Engineering sustainable construction
Tue, 03 Jul 2012 14:44:00 BST
New professor divides his time between Huddersfield and Hong Kong
HONG KONG is one of the most dynamic and densely populated places on the planet. But this means that the problems of modern urban living – including pollution and sustainability – are especially acute. This factor has shaped the research career and the vision of a newly-appointed University of Huddersfield professor, Hong Kong-native Andrew Leung (pictured).
He divides his new post as Professor of Engineering at Huddersfield with his existing position as Professor of Sustainable Construction at the City University of Hong Kong.
So he brings to Huddersfield a portfolio of innovative ideas and projects that are relevant to all of the world’s urban environments, wherever clean air, green construction and sustainable energy are issues.
Professor Leung’s research has also taken in fields such earthquake resistance, machine fatigue, reduction of vibration and control of noise levels.
And some of his practical solutions to pressing problems are highly ingenious. They include the concept of using the piston effect of the lift cars of high rise buildings to draw in polluted air and pass it through a cleansing process. When the lift descends once more, the air is pushed back into the atmosphere.
Professor Leung has demonstrated ways of generating energy from the vibration caused by traffic on road bridges and has also developed a device – installed in a Hong Kong hospital – to cleanse the SARS virus from the breath of patients.
Professor Leung’s career – which includes academic positions plus spells in industry, including the job of wind engineer for construction giant Ove Arup – has straddled the UK and Hong Kong since the 1970s.
In addition, he is currently the policy leader of Hong Kong Green Building Council, a body that strives to promote sustainable buildings.
Now he is based for a third of his working year at the University of Huddersfield making a contribution to its burgeoning research in the field of sustainability and he hopes soon to supervise PhD students working in the field.
