Jing Xie's research priorities include Earth observation, GIS, and vegetation ecology, specifically focusing on natural and urban environmental gradients, urban local climate, urban analytics, environmental factors' modeling, phenology and productivity of vegetation, timing and accumulation of snow, mountain ecosystems, land use land cover, as well as climate change.

 

Research Priorities

Environmental earth observation/remote sensing
• Mountain environment/ecosystem, quantitative environmental modeling.
• Vegetation information extraction, phenology and productivity of vegetation, 
• Climate change, timing, and accumulation of snow.
• Land use and land cover change, urban local climate zone, urban ecosystem, urban vegetation greening and phenology, urban analytics, urban form, human building environment.
• SAR technology on grassland, biomass, live stocks. 
• Multi-spectral, hyperspectral, and radar algorithm development, data processing and data
application
Geographic information systems
• Spatial data statistics, spatial data mining
• Spatiotemporal analytics of big geospatial data
• Spatial modeling and environmental data assimilation
• Geovisualization
Computer sciences
• Machine learning
• High-performance & cloud computing computation
• Big data processing/management

 

Professional Experiences

2021.12 – present: Professorship position (associate), PI at School of Geography and Planning, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China.

2019.09 – 2021.09: Post-Doctoral Fellow (PDF) at the Faculty of Architecture, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.

2018.08 – 2019.03: Post-Doctoral Research Associate (PDRA) at School of Geographical and Earth Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom.

2013.10 – 2018.08: Research Assistant (RA) at Remote Sensing Laboratories, Department of Geography, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.

2014.03 – 2018.03: Teaching Assistant (TA) at Department of Geography, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.

2011.7 – 2013.7: Research Assistant (RA) at Chinese Academy of Sciences, China.

 

Education Experiences

2013.10 – 2018.10: Dr. sc. nat. (i.e., Ph.D., Doctor of Natural Sciences in Earth Observation) studies at Remote Sensing Laboratories, Department of Geography, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. Dissertation: Remote sensing based monitoring of snow-vegetation relationships in the European Alps. Supervisors: Michael E. Schaepman, Mathias Kneubühler, Robert Weibel.

2010.9 – 2013.7: M.S. in Cartography and Geographic Information Systems, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China. Dissertation: Classification of wetlands using object-oriented method and multi-season remote sensing images in Sanjiang Plain. Supervisor: Zongming Wang.

2006.9 – 2010.6: B.S. in Resources and Environment and Urban Planning, and B.A. in Finance, Northwest University, Xi’an, China. Dissertation: B.S.: Association analysis between road transportation and economic development in northern Shaanxi in the transition periods; B.A.: Discussion on risk management of China's commercial banks under New Basel Accord.

 

Research Project Experiences (within five years)

[7] 2023.08. PI (principal investigator), 2024 Young Scientists Fund, National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) (Grant No. 42301208), “The response of vegetation phenology to surface thermal environments in fast-urbanizing regions: a case study in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, China”, funded.

[6] 2023.05. PI (principal investigator), 2023 Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities, Sun Yat-sen University (Grant No. 23qnpy15), “Vegetation phenology and geographical environment gradients”, funded.

[5] 2023.02. PI (principal investigator), Basic and Applied Basic Research for PhD Young Scientists, Guangzhou Science and Technology Bureau, China (Grant No.2023A04J1986), “Investigate the mitigation mechanism of vegetation greenness on the surface urban heat island effect from the perspective of local climate zones in Guangzhou, China”, funded.

[4] 2022.09. PI (principal investigator), Open Fund of Key Laboratory of Geospatial Technology for the Middle and Lower Yellow River Regions (Henan University), Ministry of Education (Grant No.GTYR202212), “ The role of vegetation in mitigating the urban heating island under the effect of urban local climate in Zhengzhou, China”, funded.

[3] BBSRC funded Sustainable Tropical Agricultural Systems project, RCUK-CIAT Newton-Caldas Fund Sustainable Tropical Agricultural Systems Programme, Advancing sustainable forage-based livestock production systems using multi-source remote sensing and social science approaches, 2018-2019, participated

[2] Swiss-Belgian consortium on behalf of ESA, ESA Prodex, Airborne Prism Experiment – a next generation imaging spectrometer for the Earth system (APEX Data Processing), 2013-2018, participated

[1] University of Zurich, Doctoral Program, Geography/Earth System Science, Academic Record No. 1379441720190605150549, Remote sensing based monitoring of snow-vegetation relationships in the European Alps, 2013-2018, led

 

Teaching Experiences

Supervision of junior researcher at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels at the School of Geography and Planning, Sun Yat-Sen University.

  • Master student supervisor, ongoing: Siyu Zhou (2022 – 2025), Nan Wei (2023 – 2026).
  • Bachelor thesis supervisor: Rui Chen (2023), Shuyuan Liu (2023), Shengrui Chang (2024), Aliya Agang (2024).

Lecture experience in Geography at the School of Geography and Planning, Sun Yat-Sen University.

  • 2024 spring semester, Application of Remote Sensing in Territory Spatial Planning (undergraduate course, 27 students).
  • 2024 spring semester, Urban management (undergraduate course, 30 students).
  • 2023 fall semester, joint course: Research questions of human geography (graduate course, 30 students).
  • 2023 fall semester, joint course: Practice in national planning (graduate course, 30 students).
  • 2023 fall semester, Landscape ecology and ecological planning (undergraduate course, 27 students).
  • 2023 fall semester, Urban planning regulations (undergraduate course, 33 students).
  • 2023 fall semester, Urban management and regulations (undergraduate course, 29 students).
  • 2023 spring semester, Urban management (undergraduate course, 9 students).
  • 2022 fall semester, Urban management and regulations (undergraduate course, 39 students).
  • 2022 fall semester, joint course: Research questions of human geography (graduate course, 30 students).
  • 2022 fall semester, joint course: Comprehensive field practice of geography (undergraduate course, 39 students).
  • 2022 fall semester, joint course: Urban planning practice (undergraduate course, 36 students).
  • 2022 summer semester, Master Thesis Exams (7 graduate students).
  • 2022 summer semester, Bachelor Thesis Exams (11 undergraduate students).

Lecture experience in Geography at the Department of Geography, University of Zurich.

  • 2017 spring, Small Group Teaching FS 2017 in physical geography, human geography, and geographic information science, undergraduate class (6 students).
  • 2016 autumn, Small Group Teaching HS 2016 in physical geography, human geography, and geographic information science, undergraduate class (6 students).

Teaching assistant at the Department of Geography, University of Zurich.

  • 2017 August, Modul exams of GEO123, graduate class.
  • 2017 Spring, Remote Sensing Colloquium, host helper, and presenter.
  • 2016 Fall semester, Master Exams, graduate class.
  • 2015 September, URPP GCB (UZH), presentation and exhibition, open class.
  • 2015 June, Modul exams of GEO123, graduate class.

Lab instructor (Research Assistant) at Remote Sensing Laboratories, University of Zurich.

  • 2013.12 – 2018.08 Report and illustration of quality assessment of air-borne hyperspectral data.

 

Journal Articles Publications (* corresponding author)

[38] Siyu Zhou; Minmin Li; Jing Xie*. Evaluating urban-rural gradients and urban forms in metropolitan areas: a local climate zone approach with future spatial simulation. Sustainable Cities and Society.   DOI: 10.1016/j.scs.2024.105636.

[37] Quan Gao; Nan Wei; Qian Zhang; Siyu Zhou; Jing Xie*. Visualising the academic mobility of Nobel laureates. Environment and Planning B: Urban Analytics and City Science. https://doi.org/10.1177/23998083241264075.

[36] Jing Xie, Nan Wei, Quan Gao. Assessing spatiotemporal population density dynamics from 2000 to 2020 in megacities using urban and rural morphologies. Scientific Reports. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-63311-5.

[35] Yuanmou Wang, Baicheng Xia, Yanan Chen, Huan Chen, Jing Xie*. Revisiting the Characteristics of Super Typhoon Saola (2023) Using GPM, Himawari-9, and FY-4B Satellite Data. Atmosphere. https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos15030290.

[34] Jing Xie*, Xinwei Li, Lamuel Chi Hay Chung, Christopher John Webster. The effects of land surface temperatures on vegetation phenology along urban-rural local climate zone gradients. Landscape Ecology. DOI: 10.1007/s10980-024-01856-6.

[33] Jing Xie, Siyu Zhou, Lamuel Chi Hay Chung, Ting On Chan. Evaluating land-surface warming and cooling environments across urban–rural local climate zone gradients in subtropical megacities. Building and Environment. DOI: 10.1016/j.buildenv.2024.111232.

[32] Yeran Sun, Jing Xie*, Yu Wang, Ting On Chan. Mapping local-scale working population density and daytime population density using points-of-interest and nighttime light satellite imageries. Geo-spatial Information Science. https://doi.org/10.1080/10095020.2023.2273826.

[31] Siyu Zhou, Hui Zheng, Xiao Liu, Quan Gao, Jing Xie*. Identifying the effects of vegetation on urban surface temperatures based on urban-rural local climate zones in the subtropical metropolis. Remote Sensing. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs15194743.

[30] Gu, Yating; Zhao, Yingyi; Guo, Zhengfei; Meng, Lin; Zhang, Kun; Wang, Jing; Lee, Calvin; Xie, Jing; Wang, Yantian; Zhengbing, Yan; Zhang, He; Wu, Jin. The underappreciated importance of solar radiation in constraining spring phenology of temperate ecosystems in the Northern and Eastern United States. Remote Sensing of Environment. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rse.2023.113617.

[29] Meng Cai, Chao Ren, Yuan Shi, Guangzhao Chen, Jing Xie, Edward Yan Yung Ng. 2022. Modeling spatiotemporal (2012-2016) carbon emission for two mega urban regions in China using urban form and panel data analysis. Science of the Total Environment. DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.159612.

[28] Yingyi Zhao, Calvin K.F. Lee, Zhihui Wang, Jing Wang, Yating Gu; Jing Xie, Ying Ki Law, Guangqin Song, Timothy Bonebrake, Xi Yang, Bruce Nelson, Jin Wu. 2022. Evaluating fine-scale phenology from PlanetScope satellites with ground observations across temperate forests in eastern North America
Remote Sensing of Environment. Remote Sensing of Environment. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rse.2022.113310.

[27] Chunhui Duan, Jinghao Li, Yanan Chen, Zhi Ding, Mingguo Ma, Jing Xie, Li Yao, Xuguang Tang. 2022. Spatiotemporal Dynamics of Terrestrial Vegetation and Its Driver Analysis over Southwest China from 1982 to 2015. Remote Sensing. 14(10), 2497; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs14102497.

[26] Liu, Guihua, Yisong Wang, Yanan Chen, Xingqing Tong, Yuandong Wang, Jing Xie, and Xuguang Tang. 2022. Remotely Monitoring Vegetation Productivity in Two Contrasting Subtropical Forest Ecosystems Using Solar-Induced Chlorophyll Fluorescence. Remote Sensing. 14, no. 6: 1328. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs14061328.

[25] Zixuan Wang, Yuguo Li, Jiyun Song, Kai Wang, Jing Xie, Pak Wai Chan, Chao Ren. 2022. Tree planting optimisation to cool a hot and humid subtropical high-density city. Urban Climate. DOI: 10.1016/j.uclim.2022.101141.

[24] Junyi Hua, Meng Cai, Yuan Shi, Chao Ren, Jing Xie, Lamuel Chi Hay Chung, Yi Lu, Long Chen, Zhaowu Yu, Chris Webster. 2022. Investigating the pedestrian level of greenery in different urban forms in a high-density city for urban planning. Sustainable Cities and Society. DOI: 10.1016/j.scs.2022.103755.

[23] Jing Xie, Yeran Sun, Xiao Liu, Zhi Ding, and Ming Lu. 2021. Human activities introduced degenerations of wetlands (1975–2013) across the Sanjiang Plain north of the Wandashan Mountain, China. Land 10, no. 12: 1361. https://doi.org/10.3390/land10121361.

[22] Jing Xie, Chao Ren, Xinwei Li, Lamuel Chi Hay Chung (2022). Investigate the urban growth and urban-rural gradients based on local climate zones (1999–2019) in the Greater Bay Area, China. Remote Sensing Applications: Society and Environment. DOI: 10.1016/j.rsase.2021.100669.

[21] Yeran Sun, Jing Xie*, Xuke Hu (2021). Detecting spatial clusters of coronavirus infection across London during the second wave. Applied Spatial Analysis and Policy. DOI: 10.1007/s12061-021-09413-3.

[20] Guangzhao Chen, Jing Xie*, Wenhao Li, Xinwei Li, Lamuel Chi Hay Chung, Chao Ren, Xiaoping Liu (2021). Future "Local Climate Zone" spatial changes simulation in Greater Bay Area under the shared socioeconomic pathways and ecological control line. Building and Environment. DOI: 10.1016/j.buildenv.2021.108077.

[19] Lamuel Chi Hay Chung, Jing Xie*, Chao Ren (2021). Improved machine-learning mapping of local climate zone in the metropolitan areas by compositing Earth observation data on Google Earth Engine. Building and Environment. DOI: 10.1016/j.buildenv.2021.107879.

[18] Xie, J.*, Hüsler, F., de Jong, R., Chimani, B., Asam, S., Sun, Y., Schaepman, M. E., Kneubühler, M., (2021). Spring temperature and snow cover climatology drive the advanced springtime phenology (1991–2014) in the European Alps. Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences. doi:10.1029/2020JG006150.

[17] Yeran Sun, Shaohua Wang, Jing Xie, Xuke Hu (2021). Modelling local-scale violent crime rate: a comparison of eigenvector spatial filtering model and conventional spatial regression model. The Professional Geographer. https://doi.org/10.1080/00330124.2020.1844574.

[16] Yeran Sun, Xuke Hu, Jing Xie (2021). Spatial inequalities of COVID-19 mortality rate in relation to socioeconomic and environmental factors across England. Science of the Total Environment. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.143595.

[15] Yeran Sun, Ting On Chan, Jing Xie, Xuan Sun, Ying Huang (2020). Examining spatial association of air pollution and suicide rate using spatial regression models. Sustainability, 12, 7444; doi:10.3390/su12187444.

[14] Xie, J.*, Jonas, T., Rixen, C., de Jong, R., Garonna, I., Notarnicola, C., Asam, S., Schaepman, M.E., Kneubühler, M., (2020). Land surface phenology and greenness in Alpine grasslands driven by seasonal snow and meteorological factors. Science of the Total Environment. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.138380.

[13] Xie, J.*, Kneubühler, M., Garonna, I., de Jong, R., Notarnicola, C., De Gregorio, L., & Schaepman, M. E. (2018). Relative influence of timing and accumulation of snow on alpine land surface phenology. Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences, 123: 561-576. doi:10.1002/2017JG004099.

[12] Xie, J.*, M. Kneubühler, I. Garonna, C. Notarnicola, L. De Gregorio, R. De Jong, B. Chimani, and M. E. Schaepman (2017), Altitude-dependent influence of snow cover on alpine land surface phenology, Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeoscience, 122: 1107–1122. doi:10.1002/2016JG003728. 

[11] Xuguang Tang, Hengpeng Li, Xibao Xu, Juhua Luo, Xinyan Li, Zhi Ding, Jing Xie (2016), Potential of MODIS data to track the variability in ecosystem water-use efficiency of temperate deciduous forests, Ecological Engineering, 91:381-391. DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2016.02.022.

[10] XuguanTang, Zhi Ding, Hengpeng Li, Xinyan Li, Juhua Luo, Jing Xie, Dongqiang Chen (2015). Characterizing ecosystem water-use efficiency of croplands with eddy covariance measurements and MODIS products. Ecological Engineering, 85: 212-217. DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2015.09.078.

[9] Tang, Xuguang; Li, Hengpeng; Huang, Ni; Liu, Xinyang; Xu, Xibao; Ding, Zhi; Xie, Jing (2015). A comprehensive assessment of MODIS-derived GPP for forest ecosystems using the site-level FLUXNET database. Environmental Earth Sciences, 74(7): 5907-5918. doi: 10.1007/s12665-015-4615-0.

[8] Tang, Xuguang; Li, Hengpeng; Liu, Guihua; Liu, Xinyan; Yao, Li; Xie, Jing; Chang, Shouzhi (2015). Sensitivity of near real-time MODIS gross primary productivity in terrestrial forest based on eddy covariance measurements. Chinese Geographical Science, 25(5): 537-548. doi: 10.1007/s11769-015-0777-7.

[7] Tang, Xuguang; Li, Hengpeng; Desai, Ankur R; Xu, Xibao; Xie, Jing (2014). Comparison of multiple models for remote sensing of carbon exchange using MODIS data in conifer-dominated forests. International Journal of Remote Sensing, 35(24): 8252-8271. doi: 10.1080/01431161.2014.981644.

[6] Xie Jing, Wang Zongming, Ren Chunying. Analysis of seasonal changes of wetland landscape Patterns derived from Remote sensing data. Acta Ecologica Sinica, 2014,34 (24), 7149-7157. doi:10.5846/stxb201310132457.

[5] Xuguang Tang, Zongming Wang, Jing Xie, Dianwei Liu, Ankur R. Desai, Mingming Jia, Zhangyu Dong, Xiuping Liu, Bo Liu (2013). Monitoring the seasonal and interannual variation of the carbon sequestration in a temperate deciduous forest with MODIS time series data. Forest Ecology and Management. 306: 150-160. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2013.06.032.

[4] Xuguang Tang, Xi Wang, Zongming Wang, Dianwei Liu, Mingming Jia, ZhangyuDong, Jing Xie, Zhi Ding, Huaru Wang & Xiuping Liu (2013) Influence of vegetation phenology onmodelling carbon fluxes in temperate deciduous forest by exclusive use of MODIS time-series data, International Journal of Remote Sensing, 34:23, 8359-8378. https://doi.org/10.1080/01431161.2013.838708.

[3] Xie Jing, Wang Zongming, Yangsheng Zhang, and Huijuan Feng (2013). Dynamic evaluation of the development of regional road transportation: the case of Northern Shaanxi. Journal of Northwest University (Natural Science Edition), 2013, 43 (1), 115-120. https://en.cnki.com.cn/Article_en/CJFDTotal-XBDZ201301023.htm.

[2] Xie Jing, Wang Zongming, Dehua Mao, Chunying Ren, Jixin Han (2012). Remote sensing classification of wetlands using object-oriented method and multi-season HJ-1 images—A case study in the Sanjiang Plain North of the Wandashan Mountain. Wetland Science, 2012, 10 (4), 429-438.  https://www.cnki.com.cn/Article/CJFDTOTAL-KXSD201204009.htm.

[1] Xie Jing, Yangsheng Zhang, Fang Lei, Zhuo Huang (2010). Association analysis between road transportation and economic development in northern Shaanxi in the transition period. Human Geography, 2010 (5), 103-107. https://en.cnki.com.cn/Article_en/CJFDTotal-RWDL201005021.htm.

 

Seminars and Conferences (selected)

[10] Academic poster "Evaluating land-surface warming and cooling environments across urban–rural local climate zone gradients in subtropical megacities". AGU Fall Meeting. 11 December 2023.

[9] Academic report "The role of wetlands in mitigating land surface temperature variations in subtropical coastal cities in South China”, accepted for Session 10. 'Local Governance and Planning of Coastal and Maritime Areas'. IGU Thematic Conference. 5-7 June 2023 in Milan, Italy.

[8] Academic report "Influence of surface urban heat island on spring and autumn phenology of the forest regions in the highly urbanized Pearl River Delta, China". AGU Fall Meeting, 16 December 2020.

[7] Academic poster "Both urbanization and elevation constrict forest greening in the Pearl River Delta, China". 18th Swiss Geoscience Meeting, 6-7 November 2020 in Zurich (CH).

[6] Academic report "Effects of seasonal snow and climatic controls on spring and autumn phenology in Alpine forest regions". AGU Fall Meeting, December 2017.

[5] Academic report "Influence of meteorological factors on the autumn land surface phenology in alpine grasslands". 15th Swiss Geoscience Meeting, 17-18 November 2017 in Davos (CH).

[4] Academic poster "Altitude-dependent Influence of Snow Cover and Accumulation on Start of Alpine Phenology". 10th EARSeL SIG Imaging Spectroscopy Workshop. 19-21 April 2017 in Zurich (CH).

[3] Academic report "The influence of snow accumulation on alpine vegetation: A case study in the European Alps". Remote Sensing Colloquium, spring semester 2017. 14 March 2017 in Zurich (CH).

[2] Academic report "Altitude-dependent correlation of snow cover duration with alpine spring phenology". 14th Swiss Geoscience Meeting, 18-19 November 2016 in Geneva (CH).

[1] Academic poster "Analysis of Seasonal Changes of Wetland Landscape Patterns". 6th ESA Advanced Training Course on Land Remote Sensing., September 2015 in Bucharest (RO).