Accelerate Momentum in Advanced Technologies to Achieve Long-term Industry Goals

With the commencement of various large-scale infrastructure projects by the government, the local construction industry has entered a golden decade. However, the industry still faces challenges such as rising construction costs and talent shortage, which pose challenges for digital transformation and upgrading. Some companies are hesitant to move forward, as they worry about the complexity of integrating new technologies and the lack of talent.

Therefore, the Construction Industry Council (CIC) will hold several major events this year to promote advanced technologies, train construction technology professionals, and facilitate the exchange of advanced technologies between local and overseas construction technology enterprises.  All these initiatives are aimed at reducing the costs of innovation borne by industry practitioners, such as time, manpower and market research.

We welcome the recently announced 2024-25 Budget to promote the development of the construction industry, the application of innovative technology, and strengthen the application of Modular Integrated Construction (MiC). The major infrastructure projects mentioned in the Budget, such as the Northern Metropolis and Kau Yi Chau Artificial Islands project, will create quality living space for the citizens. The CIC is committed to support and tying in with the government’s initiatives, strengthening manpower training, enhancing industry standards, and pursuing the well-being of citizens.

Highlight event - "Global Construction Robotics Day"

Construction robots can provide high productivity, stability and safety, they could contribute significantly to a safer working environment and improved efficiency. The CIC will host the Global Construction Robotics Day on 7-8 May at the Hong Kong Science Park. Key activities will include robotics exhibition, a global conference and technology pitching. This will allow the industry and the public to experience the leaps and bounds made in construction robotics in recent years and boost the industry’s confidence in adoption. Remember to reserve time to attend these exciting events!

Outstanding projects using advanced technologies can enter award competitions. Please take note of these two major awards organised by the CIC and seize the opportunity to showcase your brilliant works! The  "CIC Construction Digitalisation Award 2024" aims to recognise outstanding local projects and organisations for their contribution to the promotion and application of digital technologies. Nominations are now open. In addition, the "CIC Outstanding Contractor Award 2024" encourages contractors to pursue excellence and promote innovation. With its rigorous and comprehensive judging process, it is regarded as a prestigious honor. This "Oscar”of the Construction Industry is held every three years. Don’t miss out on this great opportunity - please stay tuned for details to be announced on the event website.

HKIC to Launch Robotics Programme in 2024 Q2

It is estimated that there will be a shortfall of around 6,000 professionals in the industry over the next few years. The number of engineering graduates from local universities is insufficient to meet demand, making it difficult for companies to recruit talent. As construction technology advances rapidly, the need to develop future leaders and fresh blood as construction technology professionals has become urgent.

The Hong Kong Institute of Construction (HKIC) will launch a robotics programme in 2024 Q2 to meet the industry’s demand for talent in new technologies. The Institute has been proactively reaching out to young people and introduced its latest programmes at the "Education and Career Expo 2024" in January. During the event, the HKIC offered visitors one-on-one career guidance and practical tips on academic pathways and career prospects. There were also exhibitions on construction innovation, safety and industry trends. This helped young people visualise the dual benefits of having a rewarding school life and a professional qualification. Many students were attracted by the message and asked for programme details.

Master Class on Digital Twins Features Professor from University of Cambridge

The CIC Master Class set a new benchmark for the local industry, featuring world-class instructors and up-to-date content to equip construction professionals with world-class skills. The masters’ in-depth knowledge and wealth of experience not only enable participants to fully grasp new technologies, but also stimulate their thinking and guide their exploration of innovation. In the newly launched "CIC Master Class in Digital Twin", Professor Ioannis BRILAKIS from the Department of Engineering  at the University of Cambridge shared his insights during the kick off ceremony. He emphasised the importance of data-driven decision making, "With digital twin, all data is stored digitally and can be permanently stored and tracked for analysis and validation, providing more reference data for decision-making and planning." Hon Duncan CHIU, Legislative Council Member (Technology and Innovation Constituency) also shared his experience of applying digital technologies in engineering projects with participants.

Meeting with Local Enterprises to Explore Smart Facilities Management Solutions

The CIC’s Smart Facilities Management Control Centre welcomes industry practitioners and relevant parties to visit. Recently, representatives from Hongkong Land and Savills Services Group visited the Centre respectively. The CIC team shared their ways of applying innovation, automation and digitalisation to improve efficiency, enhance user experience and promote sustainability. Later, I and CIC colleagues visited Hongkong Land's "Integrated Facility Management Control Tower" to understand its outstanding performance in applying artificial intelligence to enhance customer satisfaction and security. We also visited Savills Services Group’s "Smart Control Hub", which impressed us with its use of IoT and sensors to collect data and improve productivity, energy efficiency and sustainable development.

Promote Exchanges on Smart Construction and AI Applications Between Shanghai, Hangzhou and Hong Kong

Previously, the CIC led a delegation to Shanghai and Hangzhou to study smart construction and building technologies in mainland China. We visited two construction robotics start-ups, Weibuild and RoboticPlus.AI. We saw how mainland construction technology companies have been able to integrate BIM with robotics software on the same platform. Their understanding of the specific needs and advanced features for robotic operations on construction sites and the testing requirements is solid. In particular, the smart welding robot for steel structures in RoboticPlus.AI has incorporated functions such as auto-path planning and automatic program generation. This significantly enhances the speed and quality of construction, setting a good example for our industry. A joint seminar was held with Tongji University to discuss partnership and talent development opportunities in innovation. The delegation visited Shanghai Construction Group’s "Yangshupu Water Plant Renovation Project", a 140-year-old flagship cultural heritage site with working water plants, which was once the largest water plant in the Far East. The site is one of the major historical and cultural sites protected at the national level . Through the use of BIM (Building Information Modelling), the project was able to be precisely renovated and rebuilt at every stage. The century-old water facilities were smoothly upgraded and expanded while continuing to serve the public. Moreover, we left our footprints at the West Bund Financial Hub and gained insights into how ingeniously the project incorporated green design philosophies into its surroundings.

We then travelled to Hangzhou and arrived at Alibaba Cloud Valley Park to learn about the latest developments in cloud computing.  We had in-depth discussions with Alibaba on the application of AI for site safety, which greatly broadened our horizons on the topic. In conclusion, I think the industry should have more exchanges with the mainland on construction technology, and thoroughly analyse the success factors of mainland companies in applying technologies. Partnerships should also be strengthened to create synergies between Hong Kong's construction industry and mainland technology companies.

The benefits of advanced technologies are many - they help companies to remain competitive and resilient in the face of environmental change, thus ensuring business sustainability. The process of innovation and change cannot be achieved overnight, it certainly requires patience for testing and refinement. The benefits of advanced technologies are many, helping companies to remain competitive and resilient in the face of environmental change, thus ensuring business sustainability. The process of innovation and change certainly requires patience for testing and refinement, which cannot be achieved overnight. Weighing up the pros and cons from a long-term perspective, the right direction is clear. Decision-makers in our industry should be aware that standing still may face a higher risk of being discarded.