First Adoption of Modular Integrated Construction with Blockchain Technology in Hong Kong
A pilot modular integrated construction (MiC) project under the Development Bureau, the residence comprises two 17-storey towers assembled with a total of 952 prefabricated MiC modules. Together with a three-level reinforced concrete structure as podium space, the initiative accommodates some 1,224 students, with hostel rooms measuring about 6.5 square metres each.
INTRODUCING BLOCKCHAIN-ENABLED REMOTE MONITORING
The e-inspection 1.0 system, with a corresponding mobile application (app) e-inStar, was conceived by the Faculty of Architecture of the University of Hong Kong (HKU) in 2022—during when physical distancing and border control measures had rendered cross-border deployment of inspection personnel difficult.
Leveraging building information modelling (BIM), Internet of Things (IoTs) and geographical information system (GIS), the digitalised workflow procedures incorporated real-time video supervision of the modules prefabricated in Zhuhai, China.
The e-inspection system enabled remote quality inspection of the modules during the COVID-19 lockdown
OVERCOMING ON-SITE CONSTRAINTS
The site itself entailed limited space to manoeuvre and store the equipment. Additionally, the one-way Police School Road in the southern district of Hong Kong Island (where the residence is sited) had been plagued by traffic congestion—any road blockage would cause further inconvenience. As such, it was impractical to have heavy-duty trucks making U-turns and exits via a single gantry. To minimise manoeuvring time and space on the road, two gantries—each spanning 11 metres in width—were designed to facilitate the movement of construction-related vehicles.
Two gantries were designed to facilitate the movement of heavy-duty trucks
PROJECT DATA
Project Name
Student Residence of the University of Hong Kong at Wong Chuk Hang
Location
Police School Road, Aberdeen Inland Lot No. 468, Hong Kong
Completion Date
August 2023
Site Area
4,306 square metres
Gross Floor Area
25,113 square metres
Building Height
20 storeys
Number of Units
1,224 hostel rooms
Client
Estates Office of the University of Hong Kong
Architecture Firm
AD+RG
Principal Architect
Tony Tsui
Civil & Structural Engineer
AECOM
Mechanical & Electrical Engineer
Meinhardt
Quantity Surveyor
Beria
Landscape Architect
ADI
Green Building Consultant
AECOM
Main Contractor
Paul Y. Construction Company, Limited
Interior Fit-Out Contractor
PHM Contracting Co Ltd
Images
Estates Office of the University of Hong Kong
This is an excerpt. The original article is published in
Construction+ Q1 2024 Issue: Construction Technologies Now.
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