FSD and Hong Kong Polytechnic University sign MoU on research for indoor positioning technology (with photos)
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     The Fire Services Department (FSD) and The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) today (January 4) to put forward a study to track the location of fire personnel at indoor fire scenes in order to further enhance frontline personnel safety.
      
     The FSD and PolyU will collaborate in studying the use of indoor positioning technology to track and locate fire personnel at fire scenes inside buildings and protect them against danger. With the advanced simulation training facilities at the Fire and Ambulance Services Academy and PolyU's wealth of research experience, the collaboration will achieve an optimum synergistic effect and provide better protection for fire personnel lives.
      
     Witnessed by the Director of Fire Services, Mr Andy Yeung, and the President of PolyU, Professor Jin-Guang Teng, the MoU was signed by Assistant Director (Corporate Strategy) of the FSD Mr Kwok Pak-chiu, and the Head of the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering of PolyU, Professor Chan Kang-cheung.
      
     Mr Yeung said that the FSD has long been supportive to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government in promoting I&T. Over the years, the FSD has proactively introduced and applied I&T in enhancing its firefighting, rescue and emergency ambulance services for better protection of the lives and property of citizens as well as the safety of frontline fire personnel.
      
     He said that the FSD has deployed robots for firefighting tasks, and also applied artificial intelligence-assisted drones during mountain rescue operations to help search for missing persons. Both devices have been proven to be effective in greatly enhancing operational efficiency and safety. Mr Yeung added that the FSD also shares accomplishments on I&T research with the fire and rescue departments of the Mainland cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area by conducting regular technical exchanges.
      
     Professor Teng said, "Firefighters have always served and protected Hong Kong citizens with dedication and care, and PolyU is pleased to participate in this meaningful study by leveraging our research and innovation capabilities to strengthen the safety of fire personnel. PolyU's Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering has a strong foundation in the area of precision engineering research, with its researchers having participated in the nation's space exploration missions of the moon and Mars. The collaboration to develop an indoor fire scene tracking system will combine PolyU's advanced positioning and precision engineering technologies with the FSD's professional facilities and support. The study will help provide more timely protection to fire personnel." 
      
     Professor Teng added that PolyU will continue to harness its multi-disciplinary research strengths to support the FSD's work. For instance, PolyU's Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering is conducting "smart firefighting" research that adopts artificial intelligence to monitor buildings fire hazards.

Ends/Wednesday, January 4, 2023
Issued at HKT 17:30

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