Project Title: Beyond Conventional Urban Analysis: Understanding Urban Carbon Dynamics through Urban Metabolism and Local Climate Zones: A Multi-Continental Comparative Study

Project team members:

Jessica Wang, Graduate Student - Landscape Architecture

Fu Yuheng, Undergraduate Student - Landscape Architecture

Brian Deal, Professor - Landscape Architecture

Yixin Wu, National University of Singapore

Project Description: This student-led research, led by Jessica Wang (PhD student), examines urban carbon dynamics by integrating Urban Metabolism (UM) and Local Climate Zones (LCZ) frameworks. Addressing the limitations of traditional land-use categories, it investigates how urban structures shape carbon emissions, metabolic flows, and human behavior. By studying nine cities across three continents, the project aims to provide actionable insights for sustainable urban design and climate strategies. Study Cities and Selection Rationale The cities represent diverse urban forms, climates, and sustainability practices: • North America: o Chicago: Dense urban core with green infrastructure. o Los Angeles: Car-dependent sprawl with varied microclimates. o New York: High-density vertical urbanization with urban canyons. • Asia: o Singapore: Tropical city-state with vertical greening. o Shanghai: Rapidly urbanizing city blending traditional and modern forms. o Guangzhou: Industrial hub in the Pearl River Delta. • Europe: o Stockholm: Leader in sustainable urban design and carbon neutrality. o Gothenburg: Compact industrial city focused on green technologies. o Paris: Historic city with the '15-minute city' sustainability model.

Research Value and Goals 1. Theoretical Innovation: o Integrate UM and LCZ frameworks. o Develop high-resolution analytical methods and standardized metrics. 2. Research Objectives: o Quantify urban structure-carbon dynamics relationships. o Analyze metabolic flows across LCZ types. o Assess cultural differences in urban carbon patterns. o Develop evidence-based urban design recommendations. 3. Global Significance: o Address gaps in urban sustainability research. o Inform climate mitigation strategies. o Enhance understanding of urban form-function dynamics. Structure and Frequency of Group Meetings Regular Research Activities 1. Core Team Meetings: o Weekly 2-hour sessions focusing on urban metabolism analysis, LCZ classification, carbon dynamics modeling, and methodological refinements. 2. Technical Workshops: o Monthly 3-hour sessions covering advanced modeling techniques, LCZ classification methods, and cross-cultural research methodologies. International Collaboration 1. Bi-weekly Virtual Meetings: o Focused on standardizing methodologies, comparing data, analyzing cultural contexts, resolving challenges, and sharing knowledge.

Roles and Responsibilities Student Leadership

1. Jessica Wang (UIUC): o Lead organizer managing project design, urban metabolism analysis, and publication strategies. o Expertise in UM analysis, LCZ classification, and cross-cultural studies. Reporting provided by Web Services at Public Affairs | University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 
2. Yixin Wu (National University of Singapore): o Co-organizer managing data integration, methodology standardization, and team coordination. Research Team Structure • Core Team:Graduate students from collaborating institutions. • International Partners: City-specific teams contributing local expertise, cultural insights, and data collection. • Faculty Support: Advisors provide guidance, quality control, and publication support. • Undergraduate Support: Yuheng Fu supports documentation of urban analysis and maintains database. Expected Outcomes 1. Academic Contributions: o Publications in leading journals on UM-LCZ integration, carbon dynamics, and
methodological advances. o Presentations at conferences on urban climate and sustainability. 2. Digital Scholarship: o Develop an integrated database of carbon flows by LCZ, metabolic patterns, and temporal variations. o Create standardized analytical frameworks for global research. 3.

Practical Applications: o Evidence-based recommendations for sustainable urban planning and policy. This study advances urban sustainability research by linking urban metabolism with localized climate dynamics, fostering innovative solutions for global carbon challenges.