Yingchao Zhang

Yingchao Zhang

City University of Hong Kong

I am a Ph.D. candidate in Systems Engineering at the City University of Hong Kong. My research interests lie in transportation infrastructure, with a focus on pavement damage detection based on Vision Language Models and Computer Vision. Over the course of my academic journey, I have published 12 journal articles and 3 conference paper with total 356 citations, which have been published in prestigious venues such as Comput.-Aided Civil Infrastruct. Eng., Autom. Constr., and IEEE Trans. Intell. Transp. Syst. and so on.

🔥 News

  • 2025.08:  🎉🎉 I was awarded the Research Tuition Scholarship and Outstanding Academic Performance Award for Research Degree Students.

📝 Publications

Journal Paper

  1. Yingchao Zhang, Cheng Liu. Vision-enhanced multi-modal learning framework for non-destructive pavement damage detection, Automation in Construction, 177, 2025.
  2. Yingchao Zhang, Cheng Liu. Generative adversarial network based on domain adaptation for crack segmentation in shadow environments, Computer‐Aided Civil and Infrastructure Engineering, early access, 2025.
  3. Yingchao Zhang, Cheng Liu. Crack segmentation using discrete cosine transform in shadow environments, Automation in Construction, 166, 2024.
  4. Yingchao Zhang, Cheng Liu. Real-time pavement damage detection with damage shape adaptation, IEEE Transactions on Intelligent Transportation Systems, 25(11),18954-18963, 2024.
  5. Yingchao Zhang, Cheng Liu. Network for robust and high-accuracy pavement crack segmentation, Automation in Construction, 162, 2024.
  6. Yingchao Zhang, Zhiwu Zuo, Xiaobin Xu, Jianqing Wu, Jianguo Zhu, Hongbo Zhang, Jiewen Wang, Yuan Tian. Road damage detection using UAV images based on multi-level attention mechanism, Automation in Construction, 144, 2022.
  7. Yingchao Zhang, Zhaoyou Ma, Xiuguang Song, Jianqing Wu, Shijie Liu, Xiguang Chen, Xinming Guo. Road surface defects detection based on IMU sensor, IEEE Sensors Journal, 22(3), 2711-2721，2021.
  8. Bin Lv, Yu Tian, Yingchao Zhang, Shuo Zhang, Qixiang Chen, Wan Yang, Jianqing Wu. HyCrackNet: A Multi-sensor Based Framework for Accurate Pavement Crack Segmentation, IEEE Sensors Journal, early access, 2025. (Corresponding Author)
  9. Yu Tian, Bin Lv, Yingchao Zhang, Jianzhu Wang, Ziyi Zhang, Benhao Xie, Jianqing Wu. UAV-Assisted Shadow Removal Framework for Accurate Pavement Crack Segmentation under Complex Illumination Conditions, IEEE Sensors Journal, accepted, 2026. (Corresponding Author)
  10. Yipeng Liu, Chuan Wang, Yingchao Zhang, Xiteng Sun, Cong Du, Dongdong Xie, Yuan Tian. A non-destructive automatic pavement damage detection scheme based on end-to-end neural networks with multi-level attention mechanism, Engineering Applications of Artificial Intelligence, 156, 2025.
  11. Xiuguang Song, Yingchao Zhang, Peizhi Zhuang, He Yang, Haifeng Zhang, Juan Wang. Optimal calculation method of pavement shakedown limit based on genetic algorithm, Journal of Shandong University (Engineering Science), 51(5), 1-7, 2021.
  12. Peizhi Zhuang, Yingchao Zhang, Xiuguang Song, He Yang, Zhicheng Guo, Yan Hu. Modified calculation method of shaft friction for driven pile considering particle size effect, Journal of Shandong University (Engineering Science), 51(5), 8-15, 2021.

Conference Paper

  1. Yingchao Zhang, Cheng Liu. Intelligent Infrastructure Monitoring: Applications of VLMs and LLMs in Structural Health Monitoring, 2nd Olympiad in Engineering Science (OES2025), 2025.
  2. Yingchao Zhang, Cheng Liu. Few-shot crack image classification using clip based on bayesian optimization, The 1st International Workshop on Bayesian Approach in Civil Engineering (IWOBA 2025), 2025.
  3. Yingchao Zhang, Zhaoyou Ma, Wen Han, Tao Li, Fujin Hou, Xiuguang Song. Intelligent traffic detection with millimeter-wave radar and camera, International Conference on Intelligent Traffic Systems and Smart City (ITSSC 2021), 2021.

Patents

  1. Fujin Hou, Yingchao Zhang, et al. A roadside LIDAR-based method for classifying targets in transit. Chinese Invention Patent. No: ZL 2021 1 0582129.8
  2. Jianqing Wu, Zhaoyou Ma, Yingchao Zhang, et al. Method and apparatus for point cloud registration of roadside LiDAR. Chinese Invention Patent. No: ZL 2021 1 1202112.1
  3. Xiuguang Song, Yingchao Zhang, et al. Intelligent pavement disease identification and repair method, system, equipment and medium based on convolutional neural network and 3d printing repair technology. South Africa Invention Patent. No. 2021/09921

Book

  1. Cheng Liu, Yingchao Zhang, Xuebing Xu, Yan Chen. Computer Vision and AI in Structural Health Monitoring and Structural Engineering. Elsevier, 2026. (In Press)

📖 Educations

  • 2023.09 - now, Doctor of Philosophy, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
  • 2020.09 - 2023.06, Master of Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan, China.
  • 2016.09 - 2020.06, Bachelor of Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan, China.

🎖 Honors and Awards

  • 2025.09, Research Tuition Scholarship, City University of Hong Kong.
  • 2025.09, Outstanding Academic Performance Award for Research Degree Students, City University of Hong Kong.
  • 2024.09, Research Tuition Scholarship, City University of Hong Kong.
  • 2024.09, Outstanding Academic Performance Award for Research Degree Students, City University of Hong Kong.
  • 2023.09, Postgraduate Scholarships, City University of Hong Kong.
  • 2023.06, Outstanding Graduates of Shandong Province, Department of Human Resources and Social Security of Shandong Province.
  • 2023.06, Outstanding Graduates of Shandong University, Shandong University.
  • 2022.10, Outstanding Graduate Student,Shandong University.
  • 2022.10, The Second Prize of Postgraduate Scholarship, Shandong University.
  • 2021.10, Outstanding Graduate Student,Shandong University.
  • 2021.10, The First Prize of Postgraduate Scholarship, Shandong University.
  • 2020.10, The First Prize of New Graduate Students Scholarship,Shandong University.
  • 2020.06, Outstanding Graduates of Shandong University, Shandong University.
  • 2019.10, The Third Prize of Undergraduate Scholarship, Shandong University.
  • 2018.10, The Third Prize of Undergraduate Scholarship, Shandong University.

💬 Invited Talks

  • 2025.06, Intelligent Infrastructure Monitoring: Applications of VLMs and LLMs in Structural Health Monitoring, 2nd Olympiad in Engineering Science (OES2025). Stavanger, Norway.
  • 2025.01, Few-shot Crack Image Classification Using CLIP Based on Bayesian Optimization, The 1st International Workshop on Bayesian Approach in Civil Engineering (IWOBA 2025). Hong Kong SAR, China.
  • 2021.11, Road Surface Disease Detection Based on IMU Sensors, International Conference on Intelligent Traffic Systems and Smart City (ITSSC2021). Zhengzhou, China.
  • 2021.10, High-Precision and High-Efficiency Detection of Road Surface Defects Based on Inertial Navigation System, The 10th Road and Airport Engineering Research Youth Forum. Jinan, China.

🧐 Professional Service

Reviewer

  • Advanced Engineering Informatics
  • Automation in Construction
  • International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation
  • IEEE Transactions on Intelligent Transportation Systems
  • IEEE Transactions on Instrumentation and Measurement
  • Construction and Building Materials
  • Expert Systems with Applications
  • Engineering Structures
  • IET Image Processing
  • Nondestructive Testing and Evaluation
  • Journal of Computing in Civil Engineering
  • Measurement
  • Case Studies in Construction Materials

📚 Teaching Assistant

  • 2025.09-2025.11, SYE6043, Quality and Reliability Engineering, Prof. Hanxiong LI.
  • 2025.07-2025.08, SYE6308, Statistical Learning in Manufacturing Quality Control, Dr. Yuquan MENG.
  • 2025.02-2025.05, SYE6009, Project Management, Dr. Ken YAU.
  • 2024.09-2024.11, SYE6043, Quality and Reliability Engineering, Prof. Hanxiong LI.

💻 Internships