About Prof. Tao
Bio of Zhihan Tao
Zhihan Tao’s research focuses on the assessment of landscape performance and how that can inform and recalibrate design, especially in contexts of climate adaptation, post-disaster recovery, and socio-economic impact. His work spans geo-design, green stormwater and flood management infrastructure, interdisciplinary collaboration, landscape pedagogy, environmental justice, novel landscape regulations and codes, and other conditions, processes, and questions affecting design for resilience and the critical making, re-making, and constructing of landscapes. In focusing on vulnerable communities, he approaches community engagement as a path to community empowerment.
Tao’s doctoral dissertation, “Assessing Green Infrastructure’s Impact on Flood Disaster Resilience: An Economic Perspective on Community Recovery from Tropical Storm Imelda” (2023), examined “the impact of green infrastructure (GI) on the recovery and resilience of local businesses in flood-prone areas.” At Illinois, he is expanding his research into the design impacts of urban public works, examining micro-climates and climate adaptation from local to regional levels, in collaboration with engineers, scientists, and design professionals. His teaching blends studio and technical courses, emphasizing innovative methods and experiential learning.
Before arriving at Illinois, Tao served as an NGO volunteer at Kadoorie Conservation China (Hainan Province), an editorial assistant for CELA’s Landscape Research Record, and a Lecturer in the Department of Landscape Architecture & Urban Planning at Texas A&M University.
Education
Ph.D., Urban Planning & Regional Science, Texas A&M University, 2023
MLA, Texas A&M University, 2018
BLA, Hainan University (Haikou, China), 2014