Professional Summary
Dr. Yvonne (Yexuan) Gu is a researcher, designer, and educator whose work focuses on landscape infrastructure for wastewater treatment and implementation of geodesign for resilience in interdisciplinary fields. At the intersections of design and science, her work incorporates systemic design methodology, digital visualization, parametric design, and science-based lab experiment. Specifically, Dr. Gu applies theories and insights from materials ecology and biological engineering to investigate water complexities and material structures for landscape infrastructure. She has co-authored 10+ peer-reviewed articles. Her work has also been recognized through award winning collaborations, lectures, conference presentations, and exhibitions around the world.
Education
PhD: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Illinois, 2020 (Geodesign, Systems Thinking, Resilience, Planning Support Systems)
MLA: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Illinois, 2016 (Landscape Architecture, Flood Resilient Design)
BSLA: University of Idaho Idaho, 2014 (Landscape Architecture)
Publications
Peer Reviewed Publications
Yexuan Gu, Xuesong Zhang, Brian Deal, Lujia Han (2019. ) Biological systems for treatment and valorization of wastewater generated from hydrothermal liquefaction of biomass and systems thinking: A review .Bioresource technology, , 278 ,329-345
Yexuan Gu, Xuesong Zhang, Brian Deal, Lujia Han, Jilu Zheng, Haoxi Ben (2019. ) Advances in energy systems for valorization of aqueous byproducts generated from hydrothermal processing of biomass and systems thinking .Green Chemistry, , 21 (10 ) ,2518-2543
Yexuan Gu*, Brian Deal, Linda Larsen (2018. ) Geodesign processes and ecological systems thinking in a coupled human-environment context: an integrated framework for landscape architecture .Sustainability, , 10 (9 ) ,3306
Geodesign Processes and Ecological Systems Thinking in a Coupled Human-Environment Context
Brian Deal, Yexuan Gu* (2018. ) Resilience Thinking Meets Social-Ecological Systems (SESs): A General Framework for Resilient Planning Support Systems (PSSs) .Journal of Digital Landscape Architecture, , 3 ,200
Resilience Thinking Meets Social-Ecological Systems (SESs)
Yexuan Gu*, Brian Deal (2018. ) Coupling systems thinking and geodesign processes in land-use modelling, design, and planning .Journal of Digital Landscape Architecture, , 3 (2 ) ,
Coupling Systems Thinking and Geodesign Processes in Land-use Modelling, Design, and Planning
Gu, Yexuan*, Brian Deal, Brian Orland, Michele Campagna (2020. ) Evaluating Practical Implementation of Geodesign and its Impacts on Resilience .Journal of Digital Landscape Architecture, ,
Other Publications
Brian Deal, Yexuan Gu, Haozhi Pan (2017. ) Community, Science, and Design: Using Dynamic Spatial Simulation Models in a Three-Facet Approach to Geodesign .Digital Landscape - 3rd International Digital Landscape Seminar, 341 -355 Northeast University Press
Ellis, Josh, Sarah Cardona, Mary Pat McGuire, Yexuan Gu, et al. (2017. ) StormStore: A feasibility study examining stormwater credit trading in Cook County.
StormStore: A feasibility study examining stormwater credit trading in Cook County
Gu, Yexuan (2017. ) Rejuvenation of the Ditch-Redefining the Landscape of the Embarras River with Systems Thinking .IDEAL,
Rejuvenation of the Ditch - Redefining the Landscape of the Embarras River with Systems Thinking
Book Chapter
Gu, Yexuan (2020 ) Re-revisioning South Holland, IL The International Geodesign Collaboration. Changing Geography by Design .Esri
Gu, Yexuan*, Brian Deal (2020 ) From Planning Support to Design Support: Bridging the Gap between Objectivity and Creativity Handbook on Planning Support Science .
Presentations
Invited Presentations
Yexuan Gu (04-15-2019. ) Towards an effective integration of science and design in landscape architecture .College of Environment + Design, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia. Other Institution. .
Yexuan Gu (04-06-2019. ) Design | Empathy | Science: Geodesign as a holistic framework for landscape architecture .Department of Landscape Architecture, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota. Other Institution. .
Yexuan Gu (03-03-2020. ) DISCIPLINELESS: An Alternative Way of Design Thinking .School of Planning, College of Design, Architecture, Arts, and Planning, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH.
Yexuan Gu (03-26-2019. ) Design philosophy & research framework for landscape architecture .Lecture of Research Design & Methods, Department of Landscape Architecture, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, Illinois. Other Institution. .
Yexuan Gu (04-12-2018. ) Evaluating Floodscapes for Citizens .Illinois International Water Resources Association (IWRA), Champaign,IL. Conference. .
Yexuan (10-14-2017. ) Community, Science, and Design: Using Dynamic Spatial Simulation Models in a Three-Facet Approach to Geodesign .ESRI & Southeast University, 3rd International Digital Land- scape Seminar & Digital Landscape Week, Nanjing, China. Conference. . Level:International
Poster Presentations
Yexuan Gu (04-07-2016. ) Rejuvenating the Ditch .The Fourth Annual Illinois Water Day, University of Illinois International Water Resources Association, Champaign, ILlinois. .
Paper Presentations
Yexuan Gu (11-11-2018. ) Using geodesign technologies to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): the case of flood resilience planning in Chicago .University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Yexuan Gu (06-02-2018. ) Resilience Thinking Meets Social-Ecological Systems (SESs): A General Framework for Resilient Planning Support Systems (PSSs) .Munich - Freising, Germany.
Yexuan Gu (06-01-2018. ) Coupling Systems Thinking and Geodesign Processes in Land-use Modelling, Design, and Planning .Munich - Freising, Germany.
Yexuan Gu (04-21-2018. ) Floodscape: A new framework for flood risk management and a comparative investigation of four case studies in Netherlands using a multi-criteria, multidiscipline landscape design approach .Irvine, California.
Yexuan Gu (03-22-2018. ) A systems-thinking review of Geodesign: the state-of-the-art and future perspectives .Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia.
Yexuan Gu (09-30-2017. ) Systems Thinking, Collective Intelligence, and Geodesign: The Need for Public Participation .Vienna, Austria.
Yexuan Gu (02-09-2017. ) Systems Thinking in Landscape Design .University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
Yexuan Gu (04-09-2017. ) Systems Thinking and Urban Water .Chicago, IL.
Yexuan Gu (02-24-2020. ) A "Membrane Neighborhood" in Cincinnati, OH .Esri, Redlands, CA. Conference. Level:International
Yexuan Gu (06-03-2020. ) Evaluating Practical Implementation of Geodesign and its Impacts on Resilience .Graduate School of Design, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA. Conference.
Yexuan Gu (03-19-2020. ) How can we teach students to design science in built environment .Louisville, KY . Conference.
Brian Deal, Yexuan Gu (03-20-2020. ) Lessons We Learnt from International Geodesign Collaboration .Louisville, KY . Conference.