The Government has been actively promoting high productivity construction (HPC) such as Modular Integrated Construction (MiC) to enhance the industry’s productivity and cost effectiveness. MiC also addresses industry challenges including the ageing workforce, manpower shortage, and site safety performance. The High West Site Development of The University of Hong Kong (HKU), which comprises four residential buildings, providing over 1,000 student and staff units, showcases the full benefits of MiC.

The project adopts MiC with modules manufactured in Foshan, China, then transported to site for assembly, significantly reducing on-site labour and improves workplace safety. The HKU utilises a Smart Transport Planning Platform, leveraging the Lands Department's Vessel-based Mobile Mapping System (V-MMS) to optimise transport routes. This platform offers 3D Swept Path Analysis, allowing precise planning to mitigate traffic impact during module transportation.

Furthermore, the HKU has adopted an “e-birth cert” system using blockchain technology, ensuring quality control and providing lifecycle data access. This system connects to Building Information Modelling (BIM) and property management systems, facilitating maintenance and emergency notifications. The project aims for a fully mobile platform, integrating Internet of Things (IoT), Geographic Information System (GIS), and blockchain for comprehensive monitoring.

A key innovation of the project is the strategic division of MiC modules to reduce joints between modules, thereby minimising the risk of water infiltration, as well as achieving module size maximisation with living room width of 3.5 metres and a ceiling height of more than 2.9 metres. The project also addresses spatial efficiency by minimising double-walls design and thus maintaining comparable usable floor area to traditional construction methods.

The project stands as a testament to the future of construction, demonstrating how innovative technologies can enhance efficiency and sustainability in the construction process. By integrating cutting-edge methods, MiC is successfully adopted in the High West project, setting a benchmark for HPC in Hong Kong.

This article is contributed by the Development Bureau of the HKSAR Government.