Overview
Background
Ali Cheshmehzangi is Professor in the School of Architecture, Design and Planning (ADP) at the University of Queensland, where he leads the School and researches across the fields of architecture, design, and planning/urbanism. He is the World’s top 2% field leader for two consecutive years, recognised by Stanford University. He is among top 30 global scholars in the urban sustainability research area. Ali is internationally known for his scholarly contribution and extended work on climate resilience and sustainable urbanism research, mainly as the Editor-in-Chief of Springer’s Urban Sustainability (US) book series (see https://www.springer.com/series/16930). He has five academic degrees including a PhD Degree in Architecture and Urban Design, Master of Architecture (M.Arch.) in Urban Design, Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education (PGCHE), Graduate Degree in Professional Studies in Architecture, and Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture. Ali has a wealth of experience, expertise, and a strong commitment to innovation and excellence in the fields of architecture, design, and planning, three core disciplines of his School at UQ. With a career spanning over two decades, he has made significant contributions to the academic and professional communities, with a focus on sustainable and environmentally conscious design. Prior to joining UQ, Ali held several strategic leadership and senior managerial roles, such as Vice-President for International Engagement and Global Partnership, Founding Director and Head of the Center for Innovation in Education and Research, Head of the Department of Architecture and Built Environment, Founding Director of the Urban Innovation Lab, Director of a university-wide Teaching and Learning platform, Director of International Research Network for Rural and Urban Development, Head of Research Group for Sustainable Built Environment, co-director of university-wide research priority areas, Director of Center for Sustainable Energy Technologies, and Interim Director of Digital Design Lab.
Availability
- Professor Ali Cheshmehzangi is:
- Available for supervision
Qualifications
- Bachelor (Honours) of Architecture, Leeds Metropolitan University
- Graduate Certificate in Architecture, Leeds Metropolitan University
- Masters (Extended) of Urban Design, University of Nottingham
- Doctor of Philosophy of Architecture and Urbanism, University of Nottingham
- Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education, University of Nottingham
Research impacts
Ali has a wide range of experience at the university leadership level, sitting at several committees for student experience and engagement, UK-Asia Research Network, Regional Strategic leadership, Research and Knowledge Exchange leadership, Student Affairs support, etc. He has carried forward his honorary roles in China and Japan. He was a specially-appointed Full Professor and is now a Research Associate of the Network for Education and Research on Peace and Sustainability (NERPS), Hiroshima University, Japan. He has collaborated and worked with major international and national organisations and leading industry partners such as the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the UN Habitat, ICLEI, Arup, Siemens, Regional Planning Association (in New York), London Development Agency, Catapult UK, The Guangzhou Award for Urban Innovation, China’s National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), China Academy of Building Research (CABR), Building Research Establishment (BRE), etc. Under his profile, he has 11 PhD students to completion and nine ongoing PhD students studying various urban sustainability and built environment research topics, often through applied research and problem-solving ideas. He is open to take new PhD/HDR students who are eager to explore important local and global research topics.
Ali is active in research and continues to collaborate with multiple stakeholders in academia, governments, communities, and the industry. He is well-connected internationally in multiple regions in Australia, Asia, Europe, North America, and Africa. He believes in impactful and meaningful research that could enrich our local communities with a global and progressive outlook. So far, Ali has published over 500 journal papers, articles, conference papers, book chapters, and reports. To date, he has published 26 academic books, mostly focused on sustainable urban development, urbanism, and sustainability transitions. Three of his books have received awards at the national, provincial, and municipal levels. He also has received international award and recognition for his research on urban resilience studies and sustainability research, as well as a Vice-Chancellor’s award for his impactful contribution to higher education.
Works
Search Professor Ali Cheshmehzangi’s works on UQ eSpace
2026
Journal Article
Beyond birth rates: a theoretical framework for women's reproductive autonomy and quality childbearing
Su, Zhaohui, Yang, Xue, McDonnell, Dean, Ahmad, Junaid, Bentley, Barry L., Cheshmehzangi, Ali, Šegalo, Sabina, Nie, Jing-Bao, da Veiga, Claudimar Pereira and Xiang, Yu-Tao (2026). Beyond birth rates: a theoretical framework for women's reproductive autonomy and quality childbearing. Frontiers in Public Health, 14 1734790. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2026.1734790
2026
Journal Article
Co-benefits and trade-offs of urban resilience for sustainable development goals (SDGs)
Sharifi, Ayyoob, Sobhaninia, Saeideh, Esfandi, Saeed, Amirzadeh, Melika, Tayebi, Safiyeh and Cheshmehzangi, Ali (2026). Co-benefits and trade-offs of urban resilience for sustainable development goals (SDGs). Habitat International, 170 103735, 103735. doi: 10.1016/j.habitatint.2026.103735
2026
Journal Article
Mental health challenges in older women: A systematic review of post-COVID technology-based interventions
Zhang, Yihan, Di, Shengjie, Kabir, Janisa, Kaburu, Francis Mungai, Yang, Xue, Kudiza, Abdulswabul, Tong, Chaojun, Zhu, Ping, Intizar, Mehak, Jiang, Jianlin, Mcdonnell, Dean, Bentley, Barry L., Cheshmehzangi, Ali, Ahmad, Junaid, Segalo, Sabina, Nie, Jing-Bao, Veiga, Claudimar Pereira Da, Xiang, Yu-Tao and Su, Zhaohui (2026). Mental health challenges in older women: A systematic review of post-COVID technology-based interventions. Asian Journal of Psychiatry, 118 104906, 104906. doi: 10.1016/j.ajp.2026.104906
2026
Journal Article
Accountability in care and cash: a call to quantify the costs of war on global health
Su, Zhaohui, Zhang, Ruijie, Kaburu, Francis Mungai, McDonnell, Dean, Cheshmehzangi, Ali, Segalo, Sabina, Ahmad, Junaid, Nie, Jing-Bao, da Veiga, Claudimar Pereira and Xiang, Yu-Tao (2026). Accountability in care and cash: a call to quantify the costs of war on global health. Postgraduate Medical Journal qgag032. doi: 10.1093/postmj/qgag032
2026
Journal Article
Climate Change Messaging and Mental Health
Su, Zhaohui, Kaburu, Francis Mungai, Zhang, Ruijie, Kudiza, Abdulswabul, Tong, Chaojun, Intizar, Mehak, Jiang, Jianlin, Yu, Xin, Zhu, Ping, Yang, Xue, McDonnell, Dean, Ahmad, Junaid, Bentley, Barry L., Cheshmehzangi, Ali, Šegalo, Sabina, Nie, Jing‐Bao, da Veiga, Claudimar Pereira and Xiang, Yu‐Tao (2026). Climate Change Messaging and Mental Health. Sustainable Development sd.70852. doi: 10.1002/sd.70852
2026
Journal Article
Sustainable Built Environments at the Climate–Health Nexus: Mitigating Heat Risks for Urban Well-Being
Cheshmehzangi, Ali (2026). Sustainable Built Environments at the Climate–Health Nexus: Mitigating Heat Risks for Urban Well-Being. Encyclopedia, 6 (3) 60, 60. doi: 10.3390/encyclopedia6030060
2026
Journal Article
Hyperlocal governance and decentralized experimentation to enable social innovation in sustainable development
Cheshmehzangi, Ali, Allam, Zaheer, He, Bao-Jie and Su, Zhaohui (2026). Hyperlocal governance and decentralized experimentation to enable social innovation in sustainable development. Discover Sustainability, 7 (1) 526. doi: 10.1007/s43621-025-01477-2
2026
Journal Article
Nature-Based Solutions in Urban Regeneration: A Review of Methods, Governance, and Future Directions
Russo, Alessio, Baresi, Umberto and Cheshmehzangi, Ali (2026). Nature-Based Solutions in Urban Regeneration: A Review of Methods, Governance, and Future Directions. Urban Science, 10 (3) 130, 130. doi: 10.3390/urbansci10030130
2026
Journal Article
Healthy and resilient cities for future pandemics: a systematic review
Taheri, Shima, Shabani, Amirhosein, Badland, Hannah, Cheshmehzangi, Ali and Sharifi, Ayyoob (2026). Healthy and resilient cities for future pandemics: a systematic review. Cities & Health, 1-20. doi: 10.1080/23748834.2026.2616967
2026
Journal Article
Examining Sponge City coverage and perceptions in global news media
Li, Lei, Ives, Christopher D., Carter, Jeremy, Collins, Alexandra M., Adekola, Olalekan, Green, Daniel, Cheshmehzangi, Ali and Chan, Faith Ka Shun (2026). Examining Sponge City coverage and perceptions in global news media. Cities, 169 106588, 1-13. doi: 10.1016/j.cities.2025.106588
2026
Conference Publication
Development of an integrative framework for urban heat mitigation and adaptation implementation
Wang, Yuxiang, Cheshmehzangi, Ali, Zahed, Leila Mohaghegh and He, Bao-Jie (2026). Development of an integrative framework for urban heat mitigation and adaptation implementation. Institute of Physics. doi: 10.1088/1755-1315/1582/1/012040
2026
Book Chapter
Persian Gulf Heritage in Built Form and Coastal Architecture
Shaeri, Jalil and Cheshmehzangi, Ali (2026). Persian Gulf Heritage in Built Form and Coastal Architecture. Urban Sustainability. (pp. 1-182) Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-981-95-6346-3
2026
Book Chapter
From Nurtured Cities to Nature-Led Futures: Reflections, Lessons, and Pathways Ahead
Cheshmehzangi, Ali, Alidoust, Sara, Chen, Wendy Y. and Fuller, Richard (2026). From Nurtured Cities to Nature-Led Futures: Reflections, Lessons, and Pathways Ahead. Urban Sustainability. (pp. 257-262) Singapore: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-981-95-5487-4_12
2026
Journal Article
Corrigendum to “Subdistrict-Scale day–night assessment of urban heat vulnerability: A multi-dimensional framework and mitigation strategies for megacities – case of Guangzhou, China” [Building and Environment Volume 287, Part A, 1 January 2026, 113803] (Building and Environment (2026) 287(PA), (S0360132325012739), (10.1016/j.buildenv.2025.113803))
Nie, Zichuan, Wang, Lihui, Cheshmehzangi, Ali, Wu, Haitang, Lu, Dongyu and Zhao, Lihua (2026). Corrigendum to “Subdistrict-Scale day–night assessment of urban heat vulnerability: A multi-dimensional framework and mitigation strategies for megacities – case of Guangzhou, China” [Building and Environment Volume 287, Part A, 1 January 2026, 113803] (Building and Environment (2026) 287(PA), (S0360132325012739), (10.1016/j.buildenv.2025.113803)). Building and Environment, 287 113879, 113879. doi: 10.1016/j.buildenv.2025.113879
2026
Journal Article
Uncovering the air quality benefits of urban forests using UAV surveys
Ahmad, Sohail, Huang, Lihua, Miao, Chunping, Chen, Fengxian, Mohaghegh, Leila and Cheshmehzangi, Ali (2026). Uncovering the air quality benefits of urban forests using UAV surveys. Urban and Building Science, 2 (1) 5, 1-9. doi: 10.53941/ubs.2025.100012
2026
Conference Publication
Cooling for air temperature reduction or thermal comfort improvement? Simulations based on local characteristics
Liao, Xiongjie, Cheshmehzangi, Ali, Zahed, Leila Mohaghegh and He, Bao-Jie (2026). Cooling for air temperature reduction or thermal comfort improvement? Simulations based on local characteristics. Institute of Physics. doi: 10.1088/1755-1315/1582/1/012057
2026
Book Chapter
Thailand’s Tropical Thresholds: Coastal Climate Resilience and Sustainable Urban Transformations
Cheshmehzangi, Ali (2026). Thailand’s Tropical Thresholds: Coastal Climate Resilience and Sustainable Urban Transformations. Urban Sustainability. (pp. 1-231) Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-981-95-4975-7
2026
Book Chapter
Nature in Cities: Reimagining Urban Futures Through Ecology and Care
Cheshmehzangi, Ali, Alidoust, Sara, Chen, Wendy Y. and Fuller, Richard (2026). Nature in Cities: Reimagining Urban Futures Through Ecology and Care. Urban Sustainability. (pp. 1-10) Singapore: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-981-95-5487-4_1
2026
Conference Publication
Delineating the impact of heat islands on human health and implications for positive mitigation and adaptation
Liu, Xinting, Cheshmehzangi, Ali, Zahed, Leila Mohaghegh and He, Bao-Jie (2026). Delineating the impact of heat islands on human health and implications for positive mitigation and adaptation. Institute of Physics. doi: 10.1088/1755-1315/1582/1/012059
2026
Book
Australia's urbanity: architecture, place, and the pulse of urban life
Cheshmehzangi, Ali (2026). Australia's urbanity: architecture, place, and the pulse of urban life. Singapore, Singapore: Springer Verlag. doi: 10.1007/978-981-95-3881-2
Supervision
Availability
- Professor Ali Cheshmehzangi is:
- Available for supervision
Looking for a supervisor? Read our advice on how to choose a supervisor.
Supervision history
Current supervision
-
Doctor Philosophy
The Right to Housing: Evaluating the Process of De-Socialization of Housing in Urban Areas
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Dorina Pojani
-
Doctor Philosophy
Developing a climate-resilient framework for healthy cities
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Ray Maher, Associate Professor Paola Leardini, Dr Sara Alidoust
-
Doctor Philosophy
Design urban blue-green spaces for the elderlies subjective well-being in metropolitan environments
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Silvia Micheli, Dr Dan Luo, Dr Sara Alidoust
-
Doctor Philosophy
Producing the Circular City through Configuration
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Dan Luo
-
Doctor Philosophy
Advancing Participatory Urban Design through AI and Crowdsourcing: A Methodological Framework Applied to Micromobility-Friendly Streets Design in Brisbane
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Silvia Micheli, Dr Dan Luo
-
Doctor Philosophy
Extended Reality for Architecture, Engineering and Construction (XR+AEC)
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Dan Luo, Dr Sebastien Darchen
-
Doctor Philosophy
Mobility Culture and Micro-scale Living Patterns: Re-conceptualization of Land Use and Movement Patterns in Australian Cities
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Dan Luo, Associate Professor Silvia Micheli
Completed supervision
-
2026
Doctor Philosophy
Residents' perceptions of a government-initiated anti-gating policy: A study of open communities in Shanghai
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Dorina Pojani, Dr Sara Alidoust
Media
Enquiries
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