Featured Paper

SCI/SSCI: Chen, Mingze., Liu, Yuxuan*., Liu, Fan., Chadha, Trishla., Park, Keunhyun. Measuring pedestrian-level street greenery visibility through space syntax and crowdsourced imagery: A case study in London, UK. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening 2025 | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2025.128725 [download]

Linear green spaces, composed of street trees, shrubs, and grass, provide diverse opportunities for human-nature interaction. However, current research tends to visualize street greenery from a single perspective, such as images or planar analysis and neglects pedestrian-scale street tree visual analytics. Space syntax relies on precise urban context data input, and street view image analysis does not cover sidewalk greenery visibility. This study integrates green visibility analysis based on space syntax’s Visibility Graph Analysis (VGA) with the Pedestrian Green View Index (PGVI) calculated from street imagery to propose a comprehensive evaluation model for pedestrian-scale green visibility. To validate the accuracy of the methods, we established a participation scoring system involving 183 volunteers to collect their green perceptions of nine types of streets in the City of London, UK. The study reveals a complex relationship between VGA and PGVI, with VGA providing a robust, geometric-based visibility measure and PGVI offering a qualitative, human-centric perspective on urban greenery. Our findings indicate a significant correlation between PGVI and human evaluations, affirming PGVI’s potential to reflect pedestrian experiences, while highlighting the limitations of VGA in capturing the nuanced, multi-dimensional aspects of human perception. This underscores the necessity of integrating human feedback in urban planning tools to ensure a comprehensive understanding of green spaces. Future research should enhance methodological rigor by incorporating temporal and seasonal dynamics, expanding datasets, and exploring the interplay between green visibility and other environmental factors.

SCI/SSCI: Chen, Mingze., Cai, Yuxuan., Guo, Shuying., Sun, Ruilin., Shen, Xiwei*. Evaluating implied urban nature vitality in San Francisco: An interdisciplinary approach combining census data, street view images, and social media analysis. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening 2024 | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2024.128289 [download]

Urban green spaces (UGS) are vital in modern cities, offering extensive health, social, and environmental benefits. However, traditional research methods primarily focus on UGS distribution and aggregation through 2D mapping, often neglecting the quality and vitality of urban natural environments. This limited approach hampers our full understanding of the complex issues and opportunities surrounding UGS. This study proposes a novel concept of Implied Urban Nature Vitality (IUNV) and evaluation framework that offers a comprehensive lens to understand better and evaluate the manifold human-urban-nature interactions in modern cityscapes. Based on our IUNV framework, an interdisciplinary investigation is conducted to show the distribution and population-level perceived IUNV in San Francisco by leveraging a triad of data sources: census, street-built environment, and social media data. Utilizing census data, we analyze socio-economic influences on UGS distribution and IUNV, including factors such as education, age demographics, income, and ethnicity. Street view imagery (SVI), analyzed with advanced image recognition algorithms, serves as a proxy for visual and physical aspects of IUNV, highlighting features like trees, sky, buildings, and roads. This analysis paints a granular picture of UGS’s spatial distribution and physical attributes, facilitating an objective measure of IUNV. Subsequently, we analyze Flickr photos related to urban natural areas, examining their distribution and identifying thematic clusters that illuminate various aspects of UGS vitality. Lastly, we combine computer vision and manual review to define 12 IUNV themes from architecture and nature, eco-friendly gatherings, to cultural performance, exploring the relationship between the vitality clusters and the independent variables. The main findings are: (1) Macro-level factors (e.g., accessibility level, land use mix level, road density, population density, etc.) are the dominant variables influencing IUNV.; (2) Street view factors play key roles in IUNV. Through this holistic IUNV analysis, the study shed light on the complexities of urban green space planning and management, informing future urban development strategies towards greater vitality and, by extension, environmental and social sustainability.

Peer-reviewed Articles

20. SCI/SSCI: Chen, Mingze., Liu, Yuxuan*., Liu, Fan., Chadha, Trishla., Park, Keunhyun. Measuring pedestrian-level street greenery visibility through space syntax and crowdsourced imagery: A case study in London, UK. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening 2025 | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2025.128725 [download]

19. SCI/SSCI: Yuan, Fan¹., Chen, Mingze¹*. A systematic review of measurement tools and senior engagement in urban nature: Health benefits and behavioral patterns analysis. Health & Place 2025 | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.healthplace.2024.103410 [download]

18. SSCI: Yang, Jiaxi., Chen, Mingze*. Assessing the impact of urban amenities on people with disabilities in London: A Multiscale Geographically Weighted Regression Analysis. Habitat International 2025 | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.habitatint.2025.103426 [download]

17. Geng, Dehui Christina., Chen, Mingze., Seely, Harry., Harshaw, Howie W., Gaston, Christopher., Wu, Wanli., Wang, Guangyu*. Adapting to change: Visitor patterns in national parks across the pandemic timeline. Trees, Forests and People 2025 | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tfp.2025.100874 [download]

16. SCI/SSCI: Cai, Yuxuan., Huang, Yongming., Chen, Anzhi., Yang, Zhuohao., Chen, Mingze., Wen, Yuhan., Yang, Qiuyi., Li, Xiaowei*. Subjective Perception or the Physical Environment: Which Matters More for Public Area Visitation Thresholds Across Different COVID-19 Pandemic Stages? Urban Forestry & Urban Greening 2025 | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2025.128835 [download]

15. SCI: Luo, Tianze., Chen, Mingze*. Advancements in supervised machine learning for outdoor thermal comfort: A comprehensive systematic review of scales, applications, and data types. Energy and Building 2025 | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2024.115255 [download]

14. SCI/SSCI: Chen, Mingze., Cai, Yuxuan., Guo, Shuying., Sun, Ruilin., Shen, Xiwei*. Evaluating implied urban nature vitality in San Francisco: An interdisciplinary approach combining census data, street view images, and social media analysis. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening 2024 | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2024.128289 [download]

13. SCI: Sun, Pingyao., Chen, Mingze*., Chen, Jingyi. The “Blue” Habitat of Urban & Suburban Areas and Approaches for its Biodiversity Research: A Scoping Review. Journal of Environmental Management 2024 | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.123567 [download]

12. SCI/SSCI: Zhang, Kaiqi., Chen, Mingze*. Multi-method analysis of urban green space accessibility: Influences of land use, greenery types, and individual characteristics factors. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2024.128366 [download]

11. SCI: Shen, Xiwei., Chen, Mingze., Li, Xiaowei*., Yang, Qiuyi., Sun, Qingqing., Gao, Shu. Advancing climate resilience through a geo‑design framework: strengthening urban and community forestry for sustainable environmental design. Journal of Forestry Research | https://doi.org/10.1007/s11676-024-01772-0 [download]

10. SCI/SSCI: Zhang, Shawei., Chen, Jiawen., Cai, Yuxuan., Wen, Yuhan., Niu, Jiaqi., Chen, Mingze*. Assessing the Association Between Urban Amenities and Urban Green Space Transformation in Guangzhou. ISPRS International Journal of Geo-Information 2024 | https://doi.org/10.3390/ijgi13120452 [download]

9. SCI/SSCI: Zhang, Ping.,… Chen, Mingze. Examining the Audiovisual Therapy Effects on Hospital Groups of Varying Linear Canopy Landscapes and Those with Hydrodynamic Forces. Frontiers in Public Health 2024 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1324260 [download]

8. SCI: He, Wei., Chen, Mingze*. Advancing Urban Life: A Systematic Review of Emerging Technologies and AI in Urban Design and Planning. Buildings | https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14030835 [download]

7. SSCI: Priya Rajendran*., Raúl Leal., Chen, Mingze., Juan Carlos, Guerrero Andrade., Rakib, Akhtar., Lazaro, Eliyah Mngumi., Sheeba, Chander., Sudhan, Srinivas., Maria, Rinya Roy. The ‘Peri-Urban Turn’: A systems thinking approach for a paradigm shift in reconceptualising urban-rural futures in the global South. Habitat International 2024| https://doi.org/10.1016/j.habitatint.2024.103041 [download]

6. SCI / SSCI: Ge, Mengting., Kong, Jie., Yang, Qiuyi., Chen, Mingze*., Wang, Wenji*. Examine an Intelligence Education Framework of Landscape Architecture (EFLA) Based on Network Model of Technology in Landscape Architecture (NMTLA). Sustainability 2023 | https://doi.org/10.3390/su151411277 [download]

5. SCI: Qiao, Renlu, Zhiqaing Wu, Shuo Gao, Qingrui Jiang, Xiaochang Liu, Chenyu Huang, Li Xia, and Chen, Mingze. Towards inclusive underground public transportation: Gender differences on thermal comfort. Building and Environment 2023 Jul 5:110569. | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2023.110569 [download]

4. SCI: Zhang, Yang., Li, Xiaowei., Jiang, Qingrui., Chen, Mingze*., Liu, Lunyuan*. Quantify the Spatial Association between the Distribution of Catering Business and Urban Spaces in London Using Catering POI Data and Image Segmentation. Atmosphere 2022, 13, 2128. | https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos13122128 [download]

3. SCI: Wang, Ling., Ding, Jiahui.; Chen, Mingze., Sun, Yuan., Tang, Xueyun., Ge, Mengting*. Exploring Tourists’ Multilevel Spatial Cognition of Historical Town Based on Multi-Source Data—A Case Study of Feng Jing Ancient Town in Shanghai. Buildings 2022, 12, 1833. | https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings12111833 [download]

2. SCI: Shen, Xiwei., Chen, Mingze*, Ge Mengting*, Padua, Mary G. Examining the Conceptual Model of Potential Urban Development Patch (PUDP), VOCs, and Food Culture in Urban Ecology: A Case in Chengdu, China. Atmosphere 2022, 13, 1369. | https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos13091369 [download]

1. Chen, Mingze., Zhang, Yang., Yang, Yubing., Fang, Zhiguo. Application of data visualization in urban design based on Grasshopper, Landscape Architecture Academic Journal 2022, 39(5), 44-51. (in Chinese)| https://doi.org/10.12193/j.laing.2022.05.0044.006 陈铭泽,张洋,杨玉冰,方智果.基于Grasshopper平台的数据可视化在城市设计中的研究与实践[J].园林,2022,39(05):44-51. [download]

Reviewer of Journal Manuscripts

Conference

Chen, Mingze., Park, Keunhyun. Usability of Low-cost Smart Sensors for Monitoring Visitor Volumes and Movements in Urban Parks| 2025 CELA (Council of Educators in Landscape Architecture) Conference Abstract Presentation (Portland, OR)

Chen, Mingze., Huang, Yongming., Zheng, Yuqiao., Du, Jiani., Park, Keunhyun. Defining Urban Vitality Using Text-based, Image-based, and GPS Data | 2024 ACSP (Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning) Individual Paper Presentation (Seattle, WA)

Zhou, Xuanyu., Chen, Mingze. Greening the Gap: Examining Urban Greenery Equity in Shrinking Cities| 2024 ACSP (Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning) Individual Paper Presentation (Seattle, WA)

Chen, Mingze., Huang, Yongming., Zheng, Yuqiao., Du, Jiani. Evaluating Urban Vitality with Big Data: Insights from Social Media and GPS Data across 10 Global Cities | 2024 EDRA (Environmental Design Research Association) Conference Abstract (Accepted)

Zhou, Xuanyu., Chen, Mingze. Using Sensor and Vision-Based Technologies to Examine the Quality Transformation of Green Space in Multi-Shrinking Cities | 2024 EDRA (Environmental Design Research Association) Conference Abstract (Accepted)

Chen, Mingze., Park, Keunhyun. Vision-based and sensor-based technologies in monitoring human behaviours in natural areas: A scoping review| 2024 CELA (Council of Educators in Landscape Architecture) Conference Abstract (Accepted)

Luo, Tianze., Chen, Mingze. Smart Canopies: Optimizing Tree Layouts for Enhanced Thermal Comfort — An Edinburgh Case Study| 2024 IUFRO (International Union of Forest Research Organizations) Conference Abstract (Accepted)

Wang, Yuxi., Wang, Xinyi., Shen, Xiwei., Chen, Mingze. Unmasking Human Impact on Panda Habitats and Orchestrating Sustainable Forestry Futures: A systematic review| 2024 IUFRO (International Union of Forest Research Organizations) Conference Abstract (Accepted)

Chen, Mingze., Liu, Yuxuan., Chadha, Trishla. A Comprehensive Model for Pedestrian-Scale Evaluation of Linear Greenery Visibility| 2023 IFLA (International Federation of Landscape Architects) Conference Abstract (Accepted)

Xiwei Shen., Chen, Mingze. Examine an Intelligence Education Framework of Landscape Architecture (EFLA)| 2023 IFLA (International Federation of Landscape Architects) Conference Abstract (Accepted)

Shen, Xiwei., Chen, Mingze. Examine an Intelligence Education Framework of Landscape Architecture (EFLA) Based on Network Model of Technology in Landscape Architecture (NMTLA) in 21st Century | 2023 ECLAS (European Council of Landscape Architecture Schools) Conference (Accepted)

Chen, Mingze. Using big data and machine learning to quantify urban green space equality by ethnicity, gender, income, and age | 2022 IFLA (International Federation of Landscape Architects) Conference Abstract (Accepted)

Chen, Mingze., Yu, Yingwen., Wang, Yaxin., Sun, Ruilin. Touching the intangible landscape heritage: revive urban lifestyles based on virtual and augmented reality technologies | 2022 IFLA (International Federation of Landscape Architects) Conference Abstract (Accepted)

Chen, Mingze., Sun, Ruilin., Wang, Yaxin, Yu, Yingwen. Using the data-driven method to explore the ambiguous urban landscape heritage –100 urban open space cases in Milan, Italy | 2022 IFLA (International Federation of Landscape Architects) Conference Abstract (Accepted)

Shen, Xiwei., Padua, Mary., Chen, Mingze. Themes in Digital Landscape Architecture: Techniques or Technologies? | 2022 CELA (Council of Educators in Landscape Architecture) Conference Abstract

Book

2. Magical Foodscape: A Guidebook For Re-planning The Cities Base On The Culture, Food And The Built Environment. (pp. 010–055). Advanced Books, 1, e129204. | Section Editors

1. Agro-Matrix. In M.Arch. UD 2021-2022 (pp. 148–159). Bartlett School of Architecture, UCL.