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Greetings!

Charles Q.C. LI.
Urban Researcher,
Designer,
& Romantic Pragmatist

About

Who Am I ?

[Researcher; Planner; Designer]
Healthy & Vibrant Cities; Urban Sensing & Computing.

Hello!

I am Charles Qianchuan (Chyan-Chwan) LI.

Having received education in both Asia and the U.S., my background encompasses urban planning and architecture, coupled with a significant emphasis on spatial data science.

I firmly believe that cutting-edge computational thinking & methods can enhance the resilience of our cities against climate change, benefit human health, foster vibrant economy, and promote socio-economic inclusivity. My fundamental principle revolves around the sustainable evolution of cities, guided by three key principles: Health, Vibrancy, Equity. I am dedicated to a research-driven career in planning and design, with a strong commitment to integrating practical elements.

Research Experience

February 2024 - Ongoing

MIT Senseable City Lab

Research Fellow

Scientific research in urban sensing and computing to enrich the policy landscape, facilitating the cultivation of urban environments that intertwine sustainability and well-being. My methodology hinge upon developing cutting-edge AI & Network tools to inform optimization strategies of cities.


July 2023 - Ongoing

UC Berkeley Institute of Urban & Regional Development

Assistant Specialist; Research Collaborator

Environmental research, which aims to integrate various urban data sources, including multi-scale air quality and location-based services (LBS) data to construct a climate justice "digital twin" relating physical environment to social vulnerability, specifically for the San Francisco Bay Area.


August 2022 - July 2023

Architectural Intelligence Group (Now at City University of Hong Kong)

Research Assistant

Engage in directed research: development and refinement of AI tools, focused on Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) to facilitate the process of translating complex urban plans into high-resolution land surface temperature mappings to facilitate architectural and urban design.


November 2023 - February 2024

Remineralize the Earth (Environmental Non-profifit)

Volunteer

Conduct original research / case studies on urban farming and remineralization, which enhances urban well-being and food security. Connect environmental design to remineralization. Media & website design to enhance branding and to facilitate the communication among various environmental stakeholders.

August 2022 - July 2023

Directed Research - UC Berkeley

Research Lead

Lead two research directed by LAEP/DCRP faculty: One involves applying Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to classify travel patterns derived from GPS data. Another connects street environments and occurrences of crime, utilizing Google Street View Images (GSVIs) and machine learning algorithms.


July 2020 - January 2021

Turenscape &
Studio Zhu-Pei

Landscape & Architectural Research / Design

Internship programs. Engage in several environmental planning and landscape research/design projects, encompassing diverse areas such as stormwater management, landscape gardening, and the design of public spaces. I also facilitate media and website design initiatives.


July 2019 - August 2019

Israel Institute of Technology (Technion)

Summer Fellowship - Landscape & Environment

Engage in research within the realms of landscape ecology and environmental planning through a combination of theoretical reading and in-depth case analyses. I also conduct field research/lectures during the visit to several Israeli cities including Haifa, Jerusalem, and Tel Aviv-Yafo.


August 2018 - May 2021

School of Architecture, Southeast University

Teaching / Research Assistant

Active participation in a variety of planning and design projects, addressing diverse themes like urban color planning, waterfront development, and even book editing. Meanwhile, I was a Teaching Assistant for several year-long courses, including design studio, planning theory, and software application.

Academic Degrees

Aug 2021 - May 2023

University of California, Berkeley

M.Arch. - Master of Architecture
Focus: Information Architecture & Spatial Analytics

A Class Units / Total Units = 77 / 80 = 96.25%
GPA: 3.877 / 4.000

Key Courses:
A+ - Scalable Spatial Analytics
A+ - Analytic and Research Methods for Planners: GIS
A - Back-End Web Architecture
A - Locative Media
A - Land and Housing Market Economics
A - Urbanization in Developing Countries
A- - Urban Informatics and Visualization
A- - Advanced Study of Energy & Environment
A- - Citizen Involvement in the City Planning Process

August 2015 - June 2021

Southeast University

B.Eng. - Bachelor of Engineering, Urban Planning
Focus: Sustainable Urban Governance / Design

A Class Units / Total Units = 188 / 219.5 = 85.60%
GPA: 3.860 / 4.000

Key Courses:
A - GIS & Its Application in Urban Planning I & II
A - City Policy Analysis
A - Urban Ecology & Environmental Planning
A - Physical Environment Analysis
A - Data Analysis of Urban Planning System
A - Community Planner Intership
A - History of Foreign Landscape
A - Advanced Mathematics
A - Linear Algebra

Other Affiliations

November 2023 - Ongoing

the American Institute of Architects (AIA)

Associate. AIA

"The largest, most influential network of architecture professionals—who together are leveraging the power of design to advance climate action and racial and gender equity in our industry and beyond."

November 2023 - Ongoing

CityQuest Labs
(CQL)

Founder & Research Lead

A self-initiated research group focusing on the history and future of sustainable evolution of cities through 3 key principles: Health, Vibrancy, and Equity. We work with various disciplines and professions.

Works

Featured Projects.

My portfolio spans across a spectrum of disciplines, encompassing spatial data analysis, software development, web mapping, as well as architectural and media design.

City Science & Engineering

Urban Design and Travel Behaviors. (view)

Based on the "5Ds" urban design & TOD framework, We use principal component analysis (PCA) and K-means clustering to analyze the GPS-based travel data of the Twin Cities region. Four trip clusters were concluded to provide insights for agencies seeking to better understand mobility patterns from a TOD perspective.

Design & Media


Dancing Wrap

Facade Design

Parametric designed component creates dynamic urban interface.

Museum of Light (1/7)

Building Design

A porous scheme can enable the influx of natural light.

Museum of Light (2/7)

Building Design

A porous scheme can enable the influx of natural light.

Museum of Light (3/7)

Building Design

A porous scheme can enable the influx of natural light.

Museum of Light (4/7)

Building Design

A porous scheme can enable the influx of natural light.

Museum of Light (5/7)

Building Design

A porous scheme can enable the influx of natural light.

Museum of Light (6/7)

Building Design

A porous scheme can enable the influx of natural light.

Museum of Light (7/7)

Building Design

A porous scheme can enable the influx of natural light.

Waterfront Station

Building Design

Urban areas are connected by scenery spaces.

Flexible Device

Pavilion Design

A convertible roof shapes residents' activities.

Urban Living Room

Building Design

Public space for the publics.

Making A Mountain (1/2)

Building Design

Blur the boundary between narrative and geometry.

Making A Mountain (2/2)

Building Design

Blur the boundary between narrative and geometry.

Magic Cocoon (1 / 2)

Installation Design

A home when the doom comes.

Magic Cocoon (2 / 2)

Installation Design

A home when the doom comes.

Wavy Landscape (1 / 3)

Landscape Design

A park for humans and non-humans.

Wavy Landscape (2 / 3)

Landscape Design

A park for humans and non-humans.

Wavy Landscape (3 / 3)

Landscape Design

A park for humans and non-humans.

Urban Flow

Building Design

A community center connecting urban spaces.

Landscape Complex (1 / 2)

Building Design

A urban complex shaping landscapes.

Landscape Complex (2 / 2)

Building Design

A urban complex shaping landscapes.

Homeless Oakland (1 / 2)

Media Design

How people experiencing homeless live in Oakland?

Homeless Oakland (2 / 2)

Media Design

How people experiencing homeless live in Oakland?

Sustainable Data Center

Building Design

Reuse energy from data centers.





My Skills.

Coding tools, visual processing and modeling software.

Life

A Box of Chocolate .

Life is inherently thrilling yet riddled with uncertainty. Many things can help me achieve a harmonious equilibrium between life and work, romance and pragmatism, providing me anchors at any time.

A Chef.

I have a deep affection for various cuisines, spanning from exquisite fried cuisine to delightful baked goods. One of the most captivating aspects of life for me is the ability to savor foods from diverse cultures, promoting both culinary exploration and our well-being.

PET

An Animal Lover.

I've got a real soft spot for animals. They're like these awesome buddies who hang out with us humans. They're not just great for keeping us company, but also pretty beneficial for our mental health. We are lucky to have these fantastic companions that bring positivity to our lives.

A Rock Fan.

Rock music is totally my jam. It can help me be motivated when I'm at work. They kind of give me this boost of energy and inspiration that helps me power through tasks and get stuff done. It's like having a secret weapon in my playlist for both relaxation and productivity!

A City Walker.

I absolutely love going on long-distance walks and capturing moments with my camera during my stops. This leisurely yet incredibly fulfilling physical activity isn't just great for my heart, but it also gives me the chance to closely observe the intricacies of our cities.

Change and Challenge

I firmly believe that innovative thinking and persistent hard work are inseparable when it comes to achieving breakthroughs.

16

Awards Received

691

Cups of Coffee

2

Papers Published

3

Ongoing Projects

Contact

Say Hi.

I am open to the opportunity for academic or business consultation of any kind! If my work resonates with you, don't hesitate to connect. Together, let's create a brighter and more promising future for our cities!

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Instagram: cql_9321

Email

cheerlee9321@gmail.com
cityquestlabs@gmail.com
liqianchuan9321@berkeley.edu

Address

Earth
Solar System, Orion Arm
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