Professionalism Founds the Basis for Industry to Explore New Technologies

The Centre for Future Construction (CFC) has just welcomed its grand opening in May. The CFC tailored its exhibits according to the innovative development within the industry, and showcasing the practical applications of these technologies in Hong Kong, aiming to become a hub for nurturing future talent for the industry.

Grand Opening of the Centre for Future Construction

The Centre for Future Construction (CFC) is located at Hong Kong Institute of Construction – Kowloon Bay Campus, covering over 10,000 sq. ft.  Recognizing that the development of the construction industry hinges on technological advancements, the CFC is designed to focus on innovations aligned with the latest industry trends, featuring five distinct zones:

• Digital Twin Hub: Explores digital twin and BIM technologies and their roles in different stages of the construction project from design, construction and operation via showcasing sensor technologies and digital twin platforms etc.
• 4S Hub: Displays Smart Site Safety System (4S) - related equipment, such as Central Management Platform, and offers demonstrations on smart devices such as smart cameras.
• Immersive Cave: Uses the Virtual Reality Cave to capture an immersive experience for training, and offers an immersive and interactive experience for visitors.
• AI Hub: With the crucial role AI plays in technological development, the CFC offers a dedicated space to introduce AI applications within the industry, as well as showcasing the Large Language Model (LLM) on safety currently developed by the Council. 
• Robotic Hub: Displays various kinds of robots applicable to Hong Kong’s construction industry, including indoor drones and drilling robots etc.

Upon the CFC’s commencement, the Council plans to make good use of the facilities and create a base for nurturing future construction talents, in preparation for the total digitalisation of the industry. These plans include holding Master Classes, as well as other courses on construction technologies.  “The inaugural Master Class on System Thinking” has been successfully held, and more classes on digital leadership are on the way. That aside, forums and workshops are also poised to take place at the CFC. In fact, the CIC’s first ever “Salon Event” on AI has already taken place last month, attracting many experts in the field of AI to share their thoughts on the potential in applying AI in construction. This Salon Event has attracted over 30 participants across the government, construction, academia and technology sectors, for a brilliant exchange of ideas and dialogues. In the future, the CFC will be open to the industry to foster further dialogue between talents, and spark innovative ideas that will propel the industry to higher levels in the future.

Deploying Smart Cranes to Ensure Safety Amongst Workers

Exchanging ideas and experiences with peers, while fostering collaborative spirit, is crucial for developing new technologies.  Conversely, a narrow-minded stance risks stagnation. At the end of May, I led an industry delegation on a visit across the GBA, where we met with mainland counterparts to understand the latest developments in the Low-altitude Economy and robotics, and the practical applications of construction technologies.  I was particularly impressed by the smart tower cranes in the Huiheyuan project, which demonstrated an evolutionary step in safety, productivity, and overall efficiency, truly an exemplary work for our local peers to learn from.

Safety in lifting operations has been a focal point amongst stakeholders. In particular, the installation of tower cranes, as well as their placements, anti-collision measures, and operational procedures are crucial to work progress, and hence require careful planning.

Conventional tower cranes rely on manual coordination and communication, which is rendered obsolete with the past decade or so of technological advancements. In fact, local industry practitioners have already made use of these new technologies, allowing workers to remotely control the tower cranes, eliminating the need to work at height, and by extension any potential safety risks. The smart tower crane system inspected in this trip takes this a step further, and follows the core principles of “See Clearly, See Distantly and See Accurately,” using a combination of LiDAR, Beidou Navigation Satellite System, cameras and sensors, and collaborative perception etc. to accurately identify distances and environmental conditions, intelligently planning operational routes based on real-time changes at the site. What impressed me the most, was the fact that workers can now rely on a single app on their mobile phones to control and monitor tower crane operations, with precise environmental datalogging of the working area, successfully reducing costs, whilst greatly enhancing safety and efficiency. Having total control of tower cranes at your fingertips, and tackling the numerous and complex operational challenges in one fell swoop, has truly exceeded the imaginations of yesteryear about the industry’s development. Novel technologies are now in use more frequently than ever, it is safe to say that the future is now reality.

Robotics Development Moving at Warp Speed

Aside from construction technologies, observing the practical applications of robotic in Mainland China were also one of the key agendas of the delegation. A Half-Marathon for robots held in April was the talk of the town, showing the agility of modern robots. On this occasion, EngineAI in Shenzhen showcased its latest humanoid robot with a world-first “end-to-end neural network,” achieving high levels of loading capacity, longevity and precision. Throwing punches and backflips like stuntmen were easy for the robots, garnering praises from the audience.

However, the purpose of these robots does not simply stop at mere performances and neat tricks. The industry has been facing safety and manpower challenges, of which the Council has been advocating robotics as one of the solutions, pushing for an industry-wide adoption of new robotic technologies to aid with day-to-day site work. As the common saying goes, “Rome was not built in a day,” I am delighted to see the industry practitioners take a collective first step, introducing robotics to various lines of work at sites, ranging from exterior painting, bar bending,  welding and drilling etc. In further advocating its adoption, the Council will organise the “Construction Robot Competition and Exhibition” in July this year. Aside from showcasing the cutting-edge robotic solutions from around the world, the competition will also allow robotics suppliers, research institutions and students to participate, in search of future experts in the field of robotics.

Embodiment of Professionalism

Whilst the future of the construction industry is brimmed with opportunities, I have persistently reminded practitioners to “walk the walk,” and ground our work in professionalism, shouldering the important responsibility of building Hong Kong, and wholeheartedly serving society. The recent incident regarding corruption amongst practitioners has been devastating news. If convicted, the individuals involved would indeed be disgraceful. Their blatant disregard of laws and regulations, cutting corners in building materials, have compromised the building’s safety, and have damaged the reputation of the industry as a whole. I would like to reiterate that, the current regulatory system for construction projects offers comprehensive oversight, operating cautiously and effectively, and is uncompromising regarding safety standards. Coupled with the digitalisation of construction procedures, many sites are now adopting Smart Site Safety Systems (4S), as well as blockchain technology to monitor work progress, daily site operations are systematically recorded and cannot be tampered with, and any negligence or haphazardness will not be tolerated.

The Council will continue to collaborate with all parties involved to eliminate any possible loopholes for corruption to take place. In the past, the Council has already co-launched the “Construction Industry Integrity Charter 2.0” with ICAC, encouraging industry practitioners to join in on the effort to uphold integrity amongst the industry. Moreover, the Council has listed “Integrity Management” as one of the pre-requisites for registering for the Registered Specialist Trade Contractors Scheme (RSTCS); “Integrity Management” was also incorporated into the assessment criteria for the industry’s signature award “CIC Outstanding Contractors Award,” to advocate for integrity and honesty amongst contractors, and implement integrity management across the industry. Looking ahead, the Council will continue to strengthen a culture for honesty and integrity via education and promotion, and polish the proverbial “golden-lettered signboard” of the industry.