CI³ Lab Director
Assistant Professor
Construction Engineering and Management
The University of Hong Kong
Address: HW6-07, Haking Wong Building, The University of Hong Kong
Phone: +852 3917 2673
Fax: +852 2559 5337
Email: shell.x.li@hku.hk
Professor Xiao LI is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of Hong Kong (HKU). Xiao’s research mainly contributes to smart and industrialized construction, which includes assembly systems, production systems, and smart work packaging methodology for collaborative planning and control in construction.
He obtained his BEng (2009-2013) and MEng (2013-2016) from Chongqing University and did his PhD at HKPolyU (2016-2019). After one year of industry experience at Qianhai, Shenzhen (2019-2020), he returned as an RGC postdoctoral fellow at HKU (2020-2021) and research assistant professor at HKPolyU (2021-2022). He has authored 60+ papers in peer-reviewed academic journals with 7,082 citations. He is a Top 1% Scholar by Clarivate Analytics and World’s Top 2% Scientists by Stanford University, a fellow of the SYLFF Association, a National Registered Construction Engineer (Class 1), a member of the HKIE, ASCE, IEEE, and CIB, and associate editor and guest editors of several leading journals in construction engineering and management. He held several international academic awards, including the 49th Geneva Inventions Gold Medal, CIC Innovation Award, SYLFF Research Grant Award/Research Abroad Award, and CIB Sebestyén Future Leaders Award, as well as the Best Paper Award of Building and Environment/CIB/ASCE/CRIOCM/ICCREM/CIOB(HK).
He led various research projects (over HK$20 million) in the following fields:
- Blockchain and distributed collaboration in inspection planning and safety monitoring
- Human-robot collaboration-based production robotics system in modular construction
- Collaborative robots for the assembly process in modular construction
- Interactive configuration for modular buildings
- Maintenance optimization for modular buildings
- Multi-stakeholder cross-regional collaboration in construction
- Intelligent and distributed carbon monitoring system in modular construction
Research Assistant Professor
Songnan Bai
PhD @ CityU
MSc @ CityU, 2017-2018
BSME @ XJTU, 2013-2017
Collaborative robots:
Assembly robots, Production robotics systems, Cable-driven robots, Micro aerial vehicle, and Hopping robots.
Contact: snbai@hku.hk
Collaborative robots:
Assembly robots, Production robotics systems, Cable-driven robots, Micro aerial vehicle, and Hopping robots.
Contact: snbai@hku.hk
Postdoctoral Researcher
Tingtian Li
Postdoc, since June, 2025
PhD@HKPolyU
Collaborative robots:
Computer vision, Multimodal learning, Visual reasoning
Contact: tingtian@hku.hk
Collaborative robots:
Computer vision, Multimodal learning, Visual reasoning
Contact: tingtian@hku.hk
Jie Hong
Postdoc, since 2025
PhD (School of Computing) @ ANU
M.Eng @ NTU
Collaborative robots:
Computer vision, Machine learning, Robotics
Contact: jiehong@hku.hk
Collaborative robots:
Computer vision, Machine learning, Robotics
Contact: jiehong@hku.hk
Wenshuo Li
Postdoc, since 2025
PhD in Mechanical Engineering, 2020–2024
@ Harbin Institute of Technology (Shenzhen)
BSc & MSc (Mechanical Engineering)
@ Dalian Maritime University (DLMU)
Collaborative robots:
Robotics — Kinematics, Dynamics & Control
Focus: Cable-driven serial/redundant manipdulators
Contact: wenshuol@hku.hk
Collaborative robots:
Robotics — Kinematics, Dynamics & Control
Focus: Cable-driven serial/redundant manipdulators (CDSM/CDRM)
Contact: wenshuol@hku.hk
Hongxing Ding
Postdoc，since 2025
PhD @ The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
Distributed collaboration:
Behavior analysis; Game theory
Contact: hxding@hku.hk
Hongxing Ding
Distributed collaboration:
Behavior analysis; Game theory
Contact: hxding@hku.hk
Yimo Zhu
Postdoc，since 2025
PhD @ Monash University
Collaborative scheduling:
Underground infrastructure, Lifecycle assessment, Multi-hazard resilience
Contact: yimozhu@hku.hk
Yimo Zhu
Collaborative scheduling:
Underground infrastructure, Lifecycle assessment, Multi-hazard resilience
Contact:yimozhu@hku.hk
Kun Wang
Postdoc，since 2025
PhD @KCL, UK
Collaborative robots:
Reconfigurable robots and mechanisms, Parallel manipulators, Machine learning for robot design and control
Contact: kun7wang@hku.hk
Kun Wang
Collaborative robots:
Reconfigurable robots and mechanisms, Parallel manipulators, Machine learning for robot design and control
Contact: kun7wang@hku.hk
Xiongtao Shi
Postdoc，since 2026
Ph.D. Degree (Control Science and Engineering),
Harbin Institute of Technology (Shenzhen), China.
Master Degree (Control Science and Engineering),
Central South University, China.
Bachelor Degree (Automation),
Yanshan University, China.
Collaborative robots:
Reinforcement learning (RL); Adaptive model predictive control (MPC); Adaptive control; Manipulation and locomotion of robot; Quadrotor; Legged robot.
Contact: xotaoshi@hku.hk
Xiongtao Shi
Collaborative robots:
Reinforcement learning (RL); Adaptive model predictive control (MPC); Adaptive control; Manipulation and locomotion of robot; Quadrotor; Legged robot.
Contact: xotaoshi@hku.hk
Shijie Wang
Postdoc, since 2026
PhD & M.Eng (Mechanical Engineering) @ HEBUT & SIAT
B.Eng (Mechanical Design, Manufacturing, and Automation) @ HEBUST
Collaborative robots:
Construction robots and mechanisms, Motion planning and control
Contact: sj9320w@hku.hk
Shijie Wang
Collaborative robots:
Reinforcement learning (RL); Adaptive model predictive control (MPC); Adaptive control; Manipulation and locomotion of robot; Quadrotor; Legged robot.
Contact: xotaoshi@hku.hk
Hao Zheng
Postdoc，since 2026
Postdoc, since 2026
PhD @ The University of Auckland
Collaborative robots:
Human-robot collaboration; Video Understanding; VLM
Contact: hzheng26@hku.hk
Hao Zheng
Collaborative robots:
Human-robot collaboration; Video Understanding; VLM
Contact: hzheng26@hku.hk
Yaning Zhang
Postdoc，since 2026
2020-2025 PhD in Management Science and Engineering @ Northwestern Polytechnical University (NWPU)
2023-2026 PhD in Construction Management (Dual PhD with NWPU) @ Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU)
Research Interests: Project Planning and Scheduling
2019-2020 Master of Management Science and Engineering @ Northwestern Polytechnical University (NWPU)
2015-2019 Bachelor of Engineering Management @ Northeast Forestry University (NEFU)
Collaborative scheduling:
Project planning and scheduling
Contact: zynhku@hku.hk
Yaning Zhang
Collaborative scheduling:
Project planning and scheduling
Contact: zynhku@hku.hk
PhD / MPhil Students
Juan Wang
PhD, since 2023
BSc & MSc (Economics) @ Wuhan U
Distributed collaboration:
Consensus & Incentive mechanisms in blockchain
Contact: juanwang@connect.hku.hk
Distributed collaboration:
Consensus & Incentive mechanisms in blockchain
Contact: juanwang@connect.hku.hk
Yinyi Wei
PhD, since 2023
BSc & M.Eng (CS) @ Peking U
Knowledge Collaboration:
Knowledge engineering for BIM
Contact: wyyy@connect.hku.hk
Knowledge Collaboration:
Knowledge engineering for BIM
Contact: wyyy@connect.hku.hk
Nianmin Zhang
PhD, since 2023
M.Eng (Mechanical) @ Peking U
Collaborative scheduling:
MARL for scheduling
Contact: nianmin.zhang@connect.hku.hk
Collaborative scheduling:
MARL for scheduling
Contact: nianmin.zhang@connect.hku.hk
Jianhuan Zeng
PhD, since 2023
M.Eng (EE) @ Columbia
B.Eng @ Sun Yat-Sen U
Distributed collaboration:
Federated learning for safety and health monitoring
Contact: joy2023@connect.hku.hk
Collaborative robots: Construction robots and mechanisms, Motion planning and control
Contact: sj9320w@hku.hk
Ruiqi Jiang
PhD, since Jan, 2024
M.Eng (Robotics) @ Chongqing U
Collaborative robots:
Robotics in construction
Contact: richj233@connect.hku.hk
Collaborative robots:
Robotics in construction
Contact: richj233@connect.hku.hk
Jintao Xue
PhD, since May, 2024
M.Eng (EE) @ Zhejiang U
B.Eng @ Xi’an Jiaotong U
Collaborative robots:
Human-Robot collaboration
Contact: xuejt@connect.hku.hk
Collaborative robots:
Human-robot collaboration
Contact: xuejt@connect.hku.hk
Qing Dong
PhD, since Sep, 2024
B.Eng (CE) @ South China University of Technology U
Knowledge Collaboration:
Quality control in modular construction
Contact: dong_qing@connect.hku.hk
Knowledge Collaboration:
Quality control in modular construction
Contact: dong_qing@connect.hku.hk
Ruixuan He
Mphil, since Sep, 2024
BSc (Statistics) @ HKU
Collaborative scheduling:
Language models & Scheduling
Contact: ruixuan@connect.hku.hk
Collaborative scheduling:
Language models & Scheduling
Contact: ruixuan@connect.hku.hk
Chen Qian
PhD, since Sep, 2024
M.Eng (AI) @ Chinese Academy of Sciences
B.Eng (RE) @ Northeastern U
Collaborative robots:
Robot motion control
Contact: qianc2024@connect.hku.hk
Collaborative robots:
Robot motion control
Contact: qianc2024@connect.hku.hk
Wentao Zhu
PhD, since Sep, 2024
MSc (AI) @ HKU
BM (NIM) @ Sun Yat-Sen U
Distributed collaboration:
Blockchain for payments in construction
Contact: zhuwt@connect.hku.hk
Distributed collaboration: Blockchain for payments in construction
Contact: zhuwt@connect.hku.hk
Yuanyang Qi
PhD, since Jan, 2025
MSc (Control and Optimization) @ IC
B.Eng (Automation) @ HIT
Collaborative robots:
Multi-sensor fusion
Contact: yuanyang.qi@connect.hku.hk
Collaborative robots:
Multi-sensor fusion
Contact: yuanyang.qi@connect.hku.hk
Chen Chen
Mphil, since Jan, 2025
BEng (CS) @ Shanghai Jiao Tong U
MSc (Construction & Real Estate) @ PolyU
Distributed collaboration:
Blockchain integration in carbon monitoring
Contact: chen.chen@connect.hku.hk
Distributed collaboration:
Blockchain integration in carbon monitoring
Contact: chen.chen@connect.hku.hk
Shichen Sun
Mphil, since Sep, 2025
B.Eng (Mechanical Engineering) @ HKPolyU
Collaborative robots:
Robotics in construction
Contact: koalasun@hku.hk
Collaborative robots:
Robotics in construction
Contact: koalasun@hku.hk
Hongxu Chen
PhD, since Sep, 2025
M.Eng (EIE) @ Tsinghua University
B.Eng (M&C) @ Beihang University
Collaborative robots:
Lidar signal processing, Image processing
Contact: hongxu.chen@connect.hku.hk
Collaborative robots:
Lidar signal processing, Image processing
Contact: hongxu.chen@connect.hku.hk
Yuxuan Lan
PhD, since Jan, 2026
M.Eng. (ME) @ Xi’an Jiaotong U
B.Eng. (ME) @ Chongqing
Collaborative robots:
Robotics in construction
Contact: lucas.lan@connect.hku.hk
Collaborative robots:
Robotics in construction
Contact: lucas.lan@connect.hku.hk
Yuchen Xu
PhD, since 2026
B.Eng ＆ M.Eng @ Harbin Institute of Technology, Shenzhen
Collaborative robots:
Cable-driven parallel robot
Contact: xuyuchen26@connect.hku.hk。
Collaborative robots:
Cable-driven parallel robot
Contact: xuyuchen26@connect.hku.hk
Research Staffs
Jianbo Rao
RA, Since July, 2025
B.Eng (Project Management) @ Chongqing U
Collaborative scheduling:
Project management of intelligent scheduling system、AI for manufacture&design、CDPR for construction
Contact: jacobrao@hku.hk
Jianbo Rao
Collaborative scheduling:
Project management of intelligent scheduling system、AI for manufacture&design、CDPR for construction
Contact: jacobrao@hku.hk
Siqian Ma
RA, since Oct, 2024
MSc(IEM) @ HKU
B.Eng (Architecture) @ Xiamen U
Knowledge Collaboration:
Knowledge engineering for BIM
Contact: u3649524@connect.hku.hk
Knowledge Collaboration: Knowledge engineering for BIM
Contact: u3649524@connect.hku.hk
Ziyang Lin
RA, since Feb 2025
MSc (AI) @ HKU
BSc (Mathematics) @ Sun Yat-Sen U
Collaborative scheduling:
Large language models
Contact: galliuml@hku.hk
Collaborative scheduling:
Large language models
Contact: galliuml@hku.hk
Lan Lou
RA, since Aug., 2025
MSc(AI) @ HKU
HBSc(Statistics) @ UofT
Knowledge Collaboration:
Knowledge graph construction
Contact: u3637380@connect.hku.hk
Knowledge Collaboration:
Knowledge graph construction
Contact: u3637380@connect.hku.hk
Yafei Zhang
SRA, since Sep, 2025
B.Eng (Robotics engineering) @ Southern University of Science and Technology
Collaborative robots:
Reconfigurable robots and mehcanisms, Soft robots，Bioinspired robots
Contact: zyf2026@hku.hk
Collaborative robots:
Reconfigurable robots and mehcanisms, Soft robots，Bioinspired robots
Contact: zyf2026@hku.hk
Yuxiao Tian
RA, since 2025
MSc(AI) @ HKU
B.Eng(SE)@Tongji University, China
Collaborative robots:
Artificial intelligence
Contact: u3660958@connect.hku.hk
Yuxiao Tian
Collaborative robots:
Artificial intelligence
Contact: u3660958@connect.hku.hk
Mingtian Xiong
RA, since 2025
MSc(AI) @ HKU
B.Eng @ Zhejiang University
Distributed collaboration:
AI agent simulation
Contact: u3651276@connect.hku.hk
Distributed collaboration:
AI agent simulation
Contact: u3651276@connect.hku.hk
Fuhao Hou
RA, since 2025
MSc @ CityU HK
B.Eng @ UESTC
Knowledge Collaboration:
BIM，AI，CV
Contact: fhhou@hku.hk
Fuhao Hou
Knowledge Collaboration:
BIM，AI，CV
Contact: fhhou@hku.hk
Jinjing Li
RA, since 2026
PhD @ Southeast University since March, 2025
M.Eng. @ City University of Hong Kong
B.Eng. @ University of British Columbia
Distributed collaboration:
Multi-modal LLM for international energy & Safety monitoring
Contact: leslie26@hku.hk
Jinjing Li
Distributed collaboration:
Multi-modal LLM for international energy & Safety monitoring
Contact: leslie26@hku.hk
Junyu Li
RA, since 2026
PhD @ Tsinghua U since 2024
B.S. & B.Eng. @ Tsinghua U
Distributed collaboration:
Blockchain & Sustainable engineering management
Contact: lijunyu@hku.hk
Distributed collaboration:
Blockchain & Sustainable engineering management
Contact: lijunyu@hku.hk
Biwen Wang
RA, since 2026
PhD (IEM) @Peking University, since September 2024
IMEM (International Master of Engineering Management) @Tsinghua University
B.Eng @Thammasat University, Thailand
Collaborative scheduling:
Production operations; Joint optimization problems
Contact: tanaornb@hku.hk
Collaborative scheduling:
Production operations; Joint optimization problems
Contact: tanaornb@hku.hk
Zhe Chen
SRA, since 2025
B.Eng @ Harbin Institute of Technology, Shenzhen
Collaborative robots:
Robot design & Motion planning
Contact: jorychen@hku.hk
Zhe Chen
Collaborative robots:
Robot design & Motion planning
Contact: jorychen@hku.hk
Gan Zhang
RA, Since 2026
Ph.D @ Huazhong University of Science and Technology, since Sep. 2025
Collaborative robots:
Computer vision
Contact: ganz@hku.hk
Gan Zhang
Collaborative robots:
Computer vision
Contact: ganz@hku.hk
Xinyu Sheng
RA, since April, 2026
MPhil (Robotics and Autonomous Systems) @ HKUST(GZ) 2024-2026
BEng (Automation) @ NJUST 2020-2024
Collaborative robots:
Robotics in construction; Humanoid robots motion control
Contact: shengxy@hku.hk
Xinyu Sheng
Collaborative robots:
Robotics in construction; Humanoid robots motion control
Contact: shengxy@hku.hk
Previous Researchers
Yuqing Guo
RA, 2024
PhD @ HKU, since 2024
MLA @ Cornell University
B.Eng @ HZAU
Yuqing Guo
Zirui Weng
Summer Intern, 2025
B.Eng @ University of Washington-Seattle
Ying Wang
RA, 2025
M.Sc. @ Chongqing U
B.Eng. @ Ocean University of China
Ying Wang
Jihuan Zhuo
RA, 2025
M.Sc. @ Chongqing U
Jihuan Zhuo
Jianing Yin
Postdoc, 2025
PhD @ University of Chinese Academy of Sciences
BEng @ Southeast University
Furui Man
RA, 2025
M.Sc. (DS) @ HKCityU
B.Sc. (CS) @ HKPolyU
Jieyu Chen
RA, 2025
PhD @ Tsinghua University
Jieyu Chen
Jiahua Chen
RA, since Jul, 2025
M.Eng(CS) @ Peking U
B.Eng @ Xidian U
Jiahua Chen
Xuyi Lian
RA, since Sep, 2025
B.Eng @ ZJU
Zhiyi Huang
Postdoc，2025-2026
PhD (Industrial Engineering) @ HKU
M.Eng & B.Eng (SE) @ NPU
Zhiyi Huang
Yanchen Liu
RA, 2024-2026
MPhil & BEng (Architecture) @ Harbin Institute of Technology
Yanchen Liu