Overview
Background
As a quantitative urban data scientist and planner, I specialise in analysing and modelling complex urban systems (including housing, transport, and infrastructure) in an increasingly intelligent and data-driven world to inform evidence-based public policy and planning practices. My research addresses critical challenges such as housing financialisation and affordability, transport equity and sustainability, and climate-resilient, liveable communities in both Australian and global contexts. Through interdisciplinary research, industry partnerships, and innovation-led education, I translate complex urban data into practical solutions while mentoring the next generation of urban researchers through PhD, Master's, and Honours supervision.
Availability
- Dr Frank Zou is:
- Available for supervision
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor, Beijing Language and Culture University (北京语言大学)
- Masters (Coursework), University of Oregon
- Doctor of Philosophy, University of Maryland-College Park
Research interests
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Housing research
Topics including housing economics, housing affordability, short-term rental, climate resilient living, and housing policy evaluation
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Transport research
Topics including shared mobility and micromobility, public transport, active travel, travel behaviour, climate resilience, and transport policy evaluation
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Urban analytics
Topics including urban big data, complex analytics, machine learning and AI, data visualisation, and smart city
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Climate resilience
Topics including resilient city, climate mitigation, climate adaption, geospatial analysis, and coupling of human-nature systems
Works
Search Professor Frank Zou’s works on UQ eSpace
2025
Journal Article
Diving or thriving? How COVID-19 reshaped Australian short-term rental submarkets
Zou, Zhenpeng, Sigler, Thomas, Charles-Edwards, Elin and Corcoran, Jonathan (2025). Diving or thriving? How COVID-19 reshaped Australian short-term rental submarkets. Environment and Planning B: Urban Analytics and City Science, 52 (8), 2018-2036. doi: 10.1177/23998083251324268
2025
Journal Article
Does a 180-day cap on short-term rentals affect housing markets? Evidence from regional New South Wales
Zou, Zhenpeng, Sigler, Thomas, Rambaldi, Alicia, Charles-Edwards, Elin and Corcoran, Jonathan (2025). Does a 180-day cap on short-term rentals affect housing markets? Evidence from regional New South Wales. Regional Studies, 59 (1) 2506601, 1-18. doi: 10.1080/00343404.2025.2506601
2025
Journal Article
Charting a research agenda for micromobility and tourism
Buning, Richard J., Hardy, Anne, Corcoran, Jonathan, Pojani, Dorina, Zou, Zhenpeng and Chen, Milly (2025). Charting a research agenda for micromobility and tourism. Annals of Tourism Research Empirical Insights, 6 (1) 100164, 1-5. doi: 10.1016/j.annale.2024.100164
2024
Journal Article
The impact of urban form on the relationship between vehicle miles traveled and air pollution
Ngo, Nicole S., Zou, Zhenpeng, Yang, Yizhao and Wei, Edward (2024). The impact of urban form on the relationship between vehicle miles traveled and air pollution. Transportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives, 28 101288, 101288. doi: 10.1016/j.trip.2024.101288
2024
Other Outputs
When make yourself at home doesn't work for tourist towns
Zou, Frank (2024). When make yourself at home doesn't work for tourist towns. Melbourne, VIC, Australia: Monash University. doi: 10.54377/9d9d-146a
2024
Journal Article
Reset or renaissance? An exploratory comparison of pre- and post-pandemic regional short-term rental markets in Australia
Zou, Zhenpeng, Sigler, Thomas, Corcoran, Jonathan and Charles-Edwards, Elin (2024). Reset or renaissance? An exploratory comparison of pre- and post-pandemic regional short-term rental markets in Australia. Regional Studies, Regional Science, 11 (1), 614-631. doi: 10.1080/21681376.2024.2402479
2024
Other Outputs
Think short-stay rentals like Airbnb are out of control? Numbers are down, especially in our biggest cities
Sigler, Thomas and Zou, Zhenpeng (2024, 03 08). Think short-stay rentals like Airbnb are out of control? Numbers are down, especially in our biggest cities The Conversation
2023
Journal Article
Spatio‐temporal variation in the bid–rent functions of long‐term and short‐term rentals: evidence from South‐East Queensland, Australia
Sigler, T., Zou, Z., Corcoran, J. and Charles‐Edwards, E. (2023). Spatio‐temporal variation in the bid–rent functions of long‐term and short‐term rentals: evidence from South‐East Queensland, Australia. Tijdschrift voor Economische en Sociale Geografie, 115 (1), 42-63. doi: 10.1111/tesg.12588
2023
Other Outputs
Why e-scooters are the 'public mobility glue' for urban transport
Buning, Richard, Corcoran, Jonathan, Rahbar, Maisie, McKercher, Bob, Pojani, Dorina, Sigler, Thomas, Zou, Frank and Hardy, Anne (2023, 01 25). Why e-scooters are the 'public mobility glue' for urban transport Contact Magazine
2023
Book Chapter
Shared micro-mobility: a panacea or a patch for our urban transport problems?
Zou, Zhenpeng (2023). Shared micro-mobility: a panacea or a patch for our urban transport problems?. Intelligence for future cities: planning through big data and urban analytics. (pp. 91-108) edited by Robert Goodspeed, Raja Sengupta, Marketta Kyttä and Christopher Pettit. Cham, Switzerland: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-31746-0_6
2022
Journal Article
Were there really 1 million unoccupied dwellings in Australia on census night 2021?
Wilson, Tom, Zou, Frank and Sigler, Thomas (2022). Were there really 1 million unoccupied dwellings in Australia on census night 2021?. Australian Population Studies, 6 (2), 14-26. doi: 10.37970/aps.v6i2.106
2022
Conference Publication
Commuting trends during the COVID-19 pandemic: Evidence from Maryland
Zou, Zhenpeng, Shokputov, Alibi and Erdoğan, Sevgi (2022). Commuting trends during the COVID-19 pandemic: Evidence from Maryland. Transportation Research Board 101st Annual MeetingTransportation Research Board, Washington DC, United States, 9-13 January 2022. Washington, DC United States: Transportation Research Board, The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.
2021
Journal Article
An interpretable machine learning approach to understanding the impacts of attitudinal and ridesourcing factors on electric vehicle adoption
Bas, Javier, Zou, Zhenpeng and Cirillo, Cinzia (2021). An interpretable machine learning approach to understanding the impacts of attitudinal and ridesourcing factors on electric vehicle adoption. Transportation Letters, 15 (1), 1-12. doi: 10.1080/19427867.2021.2009098
2021
Journal Article
Towards a health-conscious transportation planning: a framework for estimating health impacts of active transportation at local level
Peng, Binbin, Erdoğan, Sevgi, Nasri, Arefeh A. and Zou, Zhenpeng (2021). Towards a health-conscious transportation planning: a framework for estimating health impacts of active transportation at local level. Journal of Transport and Health, 22 101231, 1-11. doi: 10.1016/j.jth.2021.101231
2021
Journal Article
Does ridesourcing impact driving decisions: a survey weighted regression analysis
Zou, Zhenpeng and Cirillo, Cinzia (2021). Does ridesourcing impact driving decisions: a survey weighted regression analysis. Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, 146, 1-12. doi: 10.1016/j.tra.2021.02.006
2020
Journal Article
Boosting the eco-friendly sharing economy: the effect of gasoline prices on bikeshare ridership in three U.S. metropolises
He, Pan, Zou, Zhenpeng, Zhang, Yongping and Baiocchi, Giovanni (2020). Boosting the eco-friendly sharing economy: the effect of gasoline prices on bikeshare ridership in three U.S. metropolises. Environmental Research Letters, 15 (11) 114021, 114021. doi: 10.1088/1748-9326/abbb52
2020
Journal Article
Exploratory analysis of real-time e-scooter trip data in Washington, D.C
Zou, Zhenpeng, Younes, Hannah, Erdoğan, Sevgi and Wu, Jiahui (2020). Exploratory analysis of real-time e-scooter trip data in Washington, D.C. Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, 2674 (8), 285-299. doi: 10.1177/0361198120919760
2020
Journal Article
Comparing the temporal determinants of dockless scooter-share and station-based bike-share in Washington, D.C
Younes, Hannah, Zou, Zhenpeng, Wu, Jiahui and Baiocchi, Giovanni (2020). Comparing the temporal determinants of dockless scooter-share and station-based bike-share in Washington, D.C. Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, 134, 308-320. doi: 10.1016/j.tra.2020.02.021
2020
Conference Publication
Spatial accessibility and equity of public libraries in urban settings
Hong, Lingzi, Wu, Jiahui and Zou, Zhenpeng (2020). Spatial accessibility and equity of public libraries in urban settings. 15th International Conference, iConference 2020, Boras, Sweden, 23-26 March 2020. Cham, Switzerland: Springer International Publishing. doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-43687-2_45
2019
Journal Article
Examining the impact of short-term rentals on housing prices in Washington, DC: implications for housing policy and equity
Zou, Zhenpeng (2019). Examining the impact of short-term rentals on housing prices in Washington, DC: implications for housing policy and equity. Housing Policy Debate, 30 (2), 269-290. doi: 10.1080/10511482.2019.1681016
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Frank Zou is:
- Available for supervision
Looking for a supervisor? Read our advice on how to choose a supervisor.
Available projects
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Growing Climate Resilient and Affordable Australian Cities amid Climate Change
This project examines the interrelationship between climate resilience and affordability in Australian cities, recognising that climate adaptation and the cost of living are increasingly interconnected. Using integrated analyses of housing, transport, land use, and climate data, the research develops evidence to support urban policies that simultaneously enhance resilience, affordability, and long-term sustainability.
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Evaluating Australian Short-Term Rental Markets and Policy
Platform-mediated short-term rentals, such as Airbnb and Stayz, have transformed both the accommodation sector and housing markets in Australia. This project develops data-driven market monitoring and policy evaluation tools using advanced analytics, text mining, and AI to understand market dynamics, assess regulatory impacts, and support evidence-based policies that balance tourism growth with housing affordability and community wellbeing.
Media
Enquiries
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