Yilun Zhao

Yilun Zhao joined the PhD program in Urban and Regional Planning in Fall 2024. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Landscape Architecture from Beijing Forestry University and master’s degrees in Landscape Architecture and Geospatial Data Sciences from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.

His research focuses on urban microclimate, heat resilience, and the interactions between the built environment, natural landscapes, and human thermal comfort. His work integrates field-based environmental measurements with GIS, remote sensing, environmental modeling, and statistical analysis to examine how urban form, vegetation, water, and surface characteristics influence thermal environments across spatial scales. His broader research seeks to support climate-responsive urban planning and landscape design and contribute to more resilient and thermally comfortable communities.