Interview with Sr Tsui Hoi Yuen Paul - 杰出校友访谈

Paul’s MPhil Study at PolyU Graduating from PolyU in 1994 with an MPhil in land surveying, Paul had a strong passion for knowledge and aspired to develop further after his research study. His MPhil journey was rewarding. To realise his academic excellence, his most visited facilities on campus were the library, where he strived to sharpen his language skills for literature reviews and presentations, and the computer centre, which had advanced yet scarce software at that time. Paul is especially thankful for the guidance and support, as well as the studentship and development opportunities, offered by his supervisor. 

Paul also had the invaluable experience of attending an international conference in San Jose (Silicon Valley) to present a research paper. One of his papers was published in the International Journal of Geographical Information Science after he received recognition from a distinguished overseas professor for his thesis assessment. Thanks to the support, resources, and exposure he was granted, along with his perseverance and hard work, Paul succeeded in his research study.

Takeaways from MPhil Study and Post-study Development 

GIS is an applied science and the training Paul received from his MPhil study was multidimensional, involving problem-solving capability, management, technical knowledge, and presentation. The exceptional development he experienced during his MPhil research studies prepared him with advanced soft skills and knowledge. Upon graduation, Paul received a remarkable offer from Ordnance Survey in Southampton, UK, a worldrenowned national mapping agency, where he was able to develop his GIS expertise. Two years later, an invitation from Esri China (Hong Kong) to expand its GIS projects was extended to him via the network at PolyU. Over the following 22-year journey, Paul demonstrated his expertise and innovative mindset to become the CEO he is today.

GIS Applications

GIS is a fundamental building-block technology for smart cities. It is widely used to understand patterns and relationships in geographical contexts, which benefits communication efficiency and decision making. 

Among its applications are the COVID-19 Local Situation Dashboard and combatting air pollution. This technology not only works on land but also in the sea and in space. PolyU’s recent accomplishment in the Nation’s mission on Mars is an excellent illustration of the massive power of spatial science. Paul wants to take GIS to a new level by integrating the technology with building information modelling in land surveying to expand the scope of GIS applications.

Paul’s Advice and Insights about Tertiary Education

With ever-improving learning facilities and environments, research students are able to “re-search” and find innovative solutions to identified needs. Only with the personal qualities of determination and aspiration, together with developed capabilities, can we excel and go higher and further. As an external advisory member of university departments, Paul is taking the lead in his professional network to propose an increase in admission quotas for land surveying in tertiary education. This is necessary to meet the surging demand for professional spatial data scientists and expedite the innovative development of smart cities. Paul was pleased to share with us that a programme named “Map in Learning” was launched by his company for local primary and secondary school students as the future generations of GIS professionals. We look forward to the visionary applications and positive impacts that GIS can bring to the world with Paul’s inspiration.