Urban Planning Portfolio / by Jinren Yuan

PORTFOLIO Jinren Yuan

SOFTWARE SKILLS

UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN, ANN ARBOR 2022 - 2025 Master of Urban and Regional Planning Master of Science in Information Ann Arbor, MI, USA

UNIVERSITY OF LIVERPOOL

2020 - 2022 Bachelor of Arts in Environment and Planning Liverpool, UK

XI'AN JIAOTONG LIVERPOOL UNIVERSITY 2018 - 2020 Bachelor of Engineering in Urban Planning and Design Suzhou, China

I am an urban planning student with a spirit of discovery. I'm interested in community development, transportation planning, and geospatial planning. To explore the broader field of cities, I studied urban planning in China, the UK, and the USA, and also started learning data analysis. I'm always ready for something new, and my passion drives me to use various approaches to address planning problems. This portfolio is my exploration of urban planning.

I am always doing that which I cannot do, in order that I may learn how to do it.

--Pablo Picasso

PHOTOSHOP ILLUSTRATOR INDESIGN AUTOCAD SKETCHUP ARCGIS PYTHON RSTUDIO

CONTENTS

01

PULSE OF PROGRESS BREATHING LIFE INTO TOXTETH'S URBAN HEARTBEAT

02 THE SMART LOCATOR

GIS GUIDE TO BALANCE SHANGHAI'S RENT & REACH

03 HEALTH REACH MODEL

SPATIAL ANALYSIS FOR HOSPITAL PLACEMENT

ABOUT PROJECT

This is a course assignment from my undergrad time, a planning project of the community development analysis. It was a teamwork when I originally finished in November 2021. I edited it in 2023, removed ALL the content which is NOT made by myself and improved rest of them.

BREATHING LIFE INTO TOXTETH'S URBAN HEARTBEAT LIVERPOOL, MERSEYSIDE COUNTY, ENGLAND, UK / 2021.11 / COURSE ASSIGNMENT

ABOUT SITE

PA

1.4mi

RK

40m

50m

0

250

H

RD

1,000 ft

RE DE

ST

VO

NS

MILL

T

ON S

CK

SEFT

K DO

PARK

500

HI

ST

HI

30m

FTON

20m

10m

SWIC

BRUN

GRA

Downtown Liverpool

RD

City of Liverpool

G

Merseyside County

T

Northwest England

ST

RIVER MERSEY

FRA

HI LL S

CELTIC SEA

SITE

Sheffield

N

ENG

Downtown Liverpool

Manchester

Liverpool

The site remains plenty of problems and reuqires regeneration. There is a large amount of lowquality public space, limited function green space and derelict land because of urban degradation. In addition, the low connectivity and low permeability of the roads result in areas that are not well connected to neighboring communities. Cardominated travel reduces pedestrian accessibility.

The lack of traffic lights and inconspicuous bus stop signs are not disabled-friendly.

RK

NORTH SEA IRISH SEA

EXISTING PROBLEMS

The whole analysis area, Toxteth Harlow Street Community, is located in the inner area south of Liverpool.

The site is immediately adjacent to the dockland, with a variety of historical and green infrastructure assets. It is regarded as a multicultural community due to the significant immigration by the 20th century.

PA

01

PULSE OF PROGRESS

ST

Park ft ,0 1 00

Princes Park LV

BE

40m

RD UL LE T

ST RL O W

TIC

Secondary Road

Train Station Church

k an t b f r ve 00 i R 1,0

m

30 BE

Community Center

m 40

m

m

m

40m

Fitness Center

30

Contour Line

LO

20

Grocery Store

10

Railway (Underground)

E

AIB

UR

ST

30m

Park

HA

Y W

10m

RD

AN

Main Road

Railway

RE

Brunswick Train Station L AT

RIVER MERSEY

IDE

ANALYSIS AREA

TH

RD

URBAN FORM & HERITAGE

Urban Form Development

Existing Land Use

Toxteth Harlow Street Community, after nearly 200 years of development, has evolved into a residential area with abundant heritage and a mix of functionalities. In addition to residential zones, the community has diverse spaces for services, commerce, religion, education, and even industrial use. However, there are still many open spaces remain to be utilized.

SIS

LY ANA

A

ARE

H

H

Toxteth was transformed from a 17th-century park . By the mid-19th century, it expanded significantly, with a 'Gridiron' layout emerging in the 20th century. Minor changes occurred in the 1950s, while the 1980s saw major alterations, especially along the Harlow Street. By 2021, the area featured community centers, historic churches, and diverse architectural styles, reflecting its evolution in response to varying urban needs.

H

1900s

1850s

H

H

1900s

H

2021 Service

Urban Grain Comparisom In Toxteth, architectural evolution from the 1900s to 2021 reflects ongoing 'regeneration' post-1981 riots. Early uniformity and dense building patterns gave way to scattered, gentrified structures with increased open spaces. This shift, often termed 'degradation' by locals, aligns with rising rents and social class disparities, underscoring changes in living conditions across different areas.

1950s

Commercial Worship Education Industry Residential H

1980s

Heritage

2021 Main Road Newly Developed Area

EASE OF MOVEMENT I Road Network Development

1850s

1900s

1950s

1980s

Since the 1850s, while the community's main roadway framework has remained constant, internal roads have significantly evolved due to organic urban growth and classified residential areas. This evolution, resulting from inadequate planning, has led to diminished permeability within the community.

2021

4

1

Hidden Footpath

2

Inactive Frontage

Road Network Comparisom Between 1900 and 2021, Toxteth's road network saw major changes. While primary roads remained consistent, secondary and residential roads dramatically altered. The early complex grid of narrow streets, promoting walkability and connectivity, gave way to fewer roads with more dead-ends and back alleys, reflecting automobile dominance. This shift simplified navigation for vehicles but reduced walkability and neighborhood connectivity.

3

Lower-class Dead End

2

Higher-class Dead End

5

Abandoned Bus Stop

REA

SIS A

LY ANA

5

1

3

* Legends refer to the diagram on the right.

4

Primary Roads Secondary Roads Residential Roads Dead-end Roads Back Alleys Footpaths

Permeability Analysis

This community struggles with poor connectivity and safety. Numerous dead ends and difficult internal navigation hinder movement. Inactive frontages dominate, contributing to low security and neighborly interaction. People often feel excluded due to the lack of engaging street fronts, impacting pedestrian traffic. Additionally, neglected bus stops and subpar road conditions further discourage walking. Residents frequently bypass roads for greener, more direct paths, leading to littered, uneven surroundings that are unfriendly to pedestrians and the disabled.

EASE OF MOVEMENT II Activity Patterns Due to a concentration of services and educational facilities, mixed land use in urban areas leads to increased congestion, especially on main streets. Addressing this requires integrated research in transport and roadway design, focusing on enhancing public transit and redesigning roads to promote sustainable and inclusive mobility.

Fast

EXISTING

Slow

9am

12pm

PROPOSED

Transportation Analysis

Vision Height 5.3 ft The sign of bus information is higher than average vision height, and not friendly for children and the disabled.

EXISTING

PROPOSED

6pm

SIS

LY ANA

A

ARE

In the northeast of the analysis area, the lack of bus stops on secondary roads and the absence of bicycle lanes significantly hinder resident mobility and safety. This results in long walks to bus services and risky cycling conditions. The current public transit system is minimally available and unevenly distributed, emphasizing a need for expanded bus routes, established bicycle lanes, and a more equitable transit network. Addressing these gaps is crucial for sustainable, safe, and inclusive transportation.

Bicycle Lane The bike lanes in the middle of the driveway need to be painted to make the lanes obvious and thus increase safety.

EXISTING

PROPOSED

Crosswalk

Bus Route Bicycle Lane Bus Stop Cross Walk 200m Radius

The junction's lack of signal buttons and crosswalks poses significant risks for the elderly and disableds.

TOWNSCAPE & PUBLIC REALM 1

Townscape Analysis

ST

ST

HA RL O

W

OR

ST

S IND

RK

50m HI

40m

2

ACTIVE FRONTAGE

30m

2 INACTIVE FRONTAGE

20m

10m

Lonely poor buidling looks less attractive and blocks the view.

More likely to be attracted by seeing the landmark.

PA

NEGATIVE VIEW

G H

1

W

In Harlow Street Community, the townscape is shaped by its topography, varying building heights, landmarks, and open space quality. The east-west streets boast a more appealing townscape, attributed to orderly commercial and service buildings. However, the north and south parts exhibit less desirable townscape, plagued by rundown housing, inactive frontages, and poorly used public spaces. Enhanced intervention is crucial to foster a better connection between existing facilities and their environment.

POSITIVE VIEW

A

RE IS A

S

LY ANA

AD

M

3

1 4 4

IR

AL

Stores and services make the street busy and attractive.

ST

3 ACTIVE PUBLIC REALM

2

3

Fence and trees make the street unsafe, especially at night.

3 POOR PUBLIC REALM

Many activities can happen here and make the area dynamic.

PA

RK

4

RD

POSITIVE VISTA

2 1 Derelict open space makes it hard to attract any activity.

M RD

NEGATIVE VISTA

ILL

The enclosure and tall building extend the focal of view.

ST

BE

RE

SF O

RD

4

Landmark Main Roads Topography and narrow lanes hinder intrest in distant views.

Building

1 to 4 storey

View

positive / negative

Frontage

active / inactive

Public Realm active / poor

LEGIBILITY & CHARACTER AREAS Residential

Landmark

Legibility Analysis

A legible city offers clear pathways, landmarks, and districts, forming a coherent pattern for easy navigation without a map. This urban planning concept enhances inclusivity, particularly for vulnerable groups. Harlow Street Community is generally legible, with enough landmarks and character areas. Some residential and mixed-use zones, however, suffer from poor legibility due to visual barriers caused by dead-ends and inactive frontages.

M in d M a p

Uniform houses with walls obstructing views and paths.

Distinctive Poor

Landmarks, distinct in architecture, embody the local identity and serves as vital guides for orientation.

Service

Node

Buildings in diverse styles, and standing along the main paths.

Commercial

EA IS AR

LYS

ANA

Nodes, including squares and junctions, enhanced with details like traffic signs, are crucial for nevigation in urban maps.

Path

Sites characterized by supermarkets and retail outlets.

Mixed-use

The main path, spanning the entire site and linking key areas, offers varied views but needs quality enhancements.

Property combines commercial, residential and some other uses.

Industrial

Residential District Landmark

Service District

Node

Commercial District

Path

Mixed-use District Industrial District

Distinct zone in modern style and buildings with more storeys.

QUALITY OF OPEN SPACES Park Playground Green Area Community Ctr Parking Lot Brown Field

Space Quality Good / Fair / Poor

Factor Quality

Footpath Access

Good / Fair / Poor

Function

Green

Connection

Facility

Parking

Open Space Catagory

Outdoor parking with a tree-lined superstructure and mall access.

Paved path and low walls created a cozy space for socializing.

With paths link houses and landmark, but lacks social facility.

Has limited function, enclosed by fence with only one entrance.

Brownfield with unused functions and poorly maintained plants.

Lacks path and function link, hinder social interaction and stay.

Quality of Open Spaces The analysis area has enough open spaces but they vary in quality, with an abundance of green spaces that often feel dilapidated due to the lack of facility like benches. These areas, poorly connected to buildings, fail to encourage social interaction and are inefficiently located, acting more as barriers. Much green infrastructure is underutilized, with playgrounds either lacking functions or being inaccessible to the wider community. Community center plazas fare better, fostering social capital, unlike some church squares that are inaccessible or in poor condition, detracting from the overall environment.

SWOT ANALYSIS & CONCLUSION Conclusion Plagued by urban degradation, the Harlow Street Community faces challenges but also holds potential for redevelopment.

The abundance of derelict land and old buildings detracts from its visual and structural appeal, yet offers sites for greening and creating attractive commuter routes. Capitalizing on historical buildings and its prime waterfront location, the community is poised for heritage-led regeneration, attracting investment and visitors. Plans should include a mixed-use community focusing on tourism, leisure, and housing. Emphasis will be on improving cycling and walking infrastructure, reusing vacant spaces, and diversifying the community structure. Enhancing the visual and structural value of open spaces is a key goal, especially those along main roads and connecting the main functions.

1

Distinctive Local Landmarks

2

Character Districts

3

Abundant Heritage

4

Road Classification

1 4

1

1 1

1

2 1

3

1

3

1

1

1

1

4

er

2

Le v

el

1

1,000ft to 3 Riverbank

Media

n Leve

l

Low Permeability

2

Poor Public Transport

3

Low Quality Open Spaces

4

Visual Blocks

1,000ft to Park

Dead ends cause low connectivity, even with safety risks.

Uneven distribution, low-quality bike lanes, footpath, and bus stop.

Not be properly planned and lacks leisure facilities.

Poor and inactive frontages blocks visual links.

1

Undeveloped Open Spaces

2

Link to Downtown

3

Near Attractive sites

4

Train Station

Many derelict or unutilized open spaces for improvement.

One of the main roads links to downtown Liverpool in 1.4 miles.

Adjacent to River Mersey and Princess Park.

A train station loacted in this site.

OPPORTUNITY

2 3

Lo

4

1

w

el Lev er

Low

1

2

Clear road classification decreases the risk of traffic congestion.

WEAKNESS

2

3

The site has abundant heritage from diverse cultural background.

1

3

3

1

3

A mix of functionalities, with clearly defined functional areas.

STRENGTH

l

r Leve

Highe

Promote townscape and legibility, creating a sense of the place.

1

Classified Residential Zones

2

Industrial Area

3

Visual Barriers

4

Funding Resource

May enhance gentrification and segregation during development.

A mix of functionalities, with clearly defined functional areas.

Fence in residential areas and may be hard to move away.

Funding resource for development is not yet clear.

THREAT

02

THE SMART LOCATOR

ABOUT PROJECT

This is a course assignment I did in my first semester of grad school, a planning project of spatial analysis by using GIS. It was a teamwork when I originally finished in December 2022. I edited it in 2024, removed ALL the content which is NOT made by myself and improved rest of them.

GIS GUIDE TO BALANCE SHANGHAI'S RENT & REACH M U N I C I P A L I T Y

O F

S H A N G H A I ,

C H I N A

/

2 0 2 2 . 1 2

/

C O U R S E

A S S I G N M E N T

ABOUT SITE EAST SEA

Nanjing

CHN EAST SEA

Hangzhou

BAY OF BENGAL

Yangtze River Delta Region

W

Metro Stations

IA O

CHANG

20M

Travel Needs Fullfilled

RENT VS. SALARY Ideal Monthly Rent

<30%

C

Yang

65K

In Shanghai, high rents and the need for accessible public transport are major concerns for the city's influx of graduates from top universities and other regions. This project seeks to identify affordable, well-connected neighborhoods to help new graduates find viable living solutions in China's bustling metropolis, easing the transition into post-graduate life.

Chongming Island

Municipality of Shanghai UJ

EXISTING PROBLEMS

7.0K

BD

508

Shanghai is a vibrant metropolis located in the east coast of China. As an international metropolis, Shanghai is home to many higher education institutions, including some of the top universities in China. The city's concentration of high-quality resources also makes it a magnet for graduates from across the country, adding to the demand for housing and other urban amenities.

tze R

Bus Stops L

A ZUI C B D U JI

Avg. Starting Salary

≈40% Average Monthly Rent

iver

(2020 / Shanghai / CNY)

AVG COMMUTING TIME RANK Beijing

56 54 mins

Shanghai

ng

Hongqiao International Airport

Pudong International Airport

Metro Lines

NM

Q U A RE IN S

C BD

RE

O

QIA O C NG B

Ya

D

H

Chongqing

tz

e

Ri

ve

r

48

Tianjin

48

Chengdu

46

Suzhou

45

Guangzhou

45 43

Shenzhen Hangzhou

43

Wuhan

43

(2020 / China)

PERCENTAGE OF APTS NEAR PUBLIC TRANSIT

Railway Station Airport

92.5%

CBD

APT

48.8%

APT

500m

0

5

10

20 mile

Bus Stops

Hangzhou Bay

Metro Stations

1km

*Statistics from China National Bureau of Statistics & Shanghai Bureau of Statistics

PUBLIC TRANSIT DENSITY INDEX (PTDI)

PTDI Divided by Average Monthly Rent

GOOD PRICE FOR VALUE INDEX In downtown Shanghai, despite higher rents, the convergence of extensive public transit options makes it appealing, especially three neighborhoods marked by pink lines on maps— two centrally located and one in the southwest.

For new graduates, communities in dark green are recommended, offering a balance of accessibility and value, though other factors should also be considered in their final decision.

High

Low

Good

Yang

tze R

PTDI = 0.3 *

Bus Stop Density + 0.7 *

Metro Station Density

Bad N/A

iver

AVERAGE MONTHLY RENT

Ya

ng

tz

e

High

Ri

ve

r

Low N/A

Hangzhou Bay

0

5

10

20 mile

03

HEALTH REACH MODEL T H E

S T A T E

O F

U T A H ,

U N I T E D

S T A T E S

/

2 0 2 3 . 0 4

/

C O U R S E

A S S I G N M E N T

HOSPITAL BEDS

Many regions with rapidly growing populations lack enough healthcare infrastructure. Utah exemplifies this issue, with high population growth and a low number of hospital beds per 1,000 people. This project aims to address this problem by developing an automated spatial analysis workflow, providing planners with data-driven recommendations for hospital placement to improve healthcare access.

High

Population growth

Can adjusted Can bebe adjusted to to Areas Interest Areas of of Interest

CensusBlocks CensusBlocks

Feature Point Feature to to Point

Parameter Parameter Population Population (field interest) (field of of interest)

#1 WASHINGTON 1.60

Rate for 2010-2020 / High to Low Rank

#4 UTAH

LOWEST

DAKOTA #4 NORTH 22.52%

#2 IDAHO 22.52%

1.78 Bed / 1k pop National Average: 2.63

*Statistics from U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates, July 2020

Utah_HosPoints Utah_HosPoints

Population Field Population Field Beds Beds Output Value Output CellCell Value Expected Counts Expected Counts

Utah.shp Utah.shp

Kernel Density Kernel Density

National Average: 7.02%

#5 MARYLAND 1.84 #5 NEVADA 19.45%

#1 UTAH

NEW MEXICO

HIGHEST

#3 1.74

Dens_HosBeds Dens_HosBeds

Rescale Rescale byby Function Function

23.88%

#3 TEXAS 20.68%

AUTOMATION MODEL

From Scale: From Scale: 0 0 (More Beds) (More Beds) Scale: ToTo Scale: 1 1 (Less Beds) (Less Beds)

Automated spatial decision-Making

Rescal_HosBeds Rescal_HosBeds

Expression Expression “%Rescal_HosBeds%” “%Rescal_HosBeds%” +“%Rescal_Pop%” +“%Rescal_Pop%”

Rescal_Pop Rescal_Pop

Raster Calculator Raster Calculator

RESULT RESULT

Closer = Less Need Closer to to 0 =0Less Need hospitals forfor hospitals Closer = More Need Closer to to 2 =2More Need hospitals forfor hospitals

From Scale: From Scale: 0 0 (Less Pop) (Less Pop) Scale: ToTo Scale: 1 1 (More Pop) (More Pop)

CensusPoints CensusPoints

Z value field Z value field

INPUT INPUT

POPULATION GROWTH

per 1,000 population / Low to High Rank

#2 OREGON 1.66 Hospital beds

This is a course assignment I did in my second semester of grad school, a planning project of spatial analysis and modeling by using GIS. It was a teamwork when I originally finished in April 2023. I edited it in 2024, removed ALL the content which is NOT made by myself and improved rest of them.

SPATIAL ANALYSIS FOR HOSPITAL PLACEMENT

EXISTING PROBLEMS

Not Enough

ABOUT PROJECT

IDW IDW

Dens_Pop Dens_Pop

Rescale Rescale byby Function Function (2)(2)

GEOPROCESSING GEOPROCESSING

Recommendation Recommendation Placement Placement

OUTPUT OUTPUT

*Statistics from 1999 - 2021 AHA Annual Survey, January 2020

Use of the Model

This model was made by ModelBuilder in ArcGIS Pro. This workflow automates the identification of areas needing more hospitals in Utah by analyzing population density and hospital bed availability. Input data, such as hospital locations and census information, can be adjusted in other projects. The model provids planners with data-driven recommendations for hospital placements, aiding planners in making informed decisions.

HOSPITAL BEDS Logan

Low Dense - 0

84

High Dense -1

Salt Lake City

80

How to Use the Tool

RASTER CALCULATOR

Existing density

The Raster Calculator is a tool that performs map algebra operations on raster data.

It allows users to perform mathematical calculations between multiple raster layers.

As shown in the image, the tool takes input raster layers, sums the corresponding cells from each layer, and produces an output raster layer containing the calculated values. In addition to calculating the sum, it could also be used for averaging. It is useful for combining and analyzing spatial data.

sum of the input layers

+

Vernal 40

Roosevelt

Input Raster Layer 1

Input Raster Layer 2

Output Raster Layer

RESULTS

RECOMMENDATION OF IDAHO 70

HOSPITAL PLACEMENT

Richfield

Takeaways and suggestions

Logan

Less Need - 0

Cities

15

84

St. George

POPULATION Distribution in Utah

Less Pop - 0

Logan

Vernal

Raster Calculator

Roosevelt

40

More Pop - 1

84

50

70

Richfield

15

Cedar City 15

Cedar City

St. George 89

Suburbs

Areas with low population and less hospital beds

Forests FAR

Roosevelt

0

12

25

50 mile

COLORADO

70

Areas with growing population and less hospital beds

Implement telemedicine for basic care, and ensure equal distribution of healthcare resources across sparsely populated regions.

NEVADA

50

HOSPITAL PLACEMENT RECOMMENDED Prioritize adding hospitals and consider adding small and local centers to meet immediate demand as the population grows.

Vernal 40

St. George

Towns

Exburbs

Salt Lake City

Richfield

Salt Lake City

80

Focus on maintaining the quality of care and monitoring future population growth to ensure continued adequacy.

More Need - 1

WYOMING

DISTANCE TO DOWNTOWN

Cedar City

80

Areas with high population and more hospital beds

CLOSE

50

This project identifies areas in Utah that need additional hospital beds by analyzing population density and current hospital bed availability. The results highlight the need for healthcare expansion in rapidly growing suburban areas, including around Salt Lake City, St. George in south Utah near Arizona, and Vernal in the east Utah near Colorado. In contrast, rural regions with low population and national forest are not a priority. The model offers data-driven insights for strategic hospital placement and resource allocation.

PORTFOLIO Jinren Yuan