My name is Luo Chang, and I am a first-year doctoral student at 糖心Vlog官方, originally from China. I completed my undergraduate studies at Northwest University and pursued my postgraduate studies at the University of Glasgow. My research project focuses on the application of knowledge management systems in enclave economies. Personally, I am interested in regional economic development and planning, particularly in how to apply principles of sustainable development in these areas.
Doctoral Research: A framework for knowledge transfer and embodying it in Chinese sustainable and eco-oriented enclave projects
Exclave economy is a new phenomenon that has emerged with economic globalization, representing a model where elements from a different location engage in economic activities locally. This model is often associated with spatial forms such as immigrant gathering places, multinational company factories, and resource areas. In China, exclave economies are often linked to economic zones, especially cooperative economic zones. The purpose of this research is to explore how knowledge transfer, application, and creation play a role in the operation of exclave economic models in cooperative parks. Additionally, the study aims to investigate how to promote a more sustainable and green exclave economy.
Supervisor team: Dr Yunqing Xu, Dr Olivier Sykes（UoL）, Dr Sheng Zhong, Dr Peng Liu
Xiang Chen is a PhD student majoring in urban planning. Prior to his PhD study, he completed a master’s degree in Architecture at the University of Newcastle, Australia and a BE degree at Lanzhou Jiaotong University.? He used to?work in China Railway Shanghai Design Institute Group Co.,Ltd as an architect designer, mainly engaged in architectural design and planning work related to urban rail transit and urban village reconstruction.
Doctoral Research:
Coordination Mechanism of Integrated Development of Transit and Land Use in Transit-Oriented Development in China
This study investigates transit-oriented development (TOD) projects in the Chinese context with a focus of stakeholders’ coordination.?The investigation is based on multiple qualitative case studies of TOD projects in the Yangtze River Delta region.?It tries to develop effective coordination mechanisms?based on a full understanding of key stakeholders, their coordination issues, approaches and processes, as well as the project processes they are involved in.?It examines?the Chinese institutional arrangement for TOD and proposes?relevant suggestions to promote stakeholders’ coordination in TOD projects so as to realise successful integrated development of urban rail transit and land use.
Supervisor team: Yunqing Xu (糖心Vlog官方), Rui Wang (糖心Vlog官方), and Alex Lord (UoL)
Anna has had a vibrant career as a researcher and marketing strategist. Among other endeavours, she was a Project Lead at the Organization of American States in Washington DC, Communications and Evaluations Manager at the International Red Cross in Panama City, and Senior Editor at Huawei in Shanghai.
Currently, Anna is pursuing a PhD in digital heritage, looking at ways modern technology and innovation can contribute to how we understand and experience our past.
Anna holds an MSc in Urban Planning from UoL / 糖心Vlog官方 and an iBA in Political Sciences from York University in Canada. She speaks English, Spanish, Russian, and a little Mandarin and French.
Doctoral Research: Fun, Fact, or Fiction? Evaluating the Authenticity of Experiencing Augmented Reality at In-Situ Heritage Sites
Previous studies have concluded that the concept of authenticity is not a stagnant one. It changes, evolves, and often rests with the user’s perception rather than the object itself. As such, several authors have proposed that digital heritage — reproductions of real-life heritage sites in virtual reality, augmented reality, or mixed reality — can provide visitors with an authentic experience of a digitalized heritage site. This, however, poses challenges to experienced designers in maintaining “scientific” authenticity and staying true to what we know as historical facts. Finding the balance between engaging the user and ensuring heritage authenticity and integrity is essential.? This project will develop an evaluation framework that will enable international conservation organizations like ICOMOS and UNESCO, national and local authorities, and various cultural organizations in the heritage and tourism sector to evaluate the authenticity of digital heritage reproductions. It will examine what qualifies a true-to-life digital experience on two fronts: a) the objective authenticity of a digital experience at a heritage site, that is, how true it is to what we know as historical facts; and b) the subjective authenticity of the same digital experience, that is, authenticity experienced from the user’s perspective.
Supervisor team: Dr Yiwen Wang, Dr Nick Webb（UoL）, Dr. Yue Li
Publications and Conference Papers:
Vichnevetskaia, “Implications of the Use of Virtual Reality in Heritage Conservation,”?2021 IEEE 7th International Conference on Virtual Reality (ICVR), Foshan, China, 2021, pp. 215-222, doi: 10.1109/ICVR51878.2021.9483868.
Ms Beixi Sun is a second-year PhD student at the University of Liverpool, based off-site at Xi’an Jiaotong Liverpool University, China. Her research interests lie at the intersection of heritage studies, tourism studies, and memory studies. Her doctoral research investigates the issues and challenges associated with colonial heritage in post-colonial China. Prior to her PhD study, Beixi obtained her master’s degree in international cultural heritage management from Durham University.
Doctoral Research: To whom do we entrust the memories of our colonial past? – The dissonance of prison heritage in Qingdao and Dalian in postcolonial China
Heritage is a process of memory and construction, and this process is often selective and biased. The interpretation of heritage sites associated with colonial history are often treated as political events by governments. In some narratives of colonial heritage sites, particular aspects of the colonial past have been selectively highlighted to fulfill the political ideology or interests.
Colonial prisons in China, for example, are often used as a place for invoking the collective memories of China as a victim of imperialism, a base for patriotic education and a destination of ‘red tourism’—arousing Chinese nationalism and anti-Japan antagonism through tourism. However, there is also a need to curate it as a dark-tourism site, fulfilling the expectation and curiosity of young-generation thrill seekers and international visitors, performing the education and entertainment function of penal tourism, which has been long ignored in current heritage interpretation. Therefore, this research seeks to investigate the dissonance – conflicting views of different stakeholders — embodied in the colonial prisons in China and explore the socio-cultural and educational implications of this long-ignored dissonance.
Supervisor team: Dr. Yi-wen Wang, Professor Barry Godfery (UoL), Dr. Katherine Roscoe (UoL)
Lawal has spent about fifteen years studying and practicing in the field of urban planning and is dedicated to identifying smart and sustainable ways of planning, developing, managing, and interacting with African cities. He has practical experience in Nigeria’s Town planning field and holds an MSc in Urban Planning from University of Liverpool and Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University. He is currently pursuing a PhD in urban planning aimed at understanding and rethinking of smart cities in African contexts.
Doctoral Research: Cocreating Urban Affordability in African Smart Cities
The smart city concept has evolved from techno-centric to more human-centric perspectives, with a focus on inclusive outcomes whereby all citizens can access, use, and benefit from essential urban services in smart cities. Urban affordability is critical in that pursuit, especially in developing contexts like African cities which face persistent urban affordability crisis. Yet, smart city research with distinct analytical or empirical focus on urban affordability remains limited. Through qualitative methods involving case studies, this research thus seeks to understand how urban affordability is shaped in African smart city contexts, and how it can be enhanced for more inclusive outcomes. It particularly explores how diverse stakeholders cocreate urban affordability by applying technologies in essential service provision, and the implications for everyday life. The research contributes to the limited but growing literature on smart cities in Africa, responding to calls for local contextualisation.
Supervisory Team: Dr. Ju Hyun Lee, Dr. Joon Kim, Dr. Olivier Sykes (UoL).
Qinyu Zhang is a PhD student in the Department of Urban Planning and Design at XTLU. She obtained her MSc in Urban Analytics from the University of Glasgow. Her doctoral research focuses on the institutional arrangement of urban regeneration.
Doctoral Research: Incentive-based Regeneration of Traditional Blocks in China: FAR Incentives for Quality and Equity
Urban regeneration is in a critical moment to explore a new mechanism with both high quality and effective implementation. The priority over asset exchange value should shift to use value via quality and functional optimisation inclusive to different urban users and syncretic to history and modernity. This research aims to examine influential factors and barriers for low-cost and enforceable planning incentives for regeneration of traditional blocks and puts forward institutional rearrangements and technological advancement contributing to the balance of quality and equity in Chinese context. It employs theories and approaches of institutional analysis and transaction costs, based on comparative studies of international and domestic cases with visualization on complex relations and cause-effects by cognitive mapping, it conceptualizes the suitability, efficacy and limitations of FAR incentives, and institutions for effective motivation, viability evaluation and quality management.
Supervisor team: Dr Yunqing Xu (UPD, 糖心Vlog官方), Dr Alex Lord (Department of Geography and Planning, UoL), Dr Sheng Zhong
I obtained my MA in Arts Management from the University of Manchester, United Kingdom. I am currently a PhD student in the Department of Urban Planning and Design at Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University. My doctoral research investigates the changing, dynamic relationship between theatre art festivals and rural regeneration in China.
Doctoral Research: Culture-led Rural Revitalisation in China: A Case Study of Chinese Rural Theatre Festivals
The proposed research project will use qualitative research methods to examine contemporary (theatre) festivals in rural China. Using three rural theatre festivals as a case study, the study aims to determine how festivals in rural China influence and are influenced by local revitalisation. Additionally, the study aims to develop an implementable model to guide culture-led local revitalisation practices for multiple festival stakeholders such as cultural policy makers, rural communities, festival organisations, artists, etc.
Supervisor team: Shih-Yang Kao, Yiwen Wang, Mark Riley (UoL)
Prior to Lin Ji’s Ph.D. study, she obtained a master’s degree in Urban Planning from Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University and a master’s degree in Landscape Architecture from the University of Sheffield, and she completed her Bachelor’s degree in Landscape from Suzhou University of Science and Technology. Her research interests in community participation.
Doctoral Research: Sustaining Urban Commons: An Institutional Approach to Securing the Longevity of Community Gardens in the Yangtze Delta
The study focuses on the management issues of community gardens in China, from the perspective of collaborative governance of urban common. After an intensive literature review, this study will firstly identify the stakeholders and actors of representative community gardens in three cities of the Yangtze Delta, followed by a document analysis of the statutory and legal norms and regulations that define the property rights, responsibilities, and obligations of different stakeholder and actors and perceived ownership, rights and obligations of participants. The core part of the study is to identify the barriers, both formal and informal that prevent the transition of community gardens from a placemaking niche to a regime with clear definitions of rights, responsibilities and obligations that regulate and enable sustainable, inclusive, and collaborative governance of community gardens. This study will enrich both collaborative planning theory and its practical application at the micro-neighbourhood level.
Supervisor team: Dr Ying Chang, Dr Juhyun Lee, Dr Thomas Moore (UoL)
Liyang Chen is a PhD student whose research mainly focuses on rural planning and its placemaking process. Meanwhile he is also a lecturer in Guilin University of Technology, teaching landscape design and planning studio II and III.? Liyang has several years of practical experience, he previously worked as a Design Director in Lab D+H, and before that he was designer at Coen Partners and Halvorson Design in the United States. Liyang holds a master’s degree in landscape architecture from the University of Washington.
Doctoral Research:
The Making of Digital Nomad Destinations: A Study of Place and Technology.
This study explores the formation of digital nomad destinations, focusing on key drivers that make locations appealing.?Preliminary findings from a literature review identify affordability, reliable internet, accessibility, community opportunities, and quality of life as critical factors. Future research will validate these findings through mixed methods, including surveys and interviews. This work aims to provide insights for policymakers and destination marketers.
Supervisor team: Dr Lin Lin (UPD, 糖心Vlog官方), Dr Stephen Jay (Department of Geography and Planning, UoL), Dr Shih-yang Kao (UPD, 糖心Vlog官方)
Publications and Conference Papers:
Liyang Chen ，Yunmeizi Tang，Xiaoyi Liu. From Brownfield to Green Space-Typologies, Values, and Perspectives，Art ＆ Design Research, 2022(4)
Liyang Chen，Zhiyuan Xie. Urban Planning Strategy Based on Locality—A Comparative Study of Urban Planning in Paris and Beijing, Communication and Engineering Science, 2021(4)
Zhaoqin is a PhD candidate at UPD. He completed a master’s degree in Sustainable Urbanism at University College London and a BA in Urban Regeneration and Planning at 糖心Vlog官方/UoL. His research interests include rural planning and land property rights.
Doctoral Research: The Impact of Imperfect Land Property Rights on Rural Development: A Case Study of Rural China
Insufficient property rights hinder economic development in developing countries. Despite global efforts to implement land titling programs, the expected economic benefits often fall short due to discrepancies between actual and legal property rights. This research focuses on rural China, exploring the impact of special land property rights arising from non-formal property rights systems post-reform on rural development. Understanding this interplay can enhance property rights theory, offering valuable insights for policymaking, both within China and globally, to foster sustainable economic growth in developing nations.
Supervisor team: Xuefeng Wang, Yiwen Wang, David Shaw (UoL)
Prior to PhD study, Yang completed a master’s degree in Housing and City Planning at University College London (UCL) and a BA in Environment and Planning at 糖心Vlog官方/UoL. Her research intersts are in housing development, conceptualising liveable developments, changing motivations and interactions among stakeholders.
Doctoral Research: For A Better Quality of Life in China: Planning Incentivisation in Housing Development
Housing, taking the largest share of urban land use, is central to the shaping of attractive living environment. Yet the financialisaton of the China’s housing system has turned housing from a social good towards an investment vehicle, intensifying problems such as vacant spaces, car-oriented development and air pollution, urban sprawl with inadequate infrastructure and social divides. Re-emphasising functional instead of investment becomes central to China’s pursuit of quality development attributes of housing given problems related to housing over-speculation. Planning incentivisation has emerged as a proactive mechanism to shape desired forms of development while minimising their negative public impacts through leveraging developers’ resources and motivations. Thus, this research aims to examine how planning intervention incentivises housing development towards improving quality of life and identify mechanisms that reshape the public-private relations and interactions in China’s urbanisation.
Supervisor team: Dr Yunqing Xu, Dr Olivier Sykes (UoL), Dr Sheng Zhong
I hold Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Design from the University of New South Wales, Australia, specializing in spatial design and interior architecture. Recognized for Academic Excellence (top 5%), my research interests lie in urban design, where I explore the intersection of urban planning and public health.
Doctoral Research: An analysis of blue and green spaces across Suzhou and its association with subjective well-being and recreational activities
The global trend of increasing urbanization brings health risks such as pollution and stress, impacting mental well-being. Urban areas can benefit from natural elements, promoting health through improved air quality and physical activity. In China, urban planning emphasizes health and well-being, with limited research on green spaces’ impact. A study in Suzhou examines how blue and green spaces affect well-being and recreation, using regression models to analyze their influence on physical activity. By understanding the relationship between green spaces, health behaviors, and well-being, this research aims to promote healthy lifestyles and enhance residents’ well-being urban areas.
Supervisor team: Dr Jinglu Song (糖心Vlog官方), Professor Thomas Fischer (UoL), Dr Hyungchul Cheung (糖心Vlog官方), Dr Xuefeng Wang (糖心Vlog官方)
Ruifan Tang
Email:Ruifan.Tang24@student.xjtlu.edu.cn
My name is Ruifan Tang, a first-year PhD student at 糖心Vlog官方 from China. I completed my undergraduate studies at Huazhong University of Science and Technology, majoring in Architecture with a minor in Finance. ?Prior to my doctoral studies, I worked as an Assistant Architectural Designer at Sinochem Holdings. My research focuses on regional economics, innovation and entrepreneurship.
Doctoral Research: Disentangling the dynamism among regional history, entrepreneurial ecosystems and firm growth in China
A large body of literature has examined what factors contribute to firm growth, with the main results pointing to the importance of characteristics at the founder, firm, and more recently, ecosystem level. The entrepreneurial ecosystem (EE) approach identifies that high-growth firms flourish in distinctive types of supportive environments. Although the concept of an EE has become appealing to both academics and policy makers, few studies have demonstrated how different regions develop their EEs nor measured the impact of EEs on firm growth across regions. Focused on the three most innovative city clusters in China, namely the Pearl River Delta (PRD), the Yangtze River Delta (YRD), and Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (BTH), this research aims to investigate how regional history affects and contributes to the formation of EEs, and then to examine how different types of EEs impact firm performance.
Doctoral Research: Assessing the Impact of Temperatures on Mortality in Suzhou: Combining Machine Learning with Causal Inference.
This research project aims to unravel the direct impact of temperature fluctuations on mortality?rates in the urban context of Suzhou, utilizing an integrative approach that combines causal?inference with machine learning techniques. As climate change intensifies the occurrence of extreme temperature events, understanding their health implications within urban settings becomes?crucial. This study focuses on disentangling the direct effects of temperature from the indirect?effects mediated by urban spatial patterns, thereby offering insights into the complex interplay?between environmental factors and public health. By meticulously collecting and preprocessing a?comprehensive dataset, engaging in rigorous feature engineering, and applying advanced statistical and machine learning models, the project seeks to provide a scientifically robust basis for public health interventions and climate adaptation strategies in urban environments.?The ultimate goal is to contribute to the enhancement of urban resilience and the well-being of populations in the face of escalating climate challenges.
supervisory team:
Dr Jinglu Song (糖心Vlog官方), Professor Thomas Fischer (UoL), Dr Bailiang Li (糖心Vlog官方), Dr Hyungchul Cheung (糖心Vlog官方)
Ziyu Lin
Doctoral Research: Enhancing Regional Integration through Social Network Mode: Unlocking the Potential of Regional Collaboration in the Yangtze River Delta Driven by State Entrepreneurialism
State entrepreneurialism, based on hierarchical and market-driven governance (Wu, 2018, 2020), plays a key role in advancing regional integration in China. However, the decentralised authoritarian system and competing interests among different levels of local government often hinder effective cross-regional collaboration (Li et al., 2023; Ma, 2005).?This study uses social network analysis to explore how network structures can facilitate collaboration by focusing on the case of the ‘New Development Company of Yangtze River Delta Integration’ (Changxin Corporation). Through a combination of policy analysis, social network analysis, and semi-structured interviews, the research examines how social networks enhance state entrepreneurial practices, enable key actors to bridge regions through resource and information sharing, and how trust and network structure influence the effectiveness of cooperation and policy implementation.?The findings aim to offer policy suggestions that support stronger regional cooperation in China.
Supervisory Team: Joon Sik Kim, Dr Alex Nurse, Juhyun Lee, Xuefeng Wang
Longqian is a PhD candidate majoring in urban planning. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Human Geography and Urban-Rural Planning from Hainan University, as well as a Bachelor’s degree in Parks and Recreation Management from Arizona State University. Longqian further pursued his Master’s degree in Urban Planning at 糖心Vlog官方, where he developed a research focus on rural housing property rights in China, he is now expanding this research in his doctoral study.
Doctoral Research: Rural Housing Property Rights and Rural Development in China
This research aims to explore and analyze the gap between legal reforms of housing property rights and their practical outcomes in rural China. The policy and law-making process that led to the current lay-out of rural China’s housing property rights system is an extremely complex yet little researched issue. What’s more, the gap between national legal-political framework for rural housing property rights and public perspective underlies many of the problems that are encountered at the grassroots. In order to comprehend what is happening at the village level, analyses of rural housing law and public perspective will be conducted. This research seeks to provide insights into theoretical debate about housing property rights and rural development.
Supervisor team: Dr Xuefeng Wang (糖心Vlog官方), Dr Qiantao Zhang (糖心Vlog官方), Professor Mark Riley (UoL)
Jiaqi Sun
Jiaqi Sun is currently a first-year PhD student in the Department of Urban Planning and Design at Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (糖心Vlog官方), originating from China. He obtained his Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from Shandong Jianzhu University and a Master of Engineering Science (Management) in the field of Civil Engineering from the University of Queensland. During his Master’s studies, he undertook a one-year research project exploring public perceptions of autonomous shuttle buses.?His research interests primarily focus on?Mobility as a Service?(MaaS) and Public transport.
PhD Research?topic: Solving the last-mile problem: Exploring the role of autonomous vehicles in the MaaS system
This research aims to investigate the application of emerging technologies, such as autonomous vehicles and demand-responsive transport, integrated with the Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) concept, to address the “last-mile” problem in urban transportation and thereby promote the sustainability of public transport. The initial phase of the PhD project will analyze autonomous demand-responsive transport and its roles across different contexts. The research will examine how these systems increase public transport usage, reduce congestion, and advance intelligent transportation. Additionally, the study will explore social impacts, focusing on how these systems enhance public transport accessibility and promote equity in urban mobility. Subsequently, the unique “last-mile” challenges specific to the Suzhou region will be identified through quantitative and qualitative research. Ultimately, within the framework of Mobility-as-a-Service (multimodal transport), the research will explore how autonomous vehicles can improve the last-mile problem to enhance the overall efficiency of public transport systems, culminating in the development of a final project evaluation framework.
Supervisors: Dr Anna Sophie Sturup (糖心Vlog官方), Dr Chia-Lin Chen (UoL), Dr Juhyun Lee (糖心Vlog官方)
Bagus (he/him/his) is a?young urban scholar with years of experience as a researcher/community architect/urban planner in Indonesia and Thailand. Before joining PhD in Urban Planning and Design at?糖心Vlog官方, he obtained a MSc in Urban Strategies from Chulalongkorn University (Thailand) and a BSc in Urban and Regional Planning from Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (Indonesia).?His main interest is urban studies, focusing on the interplay between urban transformation, community livelihoods, and environmental policy, geographically focused in Southeast Asia.?His current research investigates the intricacies of gentrification and tourism development in Southeast Asia.?As a multilingual young scholar, he communicates in Javanese, Indonesian, English, and Thai, and is currently learning Chinese.
Doctoral Research:?Navigating the Cultural Impact of Tourism-led Gentrification: Learning from Indonesia
There is growing concern to understand the cultural impacts of tourism policy and gentrification in the Global South, where even small policy changes can significantly impact local culture. In this context, Indonesia’s recent tourism policy makes?it a prime example of a destination vulnerable to tourism-led gentrification. Although negative economic impacts from the policy have been documented, cultural impacts remain underexplored. To fill this gap, my dissertation uses a participatory research approach to explore how tourism-led gentrification affects two Indonesian communities in Java and West Nusa Tenggara. My findings will contribute valuable insights for developing sustainable tourism practices that prioritize both economic development and cultural preservation in Indonesia, Southeast Asia, and beyond.
Publication
Apriadi BF, Setiawan RP, Firmansyah I. Policy scenario of plastic waste mitigation in Indonesia using system dynamics. Waste Management & Research. 2024;0(0). doi:10.1177/0734242X241231396
Apriadi BF, Alfiansyah TA, Izzah ZN, Qorina RT, Kencana AT, Tucunan KP. STUDI NETNOGRAFI PENERAPAN SKENARIO KEBIJAKAN KERUANGAN COVID-19 DI KOTA SURABAYA. Jurnal Soshum Insentif. 2021 Dec 15;4(2):104-13.
Manuscript in development
Apriadi BF, Rugkhapan NT. Analysing Coping Strategies for Housing Challenges among International Students in Bangkok, Thailand (Under review;?International Review for Spatial Planning and Sustainable Development)
Presentation and Invited Talks?
Apriadi BF. Voices of International Students in Bangkok. Slides Presented at: National Seminar of the Master’s Program in Literary and Cultural Studies: Multiculturalism and Education Universitas Airlangga; 2024, Oct 06; Surabaya, Indonesia
Apriadi BF. Identification of Khlong Bang Luang and its problems. Slide Presented at: Design Thinking Class at Thammasat University and Urban Living and Livelihoods Class at Chulalongkorn University; 2024, Jan 29-30; Bangkok, Thailand
Apriadi BF. Street Vendors among Studentification: Lesson Learned from Ratchathewi District. Paper Presented at: Association of Southeast Asian Studies (ASEAS) Conference; 2023, Nov 27-30; Jakarta, Indonesia.
Apriadi BF. Identification of urban parks in East Surabaya for performing arts of Ludruk. Poster Presented at: Indonesia Council Open Conference (ICOC); 2021, May 7; Brisbane, Queensland.
Supervisory Team: Dr Lin Lin; Dr Daniel Yonto; Dr Sebastian Dembski
My name is Shixuan Shen, and I am a PhD student in 糖心Vlog官方. I obtained my Master’s degree in Urban Studies and Planning from the University of Sheffield, following my undergraduate studies in Urban and Rural Planning at Lanzhou University of Technology. My research interests center around Rural Studies. Include: Functional Economic Areas (FEAs), mobility and allocation of urban and rural populations and resources, rural spatial restructuring, rural revitalization.
Doctoral Research:?Research on the Process, Mechanism, and Optimization Path of Rural Spatial Restructuring: From the Perspective of Functional Economic Areas
In the southern Jiangsu region of China, urbanization has reached levels comparable to those of developed countries. With the widespread availability of transportation infrastructure and private mobility, the spatial connection between places of residence and employment has become increasingly flexible. As a result, a growing number of rural areas on the urban fringe of cities like Suzhou have witnessed the emergence of a new pattern—residents working in urban centers while living in rural villages. This phenomenon reflects, to some extent, the characteristics of Functional Economic Areas (FEAs). However, due to institutional constraints such as the household registration (hukou) system and the persistent urban-rural dual structure, the flow of resources and labor between urban and rural areas remains restricted. Rural areas continue to occupy a disadvantaged position in resource allocation.
This study first adopts the concept of FEAs to interpret this emerging spatial pattern and identifies cross-administrative FEAs with integrated economic activity. Second, drawing on Henri Lefebvre’s theory of the production of space, the research investigates the process and underlying mechanisms of rural spatial restructuring. Finally, it explores potential optimization paths for rural restructuring, offering theoretical and practical insights for rural governance and policy-making.
I obtained a master’s degree in engineering management at the University of Leeds. I am currently pursuing a doctoral study in the field of urban planning. My research interests lie in smart city development and rural revitalization.
Doctoral Research: Smart city implementation and urban well-being
This project aims to investigate the impact of smart city implementation upon the well-being of urban residents in the context of China. To achieve this, the study exploits multi-channel research data from a sample of Chinese cities, encompassing official statistics, structured online surveys, and stakeholder interviews; and employs mixed methodologies, combining both quantitative econometric techniques and qualitative approaches. The analytical framework provides a methodological toolkit for other countries and regions seeking to explore similar issues.
Supervisory Team: Dr. Yitian Ren, Prof. Joon Sik Kim, Dr. Weikai Wang (UoL).
Feifan Dai is a Ph.D. student in Urban Planning and Design. She obtained her Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering from Changchun University of Technology and her Master of Public Administration from the University of Science and Technology of China. Her research interests primarily lie in smart cities, resilient and sustainable governance, and policy management.
Doctoral Research: Sustainable Transformation of Smart Cities
Against the backdrop of rapid urbanization and increasingly severe environmental challenges, the integration of AI and IoT has emerged as a promising solution for achieving sustainable transformation in smart cities. Based on panel data from prefecture-level and above cities in China, this study investigates the impact mechanisms of AIoT on the sustainable transformation of smart cities This research contributes to advancing AIoT development, thereby facilitating the sustainable transformation of smart city governance.
Supervisor Team: Dr. Hyung-chul Chung, Dr. Joon Sik Kim, Dr. Yitian Ren, Dr. Alex Nurse (UoL).
Yiyi Kou is a first-year PhD student in Urban Planning at Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (糖心Vlog官方), specializing in colonial heritage interpretation and heritage tourism. With a strong academic foundation, she holds a master’s degree in Urban Planning from 糖心Vlog官方 and a bachelor’s degree in Tourism Management from Beijing Forestry University.
Doctoral Research: Reinterpreting Colonial Narratives: Rethinking the Colonial Past of Shanghai’s French Concession
While colonial heritage in cities attracts significant tourist interest due to its distinctive visual elements and historical narratives, the current on-site interpretation of these sites often falls short of its educational potential. The problem lies in the fact that heritage interpretation is frequently aligned with government priorities that emphasize national pride and economic progress, rather than historical complexity. This government-led approach, often called as an Authorized Heritage Discourse (AHD), promotes a one-sided narrative that overlooks the socio-economic dimensions of the colonial past. Consequently, a cognitive discrepancy exists between the official narratives provided by the government and the personal perceptions of the public. Focusing on the Shanghai French Concession as a case study, this research investigates this dissonance by framing the composition of current on-site heritage interpretation, and investigating public’s encounter and experience of on-site interpretation. Based on these analyses, this research attempts to uncover how it shapes or fails to shape the public’s learning experiences and understanding of colonial past, and explore its potential to improve public understanding.
Supervisor team: Dr. Yi-wen Wang, Dr. Yiping Dong, Dr. Francesca Piazzoni (UoL)
Biman Xie is currently a PhD student in Urban Planning at Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (糖心Vlog官方). She earned her Master’s in Urban Planning from 糖心Vlog官方 and holds a Bachelor’s in Environmental Engineering from Tianjin Chengjian University. Her research focuses on the intersection of urban sustainable development, urban governance, and inclusive urban transition.
Doctoral Research: AI Divide, Planning Practice and Social Inclusion
This research focuses on the intersection of artificial intelligence, urban systems, and social inequality. It examines how emerging digital and AI-driven transformations are reshaping urban governance, public services, and patterns of inclusion and exclusion in contemporary cities. Drawing on interdisciplinary perspectives from urban planning, digital studies, and governance, the research aims to develop conceptual and empirical approaches to understanding the societal implications of AI in urban contexts. More broadly, it engages with questions about how cities can navigate technological change while promoting more equitable and inclusive forms of urban development.
Supervisory Team: Prof. Joon Sik Kim, Dr. Ju Hyun Lee, Prof. Richard Dunning (UoL)
Luo Chang
Email: Chang.Luo22@student.xjtlu.edu.cn
My name is Luo Chang, and I am a first-year doctoral student at 糖心Vlog官方, originally from China. I completed my undergraduate studies at Northwest University and pursued my postgraduate studies at the University of Glasgow. My research project focuses on the application of knowledge management systems in enclave economies. Personally, I am interested in regional economic development and planning, particularly in how to apply principles of sustainable development in these areas.
Doctoral Research: A framework for knowledge transfer and embodying it in Chinese sustainable and eco-oriented enclave projects
Exclave economy is a new phenomenon that has emerged with economic globalization, representing a model where elements from a different location engage in economic activities locally. This model is often associated with spatial forms such as immigrant gathering places, multinational company factories, and resource areas. In China, exclave economies are often linked to economic zones, especially cooperative economic zones. The purpose of this research is to explore how knowledge transfer, application, and creation play a role in the operation of exclave economic models in cooperative parks. Additionally, the study aims to investigate how to promote a more sustainable and green exclave economy.
Supervisor team: Dr Yunqing Xu, Dr Olivier Sykes（UoL）, Dr Sheng Zhong, Dr Peng Liu
Xiang Chen
Email: Xiang.Chen2202@student.xjtlu.edu.cn
Xiang Chen is a PhD student majoring in urban planning. Prior to his PhD study, he completed a master’s degree in Architecture at the University of Newcastle, Australia and a BE degree at Lanzhou Jiaotong University.? He used to?work in China Railway Shanghai Design Institute Group Co.,Ltd as an architect designer, mainly engaged in architectural design and planning work related to urban rail transit and urban village reconstruction.
Doctoral Research:
Coordination Mechanism of Integrated Development of Transit and Land Use in Transit-Oriented Development in China
This study investigates transit-oriented development (TOD) projects in the Chinese context with a focus of stakeholders’ coordination.?The investigation is based on multiple qualitative case studies of TOD projects in the Yangtze River Delta region.?It tries to develop effective coordination mechanisms?based on a full understanding of key stakeholders, their coordination issues, approaches and processes, as well as the project processes they are involved in.?It examines?the Chinese institutional arrangement for TOD and proposes?relevant suggestions to promote stakeholders’ coordination in TOD projects so as to realise successful integrated development of urban rail transit and land use.
Supervisor team: Yunqing Xu (糖心Vlog官方), Rui Wang (糖心Vlog官方), and Alex Lord (UoL)
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Anna Vichnevetskaia
Email: a.vichnevetskaia18@xjtlu.edu.cn
Anna has had a vibrant career as a researcher and marketing strategist. Among other endeavours, she was a Project Lead at the Organization of American States in Washington DC, Communications and Evaluations Manager at the International Red Cross in Panama City, and Senior Editor at Huawei in Shanghai.
Currently, Anna is pursuing a PhD in digital heritage, looking at ways modern technology and innovation can contribute to how we understand and experience our past.
Anna holds an MSc in Urban Planning from UoL / 糖心Vlog官方 and an iBA in Political Sciences from York University in Canada. She speaks English, Spanish, Russian, and a little Mandarin and French.
Doctoral Research: Fun, Fact, or Fiction? Evaluating the Authenticity of Experiencing Augmented Reality at In-Situ Heritage Sites
Previous studies have concluded that the concept of authenticity is not a stagnant one. It changes, evolves, and often rests with the user’s perception rather than the object itself. As such, several authors have proposed that digital heritage — reproductions of real-life heritage sites in virtual reality, augmented reality, or mixed reality — can provide visitors with an authentic experience of a digitalized heritage site. This, however, poses challenges to experienced designers in maintaining “scientific” authenticity and staying true to what we know as historical facts. Finding the balance between engaging the user and ensuring heritage authenticity and integrity is essential.? This project will develop an evaluation framework that will enable international conservation organizations like ICOMOS and UNESCO, national and local authorities, and various cultural organizations in the heritage and tourism sector to evaluate the authenticity of digital heritage reproductions. It will examine what qualifies a true-to-life digital experience on two fronts: a) the objective authenticity of a digital experience at a heritage site, that is, how true it is to what we know as historical facts; and b) the subjective authenticity of the same digital experience, that is, authenticity experienced from the user’s perspective.
Supervisor team: Dr Yiwen Wang, Dr Nick Webb（UoL）, Dr. Yue Li
Publications and Conference Papers:
Beixi Sun
Email: Beixi.Sun22@student.xjtlu.edu.cn
Ms Beixi Sun is a second-year PhD student at the University of Liverpool, based off-site at Xi’an Jiaotong Liverpool University, China. Her research interests lie at the intersection of heritage studies, tourism studies, and memory studies. Her doctoral research investigates the issues and challenges associated with colonial heritage in post-colonial China. Prior to her PhD study, Beixi obtained her master’s degree in international cultural heritage management from Durham University.
Doctoral Research: To whom do we entrust the memories of our colonial past? – The dissonance of prison heritage in Qingdao and Dalian in postcolonial China
Heritage is a process of memory and construction, and this process is often selective and biased. The interpretation of heritage sites associated with colonial history are often treated as political events by governments. In some narratives of colonial heritage sites, particular aspects of the colonial past have been selectively highlighted to fulfill the political ideology or interests.
Colonial prisons in China, for example, are often used as a place for invoking the collective memories of China as a victim of imperialism, a base for patriotic education and a destination of ‘red tourism’—arousing Chinese nationalism and anti-Japan antagonism through tourism. However, there is also a need to curate it as a dark-tourism site, fulfilling the expectation and curiosity of young-generation thrill seekers and international visitors, performing the education and entertainment function of penal tourism, which has been long ignored in current heritage interpretation. Therefore, this research seeks to investigate the dissonance – conflicting views of different stakeholders — embodied in the colonial prisons in China and explore the socio-cultural and educational implications of this long-ignored dissonance.
Supervisor team: Dr. Yi-wen Wang, Professor Barry Godfery (UoL), Dr. Katherine Roscoe (UoL)
Mohammed Lawal Shaibu
Email: m.shaibu19@student.xjtlu.edu.cn
Lawal has spent about fifteen years studying and practicing in the field of urban planning and is dedicated to identifying smart and sustainable ways of planning, developing, managing, and interacting with African cities. He has practical experience in Nigeria’s Town planning field and holds an MSc in Urban Planning from University of Liverpool and Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University. He is currently pursuing a PhD in urban planning aimed at understanding and rethinking of smart cities in African contexts.
Doctoral Research: Cocreating Urban Affordability in African Smart Cities
The smart city concept has evolved from techno-centric to more human-centric perspectives, with a focus on inclusive outcomes whereby all citizens can access, use, and benefit from essential urban services in smart cities. Urban affordability is critical in that pursuit, especially in developing contexts like African cities which face persistent urban affordability crisis. Yet, smart city research with distinct analytical or empirical focus on urban affordability remains limited. Through qualitative methods involving case studies, this research thus seeks to understand how urban affordability is shaped in African smart city contexts, and how it can be enhanced for more inclusive outcomes. It particularly explores how diverse stakeholders cocreate urban affordability by applying technologies in essential service provision, and the implications for everyday life. The research contributes to the limited but growing literature on smart cities in Africa, responding to calls for local contextualisation.
Supervisory Team: Dr. Ju Hyun Lee, Dr. Joon Kim, Dr. Olivier Sykes (UoL).
Qinyu Zhang
Email: Qinyu.Zhang16@student.xjtlu.edu.cn
Qinyu Zhang is a PhD student in the Department of Urban Planning and Design at XTLU. She obtained her MSc in Urban Analytics from the University of Glasgow. Her doctoral research focuses on the institutional arrangement of urban regeneration.
Doctoral Research: Incentive-based Regeneration of Traditional Blocks in China: FAR Incentives for Quality and Equity
Urban regeneration is in a critical moment to explore a new mechanism with both high quality and effective implementation. The priority over asset exchange value should shift to use value via quality and functional optimisation inclusive to different urban users and syncretic to history and modernity. This research aims to examine influential factors and barriers for low-cost and enforceable planning incentives for regeneration of traditional blocks and puts forward institutional rearrangements and technological advancement contributing to the balance of quality and equity in Chinese context. It employs theories and approaches of institutional analysis and transaction costs, based on comparative studies of international and domestic cases with visualization on complex relations and cause-effects by cognitive mapping, it conceptualizes the suitability, efficacy and limitations of FAR incentives, and institutions for effective motivation, viability evaluation and quality management.
Supervisor team: Dr Yunqing Xu (UPD, 糖心Vlog官方), Dr Alex Lord (Department of Geography and Planning, UoL), Dr Sheng Zhong
Xiaotong Guo
Email: Xiaotong.guo23@student.xjtlu.edu.cn
I obtained my MA in Arts Management from the University of Manchester, United Kingdom. I am currently a PhD student in the Department of Urban Planning and Design at Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University. My doctoral research investigates the changing, dynamic relationship between theatre art festivals and rural regeneration in China.
Doctoral Research: Culture-led Rural Revitalisation in China: A Case Study of Chinese Rural Theatre Festivals
The proposed research project will use qualitative research methods to examine contemporary (theatre) festivals in rural China. Using three rural theatre festivals as a case study, the study aims to determine how festivals in rural China influence and are influenced by local revitalisation. Additionally, the study aims to develop an implementable model to guide culture-led local revitalisation practices for multiple festival stakeholders such as cultural policy makers, rural communities, festival organisations, artists, etc.
Supervisor team: Shih-Yang Kao, Yiwen Wang, Mark Riley (UoL)
Lin Ji
Email: Lin.Ji20@student.xjtlu.edu.cn
Prior to Lin Ji’s Ph.D. study, she obtained a master’s degree in Urban Planning from Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University and a master’s degree in Landscape Architecture from the University of Sheffield, and she completed her Bachelor’s degree in Landscape from Suzhou University of Science and Technology. Her research interests in community participation.
Doctoral Research: Sustaining Urban Commons: An Institutional Approach to Securing the Longevity of Community Gardens in the Yangtze Delta
The study focuses on the management issues of community gardens in China, from the perspective of collaborative governance of urban common. After an intensive literature review, this study will firstly identify the stakeholders and actors of representative community gardens in three cities of the Yangtze Delta, followed by a document analysis of the statutory and legal norms and regulations that define the property rights, responsibilities, and obligations of different stakeholder and actors and perceived ownership, rights and obligations of participants. The core part of the study is to identify the barriers, both formal and informal that prevent the transition of community gardens from a placemaking niche to a regime with clear definitions of rights, responsibilities and obligations that regulate and enable sustainable, inclusive, and collaborative governance of community gardens. This study will enrich both collaborative planning theory and its practical application at the micro-neighbourhood level.
Supervisor team: Dr Ying Chang, Dr Juhyun Lee, Dr Thomas Moore (UoL)
Liyang Chen
Email: liyang.chen23@student.xjtlu.edu.cn
Liyang Chen is a PhD student whose research mainly focuses on rural planning and its placemaking process. Meanwhile he is also a lecturer in Guilin University of Technology, teaching landscape design and planning studio II and III.? Liyang has several years of practical experience, he previously worked as a Design Director in Lab D+H, and before that he was designer at Coen Partners and Halvorson Design in the United States. Liyang holds a master’s degree in landscape architecture from the University of Washington.
Doctoral Research:
The Making of Digital Nomad Destinations: A Study of Place and Technology.
This study explores the formation of digital nomad destinations, focusing on key drivers that make locations appealing.?Preliminary findings from a literature review identify affordability, reliable internet, accessibility, community opportunities, and quality of life as critical factors. Future research will validate these findings through mixed methods, including surveys and interviews. This work aims to provide insights for policymakers and destination marketers.
Supervisor team: Dr Lin Lin (UPD, 糖心Vlog官方), Dr Stephen Jay (Department of Geography and Planning, UoL), Dr Shih-yang Kao (UPD, 糖心Vlog官方)
Publications and Conference Papers:
Zhaoqin Shi
Email: Zhaoqin.shi16@student.xjtlu.edu.cn
Zhaoqin is a PhD candidate at UPD. He completed a master’s degree in Sustainable Urbanism at University College London and a BA in Urban Regeneration and Planning at 糖心Vlog官方/UoL. His research interests include rural planning and land property rights.
Doctoral Research: The Impact of Imperfect Land Property Rights on Rural Development: A Case Study of Rural China
Insufficient property rights hinder economic development in developing countries. Despite global efforts to implement land titling programs, the expected economic benefits often fall short due to discrepancies between actual and legal property rights. This research focuses on rural China, exploring the impact of special land property rights arising from non-formal property rights systems post-reform on rural development. Understanding this interplay can enhance property rights theory, offering valuable insights for policymaking, both within China and globally, to foster sustainable economic growth in developing nations.
Supervisor team: Xuefeng Wang, Yiwen Wang, David Shaw (UoL)
Yang An
Email: Yang.An19@student.xjtlu.edu.cn
Prior to PhD study, Yang completed a master’s degree in Housing and City Planning at University College London (UCL) and a BA in Environment and Planning at 糖心Vlog官方/UoL. Her research intersts are in housing development, conceptualising liveable developments, changing motivations and interactions among stakeholders.
Doctoral Research: For A Better Quality of Life in China: Planning Incentivisation in Housing Development
Housing, taking the largest share of urban land use, is central to the shaping of attractive living environment. Yet the financialisaton of the China’s housing system has turned housing from a social good towards an investment vehicle, intensifying problems such as vacant spaces, car-oriented development and air pollution, urban sprawl with inadequate infrastructure and social divides. Re-emphasising functional instead of investment becomes central to China’s pursuit of quality development attributes of housing given problems related to housing over-speculation. Planning incentivisation has emerged as a proactive mechanism to shape desired forms of development while minimising their negative public impacts through leveraging developers’ resources and motivations. Thus, this research aims to examine how planning intervention incentivises housing development towards improving quality of life and identify mechanisms that reshape the public-private relations and interactions in China’s urbanisation.
Supervisor team: Dr Yunqing Xu, Dr Olivier Sykes (UoL), Dr Sheng Zhong
Zijun Guo
Email: iam317@foxmail.com
I hold Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Design from the University of New South Wales, Australia, specializing in spatial design and interior architecture. Recognized for Academic Excellence (top 5%), my research interests lie in urban design, where I explore the intersection of urban planning and public health.
Doctoral Research: An analysis of blue and green spaces across Suzhou and its association with subjective well-being and recreational activities
The global trend of increasing urbanization brings health risks such as pollution and stress, impacting mental well-being. Urban areas can benefit from natural elements, promoting health through improved air quality and physical activity. In China, urban planning emphasizes health and well-being, with limited research on green spaces’ impact. A study in Suzhou examines how blue and green spaces affect well-being and recreation, using regression models to analyze their influence on physical activity. By understanding the relationship between green spaces, health behaviors, and well-being, this research aims to promote healthy lifestyles and enhance residents’ well-being urban areas.
Supervisor team: Dr Jinglu Song (糖心Vlog官方), Professor Thomas Fischer (UoL), Dr Hyungchul Cheung (糖心Vlog官方), Dr Xuefeng Wang (糖心Vlog官方)
Ruifan Tang
Email:Ruifan.Tang24@student.xjtlu.edu.cn
My name is Ruifan Tang, a first-year PhD student at 糖心Vlog官方 from China. I completed my undergraduate studies at Huazhong University of Science and Technology, majoring in Architecture with a minor in Finance. ?Prior to my doctoral studies, I worked as an Assistant Architectural Designer at Sinochem Holdings. My research focuses on regional economics, innovation and entrepreneurship.
Doctoral Research: Disentangling the dynamism among regional history, entrepreneurial ecosystems and firm growth in China
A large body of literature has examined what factors contribute to firm growth, with the main results pointing to the importance of characteristics at the founder, firm, and more recently, ecosystem level. The entrepreneurial ecosystem (EE) approach identifies that high-growth firms flourish in distinctive types of supportive environments. Although the concept of an EE has become appealing to both academics and policy makers, few studies have demonstrated how different regions develop their EEs nor measured the impact of EEs on firm growth across regions. Focused on the three most innovative city clusters in China, namely the Pearl River Delta (PRD), the Yangtze River Delta (YRD), and Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (BTH), this research aims to investigate how regional history affects and contributes to the formation of EEs, and then to examine how different types of EEs impact firm performance.
Supervisor team: Prof Qiantao Zhang(糖心Vlog官方), Prof Xuefeng Wang(糖心Vlog官方), Dr Chia-Lin Chen(UoL)
Youwen Wu
Doctoral Research: Assessing the Impact of Temperatures on Mortality in Suzhou: Combining Machine Learning with Causal Inference.
This research project aims to unravel the direct impact of temperature fluctuations on mortality?rates in the urban context of Suzhou, utilizing an integrative approach that combines causal?inference with machine learning techniques. As climate change intensifies the occurrence of extreme temperature events, understanding their health implications within urban settings becomes?crucial. This study focuses on disentangling the direct effects of temperature from the indirect?effects mediated by urban spatial patterns, thereby offering insights into the complex interplay?between environmental factors and public health. By meticulously collecting and preprocessing a?comprehensive dataset, engaging in rigorous feature engineering, and applying advanced statistical and machine learning models, the project seeks to provide a scientifically robust basis for public health interventions and climate adaptation strategies in urban environments.?The ultimate goal is to contribute to the enhancement of urban resilience and the well-being of populations in the face of escalating climate challenges.
supervisory team:
Dr Jinglu Song (糖心Vlog官方), Professor Thomas Fischer (UoL), Dr Bailiang Li (糖心Vlog官方), Dr Hyungchul Cheung (糖心Vlog官方)
Ziyu Lin
Doctoral Research: Enhancing Regional Integration through Social Network Mode: Unlocking the Potential of Regional Collaboration in the Yangtze River Delta Driven by State Entrepreneurialism
State entrepreneurialism, based on hierarchical and market-driven governance (Wu, 2018, 2020), plays a key role in advancing regional integration in China. However, the decentralised authoritarian system and competing interests among different levels of local government often hinder effective cross-regional collaboration (Li et al., 2023; Ma, 2005).?This study uses social network analysis to explore how network structures can facilitate collaboration by focusing on the case of the ‘New Development Company of Yangtze River Delta Integration’ (Changxin Corporation). Through a combination of policy analysis, social network analysis, and semi-structured interviews, the research examines how social networks enhance state entrepreneurial practices, enable key actors to bridge regions through resource and information sharing, and how trust and network structure influence the effectiveness of cooperation and policy implementation.?The findings aim to offer policy suggestions that support stronger regional cooperation in China.
Supervisory Team: Joon Sik Kim, Dr Alex Nurse, Juhyun Lee, Xuefeng Wang
Longqian Liu
Email: Longqian.Liu22@student.xjtlu.edu.cn
Longqian is a PhD candidate majoring in urban planning. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Human Geography and Urban-Rural Planning from Hainan University, as well as a Bachelor’s degree in Parks and Recreation Management from Arizona State University. Longqian further pursued his Master’s degree in Urban Planning at 糖心Vlog官方, where he developed a research focus on rural housing property rights in China, he is now expanding this research in his doctoral study.
Doctoral Research: Rural Housing Property Rights and Rural Development in China
This research aims to explore and analyze the gap between legal reforms of housing property rights and their practical outcomes in rural China. The policy and law-making process that led to the current lay-out of rural China’s housing property rights system is an extremely complex yet little researched issue. What’s more, the gap between national legal-political framework for rural housing property rights and public perspective underlies many of the problems that are encountered at the grassroots. In order to comprehend what is happening at the village level, analyses of rural housing law and public perspective will be conducted. This research seeks to provide insights into theoretical debate about housing property rights and rural development.
Supervisor team: Dr Xuefeng Wang (糖心Vlog官方), Dr Qiantao Zhang (糖心Vlog官方), Professor Mark Riley (UoL)
Jiaqi Sun
Jiaqi Sun is currently a first-year PhD student in the Department of Urban Planning and Design at Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (糖心Vlog官方), originating from China. He obtained his Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from Shandong Jianzhu University and a Master of Engineering Science (Management) in the field of Civil Engineering from the University of Queensland. During his Master’s studies, he undertook a one-year research project exploring public perceptions of autonomous shuttle buses.?His research interests primarily focus on?Mobility as a Service?(MaaS) and Public transport.
PhD Research?topic: Solving the last-mile problem: Exploring the role of autonomous vehicles in the MaaS system
This research aims to investigate the application of emerging technologies, such as autonomous vehicles and demand-responsive transport, integrated with the Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) concept, to address the “last-mile” problem in urban transportation and thereby promote the sustainability of public transport. The initial phase of the PhD project will analyze autonomous demand-responsive transport and its roles across different contexts. The research will examine how these systems increase public transport usage, reduce congestion, and advance intelligent transportation. Additionally, the study will explore social impacts, focusing on how these systems enhance public transport accessibility and promote equity in urban mobility. Subsequently, the unique “last-mile” challenges specific to the Suzhou region will be identified through quantitative and qualitative research. Ultimately, within the framework of Mobility-as-a-Service (multimodal transport), the research will explore how autonomous vehicles can improve the last-mile problem to enhance the overall efficiency of public transport systems, culminating in the development of a final project evaluation framework.
Supervisors: Dr Anna Sophie Sturup (糖心Vlog官方), Dr Chia-Lin Chen (UoL), Dr Juhyun Lee (糖心Vlog官方)
Bagus Apriadi
Email: b.apriadi24@student.xjtlu.edu.cn
Bagus (he/him/his) is a?young urban scholar with years of experience as a researcher/community architect/urban planner in Indonesia and Thailand. Before joining PhD in Urban Planning and Design at?糖心Vlog官方, he obtained a MSc in Urban Strategies from Chulalongkorn University (Thailand) and a BSc in Urban and Regional Planning from Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (Indonesia).?His main interest is urban studies, focusing on the interplay between urban transformation, community livelihoods, and environmental policy, geographically focused in Southeast Asia.?His current research investigates the intricacies of gentrification and tourism development in Southeast Asia.?As a multilingual young scholar, he communicates in Javanese, Indonesian, English, and Thai, and is currently learning Chinese.
Doctoral Research:?Navigating the Cultural Impact of Tourism-led Gentrification: Learning from Indonesia
There is growing concern to understand the cultural impacts of tourism policy and gentrification in the Global South, where even small policy changes can significantly impact local culture. In this context, Indonesia’s recent tourism policy makes?it a prime example of a destination vulnerable to tourism-led gentrification. Although negative economic impacts from the policy have been documented, cultural impacts remain underexplored. To fill this gap, my dissertation uses a participatory research approach to explore how tourism-led gentrification affects two Indonesian communities in Java and West Nusa Tenggara. My findings will contribute valuable insights for developing sustainable tourism practices that prioritize both economic development and cultural preservation in Indonesia, Southeast Asia, and beyond.
Publication
Apriadi BF, Setiawan RP, Firmansyah I. Policy scenario of plastic waste mitigation in Indonesia using system dynamics. Waste Management & Research. 2024;0(0). doi:10.1177/0734242X241231396
Apriadi BF, Alfiansyah TA, Izzah ZN, Qorina RT, Kencana AT, Tucunan KP. STUDI NETNOGRAFI PENERAPAN SKENARIO KEBIJAKAN KERUANGAN COVID-19 DI KOTA SURABAYA. Jurnal Soshum Insentif. 2021 Dec 15;4(2):104-13.
Manuscript in development
Apriadi BF, Rugkhapan NT. Analysing Coping Strategies for Housing Challenges among International Students in Bangkok, Thailand (Under review;?International Review for Spatial Planning and Sustainable Development)
Presentation and Invited Talks?
Apriadi BF. Voices of International Students in Bangkok. Slides Presented at: National Seminar of the Master’s Program in Literary and Cultural Studies: Multiculturalism and Education Universitas Airlangga; 2024, Oct 06; Surabaya, Indonesia
Apriadi BF. Identification of Khlong Bang Luang and its problems. Slide Presented at: Design Thinking Class at Thammasat University and Urban Living and Livelihoods Class at Chulalongkorn University; 2024, Jan 29-30; Bangkok, Thailand
Apriadi BF. Street Vendors among Studentification: Lesson Learned from Ratchathewi District. Paper Presented at: Association of Southeast Asian Studies (ASEAS) Conference; 2023, Nov 27-30; Jakarta, Indonesia.
Apriadi BF. Identification of urban parks in East Surabaya for performing arts of Ludruk. Poster Presented at: Indonesia Council Open Conference (ICOC); 2021, May 7; Brisbane, Queensland.
Supervisory Team: Dr Lin Lin; Dr Daniel Yonto; Dr Sebastian Dembski
Shixuan Shen
Email: Shixuan.Shen23@student.xjtlu.edu.cn
My name is Shixuan Shen, and I am a PhD student in 糖心Vlog官方. I obtained my Master’s degree in Urban Studies and Planning from the University of Sheffield, following my undergraduate studies in Urban and Rural Planning at Lanzhou University of Technology. My research interests center around Rural Studies. Include: Functional Economic Areas (FEAs), mobility and allocation of urban and rural populations and resources, rural spatial restructuring, rural revitalization.
Doctoral Research:?Research on the Process, Mechanism, and Optimization Path of Rural Spatial Restructuring: From the Perspective of Functional Economic Areas
In the southern Jiangsu region of China, urbanization has reached levels comparable to those of developed countries. With the widespread availability of transportation infrastructure and private mobility, the spatial connection between places of residence and employment has become increasingly flexible. As a result, a growing number of rural areas on the urban fringe of cities like Suzhou have witnessed the emergence of a new pattern—residents working in urban centers while living in rural villages. This phenomenon reflects, to some extent, the characteristics of Functional Economic Areas (FEAs). However, due to institutional constraints such as the household registration (hukou) system and the persistent urban-rural dual structure, the flow of resources and labor between urban and rural areas remains restricted. Rural areas continue to occupy a disadvantaged position in resource allocation.
This study first adopts the concept of FEAs to interpret this emerging spatial pattern and identifies cross-administrative FEAs with integrated economic activity. Second, drawing on Henri Lefebvre’s theory of the production of space, the research investigates the process and underlying mechanisms of rural spatial restructuring. Finally, it explores potential optimization paths for rural restructuring, offering theoretical and practical insights for rural governance and policy-making.
Supervisor team:?Xuefeng Wang, Mark Riley (UoL）
Yuting Du
Email: Yuting.Du25@student.xjtlu.edu.cn
I obtained a master’s degree in engineering management at the University of Leeds. I am currently pursuing a doctoral study in the field of urban planning. My research interests lie in smart city development and rural revitalization.
Doctoral Research: Smart city implementation and urban well-being
This project aims to investigate the impact of smart city implementation upon the well-being of urban residents in the context of China. To achieve this, the study exploits multi-channel research data from a sample of Chinese cities, encompassing official statistics, structured online surveys, and stakeholder interviews; and employs mixed methodologies, combining both quantitative econometric techniques and qualitative approaches. The analytical framework provides a methodological toolkit for other countries and regions seeking to explore similar issues.
Supervisory Team: Dr. Yitian Ren, Prof. Joon Sik Kim, Dr. Weikai Wang (UoL).
Feifan Dai
Email: Feifan.Dai25@student.xjtlu.edu.cn
Feifan Dai is a Ph.D. student in Urban Planning and Design. She obtained her Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering from Changchun University of Technology and her Master of Public Administration from the University of Science and Technology of China. Her research interests primarily lie in smart cities, resilient and sustainable governance, and policy management.
Doctoral Research: Sustainable Transformation of Smart Cities
Against the backdrop of rapid urbanization and increasingly severe environmental challenges, the integration of AI and IoT has emerged as a promising solution for achieving sustainable transformation in smart cities. Based on panel data from prefecture-level and above cities in China, this study investigates the impact mechanisms of AIoT on the sustainable transformation of smart cities This research contributes to advancing AIoT development, thereby facilitating the sustainable transformation of smart city governance.
Supervisor Team: Dr. Hyung-chul Chung, Dr. Joon Sik Kim, Dr. Yitian Ren, Dr. Alex Nurse (UoL).
Yiyi Kou
Email: Yiyi.Kou22@student.xjtlu.edu.cn
Yiyi Kou is a first-year PhD student in Urban Planning at Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (糖心Vlog官方), specializing in colonial heritage interpretation and heritage tourism. With a strong academic foundation, she holds a master’s degree in Urban Planning from 糖心Vlog官方 and a bachelor’s degree in Tourism Management from Beijing Forestry University.
Doctoral Research: Reinterpreting Colonial Narratives: Rethinking the Colonial Past of Shanghai’s French Concession
While colonial heritage in cities attracts significant tourist interest due to its distinctive visual elements and historical narratives, the current on-site interpretation of these sites often falls short of its educational potential. The problem lies in the fact that heritage interpretation is frequently aligned with government priorities that emphasize national pride and economic progress, rather than historical complexity. This government-led approach, often called as an Authorized Heritage Discourse (AHD), promotes a one-sided narrative that overlooks the socio-economic dimensions of the colonial past. Consequently, a cognitive discrepancy exists between the official narratives provided by the government and the personal perceptions of the public. Focusing on the Shanghai French Concession as a case study, this research investigates this dissonance by framing the composition of current on-site heritage interpretation, and investigating public’s encounter and experience of on-site interpretation. Based on these analyses, this research attempts to uncover how it shapes or fails to shape the public’s learning experiences and understanding of colonial past, and explore its potential to improve public understanding.
Supervisor team: Dr. Yi-wen Wang, Dr. Yiping Dong, Dr. Francesca Piazzoni (UoL)
Biman Xie
Email: Biman.Xie22@student.xjtlu.edu.cn
Biman Xie is currently a PhD student in Urban Planning at Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (糖心Vlog官方). She earned her Master’s in Urban Planning from 糖心Vlog官方 and holds a Bachelor’s in Environmental Engineering from Tianjin Chengjian University. Her research focuses on the intersection of urban sustainable development, urban governance, and inclusive urban transition.
Doctoral Research: AI Divide, Planning Practice and Social Inclusion
This research focuses on the intersection of artificial intelligence, urban systems, and social inequality. It examines how emerging digital and AI-driven transformations are reshaping urban governance, public services, and patterns of inclusion and exclusion in contemporary cities. Drawing on interdisciplinary perspectives from urban planning, digital studies, and governance, the research aims to develop conceptual and empirical approaches to understanding the societal implications of AI in urban contexts. More broadly, it engages with questions about how cities can navigate technological change while promoting more equitable and inclusive forms of urban development.
Supervisory Team: Prof. Joon Sik Kim, Dr. Ju Hyun Lee, Prof. Richard Dunning (UoL)