The Highways Department announced on Tuesday that it has managed around 5,600 urgent road incidents in urban areas and the New Territories this year amid extreme weather, marking a rise of more than 400 cases annually compared to the average from 2020 to 2022 and last year.
The authority said this includes the use of technology to enhance the efficiency of case handling. The department has developed an electronic case management system to improve the allocation of personnel for follow-up actions.
During the operation of the emergency control center, the system will automatically receive cases referred through the 1823 hotline or contractors.
Contractors can use the system to track cases and upload photos instantly upon completion of repairs.
Regional Highway Engineer Chan Wai-tak described that the system operation was similar to a food delivery platform, explaining that contractors can use it to assign tasks to staff for follow-up, which enhances the department's efficiency in case management.
Chan cited examples of the recent super typhoon, Ragasa. He said the department enhanced prevention and response through technology.
By cross-department collaboration, the majority of obstacles on the roads, including fallen trees, were cleared overnight, which was more efficient than the time of Typhoon Mangkhut with the same power in 2018.
According to Chan, extreme weather is gradually becoming the norm, leading to an increasing number of cases that require handling.
The department is also utilizing technology, including drones, to support the survey work in large-scale landslide incidents. The ways to expand the application of drones, such as for patrol and slope maintenance, are being explored.
The department will continuously evaluate new technologies to identify those suitable for implementation in Hong Kong, he added.
