Frank Chen
Hello everyone, My name is Frank Chen. I’m a data enthusiast and urban planner, and I’m passionate about using data and technology to solve urban problems and make our cities more sustainable, equitable, and resilient. I’m interested in a wide range of topics, including spatial optimization, housing, urban mobility, and public health. I have experience in data analysis, spatial analysis, and data visualization, and I currently work as a research assistant at Housing Initiative at Penn.
This project presents a spatial optimization framework to strategically place street trees in Philadelphia for maximum shade and pedestrian benefit. Using high-resolution LiDAR, foot traffic data, and GPU-accelerated ray tracing, the study models tree placements that balance unique shade provision and human exposure under real-world constraints. The multi-objective model demonstrates trade-offs between environmental cooling and pedestrian comfort, revealing optimal planting patterns. Results show that smart placement can significantly enhance urban cooling and equity. Limitations include simplified tree growth models and lack of feedback between tree placement and pedestrian behavior. Special thanks to Prof. Xiaojiang Li and Dr. Eric Delmelle for their guidance and support throughout this project.
This project presents a spatial optimization framework to strategically place street trees in Philadelphia for maximum shade and pedestrian benefit. Using high-resolution LiDAR, foot traffic data, and GPU-accelerated ray tracing, the study models tree placements that balance unique shade provision and human exposure under real-world constraints. The multi-objective model demonstrates trade-offs between environmental cooling and pedestrian comfort, revealing optimal planting patterns. Results show that smart placement can significantly enhance urban cooling and equity. Limitations include simplified tree growth models and lack of feedback between tree placement and pedestrian behavior. Special thanks to Prof. Xiaojiang Li and Dr. Eric Delmelle for their guidance and support throughout this project.
