Jia Yuan

Academic Qualifications

University of Sheffield, Master of Arts in Landscape Architecture (2009-2011)

Beijing Forestry University, Agriculture Bachelor Degree in Ornamental Horticulture (2005-2009)

PhD in Landscape, University of Sheffield (2011-2014)

Background

My research experience in planting meadow (undergraduate in Beijing Forestry University, China)and living wall system (master in University of Sheffield, United Kingdom) offer me an insight into the ways in which people use landscape to change the world. The contemporary landscape design should form a step towards more sustainable design, reducing resource exploitation, helping lessen the impact of industry. I personally quite prefer the word of “Ecological Urbanism” and the concept of introducing the healthier material cycle to landscape in order to contribute in the ecological rehabilitation in urban context. One of the recommended best management practices, rain garden, greatly attracted me. The landscape department offers me a great opportunity to work with Prof. Nigel Dunnett to look into this research field. By establishing experimental samples I will be in a better position to understand the ecosystem in rain garden and achieve better sustainable design.

PhD Topic

Sustainable Planting Design and Water Sensitive Design in Rain Garden

PhD Supervisor

Prof. Nigel Dunnett

Dr. Virginia Stovin

PhD Abstract

As a result of global warming and human activities, the conspicuous growth of people’s demand for water becomes one of the biggest challenges in the 21st century. Society depends strongly on reliable water resources, therefore, water harvesting and sustainable hydrological cycle take crucial roles in the present-day development. One of the most important research aims of landscape is to make it respond and adapt to the climate and ecological changes. The concept of rain garden provides people the way to build self-sustained garden/park by capturing and using rainwater within the landscape.

The rain garden is a developing concept. There are many contributions in terms of research and practice of rain gardens. However, there has been little or no research into the planting or vegetation potential of rain garden. The previous work rarely makes long-term systemic evaluation of the ecosystem in rain garden. Therefore, it provides me the inspirations to develop the rain garden concept. The outfit of my PhD project will be producing an experiment based dissertation. Small bio-filtration features of rain garden will be set up in order to contribute to robust dynamic plantings and higher biodiversity. Moreover, ideally it could help find out the ways to establish a self-sustaining landscape by effective ways of collecting and using water. A long-term record and scientific analysis of the planting establishment, biodiversity, as well as, the water input and output in the features will help achieve the better sustainable design of rain garden.