Researcher recognised with international construction innovation award

Dr Yihai Fang of Civil and Environmental Engineering has been recognised by the Construction Industry Council of Hong Kong, with his team receiving the Construction Innovation Award (International Merit) for advancing intelligent crane operations.

Dr Fang led a decade-long international collaboration behind SmartCraneLift.AI, a system that transforms traditional crane lifts from manual planning and on-site coordination into an automated, data-driven process.

The research brings together partners across multiple institutions including Dr Songbo Hu (UNSW School of Built Environment); Professor André Borrmann and Dr Fabian Pfitzner (Technical University of Munich); and collaborator Junlin Wang.

Together, the team developed integrated tools spanning pre-lift planning, real-time digital-twin lifting assistance and post-lift productivity analysis.
The technology aims to improve safety, efficiency and decision-making on construction sites by supporting the full lifting lifecycle from planning through to performance review.

The award recognises more than ten years of research and industry collaboration and highlights the growing role of AI, automation and digital twins in modern construction engineering. Monash Engineering congratulates Dr Wang and his outstanding team on this achievement.