Research output per year
Research output per year
Personal profile
Research interests
I am a Senior Lecturer in Environmental Data Science at the School of Geographical Sciences, University of Bristol. My research expertise involves Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning and Deep Learning, and the application of these techniques in geospatial data science and remote sensing. I am extremely passionate about cross-disciplinary integration of AI and Data Science to better understand environmental and socio-ecological systems, driven by the ambition to tackle some of the greatest challenges in our society. My research breaks traditional boundaries between human and physical geography, fosters new connections across disciplines by expanding the knowledge and insight about the data-rich world that we inhabit.
Four of the most significant themes of my research are:
- Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence (AI)
- Geospatial Data Mining and Modelling
- Landscape Pattern and Process Modelling
- Remotely Sensed Image Analysis and their Applications
At the University of Bristol, I am the Co-lead for the Environmental Change Research at the Cabot Institute for the Environment.
I am the Chief Editor in Frontiers in Remote Sensing, Topic Editor in Earth Observation, and sits on the editorial boards of many leading international journals.
PhD supervision
At Bristol, I have had the privilege to supervise some great PhD students developing interdisciplinary AI for geospatial innovation. My research group currently comprises of the following PhD students:
Boyi Li: Vision language models in Remote Sensing
James Brock: Vision language models in forest change analysis
Ziming Wang: Flood mapping and modelling using geospatial AI
Yifan Liang: Modelling green space and mental health using Street View Imagery
Holly Liken: AI for algal monitoring in freshwater ecosystems
I am happy to supervise exceptional PhD students with strong background in geospatial science, AI, data science, computer science, and/or statistics. If you are interested in my research, please do not hesitate to contact me via email: [email protected]. Please contact me with an idea of what you want to work with and how that would be relevant to my research topics. Once you know this, send me such details in the form of a concise research proposal (less than 3000 words) along with your CV (including previous degrees and grades, publications, awards etc.).
Each year, our School has a number of funding schemes to support PhD research. Depends on topics, applications can be made through PhD in Geographic Data Science, PhD in Physical Geography or PhD in Human Geography. China PhD candidates or vistors are particularly welcome to contact me for opportunities, with full funding from China Scholarship Council-University of Bristol PhD Scholarship.
External positions
Fellow, UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology
1 Sept 2023 → 31 Aug 2026
Research Groups and Themes
- Cabot Institute Environmental Change Research
- Cabot Institute City Futures Research
- Cabot Institute Food Security Research
- Cabot Institute Natural Hazards and Disasters Research
Keywords
- Geospatial Data Science
- AI
- Machine Learning
- Deep Learning
- Remote Sensing
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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Research output
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Remote sensing intelligent interpretation brain: real-time intelligent understanding of the Earth
Wan, Y., Zhang, C., Ma, A.-L., Chen, Z., Sun, C., Wang, J., Zheng, Z., Bao, F., Zhang, L. & Zhong, Y., 6 Jun 2025, In: PNAS Nexus. 4, 6, p. 1-11 11 p., pgaf182.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article (Academic Journal) › peer-review
Open Access6 Citations (Scopus) -
Deep learning enables satellite-based monitoring of large populations of terrestrial mammals across heterogeneous landscape
Wu, Z., Zhang, C., Gu, X., Duporge, I., Hughey, L. F., Stabach, J. A., Skidmore, A. K., Hopcraft, J. G. C., Lee, S. J., Atkinson, P. M., McCauley, D. J., Lamprey, R., Ngene, S. & Wang, T., 27 May 2023, In: Nature Communications. 14, 1, 3072.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article (Academic Journal) › peer-review
Open Access100 Citations (Scopus) -
Identifying and mapping individual plants in a highly diverse high-elevation ecosystem using UAV imagery and deep learning
Zhang, C., Atkinson, P. M., George, C., Wen, Z., Diazgranados, M. & Gerard, F., 1 Nov 2020, In: ISPRS Journal of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing. 169, p. 280-291 12 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article (Academic Journal) › peer-review
98 Citations (Scopus)
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UKRI Smart Data Research Fellowship: Geospatial AI for sustainable biomass expansion and decarbonisation in the UK
Zhang, C. (Principal Investigator)
1/02/26 → 31/07/27
Project: Research
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European Union Horizon programme: Modern Approaches to the Monitoring of BiOdiversity (MAMBO)
Zhang, C. (Co-Investigator)
1/08/22 → 1/08/26
Project: Research
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STFC IAA: Leveraging AI and Earth Observation for Strategic Heat Network Planning in the UK
Zhang, C. (Principal Investigator)
1/04/24 → 30/09/25
Project: Research
Prizes
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The U.V. Helava Award Best Paper 2022
Zhang, C. (Recipient), Sept 2023
Prize: Prizes, Medals, Awards and Grants
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Activities
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Frontiers in Remote Sensing (Journal)
Zhang, C. (Editor)
18 Dec 2025 → …Activity: Publication peer-review and editorial work types › Editorial activity
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UK Research and Innovation (External organisation)
Zhang, C. (Member)
2024 → …Activity: Membership types › Membership or peer review panel or committee
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Natural Environment Research Council (External organisation)
Zhang, C. (Member)
1 Oct 2022 → …Activity: Membership types › Membership or peer review panel or committee