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
ARCGIS
PYTHON
RSTUDIO
C O N T E N T S
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
PULSE OF PROGRESS
BREATHING LIFE INTO TOXTETH'S URBAN HEARTBEAT
ABOUT PROJECT
This is a course assignment from my undergrad time, a planning project of the community development analysis. It was a teamwork when 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.
ABOUT SITE 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.
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.
ANALYSIS AREA
URBAN FORM & HERITAGE
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.
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.
Urban Form Development
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
EASE OF MOVEMENT I
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
Road Network Development
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.
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.
Transportation Analysis
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.
The junction's lack of signal buttons and crosswalks poses significant risks for the elderly and disableds.
The bike lanes in the middle of the driveway need to be painted to make the lanes obvious and thus increase safety.
The sign of bus information is higher than average vision height, and not friendly for children and the disabled.
TOWNSCAPE & PUBLIC REALM
Townscape Analysis
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.
Lonely poor buidling looks less attractive and blocks the view.
Fence and trees make the street unsafe, especially at night.
Derelict open space makes it hard to attract any activity.
LEGIBILITY & CHARACTER AREAS
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.
ANALYSIS AREA
Landmarks, distinct in architecture, embody the local identity and serves as vital guides for orientation.
Nodes, including squares and junctions, enhanced with details like traffic signs, are crucial for nevigation in urban maps.
main path, spanning the entire site and linking key areas, offers varied views but needs quality enhancements.
The
Uniform houses with walls obstructing views and paths.
Buildings in diverse styles, and standing along the main paths.
Sites characterized by supermarkets and retail outlets.
Property combines commercial, residential and some other uses.
Distinct zone in modern style and buildings with more storeys.
QUALITY OF OPEN SPACES
Space Catagory
With paths link houses and landmark, but lacks social facility.
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.
Outdoor parking with a tree-lined superstructure and mall access.
Brownfield with unused functions and poorly maintained plants.
Paved path and low walls created a cozy space for socializing.
Has limited function, enclosed by fence with only one entrance.
Lacks path and function link, hinder social interaction and stay.
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.
Distinctive Local Landmarks
Promote townscape and legibility, creating a sense of the place.
Character Districts
A mix of functionalities, with clearly defined functional areas.
Abundant
Heritage
The site has abundant heritage from diverse cultural background.
Road Classification
Clear road classification decreases the risk of traffic congestion.
Low Permeability
Dead ends cause low connectivity, even with safety risks.
Poor Public Transport
Uneven distribution, low-quality bike lanes, footpath, and bus stop.
Low
Quality Open Spaces
Not be properly planned and lacks leisure facilities.
Visual Blocks
Poor and inactive frontages blocks visual links.
1,000ft to Park 1,000ft to
Undeveloped Open Spaces
Many derelict or unutilized open spaces for improvement.
Link to Downtown
One of the main roads links to downtown Liverpool in 1.4 miles.
Near Attractive sites
Adjacent to River Mersey and Princess Park.
Train Station
A train station loacted in this site.
Classified Residential Zones
May enhance gentrification and segregation during development.
Industrial Area
A mix of functionalities, with clearly defined functional areas.
Visual Barriers
Fence in residential areas and may be hard to move away.
Funding Resource
Funding resource for development is not yet clear.
SHANGHAI'S RENT & REACH
THE SMART LOCATOR 02
ABOUT SITE
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.
This is a course assignment 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. ABOUT PROJECT
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.
YangtzeRiver
YangtzeRiver
Hangzhou Bay
HEALTH REACH MODEL 03
SPATIAL ANALYSIS FOR HOSPITAL PLACEMENT
EXISTING PROBLEMS
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.
HOSPITAL BEDS
This is a course assignment 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
POPULATION GROWTH
From
From
AUTOMATION MODEL
From
From
Expression
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
How to Use the Tool
RASTER CALCULATOR
POPULATION
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.
RECOMMENDATION OF
HOSPITAL PLACEMENT
RESULTS
Takeaways and suggestions
Focus on maintaining the quality of care and monitoring future population growth to ensure continued adequacy.
HOSPITAL
Areas
Prioritize adding hospitals and consider adding small and local centers to meet immediate demand as the population grows.
Implement telemedicine for basic care, and ensure equal distribution of healthcare resources across sparsely populated regions.
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.
