Assoc Prof Dr. Chunzhu WEI | Risk Management | Best Researcher Award

Sun Yat-Sen University, China

Author Profile

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🎓 Early Academic Pursuits

Dr. Chunzhu Wei is a distinguished Chinese geographer whose academic journey reflects a seamless blend of dedication, technical proficiency, and interdisciplinary exploration. His foundation in science began at Northwest University in Xi’an, where he earned his Bachelor of Science in Environmental and Resource Science (2006–2010). During this period, his early curiosity in geoinformatics and spatial data analysis sparked the design of a population evacuation simulation model, laying the groundwork for his future focus on GIS and remote sensing applications in environmental and urban contexts.

He pursued his Master’s degree in Automation from the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China in Chengdu (2010–2013), where he sharpened his skills in data analysis, spatial modeling, and systems engineering. These competencies matured into a deeper academic engagement during his Ph.D. studies in Geoinformatics at the University of Salzburg, Austria (2013–2017). There, he expanded his research on urban and environmental analytics with a global lens, engaging with European and Asian institutions in collaborative international science projects.

🧑‍💼 Professional Endeavors

Currently serving as an Associate Professor at the School of Geography and Planning, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Dr. Wei has positioned himself at the forefront of research and teaching in geospatial analytics, urban resilience, and global trade network simulation. His academic home, nestled within one of China’s leading research universities, provides a vibrant environment for interdisciplinary exploration and innovation.

Dr. Wei has helmed and collaborated on a multitude of prestigious projects over the last 15 years. Notably, he leads a major project (2025–2028) on global shipping network resilience under extreme events using AIS data and agent-based modeling, reflecting his expertise in simulating dynamic systems. Another significant project (2021–2023) investigates port-proximate area evolution in the South China Sea Rim across scales—global to local—offering practical insights for economic and environmental planning.

His earlier professional contributions span a range of impactful domains: from urban heat island estimation in international research programs between China and Hungary to coastal risk assessments in Portugal under the Copernicus EMS Risk and Recovery Mapping. These experiences have enriched his technical palette in satellite image processing, vulnerability assessment, and spatial-statistical integration.

🛰️ Contributions and Research Focus

Dr. Wei’s research orbits around several interlinked cores: multi-source satellite imagery, urban and trade network resilience, and geospatial statistical methods. His work merges physical and social dimensions of geography, enabling him to tackle climate stress, urban inequality, and global logistics with scientific rigor and data-driven strategies.

A prolific author, his scholarly contributions include recent publications in high-impact journals:

• In Resources, Conservation and Recycling (2025), he analyzed post-pandemic grain trade resilience, offering a novel port-centric view of global food security.

• His work in Marine Pollution Bulletin (2025) highlights increased marine and terrestrial heatwave events in China’s coastal zones—an urgent environmental challenge.

• Published in Transportation Research Part D (2024), he advanced port cluster resilience assessment using hypergraph and agent-based modeling—a cutting-edge methodological innovation.

• He has also addressed urban deprivation, land surface temperature, and unplanned settlement mapping using super-resolution GANs, as seen in the International Journal of Digital Earth (2023).

Each study reveals Dr. Wei’s commitment to integrating advanced computation, spatial science, and policy relevance in tackling some of today’s most pressing geographic issues.

🏆 Accolades and Recognition

While specific awards are not detailed in the provided record, Dr. Wei’s sustained leadership in major national and international research programs and his publication record in reputable peer-reviewed journals signify substantial recognition in the academic and professional geospatial communities. His international collaborations—especially across Europe and Asia—demonstrate his esteem and reach within global research networks.

🌍 Impact and Influence

Dr. Wei’s influence resonates through both scholarly and practical domains. His insights on urban morphology, climate risk, and trade system fragility are increasingly relevant as cities grapple with environmental stress, shifting demographics, and geopolitical uncertainties. His work on coastal aquaculture, port accessibility, and urban vulnerability informs sustainable planning and policy adaptation.

Furthermore, his research informs decision-makers, urban planners, and logistics experts on how to design robust, equitable, and climate-resilient infrastructures. By quantifying and modeling the interdependencies within urban and trade systems, he provides tools for managing shocks—natural or socio-economic—in a rapidly changing world.

🔮 Legacy and Future Contributions

Looking ahead, Dr. Wei is poised to play a pivotal role in shaping resilient urban and trade systems through AI-integrated spatial modeling, remote sensing innovations, and cross-scale analytics. His leadership in longitudinal satellite analysis and agent-based simulations positions him as a thought leader in designing adaptive systems for complex, multi-layered geographic phenomena.

With his roots in field-based inquiry and his eyes on satellite-based surveillance of Earth systems, Dr. Wei bridges local concerns with global strategies. His career thus far suggests a future rich in cross-disciplinary breakthroughs, particularly at the intersections of climate science, urban resilience, and technological foresight.

Understanding the effects of 2D/3D urban morphology on land surface temperature based on local climate zones

Authors: L Zhou, B Yuan, F Hu, C Wei, X Dang, D Sun
Journal: Building and Environment
Year: 2022

Measuring urban agglomeration using a city-scale dasymetric population map: A study in the Pearl River Delta, China

Authors: C Wei, H Taubenböck, T Blaschke
Journal: Habitat International
Year: 2017

Assessment of coastal aquaculture for India from Sentinel-1 SAR time series

Authors: KA Prasad, M Ottinger, C Wei, P Leinenkugel
Journal: Remote Sensing
Year: 2019

Relationship between urban landscape structure and land surface temperature: Spatial hierarchy and interaction effects

Authors: L Zhou, F Hu, B Wang, C Wei, D Sun, S Wang
Journal: Sustainable Cities and Society
Year: 2022

Multiscale evaluation of an urban deprivation index: Implications for quality of life and healthcare accessibility planning

Authors: P Cabrera-Barona, C Wei, M Hagenlocher
Journal: Applied Geography
Year: 2016