Ming-Chun Lee

Ming-Chun Lee is an Associate Professor of Architecture and Graduate Program Director at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte (UNCC), leading the Master in Urban Design and CBL programs. He holds a B.S. and M.S. from National Cheng Kung University (Taiwan), and an M.Arch. and Ph.D. from the University of Washington.

His research focuses on integrating geospatial technologies—including 3D GIS, remote sensing, cloud-based GIS, and augmented/virtual reality (AR/VR)—into urban design education and practice. He develops immersive platforms for public engagement in urban planning, such as the Knight Foundation-funded "Transforming City of Charlotte with Immersive Visual Data" project, which uses 3D visualizations to support community-driven decision-making. Lee’s work also explores AR’s potential for civic storytelling, exemplified by his Knight Foundation-Niantic Labs AR Fellowship, which integrated Pokémon GO into public events to enhance community participation.

Lee has secured significant grants, including two Knight Foundation awards for XR research in urban planning and health initiatives. Collaborations include projects with the Levine Museum of the New South, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Library, and OpenStreets704. His recent studies address extended reality applications in art therapy for opioid use disorder recovery and comparative AR implementations in historic cities.

Scientific awards include his selection as a Knight Foundation-Niantic Labs AR Fellow. His work bridges technology, design, and community engagement to advance equitable urban futures.

Lee’s advising and grants highlight interdisciplinary efforts, such as a 2023 project on XR-based therapy with Dr. Vishnu Prabhu and a 2024 study comparing AR tools for community storytelling. His lab focuses on immersive visualization and participatory urban design, fostering tools that democratize access to spatial data and urban planning processes.