Research at the GxU Lab
Green × Urban – Some of our main research projects
Core Research Projects
Equitable AI for Climate-Resilient Urban Futures
A flagship initiative developing interpretable AI and geospatial simulations to model how urban form and fabric contribute to climate risks. We analyze the placement and effectiveness of green infrastructure as a primary adaptation strategy, focusing on just, community-centered outcomes.
Beyond 15-Minutes (B15M): Adaptive and Inclusive N-Minute City
A Horizon Europe DUT project performing a comparative spatial analysis of mobility and accessibility within the urban fabric of Korea, Sweden, and Norway. The GxU Lab leads the modeling methods (WP3), using agent-based simulations and machine learning to test how proximity policies and green infrastructure investments perform under different urban morphology scenarios.
The Green Thread: Weaving Equity into X-Minute Urban Design
This project uses agent-based models and machine learning to simulate how neighborhood-scale access to green space and essential services shapes social inclusion. By analyzing urban morphology and demographic data, we create spatial dashboards that reveal how green infrastructure can either bridge or deepen equity gaps.
Environmental Monitoring and Urban Health
High-Resolution Air Quality Mapping in Songdo
This project combines data from IoT sensor networks with Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations to map fine-scale air pollutant concentrations. We analyze how the specific urban fabric and building morphology of a master-planned city influences air quality block by block.
Urban Heat Island Analysis Using ML and LULC
Using high-resolution land cover data, this project focuses on how urban form and the composition of green infrastructure drive extreme heat. We employ explainable AI (SHAP) to interpret which elements of the urban landscape have the greatest cooling potential, informing targeted greening strategies.
Squalene Oxidation Modeling from Urban PM
A lab-based chemistry study modeling the reactions between skin lipid compounds (squalene) and urban particulate matter. This work bridges environmental toxicology and urban air pollution to assess public health risks.
Urban Technology & Public Engagement
Smartphone-Based Water Quality Monitoring
Developing low-cost, smartphone-compatible tools for water quality monitoring. Using RGB interpolation and computer vision, these tools allow for field measurement of ammonia, nitrate, and phosphate, as tested in Incheon's Seunggi Stream.
VR-Based Perception of Urban Green Space
An interdisciplinary project using immersive VR simulations to analyze how people perceive and experience different types of green infrastructure and urban forms. This spatial research supports the design of more inclusive parks and public spaces.
Data-Driven Urban Planning and Modeling
Deep Learning for Urban Vitality Forecasting
This project uses deep learning to simulate and forecast changes in neighborhood vibrancy. We combine land use, demographic, and urban form data into vitality indices that predict how different elements of the urban fabric will evolve, supporting evidence-based planning.
Standardized Hexagonal Datasets for Urban Comparison
We develop standardized, H3-based hexagonal datasets from OpenStreetMap for robust spatial research and pan-European urban comparisons. This work supports the equitable benchmarking of urban morphology and accessibility metrics across diverse cities.
Mentoring the Next Generation of Researchers
We actively mentor student researchers through the Undergraduate Research Scholars Program (URSP), Mason Impact, and independent study. Student-led projects have explored urban stream restoration, accessibility in the 15-minute city, and heat resilience in Korean neighborhoods.