Dr. Jiayang Lee
Assistant Professor
Research Specialization(s):
- Climate Resilience and Adaptation
- Landscape Perception
- Ecological Landscape Design
Office: 440 AH
Contact: jiayangli@ufl.edu
Jiayang is an interdisciplinary scholar working at the intersection of landscape architecture and climate change adaptation. With a keen interest in everyday landscape experiences and human perceptions of ecological landscape design, her research focuses on the human dimensions of ecological design, with the goal of informing nature-based solutions that enhance climate resilience and adaptation while creating enjoyable outdoor environments in local communities. Currently, Jiayang integrates design thinking and social science methods to work on three topics: (1) Perceived social and cultural benefits of novel nature-based solutions; (2) Risk perception and sense of security in the context of urban flooding and adaptation; and (3) Community engagement in interdisciplinary and action research projects.
Her work has been supported by UF internal research funds and external agencies like the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. She has published in multiple top-ranked journals such as Landscape and Urban Planning, Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, and Ecology &Society, and given guest lectures and conferences presentations nationally and internationally.
Jiayang earned her Ph.D. in Environment and Sustainability and Master of Landscape Architecture from the University of Michigan. She also holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Landscape Architecture from Tongji University in Shanghai, China. Before turning her primary focus to research, she had practiced in firms including SmithGroup and AECOM.
Research Publications
Li, J., Abukhalaf, A. H. I., Bean, E., Brisotto, C., Clark, M. W., Von Meding, J., Otalora, A., & Barry, S. (2025). Community perception and stewardship of public coastal infrastructure in Cedar Key, Florida. Frontiers in Marine Science, 12.
https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2025.1639887
Li, J., & Guo, Z. (2024). Leveraging Greenspace to Manage Urban Flooding: An Investigation of Nature-Based Solutions Implementation in U.S. Public Parks. Land, 13(9), Article 9.
https://doi.org/10.3390/land13091531
Shehab, I., Nassauer, J. I., Webster, N. J., Sampson, N., & Li, J. (2024). Perceptions of Detroit vacant lot greening designs related to depressive symptoms and household flooding. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 96, 128358.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2024.128358
Projects
Cedar Key ShOREs (Shoreline Options for Resilience and Equity)
Funded by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
2022-2024
With funding from NAS, this interdisciplinary project focuses on the planning and design of nature-based solutions (NBS) around key public infrastructure in Cedar Key. The project team takes an approach that centers on community engagement and aims to help tackling frequent storms, sea level rise, and chronic erosion that the CK community is facing now. As a Co-PI, Jiayang contributes to the team with her expertise in public perceptions of NBS designed for flooding mitigation and community engagement, helping to envisioning a variety of NBS practices in public streets and vacant lots in local low-lying neighborhoods.
Advancing Campus Flood Vulnerability Assessment through Integrated Human
Perception and Digital Technologies with High-Performance Computing
Funded by UF NVIDIA AI and Complex Computational Research Award
2024-2026
This project aims to comprehensively assess campus vulnerability to flooding by joining geospatial data with perceived risks within a Digital Twin. By integrating human risk perception data with advanced technologies and mathematical simulations, this research has the potential to revolutionize flood vulnerability assessments and significantly improve disaster resilience efforts. As a Co-PI, Jiayang is leading the efforts to design VR-based experiments and collect risk perception data.
Leveraging Park-based Nature-Based Solutions to Address Urban Flooding
2022-2025
Supported by UF research startup funds, this series of pilot studies investigates the current adoption of NBS in urban parks that aim to tackle stormwater and riverine/coastal flooding, with a focus on social implications and lessons for landscape planning, design, and management. One completed study examined NBS adoption in 58 public parks across major US cities and explored the relationships between NBS typologies and the park’s surrounding landscape and sociodemographic contexts. Another ongoing study focuses on living shorelines in Florida coastal communities and their social-cultural benefits.