- B501 Portland Square, Drake Circus, Plymouth, PL4 8AA
- +44 1752 584709
- charlie.lam@plymouth.ac.uk
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
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)
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
(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
(2021) 'A review on the significance and perspective of the numerical simulations of outdoor thermal environment' Sustainable Cities and Society 71, 102971-102971 , DOI
(2020) 'Outdoor thermal comfort assessment: A review on thermal comfort research in Australia' Building and Environment 177, 106917-106917 , DOI
(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
(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
(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
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
(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
(2021) 'A review on the significance and perspective of the numerical simulations of outdoor thermal environment' Sustainable Cities and Society 71, 102971-102971 , DOI
(2020) 'Outdoor thermal comfort assessment: A review on thermal comfort research in Australia' Building and Environment 177, 106917-106917 , DOI
(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
(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
(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
(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
(2023) 'Assessment of urban physical features on summer thermal perceptions using the local climate zone classification' Building and Environment 236, , DOI Open access
(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
(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
(2023) 'The effects of shading devices on outdoor thermal and visual comfort in Southern China during summer' Building and Environment 228, 109743-109743 , DOI
(2023) 'Insights from the first Brazilian Symposium on Human Biometeorology' Revista Brasileira de Ciências Ambientais 58, (2) 317-328 , DOI Open access
(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
(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
(2022) 'Summary of the first Brazilian Symposium on Human Biometeorology' International Journal of Biometeorology 67, (2) 405-408 , DOI Open access
(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
(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
(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
(2021) 'A review on the significance and perspective of the numerical simulations of outdoor thermal environment' Sustainable Cities and Society 71, 102971-102971 , DOI
(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
(2021) 'Effects of urban geometry on thermal environment in 2D street canyons: A scaled experimental study' Building and Environment 198, 107916-107916 , DOI
(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
(2021) 'Summer outdoor thermal benchmarks in Melbourne: Applications of different techniques' Building and Environment 195, 107658-107658 , DOI
(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
(2021) 'Influence of acclimatization and short-term thermal history on outdoor thermal comfort in subtropical South China' Energy and Buildings 231, 110541-110541 , DOI
(2020) 'Cross-modal effects of thermal and visual conditions on outdoor thermal and visual comfort perception' Building and Environment 186, 107297-107297 , DOI
(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
(2020) 'Does irrigation cooling effect intensify during heatwaves? A case study in the Melbourne botanic gardens' Urban Forestry & Urban Greening 55, 126815-126815 , DOI
(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
(2020) 'Outdoor thermal comfort assessment: A review on thermal comfort research in Australia' Building and Environment 177, 106917-106917 , DOI
(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
(2018) 'Experiential learning in doctoral training programmes: fostering personal epistemology through collaboration' Studies in Continuing Education 41, (1) 111-128 , DOI
(2018) 'Short-term changes in thermal perception associated with heatwave conditions in Melbourne, Australia' Theoretical and Applied Climatology 136, (1-2) 651-660 , DOI
(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
(2018) 'Perceptions of thermal comfort in heatwave and non-heatwave conditions in Melbourne, Australia' Urban Climate 23, 204-218 , DOI
(2017) 'Reflection for learning in doctoral training: writing groups, academic writing proficiency and reflective practice' Reflective Practice 18, (4) 463-473 , DOI
(2017) 'Solar Radiation Intensity and Outdoor Thermal Comfort in Royal Botanic Garden Melbourne during Heatwave Conditions' Procedia Engineering 205, 3456-3462 , DOI
(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
(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
'Air pollution, Heat and Mortality in Urban Populations' Reinvention: an International Journal of Undergraduate Research
Chapters
(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
(2020) 'A Central Air Conditioning Control Strategy to Enhance Thermal Comfort in Library Buildings' Environmental Science and Engineering Springer Singapore 385-393 , DOI
(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
(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
Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=nfnROdQAAAAJ&hl=en
YouTube research channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbU02kN-oQwlSBjQOd8CpOA