Yan Zhang

Yan Zhang

My research focuses on using GeoAI and social sensing methods to study urban science, disaster response, and social inequality.

Publications

You can also find my articles on my Google Scholar profile.

Journal Articles

From numerical attribution to semantic interpretation: environmental associations of noise perception with LLM and Geo-XAI

Published in Building and Environment, 2026

This collaborative paper combines large language models and Geo-XAI to move from numerical attribution to semantic interpretation of the environmental associations of noise perception.

Recommended citation: Bai Z, Ji R, Qi J, Gao F, Liu S, Zhang Y. From numerical attribution to semantic interpretation: environmental associations of noise perception with LLM and Geo-XAI[J]. Building and Environment, 2026, 305: 115243.
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Quantifying noise complaint intensity via multi-LLM and revealing vertical greenery mitigation thresholds

Published in Social Science & Medicine, 2026

This paper proposes an LLM-based method to quantify noise complaint intensity and investigates the non-linear threshold effects of different vertical greenery types on noise mitigation using Generalized Additive Models.

Recommended citation: Zhang Y, Zhang Z, Kwan M P, et al. Quantifying noise complaint intensity via multi-LLM and revealing vertical greenery mitigation thresholds[J]. Social Science & Medicine, 2026, 404: 119516.
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Multi-frequency street-level urban noise modeling and mapping through street view and remote sensing image fusion

Published in Computers, Environment and Urban Systems, 2026

This paper is about urban noise modeling using street view and remote sensing data fusion.

Recommended citation: Zhang Y, Ke E, Kwan M P, et al. Multi-frequency street-level urban noise modeling and mapping through street view and remote sensing image fusion[J]. Computers, Environment and Urban Systems, 2026, 126: 102401.
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Reassessing the Heterogeneous Effects of Greenspace on Air Pollution Conditioned on Seasons, Vegetation Types, and Street Structures

Published in Environmental Science & Technology, 2026

This paper reassesses the heterogeneous effects of greenspace on air pollution conditioned on seasons, vegetation types, and street structures.

Recommended citation: Yang Z, Kwan M P, Zhang Y. Reassessing the Heterogeneous Effects of Greenspace on Air Pollution Conditioned on Seasons, Vegetation Types, and Street Structures[J]. Environmental Science & Technology, 2026.
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Perceived distance to greenery affects psychological restoration

Published in Environment and Planning B: Urban Analytics and City Science, 2026

This paper examines how perceived distance to greenery affects psychological restoration.

Recommended citation: Ma H, Zhang Y, Cui Q, Kwan M P, Cai J. Perceived distance to greenery affects psychological restoration[J]. Environment and Planning B: Urban Analytics and City Science, 2026, 53(2): 319-335.
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Assessing vehicle solar energy harvesting using GPS trajectories and street imagery

Published in Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment, 2026

This paper assesses vehicle solar energy harvesting using GPS trajectories and street imagery.

Recommended citation: Zhang G, Wang A, Yang W, Fan X, Zhang Y, Xu T. Assessing vehicle solar energy harvesting using GPS trajectories and street imagery[J]. Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment, 2026, 155: 105334.
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UAV-based built environment perception: Progress, challenges, prospects, and regulatory contexts

Published in International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation, 2026

This paper reviews UAV-based built environment perception, covering progress, challenges, prospects, and regulatory contexts.

Recommended citation: Kong X, Biljecki F, Yao J, Zhang F, Zhang Y, Chen S, Tang Y, Xu W, Liu P, Lei Z, Luo J. UAV-based built environment perception: Progress, challenges, prospects, and regulatory contexts[J]. International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation, 2026, 150: 105324.
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Cross-city traffic noise modeling and inequality analysis via AlphaEarth Geospatial Foundation Models

Published in Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment, 2026

This paper develops cross-city traffic noise modeling and inequality analysis using AlphaEarth Geospatial Foundation Models.

Recommended citation: Zhang Y, Qin Q, Nie H, Kwan M P, He S, Ke E. Cross-city traffic noise modeling and inequality analysis via AlphaEarth Geospatial Foundation Models[J]. Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment, 2026, 156: 105378.
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Residential sentiments and spatial environments in urban villages: An X-minute community life circle analysis

Published in Applied Geography, 2026

This paper explores residential sentiments and spatial environments in urban villages through an X-minute community life circle analysis.

Recommended citation: Song L, Wang L, Kwan M P, Zhang Y. Residential sentiments and spatial environments in urban villages: An X-minute community life circle analysis[J]. Applied Geography, 2026, 189: 103945.
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Quantifying mobility-based seasonal individual heat exposure and the NEAP using multi-source spatiotemporal data

Published in Urban Climate, 2026

This paper quantifies mobility-based seasonal individual heat exposure and the neighborhood effect averaging problem (NEAP) using multi-source spatiotemporal data.

Recommended citation: Zhang Y, Kwan M P, Zhang Z. Quantifying mobility-based seasonal individual heat exposure and the NEAP using multi-source spatiotemporal data[J]. Urban Climate, 2026, 66: 102828.
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CrossGraphNet: a cross-spatiotemporal graph-based method for traffic speed reconstruction using remote sensing vehicle detection

Published in International Journal of Digital Earth, 2025

This paper is about representative learning and gnn.

Recommended citation: Zhang Y, Kwan M P, Cai J, et al. CrossGraphNet: a cross-spatiotemporal graph-based method for traffic speed reconstruction using remote sensing vehicle detection[J]. International Journal of Digital Earth, 2025, 18(1): 2528640.
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Learning dual context aware POI representations for geographic mapping

Published in International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation, 2025

This paper is about representive learning.

Recommended citation: Q Qin, T Ai, S Xu, Y Zhang, W Huang, M Du, S Li. Learning dual context aware POI representations for geographic mapping[J]. International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation, 2025, 142: 104683.
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Exploring the nonlinear impact of visual environment on residents happiness: a computational framework integrating semantic and geometric features

Published in Geo-spatial Information Science, 2025

This paper is about social sensing.

Recommended citation: Dongyang Wang,Yandong Wang,Mingxuan Dou,Mengling Qiao,Xiaokang Fu, Yan Zhang. Exploring the nonlinear impact of visual environment on residents happiness: a computational framework integrating semantic and geometric features[J]. Geo-spatial Information Science, 2025: 1-27.
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Multi-level urban street representation with street-view imagery and hybrid semantic graph

Published in ISPRS Journal of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing. (ESI 3%), 2024

This paper is about Multi-level urban street representation with street-view imagery and hybrid semantic graph.

Recommended citation: Zhang, Y., Li Y., & Zhang, F*. (2024). "Multi-level urban street representation with street-view imagery and hybrid semantic graph" ISPRS Journal of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing. (ESI 3%)
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Pedestrian evacuation planning under dam-break flood disaster considering road risk and road pedestrian demand

Published in International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 104, 104355, 2024

This paper is about Pedestrian evacuation planning under dam-break flood disaster considering road risk and road pedestrian demand.

Recommended citation: Wang, W., Li, Y., Zhang, Y., & Wu, Z. (2024). "Pedestrian evacuation planning under dam-break flood disaster considering road risk and road pedestrian demand" International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 104, 104355
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Explainable spatially explicit geospatial artificial intelligence in urban analytics

Published in Environment and Planning B: Urban Analytics and City Science, 51(5), 1104-1123, 2024

This paper is about Explainable spatially explicit geospatial artificial intelligence in urban analytics.

Recommended citation: Liu, P., Zhang, Y., & Biljecki, F. (2024). "Explainable spatially explicit geospatial artificial intelligence in urban analytics" Environment and Planning B: Urban Analytics and City Science, 51(5), 1104-1123
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Next location prediction using heterogeneous graph-based fusion network with physical and social awareness

Published in International Journal of Geographical Information Science, 1-26, 2024

This paper is about Next location prediction using heterogeneous graph-based fusion network with physical and social awareness.

Recommended citation: He, S., Du, W., Zhang, Y., Chen, L., Chen, Z., & Chen, N. (2024). "Next location prediction using heterogeneous graph-based fusion network with physical and social awareness" International Journal of Geographical Information Science, 1-26
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Sensing noise exposure and its inequality based on noise complaint data through vision-language hybrid method

Published in Applied Geography, 171, 103369, 2024

This paper is about Sensing noise exposure and its inequality based on noise complaint data through vision-language hybrid method.

Recommended citation: Zhang, Y., Kwan, M.P., & Ma, H. (2024). "Sensing noise exposure and its inequality based on noise complaint data through vision-language hybrid method" Applied Geography, 171, 103369
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How does spatial structure affect psychological restoration? A method based on graph neural networks and street view imagery

Published in Landscape and Urban Planning, 251, 105171, 2024

This paper is about How does spatial structure affect psychological restoration? A method based on graph neural networks and street view imagery.

Recommended citation: Ma, H., Zhang, Y., Liu, P., Zhang, F., & Zhu, P. (2024). "How does spatial structure affect psychological restoration? A method based on graph neural networks and street view imagery" Landscape and Urban Planning, 251, 105171
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Knowledge and topology: A two layer spatially dependent graph neural networks to identify urban functions with time-series street view image

Published in ISPRS Journal of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing, 2023

This paper is about identifying urban functions using a two-layer spatially dependent graph neural network with time-series street view images.

Recommended citation: Zhang Y, Liu P, Biljecki F. (2023). "Knowledge and topology: A two layer spatially dependent graph neural networks to identify urban functions with time-series street view image" ISPRS Journal of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing
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A systematic review and quantitative meta-analysis of the relationships between driving forces and cyanobacterial blooms at global scale

Published in Environmental Research, 216, 114670, 2023

This paper is about A systematic review and quantitative meta-analysis of the relationships between driving forces and cyanobacterial blooms at global scale.

Recommended citation: Wang, S., Zhang, X., Chen, N., Tian, L., Zhang, Y., & Nam, W.H. (2023). "A systematic review and quantitative meta-analysis of the relationships between driving forces and cyanobacterial blooms at global scale" Environmental Research, 216, 114670
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Urban traffic flow prediction: A dynamic temporal graph network considering missing values

Published in International Journal of Geographical Information Science, 37(4), 885-912, 2023

This paper is about Urban traffic flow prediction: A dynamic temporal graph network considering missing values.

Recommended citation: Wang, P., Zhang, Y., Hu, T., & Zhang, T. (2023). "Urban traffic flow prediction: A dynamic temporal graph network considering missing values" International Journal of Geographical Information Science, 37(4), 885-912
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Knowledge mining and graph visualization of ancient Chinese scientific and technological documents bibliographic summaries based on digital humanities

Published in Library Hi Tech, 2023

This paper is about Knowledge mining and graph visualization of ancient Chinese scientific and technological documents bibliographic summaries based on digital humanities.

Recommended citation: Zheng, X., Li, M., Wan, Z., & Zhang, Y. (2023). "Knowledge mining and graph visualization of ancient Chinese scientific and technological documents bibliographic summaries based on digital humanities" Library Hi Tech
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Inferring socioeconomic environment from built environment characteristics based street view images: An approach of Seq2Seq method

Published in International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation, 123, 2023

This paper is about Inferring socioeconomic environment from built environment characteristics based street view images: An approach of Seq2Seq method.

Recommended citation: Zhang, Y., Zhang, F., Fang, L., & Chen, N. (2023). "Inferring socioeconomic environment from built environment characteristics based street view images: An approach of Seq2Seq method" International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation, 123
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Examining supply-demand imbalances and social inequalities of regulating ecosystem services in high-density cities: A case study of Wuhan, China

Published in Ecological Indicators, 154, 110654, 2023

This paper is about Examining supply-demand imbalances and social inequalities of regulating ecosystem services in high-density cities: A case study of Wuhan, China.

Recommended citation: Zhai, W., Zhang, K., Gou, F., Cheng, H., Li, Z., & Zhang, Y. (2023). "Examining supply-demand imbalances and social inequalities of regulating ecosystem services in high-density cities: A case study of Wuhan, China" Ecological Indicators, 154, 110654
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High or low? Exploring the restorative effects of visual levels on campus spaces using machine learning and street view imagery

Published in Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 88, 128087, 2023

This paper is about High or low? Exploring the restorative effects of visual levels on campus spaces using machine learning and street view imagery.

Recommended citation: Ma, H., Xu, Q., & Zhang, Y*. (2023). "High or low? Exploring the restorative effects of visual levels on campus spaces using machine learning and street view imagery" Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 88, 128087
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Analysing gender differences in the perceived safety from street view imagery

Published in International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation, 124, 2023

This paper is about Analysing gender differences in the perceived safety from street view imagery.

Recommended citation: Cui, Q., Zhang, Y., Yang, G., Huang, Y., & Chen, Y. (2023). "Analysing gender differences in the perceived safety from street view imagery" International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation, 124
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Spatiotemporal dynamics of wetlands and their driving factors based on PLS-SEM: A case study in Wuhan

Published in Science of the Total Environment, 806, 151310, 2022

This paper is about Spatiotemporal dynamics of wetlands and their driving factors based on PLS-SEM: A case study in Wuhan.

Recommended citation: Wang, C., Ma, L., Zhang, Y., Chen, N., & Wang, W. (2022). "Spatiotemporal dynamics of wetlands and their driving factors based on PLS-SEM: A case study in Wuhan" Science of the Total Environment, 806, 151310
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Migratable urban street scene sensing method based on vision language pre-trained model

Published in International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation, 113, 2022

This paper is about Migratable urban street scene sensing method based on vision language pre-trained model.

Recommended citation: Zhang, Y., Zhang, F., & Chen, N. (2022). "Migratable urban street scene sensing method based on vision language pre-trained model" International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation, 113
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City2vec: Urban knowledge discovery based on population mobile network

Published in Sustainable Cities and Society, 85, 104000, 2022

This paper is about City2vec: Urban knowledge discovery based on population mobile network.

Recommended citation: Zhang, Y., Zheng, X., Helbich, M., Chen, N., & Chen, Z. (2022). "City2vec: Urban knowledge discovery based on population mobile network" Sustainable Cities and Society, 85, 104000
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Towards sustainable smart cities: Maturity assessment and development pattern recognition in China

Published in Journal of Cleaner Production, 370, 133248, 2022

This paper is about Towards sustainable smart cities: Maturity assessment and development pattern recognition in China.

Recommended citation: Liu, J., Chen, N., Chen, Z., Xu, L., Du, W., Zhang, Y., & Wang, C. (2022). "Towards sustainable smart cities: Maturity assessment and development pattern recognition in China" Journal of Cleaner Production, 370, 133248
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Urban fine-grained spatial structure detection based on a new traffic flow interaction analysis framework

Published in ISPRS International Journal of Geo-Information, 10(4), 227, 2021

This paper is about Urban fine-grained spatial structure detection based on a new traffic flow interaction analysis framework.

Recommended citation: Zhang, Y., Zheng, X., Chen, M., Li, Y., Yan, Y., & Wang, P. (2021). "Urban fine-grained spatial structure detection based on a new traffic flow interaction analysis framework" ISPRS International Journal of Geo-Information, 10(4), 227
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KE-CNN: A new social sensing method for extracting geographical attributes from text semantic features and its application in Wuhan, China

Published in Computers, Environment and Urban Systems, 88, 101629, 2021

This paper is about KE-CNN: A new social sensing method for extracting geographical attributes from text semantic features and its application in Wuhan, China.

Recommended citation: Chen, N., Zhang, Y.*, Du, W.*, Li, Y., Chen, M., & Zheng, X. (2021). "KE-CNN: A new social sensing method for extracting geographical attributes from text semantic features and its application in Wuhan, China" Computers, Environment and Urban Systems, 88, 101629
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Multi-source sensor based urban habitat and resident health sensing: A case study of Wuhan, China

Published in Building and Environment, 198, 107883, 2021

This paper is about Multi-source sensor based urban habitat and resident health sensing: A case study of Wuhan, China.

Recommended citation: Zhang, Y., Chen, N., Du, W., Li, Y., & Zheng, X. (2021). "Multi-source sensor based urban habitat and resident health sensing: A case study of Wuhan, China" Building and Environment, 198, 107883
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Extracting the location of flooding events in urban systems and analyzing the semantic risk using social sensing data

Published in Journal of Hydrology, 603, 127053, 2021

This paper is about Extracting the location of flooding events in urban systems and analyzing the semantic risk using social sensing data.

Recommended citation: Zhang, Y., Chen, Z., Zheng, X., Chen, N., & Wang, Y. (2021). "Extracting the location of flooding events in urban systems and analyzing the semantic risk using social sensing data" Journal of Hydrology, 603, 127053
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基于微博数据的台风山竹舆情演化时空分析

Published in 山东大学学报 (工学版), 50(5), 118-126, 2020

本论文研究了基于微博数据的台风山竹舆情演化时空分析。

Recommended citation: 张岩, 李英冰, & 郑翔 (2020). 基于微博数据的台风山竹舆情演化时空分析山东大学学报 (工学版), 50(5), 118-126
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A new geo-propagation model of event evolution chain based on public opinion and epidemic coupling

Published in International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(24), 9235, 2020

This paper is about A new geo-propagation model of event evolution chain based on public opinion and epidemic coupling.

Recommended citation: Zhang, Y., Chen, N., Du, W., Yao, S., & Zheng, X. (2020). "A new geo-propagation model of event evolution chain based on public opinion and epidemic coupling" International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(24), 9235
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Books

《AI赋能智慧城市》（上、下册）

Book · 中国电力出版社, 2026

智慧城市系列丛书之一。由中国测绘学会智慧城市工作委员会组织编写，系统阐述人工智能赋能智慧城市建设的技术体系、应用场景与发展路径，下册汇集二十项典型实践案例。

Recommended citation: 《AI赋能智慧城市》编写组 编（陆锋 主编）. AI赋能智慧城市（上、下册）[M]. 智慧城市系列丛书. 北京: 中国电力出版社, 2026. ISBN 978-7-5239-1354-3.（张岩 参编）
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Applications in Urban Sensing for Smart Cities

Book · Elsevier, 2026

A contributed chapter on applications of urban sensing for smart cities, published in the Elsevier book Multimodal Remote Sensing Fusion and Classification.

Recommended citation: Liu D, Kan Z, Fei T, Chen Y, Zhang Y, Zheng Q. Applications in urban sensing for smart cities. In: Multimodal Remote Sensing Fusion and Classification. Elsevier, 2026. DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-44-329152-4.00016-7. ISBN 9780443291524.
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