The Department is well recognised as a regional centre of excellence in geomatics research. It topped the worldwide ranking according to a Thompson Reuters report. The department has a state-of-the-art Research Centre for Geo-Information Science and Technology that enables staff and students to carry out research with the latest tools.

The PhD programme aim to provide rigorous training to students who aspire to become researchers and/or scholars capable of producing independent and original research, and of producing research findings that are relevant and significant to their chosen fields of specialisation.

The MPhil study requires candidates to undertake critical study of a chosen area while the PhD study demands candidates to accomplish a study which makes a significant contribution to knowledge deserving of publication.

Geomatics

Digital Cartography and geo-visualisation

Automated map generalization; cartographic communication, dynamic maps; geo-visualization; map evaluation, map information theory, multi-media presentation; multi-scale cartographic databases; and symbol theory.

Geodesy and Geodynamics

Physical Geodesy, Satellite Geodesy, Geophysics, Geodynamics, Climate Change, Gravimetric. El Nino; InSAR (Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar) for monitoring earth surface deformations; precise determination of the geoid; applications of space geodetic techniques to study crustal deformations, atmospheric and environmental changes, sea-level changes and the related natural hazards.

Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

Applications of GIS in transportation, environment and facility management; spatial data structures, terrain modeling and computational geometry; data exchange and integration; dynamic marine GIS; multi-dimensional data models; scale theory; spatial databases; spatial data quality; spatio-temporal modeling; spatial decision support systems; and internet GIS.

Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing

Information extraction from remote sensing images, image quality improvement, image information measurement, sub pixel mapping, algorithms development.

Applications of aerial and terrestrial photogrammetry and laser scanning; environmental applications of remote sensing; remote sensing of the urban thermal environment; remote sensing of air quality; two- and three-dimensional information extraction from high-resolution digital images; ground penetrating radar.

Point cloud analysis and computer vision, 3D modality remote sensing for geospatial intelligence.

Surveying, Navigation and Positioning

GNSS data quality and navigation reliability, GNSS reflectometry, innovative GPS/GNSS positioning techniques, atmospheric effects, Multiple sensor integration and indoor positioning systems. Automation and enhancement of the cadastral systems of Hong Kong.

GNSS applications in navigation (such as aircraft navigation), oceanic environment (e.g. water vapour, temperature, colour), hydrographic surveying and mapping, Urban deformation monitoring, landslide and structural health monitoring, intelligent transport information systems and fleet management, and location-based computing and services.