Brief Bio

Ir Prof. Chi Sun POON is currently the Michael Anson Professor in Civil Engineering and Distinguished Research Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, and the Director of PolyU 3D Concrete Robotic Printing Research Centre, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. He was awarded the title of Changjiang Chair Professor by the Ministry of Education in 2017. Ir Prof. Poon specialises in the research and development of environmentally friendly construction materials, waste management, waste recycling technologies, concrete technologies and sustainable construction. He is a Fellow of the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers and the Hong Kong Concrete Institute, and has been serving actively in various professional and government bodies and committees. He is a pioneer in the research on valorising different types of wastes as construction materials. His extensive publications in the area makes him one of the leading scholars in this field. He has a Google Scholar H-index of >160, and has been listed among the World’s Top 2% Scientists released by Stanford University and ranked 6th globally in the field of Building and Construction. Ir Prof. Poon has been an Editor of Construction and Building Materials from 2014 to 2024. He has also been an Editorial Board Member of Cement and Concrete Composites since 2017. He was awarded the State Technological Innovation Award 2017 (2nd Class).

Abstract

Rapid urbanization and population growth are increasing the demand for construction materials, creating significant challenges for resource conservation and carbon emission reduction. Developing concrete materials that combine environmental benefits with enhanced engineering performance is therefore an important step toward sustainable construction. This talk explores the design and engineering applications of sustainable, high-performance pervious and foam concrete produced by incorporating waste materials. Pervious concrete enables water infiltration for stormwater management, requiring a balance between permeability, strength, and durability. Foam concrete provides low density and thermal insulation for lightweight construction and engineered fills, with performance depending on foam stability, pore uniformity, strength, and dimensional stability. The discussion focuses on how constituent selection, mixture proportioning, and pore structure control can improve the performance of both materials to meet specific engineering requirements. The potential use of supplementary cementitious materials and solid/gaseous wastes is also considered as a means of reducing cement consumption and improving resource efficiency. Particular attention is given to the relationships between pore characteristics, mechanical properties, durability, and functional performance. By connecting material design with practical applications, this talk highlights opportunities and challenges in advancing pervious concrete and foam concrete toward reliable, resource-efficient, and lower-carbon construction solutions.