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The "Re-construction works for the Observatory's Weather Radar at Tate's Cairn" project The Building Surveyor Awards 2019 - Merit

24 September 2019

The “Re-construction works for the Observatory’s Weather Radar at Tate’s Cairn” project has been awarded the Merit award under the A&A and Conversion category at the Building Surveyor Awards 2019. Building Surveyor Awards 2019 is organized by Building Surveying Division of the Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors to enhance public recognition to preeminent projects in terms of design, innovation, management, sustainability and achievement with substantial contributions by Building Surveyors.

The “Re-construction works for the Observatory’s Weather Radar at Tate’s Cairn” project involved various aspects of works including removal of the old radar, alteration and addition of various station facilities, etc. This paved the way for the installation of the first S-band dual polarisation Doppler weather radar in Hong Kong at the Tate’s Cairn Meteorological Station for better monitoring inclement weather such as rainstorms and tropical cyclones. The Observatory and the Building Surveyors of the Architectural Services Department maintained active and close communication in the course of project delivery so that the project team mastered the Observatory’s operational needs, including avoidance of interfering the old radar operation during the course of works.

The Observatory and Building Surveyors worked in collaboration with various stakeholders such as the structural engineers, geotechnical engineers and the building services engineers to put forward pragmatic solutions in resolving technical problems and to complete the re-construction works within a tight schedule and under the approved budget thus achieving the objective of value-for-money. As the radar station is located at the highest point of Tate’s Cairn which is more than 570 metres above the mean sea level, the site environment is very humid and the terrain in the vicinity is hilly and steep, which increased the complexity and difficulty of the re-construction works. Various challenges were successfully overcome to enable the Observatory to launch the new dual polarisation Doppler weather radar on 8 October 2015 that provided significant benefits to the general public.

The Observatory’s dual polarisation Doppler weather radar at the Tate’s Cairn Meteorological Station.
The Observatory’s dual polarisation Doppler weather radar at the Tate’s Cairn Meteorological Station.

The Managing Director of the Urban Renewal Authority Ir Wai Chi Sing (second right) presenting the awards to the “Re-construction works for the Observatory’s Weather Radar at Tate’s Cairn” project team.
The Managing Director of the Urban Renewal Authority Ir Wai Chi Sing (second right) presenting the awards to the “Re-construction works for the Observatory’s Weather Radar at Tate’s Cairn” project team.