Dr Cho Kwong Charlie Lam
Profiles

Dr Cho Kwong Charlie Lam

Lecturer in Environmental Science

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences (Faculty of Science and Engineering)

Biography

Biography

Lecturer in Environmental Intelligence- University of Plymouth, UK
My research investigates the impact of climate change, urban design and vegetation on people’s physical and psychological health at a fine spatial scale. This can mean exploring how environmental exposure (e.g., thermal, visual, acoustic, and air quality) affects multisensory perceptions and personal health and well-being. Based on the framework of urban climate informatics and flourish theory, I collect human-centric data through sensors and big data to address climate equality and inform climate-sensitive urban design.
I have experience leading competitive grants on environmental monitoring and human health. These grants include ‘The Impact of Lift-up Design and Semi-open Settings on Thermal and Wind Environment in Street Canyons’ (National Natural Science Foundation of China) and ‘The Impact of Human Thermal Adaptation and Visual Comfort on Outdoor Thermal Comfort in Guangzhou’ (Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province). Moreover, I have worked with the local government in assessing urban renewal and healthy city design. In particular, I am the PI of ‘research on key technologies and guiding principles for sustainable urban heat mitigation in Guangzhou’ (Guangzhou Urban Planning & Design Survey Research Institute).
My skills translate across climate science, built environments, bioclimatology, epidemiology (heat-human health responses) and social science. These skills come from my human and physical geography background and subsequent PhD and postdoctoral training in climate science and the built environment in Australia (Monash University) and China (Sun Yat-sen University).

Qualifications

Education
2017 PhD in Atmospheric Sciences- Monash University, Australia
2012 BA (Hons) Geography and Environmental Science- Monash University, Australia
Employment
2017 - 2023 Research Fellow - Sun Yat-sen University, China

Professional membership

Fellow, Royal Geographical Society (with IBG)
International Association for Urban Climate (IAUC)
International Society of Biometeorology (ISB)
Indoor Environment and Health Branch, Chinese Society for Environmental Sciences

Roles on external bodies

Editorial advisory board member: International Journal of Biometeorology
Guest editor: Sustainability (Urban Climate and Health)
Guest editor: Atmosphere (Monitoring and Modelling Air Pollution and Thermal Environment through Applications in Urban Areas)

Key publications

Deng X, Nie W, Li X, Wu J, Yin Z, Han J, Pan H & Lam CKC (2023) 'Influence of built environment on outdoor thermal comfort: A comparative study of new and old urban blocks in Guangzhou' Building and Environment 234, , DOI Open access
Lam CKC, Lee H, Yang S-R & Park S (2021) 'A review on the significance and perspective of the numerical simulations of outdoor thermal environment' Sustainable Cities and Society 71, 102971-102971 , DOI
Shooshtarian S, Lam CKC & Kenawy I (2020) 'Outdoor thermal comfort assessment: A review on thermal comfort research in Australia' Building and Environment 177, 106917-106917 , DOI
Lam CKC, Loughnan M & Tapper N (2016) 'Visitors’ perception of thermal comfort during extreme heat events at the Royal Botanic Garden Melbourne' International Journal of Biometeorology 62, (1) 97-112 , DOI
Chen T, Pan H, Lu M, Hang J, Lam CKC, Yuan C & Pearlmutter D (2021) 'Effects of tree plantings and aspect ratios on pedestrian visual and thermal comfort using scaled outdoor experiments' Science of The Total Environment 801, 149527-149527 , DOI
Lam CKC, Hang J, Zhang D, Wang Q, Ren M & Huang C (2021) 'Effects of short-term physiological and psychological adaptation on summer thermal comfort of outdoor exercising people in China' Building and Environment 198, 107877-107877 , DOI
View all publications
Teaching

Teaching

Teaching interests

I am the program leader of the MSc Data Science and Environmental Intelligence: https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate/msc-data-science-and-environmental-intelligence
Youtube video of MSc Data Science and Environmental Intelligence: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJKPdHfN7Qs
I currently teach on the following modules:
GEES535 Terrestrial Environmental Sensors and Big Data (module leader)
GEES520 MSc dissertation
ENVS1009 Sustainability Science
ENVS1010 Global Environmental Challenges
ENVS2002 Environmental Expedition
ENVS3001 Research Project
ENVS3013 Global Environmental Solutions
Research

Research

Grants & contracts

2024 Investigating the impact of urban green infrastructure on the thermal environment and air quality by sensor network, Sustainable Earth Institute Small Collaborative Award, £3000, PI
2023 ‘Future Earth’ Early-Career Fellowship, Future Earth Global Secretariat Hub China, RMB 50,000, PI
2020–2022 The impact of lift-up design and semi-open settings on thermal and wind environment in street canyons (No. 41905005), National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC), RMB 260,000, PI
2022 Research on key technologies and guiding principles for sustainable urban heat mitigation in Guangzhou (No. 2021 01), Guangzhou Urban Planning & Design Survey Research Institute, RMB 100,000, PI
2018–2021 The impact of human thermal adaptation and visual comfort on outdoor thermal comfort in Guangzhou (No. 2018A030310307), Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province, RMB 100,000, PI
2017–2018 Climate feasibility study: technical consultation and training (No. 74110-71020019), Zhuhai City Public Weather Service Centre, RMB 29,500, PI
2022 Urban climate, air pollution and health effects (No. 22qntd1911), Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities in China (Sun Yat-sen University), RMB 282,000, Co-I
2021–2023 Effect of high temperature exposure on cardiopulmonary function for cross-climate population and the role of short-term heat adaptation (No. 202102020408), Guangzhou Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation, RMB 50,000, Co-I
2019–2022 The quantitative impacts of urban vegetation and open space on urban pollutant dispersion and thermal environment (No. 41875015), National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC), RMB 630,000, Co-I
2018–2023 Climate Change and Human Health: Risk Assessments, Early Signals and Response Strategies (No. 2018YFA0606200), China’s National Key R&D Programs, RMB 9,440,000, Co-I 
2018–2020 Impacts of urban-built layouts on urban ventilation and building natural ventilation under unsteady atmospheric conditions (No. 5171101879), NSFC-STINT joint project (National Natural Science Foundation of China - Sweden Foundation for International Cooperation in Research and Education), RMB 400,000, Co-I
2018–2020, Influence of urban viaduct on the micro-scale turbulence and pollutant dispersion (No. 18lgpy08), Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities in China (Sun Yat-sen University), RMB 150,000, Co-I
Publications

Publications

Key publications

Deng X, Nie W, Li X, Wu J, Yin Z, Han J, Pan H & Lam CKC (2023) 'Influence of built environment on outdoor thermal comfort: A comparative study of new and old urban blocks in Guangzhou' Building and Environment 234, , DOI Open access
Lam CKC, Lee H, Yang S-R & Park S (2021) 'A review on the significance and perspective of the numerical simulations of outdoor thermal environment' Sustainable Cities and Society 71, 102971-102971 , DOI
Shooshtarian S, Lam CKC & Kenawy I (2020) 'Outdoor thermal comfort assessment: A review on thermal comfort research in Australia' Building and Environment 177, 106917-106917 , DOI
Lam CKC, Loughnan M & Tapper N (2016) 'Visitors’ perception of thermal comfort during extreme heat events at the Royal Botanic Garden Melbourne' International Journal of Biometeorology 62, (1) 97-112 , DOI
Chen T, Pan H, Lu M, Hang J, Lam CKC, Yuan C & Pearlmutter D (2021) 'Effects of tree plantings and aspect ratios on pedestrian visual and thermal comfort using scaled outdoor experiments' Science of The Total Environment 801, 149527-149527 , DOI
Lam CKC, Hang J, Zhang D, Wang Q, Ren M & Huang C (2021) 'Effects of short-term physiological and psychological adaptation on summer thermal comfort of outdoor exercising people in China' Building and Environment 198, 107877-107877 , DOI

Key publications are highlighted

Journals
Articles
Zhong H, Feng J, Lam CKC, Hang J, Hua J & Gu Z (2023) 'The impact of semi-open street roofs on urban pollutant exposure and pedestrian-level thermal comfort in 2-D street canyons' Building and Environment 239, 110387-110387 , DOI
Lam CKC, Shooshtarian S & Kenawy I (2023) 'Assessment of urban physical features on summer thermal perceptions using the local climate zone classification' Building and Environment 236, , DOI Open access
Liu J, Zhao Y, Lam CKC, Liang J, Ling H & Wang Q (2023) 'Integrated impacts of solar heating and water evaporation on urban airflows and thermal environments in 2D street canyons' Urban Climate 48, 101411-101411 , DOI
Deng X, Nie W, Li X, Wu J, Yin Z, Han J, Pan H & Lam CKC (2023) 'Influence of built environment on outdoor thermal comfort: A comparative study of new and old urban blocks in Guangzhou' Building and Environment 234, , DOI Open access
Lam CKC, Weng J, Liu K & Hang J (2023) 'The effects of shading devices on outdoor thermal and visual comfort in Southern China during summer' Building and Environment 228, 109743-109743 , DOI
Krüger E, Gomes ACDS, Lucio PS, Gobo JPA, Nedel AS, Gonçalves FLT, Piacenti-Silva M, Napoli CD & Lam CKC (2023) 'Insights from the first Brazilian Symposium on Human Biometeorology' Revista Brasileira de Ciências Ambientais 58, (2) 317-328 , DOI Open access
Wang H, Lam CKC, Wulayin M, Chen X, Wang S, Ren M, Lee JKW, Hang J, Huang C & Wang Q (2022) 'Thermal perception and lung function: a panel study in young adults with exercise under high outdoor temperature' International Journal of Biometeorology 67, (1) 81-91 , DOI
Lam CKC, He Q, Cheng K-L, Fan PY, Chun KP, Choi B, Mah DN-Y, Cheung DM-W, Lo K & Yetemen O (2022) 'Impact of climate change and socioeconomic factors on domestic energy consumption: The case of Hong Kong and Singapore' Energy Reports 8, 12886-12904 , DOI
Krüger EL, dos Santos Gomes AC, Lucio PS, Gobo JPA, Nedel AS, Gonçalves FLT, Piacenti-Silva M, Di Napoli C & Lam CKC (2022) 'Summary of the first Brazilian Symposium on Human Biometeorology' International Journal of Biometeorology 67, (2) 405-408 , DOI Open access
Fan PY, Chun KP, Mijic A, Mah DN-Y, He Q, Choi B, Lam CKC & Yetemen O (2022) 'Spatially-heterogeneous impacts of surface characteristics on urban thermal environment, a case of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area' Urban Climate 41, 101034-101034 , DOI
Wang H, Wang Q, Yang X, Chen T, Lam CKC, Zhang M & Hang J (2021) 'Steady and unsteady turbulent flows and pollutant dispersion in 2D street canyons with novel boundary conditions and various Re numbers' Urban Climate 39, 100973-100973 , DOI
Chen T, Pan H, Lu M, Hang J, Lam CKC, Yuan C & Pearlmutter D (2021) 'Effects of tree plantings and aspect ratios on pedestrian visual and thermal comfort using scaled outdoor experiments' Science of The Total Environment 801, 149527-149527 , DOI
Lam CKC, Lee H, Yang S-R & Park S (2021) 'A review on the significance and perspective of the numerical simulations of outdoor thermal environment' Sustainable Cities and Society 71, 102971-102971 , DOI
Lin Y, Hang J, Yang H, Chen L, Chen G, Ling H, Sandberg M, Claesson L & Lam CKC (2021) 'Investigation of the Reynolds number independence of cavity flow in 2D street canyons by wind tunnel experiments and numerical simulations' Building and Environment 201, 107965-107965 , DOI
Chen G, Charlie Lam CK, Wang K, Wang B, Hang J, Wang Q & Wang X (2021) 'Effects of urban geometry on thermal environment in 2D street canyons: A scaled experimental study' Building and Environment 198, 107916-107916 , DOI
Lam CKC, Hang J, Zhang D, Wang Q, Ren M & Huang C (2021) 'Effects of short-term physiological and psychological adaptation on summer thermal comfort of outdoor exercising people in China' Building and Environment 198, 107877-107877 , DOI
Kenawy I, Lam CKC & Shooshtarian S (2021) 'Summer outdoor thermal benchmarks in Melbourne: Applications of different techniques' Building and Environment 195, 107658-107658 , DOI
Yang H, Lam CKC, Lin Y, Chen L, Mattsson M, Sandberg M, Hayati A, Claesson L & Hang J (2021) 'Numerical investigations of Re-independence and influence of wall heating on flow characteristics and ventilation in full-scale 2D street canyons' Building and Environment 189, 107510-107510 , DOI
Lam CKC, Cui S, Liu J, Kong X, Ou C & Hang J (2021) 'Influence of acclimatization and short-term thermal history on outdoor thermal comfort in subtropical South China' Energy and Buildings 231, 110541-110541 , DOI
Lam CKC, Yang H, Yang X, Liu J, Ou C, Cui S, Kong X & Hang J (2020) 'Cross-modal effects of thermal and visual conditions on outdoor thermal and visual comfort perception' Building and Environment 186, 107297-107297 , DOI
Lam CKC, Gao Y, Yang H, Chen T, Zhang Y, Ou C & Hang J (2020) 'Interactive effect between long-term and short-term thermal history on outdoor thermal comfort: Comparison between Guangzhou, Zhuhai and Melbourne' Science of The Total Environment 760, 144141-144141 , DOI
Lam CKC, Gallant AJE & Tapper NJ (2020) 'Does irrigation cooling effect intensify during heatwaves? A case study in the Melbourne botanic gardens' Urban Forestry & Urban Greening 55, 126815-126815 , DOI
Chen T, Yang H, Chen G, Lam CKC, Hang J, Wang X, Liu Y & Ling H (2020) 'Integrated impacts of tree planting and aspect ratios on thermal environment in street canyons by scaled outdoor experiments' Science of The Total Environment 764, 142920-142920 , DOI
Shooshtarian S, Lam CKC & Kenawy I (2020) 'Outdoor thermal comfort assessment: A review on thermal comfort research in Australia' Building and Environment 177, 106917-106917 , DOI
Zhang S, Ou C, Liu R, Jiang H, Xie Z, Lam CKC, Hang J & Wu Z (2019) 'Association between parental perceptions of odors and childhood asthma in subtropical South China with a hot humid climate' Building and Environment 159, 106155-106155 , DOI
Lam CKC, Hoang CH, Lau RWK, Cahusac de Caux B, Chen Y, Tan QQ & Pretorius L (2018) 'Experiential learning in doctoral training programmes: fostering personal epistemology through collaboration' Studies in Continuing Education 41, (1) 111-128 , DOI
Lam CKC, Gallant AJE & Tapper NJ (2018) 'Short-term changes in thermal perception associated with heatwave conditions in Melbourne, Australia' Theoretical and Applied Climatology 136, (1-2) 651-660 , DOI
Lam CKC & Lau KK-L (2018) 'Effect of long-term acclimatization on summer thermal comfort in outdoor spaces: a comparative study between Melbourne and Hong Kong' International Journal of Biometeorology 62, (7) 1311-1324 , DOI
Lam CKC, Gallant AJE & Tapper NJ (2018) 'Perceptions of thermal comfort in heatwave and non-heatwave conditions in Melbourne, Australia' Urban Climate 23, 204-218 , DOI
Cahusac de Caux BKCD, Lam CKC, Lau R, Hoang CH & Pretorius L (2017) 'Reflection for learning in doctoral training: writing groups, academic writing proficiency and reflective practice' Reflective Practice 18, (4) 463-473 , DOI
Lam CKC & Hang J (2017) 'Solar Radiation Intensity and Outdoor Thermal Comfort in Royal Botanic Garden Melbourne during Heatwave Conditions' Procedia Engineering 205, 3456-3462 , DOI
Lam CKC, Loughnan M & Tapper N (2016) 'Visitors’ perception of thermal comfort during extreme heat events at the Royal Botanic Garden Melbourne' International Journal of Biometeorology 62, (1) 97-112 , DOI
Lam CKC, Loughnan M & Tapper N (2013) 'An Exploration of Temperature Metrics for Further Developing the Heat-Health Weather Warning System in Hong Kong' ISRN Atmospheric Sciences 2013, 1-9 , DOI
Lam CKC 'Air pollution, Heat and Mortality in Urban Populations' Reinvention: an International Journal of Undergraduate Research Author Site
Chapters
Lam CKC, Krüger EL, Callejas IJA & Wagner A (2021) 'Long and Short-Term Acclimatization Effects on Outdoor Thermal Perception Versus UTCI' Applications of the Universal Thermal Climate Index UTCI in Biometeorology Springer International Publishing 81-112 , DOI
Zheng M, Dong Z, Xie Q, Wu X, Lin Z, Zhang Z, Liang W, Chen W, Lam CKC & Hang J (2020) 'A Central Air Conditioning Control Strategy to Enhance Thermal Comfort in Library Buildings' Environmental Science and Engineering Springer Singapore 385-393 , DOI
Lam CKC, Cui S, Liu J, Kong X & Hang J (2020) 'Effect of Acclimatization and Thermal History on Outdoor Thermal Comfort in Hot-Humid Area of China' Environmental Science and Engineering Springer Singapore 877-886 , DOI
He Y, Ma R, Ren M, Liao W, Zhang N, Su Y, Lam CKC, Wang S & Huang C (2019) 'Public Health Adaptation to Heat Waves in Response to Climate Change in China' Ambient Temperature and Health in China Springer Singapore 171-190 , DOI
Personal

Personal

Reports & invited lectures

2023 | Invited speaker: 11th International Conference on Urban Climate, Sydney, Australia
2022 | Invited speaker: The 3rd Urban Microclimate Research Webniar
2022 | Keynote speaker: 1st Brazilian Symposium on Human Biometeorology, Natal, Brazil
2021 | Keynote speaker: XII Latin American Meeting of Comfort in the Built Environment, Palmas, Brazil
2021 | Invited speaker: 1st virtual and 22nd International Congress of Biometeorology
2020 | Invited speaker: The 2nd Youth Scholar Webinar on Urban Microclimate
2019 | Invited speaker: General Assembly 2019 of the European Geosciences Union (EGU), Vienna, Austria
2019 | Invited speaker: 1st International Conference for Global Chinese Academia on Energy and Built Environment, Chengdu, China
2019 | Invited speaker: 11th International Symposium on Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning, Harbin, China
2018 | Invited speaker: Cooling Singapore project & Department of Geography, National University of Singapore, Singapore
2018 | Invited speaker: 10th International Conference on Urban Climate, New York, U.S.A.
2018 | Invited speaker: 4th International Conference on Building Energy and Environment and Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
2017 | Invited speaker: 21st International Congress of Biometeorology, Durham, U.K.
2017 | Invited speaker: 10th International Symposium on Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning, Jinan, China
2015 | Invited speaker and student presentation award recipient: 9th International Conference on Urban Climate, Toulouse, France
2015 | Finalist, Best Postgraduate Science Communicator: 2nd Water Sensitive Cities Conference, Brisbane, Australia
2014 | Invited speaker: 20th International Congress of Biometeorology, Cleveland, U.S.A.

Conferences organised

Organizing committee: The 11th International Conference on Urban Climate, Sydney, Australia, 2023
Organizing committee: The 2022 International Association for Urban Climate Virtual Poster Conference, 2022

Other academic activities

Early-career researcher representative and speaker: Sustainability Research & Innovation Congress 2022

Links