Wenzheng Li

Wenzheng Li's research focuses on regional-scale land use planning, with a particular interest in how planning institutions, regulatory environments, and land use policies can effectuate more sustainable and equitable spatial patterns in both developed and developing countries.

He is currently studying regional polycentricity, with an emphasis on the impacts of polycentric development on economic development, regional disparities, quality of life, and environmental sustainability. In addition, his ongoing research projects include examining the sustainable urban forms in Sub-Saharan African cities, regional cooperation and coordination in Chinese regions, and assessing the value of environmental amenities (e.g., green space and clean water) in areas experiencing rapid environmental degradation. Li extensively combines GIS/remote sensing, econometrics, and methods in urban data analytics in his research.

Before joining Cornell, Li worked for Tompkins County, where he focused on improving the affordability and accessibility of public transportation in small urban/rural areas. He holds a bachelor's degree in remote sensing from China University of Geosciences and a master's degree and Ph.D. in regional planning from Cornell University.

Academic Research/Specialty Areas

  • Economic development 
  • Housing
  • International studies in planning
  • Land use/spatial planning
  • Regional science
  • Sustainability
  • Transportation planning
  • Visual representation
  • Land use/spatial planning
  • Sustainability
  • Urban data analytics
  • Economic development
  • Housing
  • Transportation planning

Related Links

Related News

Classes (Selected)

  • CRP 4080 Introduction to GIS for Planners
  • CRP 3850/5850 Special topics: Introduction to Urban Big Data and Machine Learning

Awards, Grants, and Fellowships (Selected)

  • C.V. Starr Fellowship, the Einaudi Center of Cornell University, 2023

Exhibitions and Presentations (Selected)

  • Can spatial patterns mitigate the urban heat island effect? Evidence from German metropolitan regions, Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning (ACSP) Conference, Chicago (2023)
  • Can polycentric urban development simultaneously achieve both economic growth and regional equity? A multi-scale analysis of German regions, North America Regional Science Council (NARSC) Conference, San Diego (2024)
  • The spatial-temporal evolution of urban development patterns in Chinese cities: dynamics and interpretation, North America Regional Science Council (NARSC) Conference, San Diego (2023)

Publications (Selected)

  • Li, Wenzheng, and Stephan Schmidt. "Can spatial patterns mitigate the urban heat island effect? Evidence from German metropolitan regions." Environment and Planning B: Urban Analytics and City Science (2024): 23998083241227500.
  • Li, Wenzheng, Stephan Schmidt, and Stefan Siedentop. "Can polycentric urban development simultaneously achieve both economic growth and regional equity? A multi-scale analysis of German regions." Environment and Planning A: Economy and Space 56, no. 2 (2024): 525-545.
  • Li, Wenzheng, and Stephan Schmidt. "The spatial‐temporal evolution of urban development patterns in Chinese cities: Dynamics and interpretations." Growth and Change 55, no. 2 (2024): e12722.
  • Schmidt, Stephan, Said Nuhu, Ryan Thomas, and Wenzheng Li. "Place attachment, regional identity and perceptions of urbanization in Moshi, Tanzania." Habitat International 150 (2024): 103132.
  • Schmidt, Stephan, Wenzheng Li, John Carruthers, and Stefan Siedentop. "Planning institutions and urban spatial patterns: Evidence from a cross-national analysis." Journal of Planning Education and Research (2021): 0739456X211044203.
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