CityUHK joins community partners to advance low-altitude economy and smart city development
30 Mar 2026
On 13 March, a symposium titled “Low-altitude Economy – Opportunities and Prospects for Smart Housing and Property Management” was held at City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK). The event brought together over 500 participants from government, academia and industry to explore emerging trends and opportunities in integrating the low-altitude economy with smart property management.
The event was organised by CityUHK, the Greater Bay Area Low Altitude Economy Alliance and the Smart City Consortium. Co-organisers included the Chartered Institute of Housing, Asian Pacific Branch, the Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors, the Hong Kong Institute of Facility Management and the Hong Kong Institute of Housing. It was supported by the Working Group on Developing the Low-altitude Economy, of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), the Hong Kong Housing Authority, the Housing Managers Registration Board and the Property Management Services Authority.
In his opening remarks, Professor Anderson Shum Ho-cheung, Vice-President (Research) of CityUHK, highlighted how the rise of the low-altitude economy and the digital transformation of smart property management are reshaping urban governance. He noted that their convergence is creating new opportunities for housing management, community life and industry development. “Technology not only enhances operational efficiency, but also strengthens public safety and community resilience,” he said. He stressed that close collaboration among government, academia and industry is essential for piloting cross-sector initiatives and applied research, positioning Hong Kong as a model city for smart-city development and the low-altitude economy.
Ms Winnie Ho Wing-yin, Secretary for Housing of the Government of the HKSAR, discussed how the Housing Department has integrated drone technology into various aspects of public housing management, including site monitoring, building inspection and lift surveillance, and is using artificial intelligence (AI) to detect objects thrown from height and other irregularities, thereby enhancing regulatory effectiveness. She added that the department will explore piloting drone take-off and landing points and community service projects in public housing estates, while introducing smart access control and gerontechnology solutions to better support older residents and foster smart communities.
Two representatives from CityUHK, Professor Li Lishuai, Associate Vice-President (Strategic Research) and Professor in the Department of Data Science at CityUHK, and Professor Dai Jianguo, Head and Chair Professor in the Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering at CityUHK, delivered keynote presentations showcasing CityUHK’s latest research in the low-altitude economy and smart city domains. The research includes using drones and AI for inspection and maintenance of older buildings, applying big data analytics to study travel patterns and forecast low-altitude transport demand, optimising urban transport networks, and exploring the use of drones to monitor urban carbon emissions and support smarter city governance.
Industry practitioners and experts from regulatory bodies participated in panel discussions on cutting-edge topics such as drone applications, smart elderly-care solutions and data privacy, examining both the potential and challenges of wider deployment. Participants agreed that the deep integration of low-altitude technologies and smart property management will help upgrade the property management sector and improve urban operational efficiency and residents’ quality of life.
The symposium provided an important platform for dialogue and collaboration in Hong Kong’s low-altitude economy and smart property sectors. CityUHK will continue to leverage its research strengths, foster cross-disciplinary collaboration and drive the application of innovative technologies in urban management, contributing to Hong Kong’s smart-city development and high-quality growth.
