Dr. Yuanyuan Tao
Urban Geographer | Urban and Regional Planner
Interdisciplinary researcher working at the intersection of urban geography, spatial planning, resource-dependent cities, urban ecology, GIS and spatial analysis. My research examines how cities and regions transform through resource transition, spatial restructuring and ecological regeneration.
From resource landscapes to living cities.
I study the spatial and ecological transformation of cities and regions shaped by resource extraction, industrial change and urbanisation.
My academic work combines quantitative spatial analysis with urban and regional planning. I am particularly interested in resource-based cities, mining regions, urban morphology, land-use change, ecological restoration, labour reallocation and the transition from extractive economies toward more diversified and resilient urban systems.
Research themes
Urban & Regional Transformation
Resource-Dependent Cities
Urban Ecology & Regeneration
Geospatial Urban Analytics
Comparative research landscapes
Research across mining, resource-dependent and transforming urban regions in China, Europe and Australia.
Selected publications
Academic trajectory
Ghent University · PhD Researcher, Geography
Department of Geography, Belgium.
University of California, Los Angeles · Visiting Researcher
Department of Architecture and Urban Design · Urban spatial analysis and territorial modelling.
University of Cambridge · Visiting Researcher
Department of Geography · Urban ecology and socio-ecological urban systems.
ETH Zürich · Visiting Researcher
Department of Environmental Systems Science · Urban ecology and forest modelling.
China University of Mining and Technology · PhD, Urban and Regional Planning
Dissertation: Spatial Planning of Mining Resource-Based Cities.
Beihai University of Art and Design · Lecturer
Urban planning, residential spatial planning and remote sensing mapping.
Methods & expertise
Research, collaboration & academic exchange.
For research collaboration, academic exchange, teaching opportunities or professional enquiries, please get in touch.