The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) is committed to establishing a digitised asset management system for clients to further enhance the management and operational efficiency of their assets by applying more smart solutions in the operation and maintenance (O&M) of such assets. Our aim is to promote the development of smart city and stride into a digital era of E&M 2.0 together with our clients through wider application of smart solutions.
Taking the Civil Aviation Department (CAD) as an example, we have provided several smart solutions to the department, including the Smart Water Leakage Detection System, the Smart Carpark Management System, the Smart Water Quality Monitoring System for Fresh Water Cooling Towers, the Smart Lighting System and the Artificial Intelligence Energy Optimisation Solution (AI-EOS) for the air-conditioning system. The systems have been put into operation and effectively enhanced the O&M of the facilities at the CAD Headquarters. The new Smart Water Leakage Detection System can facilitate early identification of the leakage problem by monitoring the inner condition of concealed pipes in real time and give warning signs whenever water leakage is detected. The system can locate the parts in need of repair promptly for the relevant staff to take follow-up actions.
In addition, the newly installed Smart Carpark Management System can facilitate vehicle management and strengthen the security of the carpark with the adoption of car plate recognition technology that can automatically identify the plate number of incoming and outcoming vehicles. Real-time data on parking spaces are also available for easy reference by drivers and enhancement of the operational efficiency of the carpark. As for the new Smart Water Quality Monitoring System for Fresh Water Cooling Towers, it can monitor the water quality of fresh water cooling towers in real time to minimise the risk of transmission of the Legionnaires' disease. Unlike the previous arrangement where water sampling was carried out regularly by the laboratory to control the water quality, the system can perform chemical dosing automatically based on its readings. Equipped with motion and daylight sensors, the Smart Lighting System can adjust lighting based on changes in the surrounding environment for energy saving. The newly adopted AI-EOS for the air-conditioning system leverages artificial neural network technology to optimise the operation of the air-conditioning system based on the overall system efficiency, the building cooling load and the outdoor condition. An additional 3% of energy has been saved for the cooling system at the CAD Headquarters through the utilisation of AI-EOS.
The installation of these new systems was by no means easy, as 24-hour operation had to be maintained for all the systems during the process. That said, with extensive experience and professional competency, our team has overcome all the difficulties encountered and ensured a seamless transition to the new systems through meticulous planning. We have also set up a digitised asset management system for the CAD, enabling relevant personnel to have access to the electronic O&M manuals, which are more convenient to use than the paper ones, and helping to enhance the maintenance efficiency to a certain extent. In addition to facilitating access to information for the relevant personnel, regardless of whether they are maintenance or management staff, the system also enables them to consolidate and analyse various O&M data on a shared platform for predictive maintenance, thus reducing management costs and improving the operational efficiency of the assets.
The above mentioned smart projects are prime examples of how the EMSD can create value with advanced technologies and enable clients to experience the benefits of new O&M and digitised asset management systems, such as enhancing the O&M effectiveness and efficiency; saving manpower, resources and time; and boosting the efficiency of asset management as mentioned above.
The CAD appreciated the smart technology support provided by the EMSD team to its facilities at the CAD Headquarters, and has actively discussed with the EMSD about the possible adoption of 5G/ Government-Wide Internet of Things (IoT) Network/ IoT technologies and smart glasses in O&M systems.
The EMSD has installed a large-scale light emitting diode (LED) billboard on the external wall of the Mong Kok Police Station for the Public Relations Wing of the Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF) to disseminate messages on keeping the peace, anti-crime, safeguarding national security and anti-terrorism. The LED billboard, being the first-ever large-scale outdoor LED billboard in the HKPF, measures 5.4 m in height and 9.6 m in width, and provides high resolution pictures. The HKPF can easily control what the LED billboard broadcasts through a computer system and remotely control its operation from other locations. The installation proposal was vetted by a registered structural engineer to ensure the structural safety of the billboard. Also, the EMSD team was meticulous in its planning of the installation works. For example, back then, the team had already taken into account the need for repair and maintenance of the LED billboard in the future, and arranged for a maintenance platform to be built behind the LED billboard, so that erection of scaffolding on public areas could be dispensed.
The EMSD always accords top priority to the actual needs of client departments and strives to provide the best possible services for them. Any client interested in installing a similar LED billboard is welcome to contact Mr. Ng Kam-hon, Joe, Senior Engineer of the EMSD at 3746 1033.
The 2023 Lunar New Year (LNY) fairs attracted over 1.14 million visitors, a 32% increase over 2021. Under the COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019) epidemic, epidemic-related restrictions presented great challenges to the management of large-scale events. Appropriate arrangements had to be made in view of the capacity limit and social distancing measures. To cope with the huge crowd, the EMSD assisted the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) in implementing crowd control by using innovative technology to monitor the footfall at 15 locations where the LNY fairs were held across the territory, thereby improving the efficiency of crowd management.
This newly developed crowd control solution uses overhead people counting devices, which can sense multiple people passing through at the same time, to count the number of visitors passing through the entrances and exits, so as to facilitate the monitoring of footfall and the control of the number of visitors inside the venues. The statistical information was uploaded to the FEHD’s website and shown in the form of red, amber and green lights simultaneously both on the FEHD’s dedicated webpage and on site, enabling the public to know about the footfall and waiting status for entry to the LNY fairs. A ticketing system was set up at three venues to enable visitors to get a ticket on site or remotely through a mobile application. Furthermore, the FEHD staff could monitor the number of visitors in the venues and adjust the crowd control arrangements using the people counting system installed in the smartphones provided by the EMSD. Throughout the seven-day fair period, the Digitalisation and Technology Division of the EMSD set up a dedicated Central Control Centre to ensure the smooth operation of the people counting system and provide strong technical support to our client department.
The biggest challenge of this project was that we had to install the relevant facilities for multiple venues within a tight timeframe. Thanks to the extensive experience and meticulous preparation and planning of the team, the installation works at various venues were eventually completed within one week.
In the face of the challenges brought about by the epidemic, the EMSD team has stood united and risen to the challenges by making flexible arrangements and designing integrated crowd control solutions for large-scale events, catering for the specific needs of our client departments.
The EMSD actively promotes electrical and mechanical (E&M) digitalisation and offers appropriate smart innovation and technology (I&T) solutions to client departments. In recent years, the Correctional Services Department (CSD) has collaborated closely with the EMSD to develop multiple smart prison systems for application in various correctional institutions. In particular, Hong Kong’s first smart prison was established in the Tai Tam Gap Correctional Institution. Our smart prison I&T projects, including the Health Signs Monitoring and Movement and Location Monitoring Systems, the Video Analytic Monitoring System and the Contactless Vital Sign Monitoring System, have yielded encouraging results and won awards at the International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva.
The Contactless Vital Sign Monitoring System, which has won the Silver Medal at the International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva, adopts ultra-wideband wireless technology to continuously detect the heart rate and breathing rate of persons in custody (PICs). Once abnormalities in their vital signs are detected, the system will alert correctional officers to take immediate action. The system is currently employed in the Siu Lam Psychiatric Centre of the CSD and its application will gradually be extended to other correctional institutions.
Another I&T project, the PICs Integrated Intelligent Communication System (IICS), is a self-service telephone communication system equipped with self-service telephone kiosks, display screens, voice recognition technology and keyword analysis function tailor-made for PICs. PICs may make phone calls in a self-service manner after obtaining approval from the institutional management, such that correctional officers are no longer required to escort PICs to designated locations for making calls, thereby enhancing the operational efficiency of institutions and facilitating the development of self-discipline of PICs. The system has been successfully implemented in the Lo Wu Correctional Institution and the Tai Tam Gap Correctional Institution, and its application will be extended to other correctional institutions in the future.
Our smart prison I&T solutions have not only achieved international recognition, but also effectively assisted the CSD in enhancing the efficiency of institutional management and level of security. The EMSD will continue to collaborate with our client departments and further develop engineering solutions to suit their needs most.
The EMSD team achieved outstanding result at the Young Professionals Exhibition and Competition (YPEC) 2022 organised by the Younger Members Section of the Institution of Engineering and Technology Hong Kong, winning the Championship of the Open Section for its project Chiller Plant Replacement at Tai Lung Veterinary Laboratory (TLVL), the First MiMEP Pilot Project of the Electrical and Mechanical Services Trading Fund. In the project, the team applied the Multi-trade integrated Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing (MiMEP) works for the first time for the replacement of four chillers at the TLVL under the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department. Using the state-of-the-art technology, the team shortened the time spent on replacement work to half of that needed using conventional working methods, providing clients with efficient and effective services, thereby laying a concrete foundation for the future application of MiMEP by the trade. The award recognises the continuous endeavours of the EMSD in encouraging its teams to remain proactive and innovative and nurturing young talent to develop and implement more fresh ideas that benefit our society.
Hailed as the “Skills Olympics”, the WorldSkills Competition is organised every two years with the aim of testing various professional skills and knowledge of competitors. Last year, two technicians II from the EMSD represented Hong Kong to participate in the WorldSkills Competition 2022 Special Edition held in Germany and Austria, where they competed with skilled young competitors from more than 20 countries and regions for awards. One of the EMSD representatives, Mr. Chi Chun-chung, brought glory to Hong Kong by winning a Medallion for Excellence in the Refrigeration and Air-conditioning trade. Mr. Chi and other members of the Hong Kong team staged outstanding performance in the competition and were received by the Chief Executive, Mr. John Lee in January this year at the Government House for commendation.
The EMSD is committed to nurturing young E&M talents and actively encourages them to participate in international competitions to enrich their experience, broaden their horizons and enhance their skills, so as to have the culture of quality service and craftsman’s spirit of the EMSD passed on.
Committed to making Hong Kong a top-ranking world city in the E&M safety and efficient use of energy, the EMSD has provided clients and the community with professional and reliable E&M engineering services over the years. Looking back on 1 February 1948, the then Public Works Department amalgamated its Electrical, Mechanical and Transport Offices into the Electrical and Mechanical Office, which was upgraded to the EMSD in 1982. Counting from the establishment date of the Electrical and Mechanical Office, we have served and been with the community for 75 years.
The 75th Anniversary (Diamond Jubilee) of the EMSD has taken the theme of “Serving the Community with Heart and Innovation”, which reflects our determination to carry on our great tradition by passing on the wisdom and knowledge from previous E&M generations while continuing to embrace technologies with a flexible and innovative mind and collaborating with clients and the trade to provide the community with quality and efficient E&M services.
On 1 February 2023, i.e. our birthday, the EMSD senior management kicked off celebrations for the EMSD 75th Anniversary by officiating the unveiling of the statues of our ambassadors Witty Bear and KnowBot in the piazza at the EMSD Headquarters Building. A series of celebrations will be rolled out in the year, which includes the EMSD 75th Anniversary Ceremony cum Welcome Day to be held in coming November. Your active support and participation will be highly appreciated.