Xiaojiang Li

Xiaojiang Li is an Assistant Professor of Urban Spatial Analytics at the Department of City and Regional Planning, University of Pennsylvania. He previously held positions at Temple University and the MIT Senseable City Lab. His work focuses on urban analytics, geospatial data science, climate resilience, and environmental health, leveraging machine learning and remote sensing technologies. Notable projects include the Treepedia initiative mapping global streetscape greenery and studies on urban heat vulnerability using GPU parallel computing.

Education:

• B.S., Environmental Science, Henan University
• M.A., Cartography and GIS, Chinese Academy of Sciences
• Ph.D., Geographic Information Science, University of Connecticut

His research integrates geospatial tools with urban planning to address socio-environmental challenges, emphasizing equity and sustainability. Key areas include urban microclimate modeling, heat exposure analysis, and the role of green infrastructure in mitigating climate impacts. His work has been featured in TIME, Scientific American, and Wall Street Journal.

Key Awards:

• 50 Rising Stars in Geospatial World
• Global Young Scientist Award (2021)

His research has received funding from NSF, NASA, and Microsoft AI for Earth Grants. He teaches courses on AI for urban sustainability and smart cities practicum, emphasizing practical applications of geospatial technologies.

Labs & Collaborations: Active collaborations with the MIT Senseable City Lab and leadership in interdisciplinary urban analytics projects.