Chongqing University Professor Bao-Jie He Awarded Open Topic Grant by LOUD

Recently, Bao-Jie He, the Professor with the School of Architecture and Urban Planning at Chongqing University, was awarded an open topic research fund by the Shanghai Key Laboratory of Urban Design and Urban Science (LOUD). Leveraging NYU Shanghai's strengths in scientific research, particularly in urban science, data science, and social science, LOUD is expanding its international vision and fostering international cooperation. LOUD aims to strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration, promote the integration of industry, learning, research, and application, and ultimately establish itself as an academic center with innovative vitality and an internationally advanced platform for urban studies.

The open topic research fund of the Shanghai Key Laboratory of Urban Design and Urban Science (LOUD) primarily supports domestic and international researchers in conducting urban-related research. It aims to create a platform for academic research, exchange, and collaboration for researchers with diverse disciplinary backgrounds and research experiences. In 2022, the open topic grant received applications from 27 domestic and international universities, including Peking University, Tongji University, University of California, Berkeley, and Texas A&M University. After a rigorous review process, 13 researchers were granted funding, and several papers have been published as part of this joint research initiative.

To further advance urban and regional science research, the LOUD fund for 2023 attracted numerous applicants amid fierce competition. Among the numerous applicants, Prof. Bao-Jie He's research proposal stood out, securing funding for his project titled "Identification and Planning of Walkable Routes for Urban Heat Adaptation". The LOUD recently conducted an interview with him centered around the Open Fund and expects that by sharing Prof. He's rich academic experience and achievements, it will provide inspiration and reference for researchers.

LOUD: Today, we are honored to have Prof. Bao-Jie He with us for an interview, who is a Global Highly Cited Scientist in 2022 and 2023, and a Chinese Highly Cited Scholar in 2024. Prof. He is highly recognized for his achievements in the field of high-temperature resilience and has been awarded the "Green Elite Award" by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research. Could you introduce more about your academic background and research focus to us?

Prof. Bao-Jie He: Thank you for your invitation and introduction. I am a full Professor at the School of Architecture and Urban Planning at Chongqing University. I am also serving as the Chair of Centre for Climate-Resilient and Low-Carbon Cities (under the Smart City Research Institute) at Chongqing University, and an honorary research fellow at Hiroshima University in Japan. My research focuses on urban climate, heat-resilient urban planning and design, and net zero-carbon built environment. The research interest includes urban and building morphology [2-6], heat mitigation and adaptation technologies [7-9], urban ventilation performance [10-12], and relevant smart decision-making platform and tools. My work primarily aim is to promote the transformation from urban climate science, mitigation and adaptation technologies, and planning and design practices by overcoming policy, economic, social, and technological barriers to achieve climate-adaptive planning and design effectively.

LOUD: Thank you for your substantial research content sharing. Could you please introduce your research project you are leading "Identification and Planning of Walkable Routes for Urban Heat Adaptation"?

Prof. Bao-Jie He: First, I would like to express my gratitude for the LOUD's recognition and support of our team's work. With the dual impact of climate change and urbanization, the issue of urban heat has become increasingly severe. Under the call of China's "National Strategy for Adaptation to Climate Change 2035," we urgently need to develop comprehensive strategies, technologies, and solutions to address extreme weather conditions. Therefore, we have been contemplating how our research can contribute to the national climate adaptation strategy. Daily walking is the most typical and commonest outdoor activity for residents, so that it is important to reduce heat stress during daily walking. Citywalk is another driver for us. It is now a popular trend, representing an immersive way for people to experience the city through cross-district and cross-regional tourism. However, if the Citywalk routes are uncomfortable and unsafe during hot weather, it is difficult to achieve the desired experience.

LOUD: This research is timely and relevant for effectively improving the thermal environment for urban residents. It is also one of the key issues our laboratory focuses on in the context of climate-adaptive urban development. Could you explain how you derived and gradually broke through from your previous research?

Prof. Bao-Jie He: This project builds on our prior research in urban morphology, heat risk assessment, and heat adaptation strategies. It integrates, continues, and deepens our earlier work. Our main goal is to enhance the quality of pedestrian travel, reduce health risks in high temperatures, ensure the safety and health of residents, and promote low-carbon travel. Specifically, we start by combining the spatial characteristics of urban travel pathways with the activity patterns of the population to predict the spatial and temporal distribution of heat risks. We then identify potential high-risk heat points along travel routes, providing the basis for decision-making and feedback for healthy travel pathways.

LOUD: Appreciate your sharing. Your research responds to a very pressing issue. Urban characteristics are an important consideration in climate research, and we are interested in how you have taken these factors into account and incorporated them into your research to adapt to local climate governance needs.

Prof. Bao-Jie He: That’s an excellent question. Our research is based in Chongqing primarily due to its unique climatic characteristics and urban planning context. Specifically, Chongqing, known as a "furnace city," poses severe challenges due to its high temperatures and humidity during the summer, which significantly impact the residents' ability to engage in outdoor activities and their health. This makes Chongqing a representative case study for our research. Additionally, as a mountainous city, Chongqing offers invaluable insights into climate adaptability governance that differ from those in flatter regions. Residents frequently need to navigate uphill and downhill, which requires more physical exertion than flat pathways and further exacerbates the thermal load during slow-moving activities. These characteristics increase the urgency and practical relevance of our study.

LOUD: This research is not only significant for Chongqing but also provides valuable insights and feasible adaptation strategies for other global cities with similar geographical and climatic conditions. It is precisely the type of project our laboratory is eager to collaborate on, as it prompts deep consideration of urban governance broadly and generates extensive experience. Could you please share more about your project plan?

Prof. Bao-Jie He: Thank you for your recognition. The implementation framework of this project is quite clear. It aims to analyze the morphological characteristics of pedestrian spaces and study the spatiotemporal distribution of high-temperature risks. By integrating residents' tolerance to high temperatures, we plan to identify high-risk segments and periods, thereby assisting residents in making informed decisions about travel during hot conditions. Specifically, we will focus on commuters, analyzing their transportation needs and characteristics from their residences to public transportation stations. By incorporating factors of instantaneous high-temperature exposure and cumulative heat impact, we will assess the health risk levels under conditions of slow movement in high temperatures, and specifically recommend suitable travel routes to the public. This approach not only enhances our understanding of the impacts of high temperatures but also provides practical strategies for improving the adaptability and quality of life of urban residents.

LOUD: Your research approach is thorough and complete, and we look forward to seeing the display of your research outcomes in the future. Besides collaborating with the laboratory on funding, you have also recently chaired the "4th International Seminar on Urban Climate and Urban Design." Could you briefly introduce the main topics and outcomes of this conference?

Prof. Bao-Jie He: Thank you for your interest, and I am glad to share details. This conference was jointly hosted by the College of Architecture and Urban Planning at Chongqing University and Xi'an Jiaotong University, with co-sponsorship from Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University and Chang'an University, and support from various academic media outlets. The conference aimed to provide a broad platform for scholars and researchers from different disciplines to discuss issues related to urban climate and urban design. By sharing the latest research findings, technological advancements, and practical application cases within this interdisciplinary field, the goal was to foster more innovative thinking and solution strategies, thereby enhancing the climate adaptability of urban planning and design.

LOUD: This is clearly a successful academic exchange platform. Finally, thank you for accepting the interview, and we look forward to more collaborations in the future.

Prof. Bao-Jie He: Thank you again for the invitation, and I look forward to more collaboration to jointly advance the development and application of research on heat resilience.