A uniform that combats heat stress for construction workers in Hong Kong’s hot and humid conditions by using a new generation of fabrics has scooped one of the Premier Awards at the 2015 International Innovation and Research Awards run by the CIOB.
Developed by Professor Albert P C Chan FCIOB (pictured below left) and Professor Francis K W Wong FCIOB from the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, the uniform reduces physiological strain by 17% and body heat storage by 29%.
The innovative uniforms have already received more than 14,000 orders from the Construction Industry Council in Hong Kong for its trainees, and the team behind the project has received enquiries from other employment sectors, including taxi drivers.
Site uniforms that also offer sun protection are commonly worn on public sector projects in the autonomous city region.
Joining the uniform as Premier Award winner is a digital system developed at Heriot-Watt University that utilises sensor technology to detect whether a construction worker is at risk of musculoskeletal injury.
The system can detect and analyse MSD risks by capturing accurate physical activities, thereby contributing to prevention and early diagnostics of work-related MSDs.
Professor Stuart Green FCIOB, chair of the judging panel, said: “These awards are now firmly established in the innovation landscape. They have achieved global status and the dominant quality continues on a strong upward curve. This year’s entries have been especially impressive and success in innovation and research should be celebrated. The winners deserve every recognition.”
More than 160 entries from 18 countries vied for the top awards which celebrate the best ideas in Digital Innovation, Innovation in Education and Training, and a range of research categories.
The awards recognise achievement across the built environment and are open to entries from recent graduates, industry practitioners or experienced academics, including international and non-CIOB members.
Innovation Achiever’s Award
Premier Award (£2,000, trophy and certificate)
Prof Albert P C Chan FCIOB and Prof Francis K W Wong FCIOB (The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong)
Anti-Heat Stress Clothing for Construction Workers in Hot and Humid Weather
Highly Commended Award (£500, trophy and certificate)
Dr Arman Hashemi (University of Brighton, UK)
Advanced Thermal Shutter System
Merit Award (trophy and certificate)
Dr Xiaochun Luo, Prof Heng Li and Mr Bo Ye (The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong)
Proactive Construction Management System
Digital Innovation Award
Premier Award (£2,000, trophy and certificate)
Dr Aparajithan Sivanathan, Dr Mohamed Abdel-Wahab and Dr Frédéric Bosché (Heriot-Watt University, UK)
AT-BAN: Activity Tracking and Body Area Networks
Highly Commended Award (£500, trophy and certificate)
Mr Mehdi Alhaddad (University of Cambridge, UK)
CSattAR: Photogrammetric Monitoring of Construction Environments and Surrounding Assets
Merit Award (trophy and certificate)
Mr Gregory Malek (BiMUp for SketchUP, UK)
BiMUp 5D: Building Information Modelling for the Construction Industry Using BiMUp and SketchUp as a BIM Platform
Innovation in Education & Training Award
Premier Award (£2,000, trophy and certificate)
Prof Sidney Newton and Mr Russell Lowe (The University of New South Wales, Australia)
The Situation Engine: Driving Change in On-Site Health & Safety Behaviour through a Virtual Personal Experience of Safe and Unsafe Practices
Highly Commended Award (£500, trophy and certificate)
Dr Ludovico Carozza, Dr Frédéric Bosché and Dr Mohamed Abdel-Wahab (Heriot-Watt University, UK)
iHR: Immersive Hybrid Reality for Construction Trade Training
Merit Award (trophy and certificate)
Ms Jennifer Hardi (London South Bank University, UK)
BIM Collaborative Working Extracurricular Activity for the AEC Students in a Large UK University
Further details on the winners of the above categories, as well as the winning entries in the reearch categories, can be found here.
Entries for the International Innovation and Research Awards 2016 will be open in June.
