Prof. Hai Yang, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, China

Prof. Hai Yang is a Chair Professor at The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, where he is recognized as a leading expert in transportation research. His work has been published in top-tier international journals, including Transportation Research, Transportation Science, and Operations Research, earning him a high ranking in both publications and citations within the transportation field. Throughout his career, Prof. Yang has received numerous prestigious awards, such as the 2020 Frank M. Masters Transportation Engineering Award and the 2021 Francis C. Turner Award from the American Society of Civil Engineers. In addition, he was honored with the National Natural Science Award by the State Council of the People's Republic of China in 2011. Prof. Yang was appointed as a Chang Jiang Chair Professor by the Ministry of Education of China and served as the Editor-in-Chief of Transportation Research (TR) Part B: Methodological from 2013 to 2018, a highly regarded journal in transportation studies. Currently, he is a member of the Distinguished Editorial Board for TR Part B and the Scientific Council for TR Part C: Emerging Technologies, and he also serves as an Advisory Editor for Transportation Science.

Speech Title: Mathematics, Economics and Artificial Intelligence for On-demand Mobility Services

Abstract: Application-based taxi and car service e-hailing systems have revolutionized urban mobility by providing on-demand ride services that are timely and convenient. The integration of mathematics and economics is crucial for the development of efficient and sustainable on-demand mobility services, which ultimately benefit customers. This talk will explore the latest developments and research issues in ride-sourcing markets, including demand forecasting, surge-pricing, matching, pricing, and ride-pooling, optimal resource allocation, and the impact of ride-pooling on traffic congestion. Additionally, we will discuss topics such as competition, third-party platform-integration, Pareto-efficient market regulations, and the analysis of human mobility and network property using big car trajectory data.

Prof. Paul Tae-Woo Lee, Zhejiang University, China

Paul Tae-Woo Lee is a PhD Supervisory Professor of Maritime Transport and Logistics and the Director of the Maritime Logistics and Free Trade Islands Research Centre at Ocean College, Zhejiang University [浙江大学港航物流与自由贸易岛硏究中心主任] and High-Level Overseas Talent of Zhejiang Province (2017) [(2017 年 浙江省’千人计划’专家)]. He holds a Ph.D. degree from Cardiff University in the UK. He has been a Visiting Scholar at, among others, The Faculty of Economics and Politics at the University of Cambridge in the UK, the Institute of Marine Studies at the University of Plymouth, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, The MPA Visiting Professor at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, and a Visiting Professor at PhD Logistics Program in Chulalongkorn University, Thailand. He is currently Adjunct Professor at RMIT University in Melbourne Australia. He is also a regular speaker at international conferences, including the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), UN Economic and Social Commission of Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement, China Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), Supply Chain Asia (Singapore), and Vietnam Academy for Social Sciences (VASS). In particular, Paul is currently a consultant for UNESCAP and has published several reports about maritime connectivity, green shipping corridors, sustainable future port development, and smart ports over the last four years. Professor Lee has published nine books, more than 200 journal papers, and guest-edited 26 special issues of distinguished international journals. Following Editor-in-Chief of two international journals in the supply chain, logistics, trade, and maritime transportation, he is currently an Associate Editor of Transportation Research Part E. He is alsothe Book Editor of Elsevier’s China Transportation Series (Scopus indexed) and Anthem Book Series of Supply Chain Management, Maritime Transport and Logistics (Scopus indexed). Professor Lee served the International Association of Maritime Economists (IAME) as co-opt Vice President, Secretary of IAME, and Council member since its inception in 1992. He is a founding member of the Asian Logistics Round Table (established in 2007), Yangtze River Research Innovation and Belt (established in 2017), and a founding member and Secretary-General of Global Research Network-Belt and Road Initiative (established in 2016).

Speech Title: Smart, Green, and Connected: How 6th‑Generation Ports Are Shaping the Future of Container Hub Logistics

Abstract:The digitalization, decarbonization, and sustainability (DDS) associated with the COVID-19 pandemic's impacts have become focal issues in maritime transportation and logistics. This presentation addresses the 6th-generation ports (6GP) model in the context of the DDS, which integrates artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, internet of things (IoT), and cloud systems with new concepts of economies (i.e., economies of flow, connection, and fusion technology). Having considered the contribution of the 6GP model to advancing port devolution theory, this presentation also discusses a business development strategy and policy, as well as the way ahead for stakeholders, including mega ship carriers, logistics providers, port authorities, policymakers, in container hub ports and global supply chains. 

Prof. Xiaowen Fu, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, China

Professor Xiaowen Fu is the Head of Department and Professor in Engineering Management at the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University. His main research areas include engineering management, data analytics, transport and logistics, which cover issues such as competition policy and government regulation, efficiency benchmarking, operation management, transport demand modelling and industrial organization. He has been the principal investigator of close to 30 research grants, the guest editor of 9 journal special issues, and the author of close to 150 journal articles. He is the Editor-in-Chief of the journal Case Studies on Transport Policy, associate editor of the book series “Advances in Airlines Economics”. He also serves as the director of the Behavior and Knowledge Engineering Research Center, Vice President (Research) of the Institute for Aviation (UK), founding chair of the Maritime Economy and Policy stream of the World Transport Convention, member of the Technical and Statistical Task Team on the Productive Capacities Index under the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), and an honorary professor of the University of Sydney Business School.

Speech Title: The Economic and Policy Implications of Autonomous Driving Early stage results and future developments

Abstract: The adoption of autonomous vehicles, especially forthcoming fully driverless solutions, is expected to bring fundamental changes in the transport systems and mobility services. In a more general setting, the increasing use and availability of AI powered solutions could also raise many economic and policy related challenges, notably employment and the interaction between human employees and users. We will present the findings of our recent studies related to autonomous driving functions and driver assistance systems, with a focus on transport safety and desirable system features. We will then offer preliminary analytic results on possible policy alternatives that government could consider in order to address the challenges brought by autonomous driving, especially those on employment, investment and social welfare.

 

Prof. Kun An, Tongji University, China

Kun An is currently a professor with College of Traffic and Transportation Engineering at Tongji University. Dr. An received her Ph.D. degree in Civil Engineering from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology in 2014. She worked as lecturer, senior lecturer in the Institute of Transport Studies, Department of Civil Engineering at Monash University, Australia from 2016-2019. Her research interests include transit network design considering stochastic demand, logistic system management and design, shared mobility, electric vehicle charging management. She has published 2 book chapters and 40+ peer-reviewed papers on top journals including Transportation Research Part ABCDE. She has obtained multiple research projects including NSFC projects in China, and ARC Discovery Project in Australia. She served as referee for top journals in the field of Transportation, Discovery projects and Linkage projects for Australia Research Council.

Speech Title: Optimizing Electric Bus Depots for Public Charging and Vehicle-to-Grid Integration

Abstract: The uneven distribution of public charging infrastructure presents a major challenge for private electric vehicle (EV) adoption. In many Chinese cities, bus depots host underutilized chargers during daytime operations, creating an opportunity to serve private EVs without compromising electric bus (EB) charging needs. This study proposes a novel framework for repurposing bus depot chargers, incorporating uncertainties in EB/EV charging demand and EV arrival times. A two-stage stochastic optimization model is developed to maximize bus operator revenue while ensuring EB operational priorities.Using a real-world case study from Shanghai, we demonstrate the model’s practical viability: the depot transitions from a charging cost of 10,747 CNY to a projected profit of 1,733 CNY under the proposed system. Furthermore, we evaluate the benefits of integrating vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology, which enables load shifting and peak-hour energy discharge. Results indicate that V2G operation significantly reduces grid peak-valley load differences and fluctuations while marginally improving photovoltaic energy consumption. Compared to unmanaged charging, the V2G-enabled system enhances grid stability and operator profitability.