Overview
Background
Professor Yan Liu is a Spatial Data Scientist and a Quantitative Human Geographer, specialising in Geographical Information Science (GIS), urban modelling and geo-simulation, spatial data analytics, and spatially integrated social studies. Her research focuses on developing cutting-edge methods for the collection, analysis and modelling of spatial data in order to provide science-based decision tools and data-driven solutions to a range of social-environmental challenges that we face in our urban and regional space. Her research is multidisciplinary in nature, connecting human geography with geomatic engineering, environmental, social and behavioural sciences and spatial science education through the innovative use of spatial data and technologies, with the overall aim to advance human knowledge and understanding of the spatial evolution of cities, the underpinning driving forces, the interactions between people and the physical and built-environment they live in, along with the planning of resilient cities and communities in response to the global challenges such as population growth, ageing, climate change and global pandemics. In the era of Big Data, the analysis of space, place and people—through the use of spatial (big) data—becomes pivotal in developing a holistic and grassroots understanding of our cities in order to achieve sustainable and healthy living in our urban space. Yan's profound expertise in GIS and spatial data analytics as well as her broad general knowledge across multiple disciplines enables her to tackle these important social-spatial issues necessarily from a multi-disciplinary and cross-disciplinary perspective. Yan has recently been appointed to the ARC College of Experts (2022-2024). She also serves in the Scientific Advisory Board of the Australian Urban Research Infrastructure Network (AURIN) (2021-2023), and in the Executive Committee of the International Geographical Union (IGU) Applied Geography Commission (2021-2023), amongst others.
Availability
- Professor Yan Liu is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
Research interests
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Urban Modelling and Geo-Simulation
My work focus on developing cellular automat (CA) models to understand the spatio-temporal patterns, processes, and drivers of urban growth; and modelling human-environment interactions through scenario planning and geo-simulation. More recent work focuses on understanding how the decision behaviours of various stakeholders impact on the spatio-temporal processes of urban growth through an integrated CA and agent based modelling (ABM) approach. I am currently recruiting PhD students to work on: 1) developing an irregular parcel based CA and 3D CA model to simulate vertical urban growth in Brisbane; 2) a cross-cultural comparison/validation of a CA-ABM model to simulate urban growth dynamics.
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Spatial Data Analytics
I am interested in all aspects of spatial data analytics, including big data and spatio-temporal data mining tools and methods, with the aim to enhance our understanding on a range of social geographical and health related issues. Some on-going research in the field include: analysis and modelling of public transport services and human mobility and travel behaviours using smart card data; mining of large scale administrative data to understand (un)-neighbourliness and neighbourhood disorders; modelling of spatial access to green space, health and other services and facilities to identify disparity and inequalities.
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3D modelling and Geo-Visualisation
My work in this field focuses on spatial visualisation, 3D GIS and applications in spatial skills development and education. I am currently working on a project to develop a 3D city model and implement a sequential technology-enabled curriculum in Urban Planning using 3D modelling techniques to enhance students' spatial skills and become work-ready planners.
Research impacts
Professor Liu's research addresses a range of socio-spatial challenges in our urban and regional environments through the development of spatially-integrated research approaches which incorporate spatial data mining and big/small data analytics. Her research includes (but not limited to) accessibility, inequalities in housing and healthcare services, and neighbour interactions, in the context of ever-changing human–environment conditions such as urbanisation, population growth and climate change. Her research contributes to advance our understanding of the spatial evolutions of cities, to create new and much-needed science-based decision tools for optimising government policymaking, and to mitigate risk and improve policy outcomes for communities.
Current projects:
- The Australian Transport Research Cloud (ATRC) (2020-2023). This project aims to provide a common platform (data, storage, compute and tools) to support the needs of the Australian transport research community.
- Universitas Diponegoro (2021-2023). Adaptation to flood and inundation of the north Java coastal community towards the sustainability of aquaculture activities: The cases of Pekalongan, Tegal, and Semarang, Indonesia
- National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) funded project (2019-2022). Ventilation based planning methods to respond urban haze supported by multi-source spatial-temporal big data.
Completed projects:
- ARC DP (2017-2020). New approaches to modelling human-environment interactions for sustainable coastal city development: spatial complexity, cellular automata and agent-based models.
- Fund of Key Laboratory of Geographic Information Science (Ministry of Education), East China Normal University (2019-2020). Coastal cities: environmental evolution, climate change, and human adaptation.
- QLD Gov’t Community Sustainability Action Grants (2018-20). Improved offsets for koala conservation.
- UQ Transport & Population Research Network (TPRN) Seed Fund (2019). Understanding socio-spatial connectedness for older people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds: Testing a mixed-methods approach.
- Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia (ASSA) (2018-19). Ageing well: Place, belonging, and well-being of older Chinese in Australia and China.
- Ministry of Research, Technology, and High Education, Indonesia (2016-18). The role of spatial planning towards better resilience to hydro-meteorological hazard. Case study: Coast area of Semarang City.
- Faculty of Science T&L Grant (2019-2020). Collaborative online learning for Geographic Information Science
- ARC DP (2015-2017). Un-neighbourliness: The nature, causes and outcomes of problems between neighbours using survey and large scale administrative data.
- UQ FirstLink project (2016-2017). Analyse and map mild stoke outcomes and untreated deficits using GIS approach.
- UQ Property and Facilities Division funded project (2015-2018) to analyse UQ public transport commuters' travel patterns and behabiours using go card and survey data.
Works
Search Professor Yan Liu’s works on UQ eSpace
2024
Journal Article
Character contradiction: the exclusionary nature of preservationist planning restrictions
Gallagher, Rachel, Sigler, Thomas Jason and Liu, Yan (2024). Character contradiction: the exclusionary nature of preservationist planning restrictions. Urban Studies, 61 (6), 1013-1030. doi: 10.1177/00420980231195218
2024
Journal Article
Spatiotemporal Variations of Urban Spatial Dispersion and Its Vegetation Degradation in Joglosemar’s Urban Growth Corridors, Indonesia
Dewa, Dimas Danar, Buchori, Imam, Rudiarto, Iwan, Sejati, Anang Wahyu and Liu, Yan (2024). Spatiotemporal Variations of Urban Spatial Dispersion and Its Vegetation Degradation in Joglosemar’s Urban Growth Corridors, Indonesia. Australian Geographer, 55 (2), 1-23. doi: 10.1080/00049182.2024.2331102
2024
Journal Article
Measuring mental health service accessibility for Indigenous populations: a systematic review
Zhang, Lihong, Hou, Xiang-Yu and Liu, Yan (2024). Measuring mental health service accessibility for Indigenous populations: a systematic review. Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities, 1-19. doi: 10.1007/s40615-023-01899-6
2023
Journal Article
Spatio-temporal evolution of resources and environmental carrying capacity and its influencing factors: A case study of Shandong Peninsula urban agglomeration
Fan, Wenping, Song, Xueyan, Liu, Mengnan, Shan, Baoyan, Ma, Mingliang and Liu, Yan (2023). Spatio-temporal evolution of resources and environmental carrying capacity and its influencing factors: A case study of Shandong Peninsula urban agglomeration. Environmental Research, 234 116469, 1-14. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.116469
2023
Journal Article
Tracking the settlement patterns of culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) populations in Australia: A census-based study from 2001 to 2021
Wang, Siqin, Sun, Qian Chayn, Martin, Catherine, Cai, Wenhui, Liu, Yan, Duckham, Matt, Hurley, Joe, Amati, Marco and Choy, Suelynn (2023). Tracking the settlement patterns of culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) populations in Australia: A census-based study from 2001 to 2021. Cities, 141 104482, 104482. doi: 10.1016/j.cities.2023.104482
2023
Journal Article
Google Earth Engine for improved spatial planning in agricultural and forested lands: A method for projecting future ecological quality
Zaki, Abdurrahman, Buchori, Imam, Pangi, Pangi, Sejati, Anang Wahyu and Liu, Yan (2023). Google Earth Engine for improved spatial planning in agricultural and forested lands: A method for projecting future ecological quality. Remote Sensing Applications: Society and Environment, 32 101078, 1-17. doi: 10.1016/j.rsase.2023.101078
2023
Journal Article
Health-integrated heat risk assessment in Australian cities
Wang, Siqin, Sun, Qian Chayn, Huang, Xiao, Tao, Yaguang, Dong, Chunyu, Das, Shinjita and Liu, Yan (2023). Health-integrated heat risk assessment in Australian cities. Environmental Impact Assessment Review, 102 107176, 1-13. doi: 10.1016/j.eiar.2023.107176
2023
Journal Article
Performance of habitat offsets for species conservation in dynamic human‐modified landscapes
Rhodes, Jonathan R., Liu, Yan, Wahyudi, Agung, Maron, Martine, Iftekhar, Md Sayed and Brisbane, Shantala (2023). Performance of habitat offsets for species conservation in dynamic human‐modified landscapes. People and Nature, 6 (5), 1774-1788. doi: 10.1002/pan3.10494
2023
Journal Article
How path dependent urban morphology restricts the effectiveness of rezoning for urban consolidation: lessons from Brisbane, Australia
Gallagher, Rachel, Sigler, Thomas and Liu, Yan (2023). How path dependent urban morphology restricts the effectiveness of rezoning for urban consolidation: lessons from Brisbane, Australia. Journal of Urban Affairs. doi: 10.1080/07352166.2023.2211770
2023
Other Outputs
South East Queensland Koala Offset Analysis
Rhodes, Jonathan R, Liu, Yan, Wahyudi, Agung, Maron, Martine, Iftekhar, Md Sayed and Brisbane, Shantala (2023). South East Queensland Koala Offset Analysis. The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.48610/1c1164e
2023
Journal Article
Unpacking the inter- and intra-urban differences of the association between health and exposure to heat and air quality in Australia using global and local machine learning models
Wang, Siqin, Cai, Wenhui, Tao, Yaguang, Sun, Qian Chayn, Wong, Paulina Pui Yun, Huang, Xiao and Liu, Yan (2023). Unpacking the inter- and intra-urban differences of the association between health and exposure to heat and air quality in Australia using global and local machine learning models. Science of The Total Environment, 871 162005, 1-13. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162005
2023
Journal Article
Understanding cycling dissonance in travel mode choice for work trip chains: the role of modality styles
Zhang, Lihong, Liu, Yan, Lieske, Scott N. and Corcoran, Jonathan (2023). Understanding cycling dissonance in travel mode choice for work trip chains: the role of modality styles. Applied Geography, 153 102895. doi: 10.1016/j.apgeog.2023.102895
2023
Journal Article
Evaluating the impact of road network configuration on hotel layout based on big data, GIS and space syntax–evidence from Shanghai
Fan, Wenping, Zhang, Jing, Shan, Baoyan and Liu, Yan (2023). Evaluating the impact of road network configuration on hotel layout based on big data, GIS and space syntax–evidence from Shanghai. Current Issues in Tourism, 27 (5), 787-804. doi: 10.1080/13683500.2023.2184680
2023
Journal Article
Public surveillance of social media for suicide using advanced deep learning models in Japan: time series study from 2012 to 2022
Wang, Siqin, Ning, Huan, Xiao, Huang, Xiao, Yunyu, Zhang, Mengxi, Yang, Fan, Sadahiro, Yukio, Liu, Yan, Li, Zhenlong, Hu, Tao, Fu, Xiaokang, Li, Zi and Zeng, Ye (2023). Public surveillance of social media for suicide using advanced deep learning models in Japan: time series study from 2012 to 2022. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 25 e47225, 1-14. doi: 10.2196/47225
2023
Journal Article
A global portrait of expressed mental health signals towards COVID-19 in social media space
Wang, Siqin, Huang, Xiao, Hu, Tao, She, Bing, Zhang, Mengxi, Wang, Ruomei, Gruebner, Oliver, Imran, Muhammad, Corcoran, Jonathan, Liu, Yan and Bao, Shuming (2023). A global portrait of expressed mental health signals towards COVID-19 in social media space. International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation, 116 103160, 1-12. doi: 10.1016/j.jag.2022.103160
2023
Journal Article
How does heterogeneity in dwelling type preferences relate to housing and built environment characteristics?
Huang, Yuanyuan, Lieske, Scott N., Wang, Siqin and Liu, Yan (2023). How does heterogeneity in dwelling type preferences relate to housing and built environment characteristics?. International Journal of Digital Earth, 16 (1), 93-112. doi: 10.1080/17538947.2022.2163713
2023
Journal Article
Climate gentrification: A conceptual framework and empirical evidence in the City of Gold Coast, Australia
Wang, Siqin, Wang, Haiyun and Liu, Yan (2023). Climate gentrification: A conceptual framework and empirical evidence in the City of Gold Coast, Australia. Cities, 132 104100, 1-14. doi: 10.1016/j.cities.2022.104100
2022
Journal Article
Urban–rural disparity of social vulnerability to natural hazards in Australia
Wang, Siqin, Zhang, Mengxi, Huang, Xiao, Hu, Tao, Sun, Qian Chayn, Corcoran, Jonathan and Liu, Yan (2022). Urban–rural disparity of social vulnerability to natural hazards in Australia. Scientific Reports, 12 (1) 13665, 1-15. doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-17878-6
2022
Journal Article
Shannon entropy-based urban spatial fragmentation to ensure sustainable development of the urban coastal city: a case study of Semarang, Indonesia
Dewa, Dimas Danar, Buchori, Imam, Sejati, Anang Wahyu and Liu, Yan (2022). Shannon entropy-based urban spatial fragmentation to ensure sustainable development of the urban coastal city: a case study of Semarang, Indonesia. Remote Sensing Applications: Society and Environment, 28 100839, 100839. doi: 10.1016/j.rsase.2022.100839
2022
Journal Article
Adaptation strategies and community participation in government-led mitigation projects: a comparison between urban and suburban communities in Pekalongan, Indonesia
Buchori, Imam, Zaki, Abdurrahman, Pangi, Pangi, Sejati, Anang Wahyu, Pramitasari, Angrenggani and Liu, Yan (2022). Adaptation strategies and community participation in government-led mitigation projects: a comparison between urban and suburban communities in Pekalongan, Indonesia. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 81 103271, 1-13. doi: 10.1016/j.ijdrr.2022.103271
Funding
Current funding
Supervision
Availability
- Professor Yan Liu is:
- Available for supervision
Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.
Available projects
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Modelling and planning for sustainable coastal city development
This project draws on the understanding of the physical and eco-system evolution from existing research to develop an integrated modelling framework to simulate and plan for the spatial and temporal processes of urban development under the impact of climate change and human adaptation strategies. Specifically, it aims to 1) model contemporary urban development, urban morphology and settlement patterns to better understand the influence of different scenarios on the coastal city; 2) evaluate the impacts associated with urban development over different time horizons. Impacts may include transportation costs, land consumption, physical infrastructure costs, and changes in productivity as well as sustainability indicators; and 3) project future urban development as a means of testing uncertain environmental futures. If interested in working on this project please contact me at yan.liu@uq.edu.au.
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Using participatory GIS to facilitate place-based health planning
Place-based health planning is an effective and innovative approach to health planning that is developed drawing on local demographic, socioeconomic, and environmental factors. It identifies and prioritises local health needs and develops and delivers locally-led, evidence-based solutions. Place-based approaches are collaborative endeavours which aim to create systematic changes for long-term outcomes by fostering community partnerships and bringing together efforts across the community, service providers and government levels. An important part of place-based planning is to understand the needs of communities. Such a planning process can be facilitated using Public Participation Geographic Information System (PPGIS). PPGIS is a spatial tool that can be used to engage the local communities and residents to capture their local knowledge, and advance their needs and goals for health services. Therefore, this PhD project aims at developing a PPGIS approach to engage local residents in order to understand and prioritise their health needs, enablers and barriers impacting on their acces to health services in order to develop planning interventions to meet people’s health needs and improve their health outcomes. If interested in working on this project please contact me at yan.liu@uq.edu.au.
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Spatial (big) data analytics and data science
The emergence of open and new data available from various sources have presented significant opportunities for research in the urban sciences. Entering into the new era of big data, ever-increasing quantities at near real time will ultimately change the ways in which human agents interact with each other and with the urban space they occupy and transform; these pose new challenges to urban modellers and researchers, and much effort should be devoted to conquer the aforementioned big data challenges. In this context, I welcome any project that aims at developing novel approaches for spatial (big) data monitoring, analytics, modelling and simulation in order to addresses a range of socio-spatial challenges in our urban and regional environments, including (but not limited to) accessibility, inequalities in housing and healthcare services, and neighbour interactions, in the context of ever-changing human–environment conditions such as urbanisation, population growth and climate change. If interested in working on this project please contact me at yan.liu@uq.edu.au.
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Modelling Human-Environment Interactions: Testing Irregular CA and 3D Urban Models
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Jonathan Corcoran, Dr Scott Lieske
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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, Dr Silvia Micheli
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Doctor Philosophy
Urban Consolidation through Densification: the Constraints of Existing Property Boundaries
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Ms Stephanie Wyeth, Dr Thomas Sigler
Completed supervision
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2024
Doctor Philosophy
Climate Gentrification in Coastal Cities in the Era of Climate Change: Concept, Emergence, and Empirical Evidence
Principal Advisor
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2021
Doctor Philosophy
Integrating Urban Space and Water Systems in Growth Boundary Management: A Case Study of Tianjin
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Scott Lieske
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2018
Doctor Philosophy
Understanding Contemporary China's Land Use Policy - The Link Policy
Principal Advisor
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2018
Doctor Philosophy
Spatial Evolution and Settlement Pathways of Mainland China-born Migrants in Australia
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Jonathan Corcoran, Dr Thomas Sigler
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2017
Doctor Philosophy
Evaluating Participatory GIS (PGIS) toward Effective Public Participation for Land Use Planning in Malaysia
Principal Advisor
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2017
Doctor Philosophy
Modelling urban growth: Integrating both physical and human dimensions in developing world context
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Jonathan Corcoran
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2023
Doctor Philosophy
Crime, Perceptions of Safety, and Public Transit Ridership: A Space-Time Approach
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Renee Zahnow, Professor Jonathan Corcoran
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2023
Doctor Philosophy
Understanding Vertical Urban Development by Incorporating Housing Preference: The Case in Brisbane, Australia
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Scott Lieske
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2022
Doctor Philosophy
Closing the gap: Cycling dissonance in urban commuting
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Scott Lieske, Professor Jonathan Corcoran
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2019
Doctor Philosophy
Investigating the influence of weather on public transport passenger's travel behaviour
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Thomas Sigler, Professor Jonathan Corcoran
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2019
Master Philosophy
Property Boundary Change for Residential Development: A study of Brisbane, Australia
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Thomas Sigler
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2015
Doctor Philosophy
Rethinking Planning for Urban Parks: Accessibility, Use and Behaviour
Associate Advisor
Media
Enquiries
Contact Professor Yan Liu directly for media enquiries about:
- 3D GIS
- Geographical Information System (GIS)
- Geosimulation
- Spatial Data Analytics
- Spatial Data Mining
- Spatially Integrated Social Science
- Urban Modelling
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