People
CHEN Xi 陳曦
Research Assistant Professor
xichen@mae.cuhk.edu.hk
TEL: 852 - 3943 0814
Rm. 604A, 6/F, Wong Foo Yuan Building

Dr. Chen Xi has over 10-year experience in sustainable building technologies related to green building, built environment modelling and smart inspection. He has led or managed multiple research projects including Australian Research Council (ARC), Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST), Research Grants Council (RGC) Hong Kong and consultancy projects with the local government and industry. He has published over 60 papers in peer-reviewed international journals and co-authored two books in green building and energy efficiency areas. In addition, he is a Chartered Energy Engineer and services as the editorial board member of Buildings, Energies, Unmanned Systems and Advances in Applied Energy.

Research Interests
  • Smart city
  • Built environment modelling
  • Digital twin
  • Renewable application in buildings
Projects
  • Aerial thermography of building envelopes for neighborhood-scale thermal performance evaluation using integrated multi-drone corporative imagery and deep learning
  • Developing a digital twin empowered approach for horseshoe crab survey and conservation with drones and AI
  • Unmanned Ariel System (UAS) and AI Driven High Efficiency and Precision Built Asset Inspection and Management
  • Interactions between urban microclimates and high-rise commercial buildings integrated with photovoltaic envelopes to optimize energy and indoor environmental performances
Teaching
2023/24
EEEN4070 Green Building & Sustainable Technologies
2021/22
MAEG3030 Fluid Mechanics


Publications

Journal Papers (in the recent five years)

  1. Li Q, Yang G, Bian C, Long L, Wang X, Gao C, Wong C, Huang Y, Zhao B, Chen X* et al. Autonomous design framework for deploying building integrated photovoltaics. Applied Energy. 2025;377:124760.
  2. Li Q, Long L, Li X, Yang G, Bian C, Zhao B, Chen X* et al. Life cycle cost analysis of circular photovoltaic façade in dense urban environment using 3D modeling. Renewable Energy. 2025;238:121914.
  3. Guo H, Chen Z, Chen X, Yang J, Song C, Chen Y. UAV-BIM-BEM: An automatic unmanned aerial vehicles-based building energy model generation platform. Energy and Buildings. 2025;328:115120.
  4. Bian C, Cheung KL, Chen X*, Lee CC. Integrating microclimate modelling with building energy simulation and solar photovoltaic potential estimation: The parametric analysis and optimization of urban design. Applied Energy. 2025;380:125062.
  5. Zhao B, Zhou X, Yang G, Wen J, Zhang J, Dou J, Li G, Chen X* and Chen BM. High-resolution infrastructure defect detection dataset sourced by unmanned systems and validated with deep learning. Automation in Construction. 2024;163:105405. (IF: 9.6, Rank: 4/91 in Construction & Building Technology, Citation: 2)
  6. Gao C, Wang X, Chen X, Chen BM. A hierarchical multi-UAV cooperative framework for infrastructure inspection and reconstruction. Control Theory and Technology. 2024. (IF: 1.7, Rank: 70/84 in AUTOMATION & CONTROL SYSTEMS, Citation: 0)
  7. Li Q, Yang G, Gao C, Huang Y, Zhang J, Huang D, Zhao B, Chen X* and Chen BM. Single drone-based 3D reconstruction approach to improve public engagement in conservation of heritage buildings: A case of Hakka Tulou. Journal of Building Engineering. 2024;87:108954. (IF: 6.7, Rank: 8/91 in Construction & Building Technology, Citation: 9)
  8. Yang G, Zhou X, Gao C, Chen X, Chen BM. Learnable Cost Metric-Based Multi-View Stereo for Point Cloud Reconstruction. IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics. 2023:1-10. (IF: 7.7, Rank:8/65 in Automation & Control Systems, Citation: 3)
  9. Gao C, Wang X, Wang R, Zhao Z, Zhai Y, Chen X*, et al. A UAV-based explore-then-exploit system for autonomous indoor facility inspection and scene reconstruction. Automation in Construction. 2023;148:104753. (IF: 9.6, Rank: 4/91 in Construction & Building Technology, Citation: 20)
  10. Yang GD, Liu KC, Zhang JH, Zhao BY, Zhao ZQ, Chen X*, et al. Datasets and processing methods for boosting visual inspection of civil infrastructure: A comprehensive review and algorithm comparison for crack classification, segmentation, and detection. Construction and Building Materials. 2022;356:129226. (IF: 7.4, Rank: 7/68 in Construction & Building Technology, Citation: 34)
  11. Jia L-R, Li Q-Y, Chen X, Lee C-C, Han J. Indoor Thermal and Ventilation Indicator on University Students’ Overall Comfort. Buildings. 2022;12(11):1921. (IF: 3.8, Rank: 23/68 in Construction & Building Technology, Citation: 11)
  12. Ansah MK, Chen X*, Yang H. A holistic environmental and economic design optimization of low carbon buildings considering climate change and confounding factors. Science of The Total Environment. 2022; 821:153442. (IF: 9.8, Rank: 26/247 in Environmental Sciences, Citation: 33)
  13. Ansah MK, Chen X*, Yang H. Two-Stage Lifecycle Energy Optimization of Mid-Rise Residential Buildings with Building-Integrated Photovoltaic and Alternative Composite Façade Materials. Buildings. 2021;11. (IF: 3.8, Rank: 23/68 in Construction & Building Technology, Citation: 10)
  14. Jia L-R, Han J, Chen X*, Li Q-Y, Lee C-C, Fung Y-H. Interaction between Thermal Comfort, Indoor Air Quality and Ventilation Energy Consumption of Educational Buildings: A Comprehensive Review. Buildings. 2021;11:591. (IF: 3.8, Rank: 23/68 in Construction & Building Technology, Citation: 67)
  15. Huang J, Wang Q, Chen X, Xu S, Yang H. Experimental investigation and annual overall performance comparison of different photovoltaic vacuum glazings. Sustainable Cities and Society. 2021;75:103282. (IF: 11.7, Rank: 1/68 in Construction & Building Technology, Citation: 10)
  16. Yu Q, Chen X, Yang H. Research progress on utilization of phase change materials in photovoltaic/thermal systems: A critical review. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews. 2021;149:111313. (IF: 15.9, Rank: 2/46 in Green & Sustainable Science & Technology, Citation: 39)
  17. Ansah MK, Chen X, Yang H, Lu L, Lam PTI. Developing an automated BIM-based life cycle assessment approach for modularly designed high-rise buildings. Environmental Impact Assessment Review. 2021;90:106618. (IF: 7.9, Rank: 14/127 in Environmental Studies, Citation: 61)
  18. Liu J, Chen X, Yang H, Shan K. Hybrid renewable energy applications in zero-energy buildings and communities integrating battery and hydrogen vehicle storage. Applied Energy. 2021;290:116733. (IF: 11.2, Rank: 15/115 in Energy & Fuels, Citation: 138)
  19. Ansah MK, Chen X, Yang H, Lu L, Li H. Developing a tier-hybrid uncertainty analysis approach for lifecycle impact assessment of a typical high-rise residential building. Resources, Conservation and Recycling. 2021;167:105424. (IF: 13.2, Rank: 5/55 in Engineering, Environmental, Citation: 21)
  20. Liu J, Cao S, Chen X, Yang H, Peng J. Energy planning of renewable applications in high-rise residential buildings integrating battery and hydrogen vehicle storage. Applied Energy. 2021;281:116038. (IF: 11.2, Rank: 15/115 in Energy & Fuels, Citation: 94)
  21. Huang J, Chen X*, Peng J, Yang H. Modelling analyses of the thermal property and heat transfer performance of a novel compositive PV vacuum glazing. Renewable Energy. 2021;163:1238-52. (IF: 8.7, Rank: 26/115 in Energy & Fuels, Citation: 25)
  22. Liu J, Wang M, Peng J, Chen X*, Cao S, Yang H. Techno-economic design optimization of hybrid renewable energy applications for high-rise residential buildings. Energy Conversion and Management. 2020;213:112868. (IF: 10.4, Rank: 17/115 in Energy & Fuels, Citation: 120)
  23. Chen X*, Huang J, Yang H. Multi-criterion optimization of integrated photovoltaic facade with inter-building effects in diverse neighborhood densities. Journal of Cleaner Production. 2020;248:119269. (IF: 11.1, Rank: 8/46 in Green & Sustainable Science & Technology, Citation: 18)
  24. Ansah MK, Chen X*, Yang H*, Lu L, Lam PTI. An integrated life cycle assessment of different façade systems for a typical residential building in Ghana. Sustainable Cities and Society. 2020;53:101974. (IF: 11.7, Rank: 1/68 in Construction & Building Technology, Citation: 79)
  25. Liu J, Chen X*, Yang H, Li Y. Energy storage and management system design optimization for a photovoltaic integrated low-energy building. Energy. 2019:116424. (IF: 9.0, Rank: 3/62 in Thermodynamics, Citation: 124)

Honours and Awards

  1. Best Paper Award, 1st International Conference of Net Zero Carbon Built Environment, 2024
  2. Bronze Medal at the International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva 2023 – Drone and AI Based Digital Platform for Outdoor Built Asset Inspection and Information Management awarded by The International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva, Switzerland.
  3. Bronze Medal at the International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva 2023 – Autonomous Indoor Drone Inspection and Modelling System awarded by The International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva, Switzerland.
  4. Hong Kong Ph.D. Fellowship Award 2014/2015
  5. Fulbright-RGC Hong Kong Research Scholar Award 2016/2017
  6. Second Award of The HKPolyU Student Chapter of CIB Best Dissertation Competition 2017
  7. FCE Awards for Outstanding PhD Theses 2017/18
  8. Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (DECRA) 2020