Spotlight On: Yao Shen

Role and Project

My field of research is in spatio-social modelling and the relevant design applications in the new data environment. I am currently a Research Associate at CASA working on Resolution (REsilient Systems fOr Land Use TransportatION) project led by Professor Michael Batty. The special focus of this project is on the (re)formation of social inequality due to the shift of transport accessibilities in London and São Paulo.

How would you summarise your personal research?

My current work is about understanding the dynamics of urban spatiosocial morphologies with the open urban big data and the related applications in planning and design processes. Efforts made include developing methods for configurational analysis with location-based and volunteered geographic data, predicting urban performance with data-augmented measures regarding urban form, and simulating social processes with the emerging urban data.

Tell us a little about the research you’re doing at the moment?

Currently, I am studying the socially perceived accessibility (SPA) landscape that is sensitive to the spatial differentiation of people, mobility affordability, and transport/land-use conditions. Based on London’s census data, the delivered framework reveals the patterns and modes of perceived inequality of accessibility over social groups, which can be employed in transport appraisals. I am also investigating the ways by which the static urban form can be quantified temporally by its changing efficiency of connecting people.

My recent publications include:

Shen, Y. and Karimi, K., 2017. Urban Evolution as a Spatio-Functional Interaction Process: The Case of Central Shanghai. Journal of Urban Design. (Published online) DOI: 10.1080/13574809.2017.1337496

Shen, Y. and Karimi, K., 2017. The economic value of streets: mix-scale spatio-functional interaction and housing price patterns. Applied Geography, 79, pp.187-202. DOI: 10.1016/j.apgeog.2016.12.012

Shen, Y., and Karimi, K., 2016, Urban Function Connectivity: Characterisation of Functional Urban Streets with Social Media Check-in Data. Cities. 55: 9-21. DOI: 10.1016/j.cities.2016.03.013

What is your favourite things about CASA?

CASA is a unique research-friendly hub for creations, embedded in the network of different disciplines as a key node with an urban-related focus. It attracts talent people with the hunger for new ideas and capability of transforming knowledge. I pretty much enjoy working with these folks.

Where can people find out more about your work?

Google scholar: https://scholar.google.co.uk/citations?user=esVjrzcAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao

Researchgate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Yao_Shen12