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The Institute of Space and Earth Information Science (ISEIS) at The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) has recently been awarded a total of HK$33 million by the Smart Traffic Fund (STF) and Innovation and Technology Fund (ITF) from the Government of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region for two groundbreaking research projects in the fields of smart traffic and satellite remote sensing. Led by Professor Kwan Mei-po, Director of ISEIS and Choh-Ming Li Professor of Geography and Resource Management, and Professor Ma Peifeng, Vice-Chancellor Assistant Professor of CUHK’s Department of Geography and Resource Management, the two awarded projects will promote smart city construction and sustainable development in Hong Kong, in collaboration with the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, and Hong Kong Government Departments including the Transport Department, the Civil Engineering and Development Department, and the Lands Department.

Professor Kwan said, “These two research projects represent significant breakthroughs building upon the foundation of previous satellite remote sensing research, and also mark a major milestone in the development of space technology by higher education institutions in Hong Kong. The projects will advance the one-stop satellite service for environmental monitoring in Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area, and promote interdisciplinary research at CUHK in key areas such as infrastructure health, carbon neutrality, smart cities, food security, ecosystem preservation, Earth system science, and marine science. Further, they will accelerate the achievement of CUHK’s 2021-2025 strategic plan and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.”

The smart traffic project funded by the STF

The project funded by the STF, titled “Vehicle Detection and Vehicle-kilometrage Estimation Based on Remote Sensing Technologies”, aims to revolutionise the monitoring and analysis of traffic conditions by combining satellite remote sensing with smart traffic. This is the first time that CUHK has received funding from the STF. The research team will utilise satellite remote sensing technology to conduct periodic wide-area monitoring of vehicle flow on urban roads in Hong Kong. The outcomes of this project will assist in the existing traffic monitoring workflow of the Transport Department, significantly enhancing the perception of and capabilities in analysing urban traffic conditions. It will provide more comprehensive and scientific decision-making support for transportation planning and management.

The satellite remote sensing project funded by the ITF

Another project, funded by the ITF, is titled “Development of CUHK Satellites and Integrated Remote Sensing Technologies for Near Real-time Landslide Monitoring”. This is the first earth observation satellite project funded by the Hong Kong government. The research team will develop and launch the first CUHK satellite, which will serve research fields such as natural disaster monitoring, carbon neutrality, and sustainable development. This project will also involve undergraduate and postgraduate students in satellite technology design, development, and application, and cultivate interdisciplinary talents in the field of aerospace science and technology through a practice-oriented approach.