earthquake Engineering Research in "exceptional contribution to RILEM's Belgium, July 4-6, 2011. Schools 2011 (IDEERS 2011)" held by the work". RILEM is a leading international National Center for Research on association for the advancement of As the 3rd Board Committee of our Alumni control for each step of bridge segment Fresh graduates may have many job The HKIE Outstanding Paper Earthquake Engineering in Taipei. construction materials and their Association (CEEAA) was formed and construction were really interesting to me. opportunities and need not worry about Award for Young application in structures. Since the Fellow approved, Ir. Wai Yu Wong (“Ar Wai”) their careers in these years. However, the Engineers/Researchers 2011 Grade was established in 1994, only 51 finished his 10-year serving as President of construction industry often has ups and Ir. Dr. Simon Wong received Fellows have been elected. Professor the 2nd Board. Since his graduation at You have served as the downs with a cycle length of several Ms Cheryl Cham, a graduate of the the Building Structures Design Leung is the first RILEM Fellow from an HKUST in 1999, he has gained over 12 President of CEEAA for 10 years. So we should always equip Department of Civil and Environmental Award from the HKIE Joint Institution in China and the third from the years of experience on site construction years since 2001. What is your ourselves and be prepared for potentially Engineering in 2008, and Professor Kenny Structural Division (JSD) Asia-Pacific Region. work. He is now working as the Project opinion on the Alumni bad times. Kwok, Emeritus Professor, have received Manager / Site Agent at Paul Y. Engineering Association? The HKIE Joint Structural Division (JSD) the HKIE Outstanding Paper Award for Group Limited on a building project, Tuen has awarded Ir. Dr. Simon Wong, a PhD Professor Lambros Katafygiotis Young Engineers/Researchers 2011 for their I became the President of CEEAA because Mun Swimming Pool Complex. Any advice to fresh CIVL graduate from our Department in 2005, was awarded Research Prize by paper entitled “Terrain Characterisation and at that time I thought we needed graduates? the Building Structures Design Award to the European Association for Design Wind Profiles for Hong Kong”. The somebody to take up the leading role in the honor his remarkable result in the HKIE Structural Dynamics paper presents her Final Year Project work Alumni Association anyway. Establishing First, do not be afraid of suffering What construction projects Structural Examination taken in 2010. The that was supervised by Professor Kwok, in alumni bonding through the Alumni immediate setbacks. Your efforts will have you been involved in? Award was presented during the JSD The Senior and Junior Research Prizes are which the Hong Kong wind characteristics Association is important. At the beginning finally be rewarded. Second, focus on and Which one was the most Annual Dinner in late October 2011. The awarded every three years by the obtained from studies undertaken in the of my serving in the Association, we be responsible for your own jobs. Some unforgettable? JSD Awards were established to European Association for Structural CLP Power Wind/Wave Tunnel Facilities organized a geological trip to Cape people do not have a dedicated and recognize the best Hong Kong candidates Dynamics (EASD) in recognition of (WWTF) over the years were analyzed. In the past years, I have participated in 鶴咀 cautious attitude at work. Third, be hard D'Aguilar ( ) in Hong Kong South and who have scored the highest marks in the outstanding contributions in various fields More representative wind profiles were different kind of projects in the civil, several Continuing Professional working. Your hard work will be eventually Chartered membership Examination of of structural dynamics (methodology then proposed for adoption in a future foundation and building engineering fields. Development (CPD) seminars. noticed and appreciated by your boss, the Institution of Structural Engineers development, computation or application). edition of the Code of Practice on Wind Through these projects, I have gained Unfortunately in recent years, CEEAA sooner or later. (IStructE) or the HKIE Structural This year, Professor Lambros Katafygiotis Effects Hong Kong. experience in planning, design, activities have decreased significantly due Examination. The HKIE Structural programming and coordination, to the busy schedule of Committee Examination consists of two parts: (1) consultation with the various authorities, members and the low activity attendance. written examination and (2) interview. site supervision, and schedule and budget As the Alumni Association has been Applicants passing both parts and control. The most unforgettable project re-activated with a new Board Committee, I meeting the experience requirements was the Route 8 Ngong Shuen Chau look forward to the upcoming CEEAA under the relevant routes to membership Viaduct, which connects the Stonecutters activities and a stronger bonding among our are eligible to become Corporate Bridge with the West Kowloon Highway. alumni. Members of the HKIE in the Structural The contract value of the project was about Discipline. The HKIE Joint Structural $1.5 billion. During the viaduct bridge Division (JSD) was formed by the HKIE construction, the West Kowloon Highway How do you see the future of Structural Division and the IStructE (Hong was temporary closed during the mid-night the Hong Kong construction Kong Division) in 1979/80. Currently, the time for 3 months. Our team needed to industry? HKIE Structural Division is one of the prepare the traffic schemes and There will be many new projects coming largest divisions in the HKIE with over contingency plans for the road closure. up in the next 5 to 6 years. Therefore, we 5000 members. Then I was given the chance to join the “Ah Wai”and family should be prepared for another Golden bridge launching girder operations. The Age in the local construction industry. design of the girder kinematics and the Ir. Dr. Simon Wong (Right) was awarded the Building Structures Design Award from the HKIE Joint Structural Division
06 07