Introduction
The Intelligent Construction and Management Research Cluster at City University of Hong Kong is a cross-disciplinary hub advancing the digital transformation of the built environment. Led by Prof. NG Shiu Tong Thomas (Leader) and Prof. LUO Xiaowei (Deputy Leader), the Cluster provides a purpose-built digital workspace for life cycle construction project innovation and collaboration in Hong Kong and aboard — integrating Building Information Modelling (BIM), Geographic Information Systems (GIS), digital twins (DT), robotics, extended reality (XR), AI/ML analytics, and high-performance computing to reimagine how people plan, design, construct, and operate buildings and cities.
Highlights in Research
Digital Twin for Life Cycle Facility Management
The cluster’s research advances the concept of digital twins from a single-stage focus at the building level to comprehensive lifecycle management, scaling from individual buildings to entire cities. By integrating cutting-edge sensing technologies, augmented reality, large language models, and generative AI, the team provides innovative solutions to enhance design coordination, construction management, and facility management across the entire lifecycle. These groundbreaking technologies have already been successfully deployed in multiple real-world projects, including healthcare facilities, bridges, highways, and industrial parks, demonstrating their broad applicability and transformative potential.
Construction Robotics
The cluster’s research focuses on developing advanced construction robotic solutions to tackle critical challenges faced by the industry, including rising costs, labor shortages, and safety concerns. It deploys Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), Unmanned Ground Vehicles (UGVs), and multimodal robotics to address a wide range of construction activities, such as site surveying, inspection, material handling, and assembly. Beyond individual robotic capabilities, its work also investigates innovative approaches to enable seamless collaboration between humans and robots on dynamic jobsites. By leveraging cutting-edge technologies such as AI, machine learning, and sensor integration, the team aims to create intelligent robotic systems that adapt to complex, ever-changing construction environments. The robotic solutions the team develops are tested and deployed on active construction sites, showcasing their potential to revolutionize the industry.
Representative Projects
Project title: Digital Twin Supported Rapid Deployable and Reconfigurable Healthcare Facility Module for Infectious Diseases Response and Treatment
Project Coordinator: Prof. NG Shiu Tong Thomas
Funding Support: Research Grant Council of Hong Kong, Collaborative Research Fund (CRF)
Funding Amount: HKD 8M
Project Abstract: Hospitals worldwide are facing unprecedented challenges due to the soaring number of COVID-19 patients. Modular integrated construction-based healthcare facilities have disrupted how infectious diseases facilities are provided. However, skepticism remains in the routing of highly infectious inside such temporary facilities, possible disease spreading within the “connected” units, unexpected failure of mechanical system in negative pressure isolation rooms, and agility of reconfiguring the “connected” units to suit patient demand. In this project, a digital twin platform is developed to improve the safety and operational efficiency of front-line medical staff, automation of COVID-19 patient care, monitor patient flow, realize self-diagnosis and self-regulating capabilities of negative pressure isolation rooms, and facilitate demand-driven MiC-based healthcare facility module planning for infectious diseases response and treatment. The results would help governments worldwide to plan, design and provide safe, reliable and efficient healthcare facility modules to satisfy the unpredictable COVID-19 patient demand at different disease outbreak stages.
Project title: Advancing Shared Autonomy: Innovating Collaborative and Sensory Interfaces for Future Teleoperation Systems
Project Coordinator: Prof. LUO Xiaowei
Funding Support: Research Grant Council of Hong Kong, Collaborative Research Fund (CRF)
Funding Amount: HKD 4.8M
Project Abstract: The construction industry faces persistent challenges, including labor shortages and poor safety performance, underscoring the urgent need for technological advancements. Teleoperation, which allows machinery to be operated from a distance, offers the potential to revolutionize the industry by keeping workers away from hazardous environments. However, its adoption in construction faces significant challenges. This research project aims to address these challenges and develop next-generation teleoperation systems tailored for smart construction. Key objectives include designing a sensory transfer interface for efficient data transmission, developing a digital twin framework for intelligent perception and control, enhancing safety through smart shared control mechanism for tower crane teleoperation, investigating human-machine trust (HMT) factors to ensure effective collaboration between operators and machines, and developing a training system to empower non-expert operators with the skills for teleoperation. The project will collaborate with global partners, leveraging Hong Kong as a hub to promote the adoption of teleoperation across the construction industry. The successful implementation of such a teleoperation system will bring substantial benefits to worker well-being and the overall advancement of the construction sector.
Research Facilities
Built-Informatics and Smart Cities Cluster
The Built-Informatics and Smart Cities Cluster (BISCC) is equipped with unique smart facilities and emerging technologies, dedicated to providing a digital workspace for BIM innovation and collaboration in Hong Kong. It caters a wide range of activities encompassing teaching, cutting-edge research, and technological development, such as:
-BIM-based digital collaboration: multi-disciplinary model integration, real-time project data sharing, collaborative design revision, virtual construction simulation, etc.
-Smart city digital infrastructure application, in particular urban digital twin modeling, BIM-GIS integration, smart building operation data analysis, urban facility lifecycle management, etc.
-Emerging tech-driven innovation, including smart site safety system, construction robotics, digital twin-driven healthcare management, etc.
Major Equipment List
-Unitree Go2 Pro
-2X4 55” LED Display Wall
-55” Interactive Touch Display
-HTC Vive Pro
-HP VR Backpack
-Virtuix Omni Treadmill Package
-High-performance Workstations
This integrated environment allows project teams to: co-author federated models; stream live sensor and site data into DTs; run what-if scenarios for safety, logistics, and operations; and evaluate intervention options in immersive settings before field deployment.
Research Cluster Member List
| Faculty Member | Position |
|---|---|
| Prof. NG Shiu Tong Thomas (Cluster Leader) |
Chair Professor of Smart and Sustainable Construction |
| Prof. LUO Xiaowei (Deputy Cluster Leader) |
Professor |
| Prof. Mei-yung LEUNG | Associate Professor |
| Prof. CHEN Long | Assistant Professor |
| Prof. WANG Mingzhu | Assistant Professor |
| Prof. YIN Xianfei | Assistant Professor |