In celebration of the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, and to promote popular science education, the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) organised the Inno@E&M Open Day 2022 at the EMSD Headquarters, Kowloon Bay from 4 to 6 November 2022 to demonstrate to the public innovation and technology (I&T) applications in electrical and mechanical (E&M) engineering services and smart city development, and how these innovative technologies could benefit them. The event featured a wide range of activities, including booth exhibitions of I&T projects, seminars, workshops, guided tours for the District Cooling System at Kai Tak Development, virtual reality experience, showcase for the shortlisted projects of the "Smart@GWIN" E&M IoT (Internet of Things) Application Challenge and an award presentation ceremony.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Mr. Pang Yiu-hung, Director of Electrical and Mechanical Services, said that the EMSD had all along been supporting the promotion of popular science education and nurturing young technology talent. The Open Day offered a variety of activities to inspire young people's interest in E&M engineering and technologies. He also thanked various government departments, the E&M trade and research and development institutions for showcasing I&T projects at the Open Day to enable the public to experience how innovative E&M technologies could make their life more convenient and energy efficient.
The three-day Inno@E&M Open Day 2022 attracted enthusiastic participation of around 17 000 visitors and was successfully concluded with encouraging results under the support of various strategic partners, client departments, relevant organisations and the EMSD staff.
To promote smart city development, the EMSD actively extends innovative application of the Government-Wide Internet of Things Network (GWIN) to different areas. One example is our research and development project of last year, the Drone-based LoRa Network for Location Tracking in Remote Areas, which won a silver medal at the International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva 2022 and demonstrated wide recognition of the development potential of the technology. This year, we collaborated with the Fire Services Department (FSD) for further testing of the technology application.
While the existing GWIN fixed gateways already provide practical support in various aspects, using a drone to carry a lightweight GWIN gateway (GWIN-on-drone) can cover more remote areas and offer more diverse solutions. In this connection, the EMSD team worked with the FSD to carry out a test during the training of the Mountain Search and Rescue Team (MSRT) of the FSD at the Plover Cove Country Park in mid-August 2022. During the test, the MSRT members underwent their training with tracking devices while our team operated the GWIN-on-drones to collect data from the tracking devices, in order to test the effectiveness of the location tracking system.
Specially designed for operation in remote areas, the new tracking devices can help search and rescue personnel to pinpoint the locations of injured or missing persons. Despite the fact that mobile gateways have a smaller coverage than fixed gateways, the GWIN-on-drones can flexibly travel through countryside environments. Given the limited load capacity of the drones, the gateway to be carried by the drone must be lightweight but at the same time equipped with sufficient power supply equipment, so that it can be securely mounted on the drone.
In addition to hiking safety, the tracking devices combined with the GWIN and drone technology, can be further applied to ensure the safety of participants in large-scale outdoor and aquatic activities organised by government departments. Our team will continue to study the technology to benefit more client departments by providing them with value-added services.
Please visit the below website to watch a video of the on-site test:
https://bit.ly/3VsVRos
The EMSD has introduced new computed tomography (CT) scanners, which can conduct contraband detection from all angles, for the Customs and Excise Department (C&ED). The new equipment having been put into use in the control ports can enhance the inspection efficiency of the C&ED and help the department to implement the Smart Customs Blueprint.
Certified by the European Civil Aviation Conference and in compliance with the requirements of the Radiation Ordinance, the new scanners can scan objects from 360 degrees, record multiple cross-sectional images of the objects and re-create their three-dimensional (3D) images using computer technology. Compared with conventional scanners which can only produce two-dimensional images, the new scanners are capable of performing 3D scanning and the X-rays of which can even pass through thick metals, reducing interference during the scanning process and creating clearer images, thus effectively enhancing detection sensitivity. Equipped with artificial intelligence (AI), the new scanners can also analyse image data automatically after scanning to help with detecting suspicious items and conducting preliminary screening, so that the C&ED officers can decide whether a thorough check should be conducted.
To ensure that the new equipment can operate precisely, the Works Improvement Team of the EMSD designed test components and printed them with 3D printers. High-precision stainless steel sheets were also cut into different sizes with a laser to simulate the sources of interference in the test. Using these test components, we thoroughly tested the 3D scanning functions of the new scanners as well as their precision and stability.
To further assist the C&ED’s inspection work, we will constantly study the use of the scanners and AI technology, with a view to using the equipment to detect more types of contraband and enhancing the inspection efficiency.
To realise the vision of “E&M 2.0”, we have introduced the digitised asset management system (AMS) under the second Five-year Strategic Plan of the Electrical and Mechanical Services Trading Fund to help client departments to improve operational efficiency and environmental performance of their E&M assets. Implementation of the project involves use of IoT and installation of digitised equipment on clients’ major E&M assets.
The AMS was adopted in all government venues for a wide range of applications. Starting from June 2022, new features have been launched at ten of the pilot sites to collect operational data on various aspects for analysis. The user interface has also been updated, bringing improvement to the day-to-day work efficiency of the team of the EMSD. With the use of AI for data analytics, the AMS enables the EMSD team to have a quick grasp of the operating condition of client departments’ E&M assets and diagnose faults at an early stage for carrying out repair work, thereby ensuring smooth operation of public facilities. The first phase of the AMS project is progressing smoothly and it is expected that the second phase will further enhance our services.
Committed to promoting electrical and mechanical (E&M) best practices, the EMSD held the Electrical & Mechanical Best Practices Ceremony in hybrid mode on 29 September 2022 for promoting the full launch of the e-platform on E&M best practices. In the ceremony, eight booklets and handbooks on operation and maintenance (O&M) best practices previously published by the EMSD were introduced to nearly 300 participants from the E&M trade, academia and the property management sector, providing the relevant sectors with practical information on best practices.
With a simple and user-friendly interface, the e-platform facilitates access to the booklets and handbooks by the trade and relevant stakeholders. In addition, the EMSD has uploaded videos to the e-platform for sharing cases of best practices, so as to promote exchanges between trade practitioners as well as more extensive adoption of best practices for constant progress of the industry.
Please visit the following website of the
e-platform for case videos
and the eight booklets and handbooks:
https://bestpractice.emsd.gov.hk/
During the fifth wave of the epidemic, the surging demands for emergency ambulance service and frequent mass evacuations of care home residents for quarantine posed tremendous challenges to the patient transport work of the Fire Services Department (FSD). In view of the above, the FSD commissioned the EMSD in early 2022 to modify four newly introduced 24-seater buses. Three of the buses are modified to equip with four ambulance stretchers for carrying three to four bedridden patients at any one time. The remaining bus is especially retrofitted with installations for securing wheelchairs, so that it can carry up to three bedridden and two wheelchair-bound patients at the same time. To enhance air quality inside the buses, the four modified buses have been installed with high efficiency particulate air filtration systems. Tail lifts are also installed to the buses to facilitate the lifting of bedridden patients and stretchers onto the vehicle while maintaining the occupational safety and health of the crew. The converted vehicles have commenced services already, and according to the FSD, they have greatly enhanced the efficiency of its ambulance operations.
The sixth Gerontech and Innovation Expo cum Summit was held in November 2022. Choosing the theme of “Joining Hands to Fight against the Epidemic with Innovative Technologies” for this year, the EMSD showcased how elderly care services could be enhanced with the application of innovative technologies amid the epidemic.
The EMSD's exhibition booth displayed six projects, including the territory-wide assessment of the ventilation systems for private care homes conducted earlier, the contactless health monitoring system, the smart Wireless Nurse Call System, remote monitoring of indoor air quality with the IoT, the Mobile Modular High Efficiency Particulate Air Filter Units and the Artificial Intelligent Robotic Cleaning and Disinfection System - i-Cleaner. Through the exhibition, the EMSD aimed to demonstrate to the industry and the public how innovative E&M technologies could enhance the quality of life for the elderly.
The EMSD team is committed to providing quality E&M services and our performance won acclaims of clients and the trade. Recently, we reaped fruitful rewards with prizes received in various award schemes. These awards not only celebrate the outstanding contributions of the team, but also spur our colleagues on to keep working hard to improve service effectiveness of client departments.
By virtue of its quality services, remarkable responsiveness, teamwork and innovation spirit, the EMSD won 13 awards in the Civil Service Outstanding Service Award Scheme 2022, including the Gold Prize in Excellence in Service Enhancement (Large Department Category), the Gold Prize in Innovation and Technology Awards (Best Stakeholder Collaboration), the Gold Prize in Excellence in Team Collaboration (Regulatory Service) and the Gold Prize in Excellence in Partnership for Together We Build, a collaboration project with 18 bureaux and departments. The EMSD will continue to provide quality services to the public and clients as well as enhancing the effectiveness of public services with innovative technology.
Mr. Chan Chi-wai, Richard has been appointed as Acting Deputy Director/Trading Services of the EMSD with effect from 28 November 2022. Mr. Chan leads the Electrical and Mechanical Services Trading Fund (EMSTF) to provide safe, effective and quality services, and to meet customers’ needs for cost-effective and diversified E&M solutions, hence creating public value and enhancing the quality of public services.
In addition, Mr. Fung Chi-fung has been appointed as Acting Assistant Director/2 of the EMSD with effect from 1 November 2022. Mr. Fung oversees the E&M engineering services that the EMSTF provides to customers and venues, such as government premises, municipal services venues and public health organisations. Mr. Lee Hok-yin, Arthur has been appointed as Acting Assistant Director/3 of the EMSD with effect from 28 November 2022. Mr. Lee leads the Digitalisation and Technology Division and Corporate Services Division to promote and co-ordinate innovation and digital transformation, as well as providing our corporate with central support services.