Dr Zhixin Liu

Department of Landscape Architecture

Lecturer

zhixin.liu@sheffield.ac.uk
+44 7410 078872

Arts Tower

Full contact details

Dr Zhixin Liu
Department of Landscape Architecture
Arts Tower
Western Bank
Sheffield
S10 2TN

Profile

I started my career as a lecturer at Department of Landscape Architecture, University of Sheffield, in 2024. Prior to joining Sheffield, I was a research assistant professor at School of Architecture, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, and a postdoctoral fellow at Institute of Future Cities, CUHK. I received my Ph.D degree in Building Environment and Energy Laboratory, South China University of Technology. I was a visiting scholar at Microclimate Design Research Group, Department of Landscape Architecture & Urban Planning, Texas A&M University.

I have been actively involved in urban microclimate research since 2013 and have authored more than fifteen journal papers focusing on the thermal and human-biometeorological effects of urban greening. My research focuses on climate-adaptive urban environmental design and planning with a specific focus on urban microclimate, urban greening, and outdoor human thermal health. My expertise is in urban microclimate assessment via field observations and numerical simulation. By conducting interdisciplinary research, I focus on providing scientific evidence and translating it to practical strategies for landscape designers, practitioners, and decision-makers for making a better living urban environment.

I enthusiastically participate in academic activities, serving as a reviewer for over ten leading journals in the fields of urban (micro)climate, urban greening, and biometeorology. In 2023, I was honored with the "Excellence in Reviewing" award by Urban Climate for my contributions. Additionally, I serve as the primary editor for a book titled Urban Greenery and Microclimate: Experience from Subtropical High-density Cities for Climate-sensitive Planning and Design, which is being prepared for publication by Springer.

Research interests

Urban greening
Climate-responsive greening design
Urban microclimate
Human thermal comfort/health
Microclimate research methodology

Publications

Journal articles

Su X, Li Y, Gu C, Liu Z, Yang B & Hong B (2023) A modified COMFA model for elderly people in outdoor environments. Sustainable Cities and Society, 99, 104940-104940.
Liu Z, Cheng KY, Sinsel T, Simon H, Jim CY, Morakinyo TE, He Y, Yin S, Ouyang W, Shi Y & Ng E (2023) Modeling microclimatic effects of trees and green roofs/façades in ENVI-met: Sensitivity tests and proposed model library. Building and Environment, 244, 110759-110759.
Cheng KY, Lau K, Shek YT, Liu Z & Ng E (2023) Evaluation on the performance of tree view factor in a high-density subtropical city: A case study in Hong Kong. Building and Environment, 239, 110431-110431.
He Y, Liu Z & Ng E (2022) Parametrization of irregularity of urban morphologies for designing better pedestrian wind environment in high-density cities – A wind tunnel study. Building and Environment, 226, 109692-109692.
Liu Z, Cheng KY, He Y, Jim CY, Brown RD, Shi Y, Lau K & Ng E (2022) Microclimatic measurements in tropical cities: Systematic review and proposed guidelines. Building and Environment, 222, 109411-109411.
Ouyang W, Liu Z, Lau K, Shi Y & Ng E (2022) Comparing different recalibrated methods for estimating mean radiant temperature in outdoor environment. Building and Environment, 216, 109004-109004.
Liu Z & Jim CY (2021) Playing on natural or artificial turf sports field? Assessing heat stress of children, young athletes, and adults in Hong Kong. Sustainable Cities and Society, 75, 103271-103271.
Cheng W, Li D, Liu Z & Brown RD (2021) Approaches for identifying heat-vulnerable populations and locations: A systematic review. Science of The Total Environment, 799, 149417-149417.
Liu Z, Cheng W, Jim CY, Morakinyo TE, Shi Y & Ng E (2021) Heat mitigation benefits of urban green and blue infrastructures: A systematic review of modeling techniques, validation and scenario simulation in ENVI-met V4. Building and Environment, 200, 107939-107939.
Liu Z, Brown RD, Zheng S, Zhang L & Zhao L (2020) The effect of trees on human energy fluxes in a humid subtropical climate region. International Journal of Biometeorology, 64(10), 1675-1686.
Zheng S, Guldmann J-M, Liu Z, Zhao L, Wang J, Pan X & Zhao D (2020) Predicting the influence of subtropical trees on urban wind through wind tunnel tests and numerical simulations. Sustainable Cities and Society, 57, 102116-102116.
Liu Z, Brown RD, Zheng S, Jiang Y & Zhao L (2020) An in-depth analysis of the effect of trees on human energy fluxes. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 50, 126646-126646.
Zheng S, Guldmann J-M, Liu Z, Zhao L, Wang J & Pan X (2020) Modeling of shade creation and radiation modification by four tree species in hot and humid areas: Case study of Guangzhou, China. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 47, 126545-126545.
Zheng S, Guldmann J-M, Liu Z & Zhao L (2018) Influence of trees on the outdoor thermal environment in subtropical areas: An experimental study in Guangzhou, China. Sustainable Cities and Society, 42, 482-497.
Liu Z, Zheng S, Fang X, Lu X & Zhao L (2018) Simulating validation of ENVI-met vegetation model to Ficus microcarpa in hot-humid region of subtropical zone. Beijing Linye Daxue Xuebao/Journal of Beijing Forestry University, 40(3), 1-12.
Liu Z, Zheng S & Zhao L () Evaluation of the ENVI-Met Vegetation Model of Four Common Tree Species in a Subtropical Hot-Humid Area. Atmosphere, 9(5), 198-198.

Grants

2023-2025

Study on the long-term impact of green space on urban local climate and building energy consumption in hot and humid areas

An international scientific and technological cooperation projects (Co-I)

Funded by Science and Technology Planning Project of Guangdong Province, China

2018-2019

The Excellent Doctoral Dissertation Innovation Fund

Funded by South China University of Technology, China

Professional activities and memberships

Honorary Research Associate, School of Architecture, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Team Member, The Sustainable and Environmental Design Team
Journal refereeing: Nature Communications; Building and Environment; Sustainable Cities and Society; Urban Climate; Urban Forestry and Urban Greening; International Journal of Biometeorology; Sustainability; Journal of Asian Architecture and Building Engineering; Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences; Architectural Science Review, etc.

Awards

Excellence in Reviewing (2023) (awarded to Zhixin in recognition of an outstanding contribution to the quality of the journal Urban Climate)
The winner of Future Building Category of the "Advancing Net Zero" Ideas Competition, organized by the Hong Kong Green Building Council. Collaborated with Ronald Lu & Partners (Hong Kong) Ltd. (2021)