PolyU And Moganshan Lab Establish Geospatial Knowledge Facility To Support Global Sustainability
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) and the Moganshan Geospatial Information Laboratory have launched a joint research facility aimed at advancing geospatial intelligence for global sustainability. The Key Laboratory of Geospatial Knowledge Innovation, established under China’s Ministry of Natural Resources, will focus on improving how dynamic geospatial data is collected, analysed and applied. Researchers aim to develop reliable global geospatial knowledge products to support ecological governance, disaster preparedness, food security and climate monitoring.
According to details published by PolyU’s Research Institute for Land and Space, the laboratory will combine expertise from multiple institutions to produce multidimensional geospatial datasets and services. These resources are expected to support international efforts such as United Nations environmental initiatives and global disaster early warning systems.
Joint leadership and national research platform
The laboratory will be co-directed by Prof CHEN Jun, Director of the Moganshan Geospatial Information Laboratory and an Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, and Prof DING Xiaoli, Director of PolyU’s Research Institute for Land and Space and Chair Professor of Geomatics.
Located in Deqing, Zhejiang Province, the Moganshan Geospatial Information Laboratory is a national research and innovation platform jointly established by China’s Ministry of Natural Resources and the Zhejiang provincial government. It focuses on advancing geospatial science, technological development and international cooperation.
Research priorities for global geospatial knowledge
The collaboration will address three core challenges in geospatial information science: dynamic geospatial data acquisition, systematic analysis of spatial information, and the development of knowledge services. By integrating research across institutions and disciplines, the partners aim to deliver precise and continuously updated geospatial datasets that can inform policy and environmental decision-making.
The programme will focus on four main research directions:
- Global geospatial crowdsourced sensing: Expanding the collection of spatial data from distributed sources and digital platforms.
- Geospatial scenario system analysis: Using analytical frameworks to understand complex environmental and urban systems.
- Geospatial knowledge product development: Converting scientific data into structured knowledge resources.
- Geospatial knowledge services: Delivering decision-support tools for governments and international organisations.
The initiative will draw on technologies including big data analytics, artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things. Similar cross-border research models are emerging across Asia, including initiatives such as the Indonesia–China joint AI laboratory for healthcare research, which also combines advanced technologies with international collaboration to address complex societal challenges.
Forum highlights global geospatial public products
To mark the establishment of the laboratory, PolyU and the Moganshan Geospatial Information Laboratory jointly organised the Forum for Global Geospatial Public Products in Deqing on 28 January 2026. The event brought together researchers and specialists from universities and national research institutions to discuss how geospatial data can be translated into public products that support international development.
Participants examined issues including the development of global geospatial public product systems, pathways for translating research outputs into practical applications, and how geospatial technologies can better support developing countries.
International collaboration and talent development
In its initial phase, the laboratory plans to collaborate with partner institutions including Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman in Malaysia, the National Geomatics Center of China, and the Satellite Remote Sensing Application Center of the Ministry of Natural Resources.
These organisations will support the laboratory through joint research, data sharing, technology development and demonstration projects. The collaboration will also promote professional exchanges through lectures, academic conferences, forums and institutional visits, with the aim of strengthening geospatial expertise across the region.
By integrating surveying and mapping science with disciplines such as geography and ecology, the initiative seeks to develop new models for geospatial knowledge production and application. Its organisers say the effort is intended to generate tools and insights that support sustainable development and improve global responses to environmental and climate-related challenges.
