Leading Transformation of the Construction Industry by Realisation of New Quality Production Forces

The concept of "New Quality Productive Forces (NQPF)" is an important strategy that guides the future development of the industry, and it is closely related to addressing the challenges and opportunities in Hong Kong's construction industry in terms of cost management, construction safety, and sustainable development. Recent CIC activities have been curated in response to this common concern. By participating in these activities, I have witnessed the process of translating NQPF theories into practical case studies. These successful cases have further strengthened my belief that adopting technological innovation to upgrade the traditional construction industry is the way forward, and promoting the high-quality development of the industry towards a high-end, intelligent and green transformation is the direction that we should take.

Ir. Prof. Frank Chan: Adopt New Quality Production Forces Leads the Upgrade and Transformation of Traditional Industries

In July, the "CIC – See What I See" event featuring Ir. Prof. Frank CHAN, Hong Kong Deputy to the National People’s Congress, shared how "New Quality Productive Forces" can revolutionize the construction industry ecosystem. In total, over 2,300 participants attended the event in person or online, demonstrating the industry's eagerness to learn from the expert.

Ir. Prof. Frank Chan, an engineering expert and a former policymaker, helped us interpret the policy and gave us many practical tips. He explained that new quality productive forces affect not only emerging industries, but also traditional industries. "New" means that innovation plays a leading role. When a production is equipped with high technology, high efficiency and high quality, and catalysed by technological breakthroughs, a new allocation method of production resources and technological transformation, NQPF can be achieved. Applying the NQPF concept to the construction industry means using technology to optimise construction processes, improve construction safety and standards, realise the vision of industrialisation and create a more sustainable future. For the construction industry to embrace the NQPF, it must seize the opportunity to promote innovation and digitalisation, such as the application of BIM, Digital Twin and Modular Integrated Construction method (MiC) to transform traditional construction, speed up the construction process and ensure project quality. Taking MiC as an example, this technology has been widely adopted by mainland construction companies in recent years, and has achieved success in improving efficiency, quality assurance and ensuring output volume, enhancing construction safety and reducing material waste, making it worthy of in-depth study by local companies.

The CIC "Beijing New Quality Productive Forces Study Tour”

To enhance the industry's understanding of the essence of high-quality construction technologies in mainland, the CIC recently organised a 5-day tour titled "Beijing New Quality Productive Forces Study Tour". The delegation visited several enterprises, construction sites, and research projects in Beijing and had in-depth exchanges with the senior management of these various entities. The itinerary was packed and the results were plentiful. The most profound experience was witnessing the potential of highly efficient and smart construction in the Mainland, which further confirmed my views on NQPF: with future challenges such as high construction costs, labour shortages and construction safety challenges, digitalisation and technological advancement have become indispensable for the construction industry.

Firstly, I attended the opening ceremony of the "National Affairs Course" at the National Academy of Governance, and had the privilege of attending the NQPF class, which gave me an in-depth understanding of national policy directives. The delegation also visited several ongoing high-profile projects in Beijing. The Sany Global Innovation Centre project is a highly challenging project involving the use of complex cantilever structures. The China Construction Science and Industry Corporation team shared their knowledge on applying digital technologies to support design and construction, which provided us a good example. The Beijing City Sub-Center Integrated Transportation Hub project follows the "Underground Hub, Aboveground City" principle in reshaping urban spaces. When completed, it will be the largest underground integrated transport hub in Asia. Given the huge scale of the project, it uses a smart construction platform that integrates engineering management into the digital platform. Technologies such as big data, cloud computing and IoT are deployed to support construction. Both projects are demonstrations of combining digital technology and smart construction that are worthy of emulation by our local industry peers.

Another highlight of the trip was a visit to 4DBIM Co., Ltd, a company founded by talents from Tsinghua University. Its full life-cycle BIM platform for large-scale infrastructure has been applied to around 450 major infrastructure projects nationwide, including the Guangzhou Railway System and the new Shougang Bridge in Beijing.

We also visited the highly acclaimed expo - "China International Exposition of Housing Industry & Products and Equipment of Building Industrialisation". This year's theme is "Good Houses, Good Life, New Technology, New Dynamics", focusing on innovative technologies and engineering practices in areas such as housing design, construction, living and carbon reduction. The CIC also set up an exhibition area at the Expo introducing its functions, and inviting local start-ups and the HKU Faculty of Architecture's iLab to showcase their products, namely the Smart Site Safety System and the Remote e-Inspection System for Cross Border MiC Logistics, facilitating exchanges between mainland and local companies and helping Hong Kong construction technology teams to expand into the mainland market.

“Fanling North New Development Area S960 Ultra-High Strength Steel Civil Footbridge” Assembly Ceremony

Recently, there has also been good news about the local application of cutting-edge technology into practical results. Fanling North New Development Area, Phase 1 – Fanling Bypass Eastern Section (Shek Wu San Tsuen North to Lung Yeuk Tau) is the world's first project to use S960 ultra-high strength steel in a civil bridge. The first prefabricated component from the factory has recently arrived in Hong Kong, and I joined the representatives from academia, the government, and the industry at the assembly ceremony organised by the Civil Engineering and Development Department (CEDD).

This project, a collaboration between the CEDD and the Chinese National Engineering Research Centre for Steel Construction (Hong Kong Branch) of PolyU, is an excellent example of local implementation of NQPF. It shows local builder's confidence and experience in applying innovative materials. I also congratulated those skilled and experienced welders who have completed  technical training and obtained the qualification certificates. Thanks to their professionalism and hard work, the research outcomes can be realized with "increased quantity, speed, efficiency, and quality"

CIC Global Construction Digitalisation Forum and Exhibition Returns in 2024Q4

The CIC's annual flagship event, the "CIC Global Construction Digitalisation Forum and Exhibition 2024" will be held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre on 29-30 October. The exhibition will feature four main zones: smart site safety systems, construction robotics, digitalisation platform, and research and innovations. The event will revolve around four key themes: construction leadership, smart project delivery, future construction, and the smart built asset. Industry leaders and experts will be invited to speak and present the latest technological solutions. Please save the date for this important event.

The August seminar of "CIC - See What I See"  will invite another heavyweight guest speaker - Ir. Allen Yeung, Hong Kong Deputy to the National People’s Congress. He will share his views on cross-border data and smart cities, and advise on the future direction of Hong Kong's construction industry. The event has also invited Mr. Victor TAI, Under Secretary for Housing for a closing remarks.

The CIC's Youth Affairs Committee is organising the "The Greater Bay Area Construction Industry Youth Exchange Program" again this summer, taking participants to visit MiC factories and construction enterprises in the Greater Bay Area, to prepare students for future development in the region. In addition, the CIC's Hong Kong Institute of Construction will launch a series of recruitment activities in August to help recent HKDSE graduates learn more about the construction industry's prospects and encourage them to join the sector, thus giving a new impetus to the industry.

As the development of NQPF becomes a primary direction for various industries, and technological innovations in areas like smart technology, digitalisation, and automation are reshaping the industry landscape. The CIC will continue to connect our industry with experts from various sectors and provide support to help the local construction industry overcome difficulties and major challenges. The CIC will create more platforms for industry practitioners to unleash their potential and deliver more local engineering projects filled with pride.