HKIE Webinar on Combined Top-down and Bottom-up Approach in Facilitating Innovation Projects

 The HKIE webinar named “Combined Top-down and Bottom-up Approach in Facilitating Innovation Projects” was co-organized by Civil Division and Building Services Division and held on 7^th Oct 2020.  The guest speaker was Mr. Cheung King Yip, Eric (Innovation Manager in ATAL Engineering Group) and he shared ATAL iBS-Smart Energy Management Platform firstly.  He said big data in buildings could be collected through sensor and equipment that would change the way we managed energy.  Then he briefed the ultimate goals were HVAC optimization, fault detection & diagnostics, and data visualization.

And then Mr. Eric Cheung briefed different modelling techniques including empirical model, physical model, machine learning model and physics-guided machine learning model (PGML) they employed.  He said ATAL is the first to apply PGML in AC Control and successfully overcomes data-related issues.  PGML employed that could overcome insufficient data.  

After that he demonstrated different Fault Detection and Diagnostics (FDD) examples including Equipment Deterioration, Chiller Supply Temperature Control, Instability Propagation and Thermal Discomfort, etc.  

He also mentioned the “Dynamic Optimization of Peak Demand Charge” in which employed Machine Learning – Random Forest in Operation. The morning start-up completed before 8:45am and the peak demand was reduced.

In the second part, Mr. Eric Cheung discussed ATAL Multistage Flocculation Magnetic (AMSFM) R&D Report.  AMSFM reduced time consumption from ~2hr down to ~8min!

Finally, he introduced ATAL digitalization roadmap to us.  There were several areas stated in the table and he focused on self-developed IM²S system for E&M system and Self-developed ACSA system for E&M Maintenance.

He briefed the existing pain points such as schedule and progress information fragmented and repetitive manual work, frontline technician repetitive basic job information hand writing, as well as, lack of one-click summary of maintenance work for management.  The IM²S workflow was introduced which used Android mobile device to collect worker attendance record in efficient way. 

Lastly, Mr. Eric Cheung explained how “Chairman Innovation Awards” brought innovation from bottom-up and it encouraged frontline staff to innovate.

Reference:

HKIE - https://www.hkie.org.hk/en/

ATAL - https://www.atal.com/