My research interests have always been utilizing Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), and Mixed Reality (MR) in Architecture Design. Also, through the deeper understanding of technical application, I have been more and more interested in their effects on enhancing Public Engagement in Heritage Preservation and Urban Renewal through Digital Technologies.
Augmented Reality × Cultural Heritage
2023.03-2025.05 | Master Thesis
Historical Recreation and Experience in Multidimensional Time and Space
— Design and Development of Mobile-AR Games for Revitalizing Urban Heritage like Quanzhou Confucian Temple
Supervised by Associate Professor Zhuge Jing (Southeast University) and obtained grant by the Postgraduate Research & Practice Innovation Program of Jiangsu Province (Grant No. SJCX23_0033).
- Making a detailed review of official documents and chapters made by UNESCO and ICOMOS on digital technologies application and concept of urban heritage through timeline,
- Designing and developing AR heritage display systems through game mechanics to integrate virtual presentation elements with real heritage sites in Confusion Temple, aiming to improve public awareness of heritage values,
- Conducting user experiment to examine the effects of the proposed application through trace analysis,
- Comparing AR application strategies according to categories and scales of urban heritage.
2023.07-2023.09
Play with The Past
— Augmented Reality Murder Mystery Game in the Historic District of Nanjing Road in Shanghai
Supervised by Li Peilin (GSD, Harvard University), cooperated by Chen Yiyi (South China University of Technology).
- Crafted a narrative-driven game framework for exploring historical buildings along historical commercial center,
- Engineered the primary functions of the AR gaming system using Vuforia SDK and Unity3D.
2023.09-2024.05
Deities on the Move
— AR Gamified Design for Interpreting the Religious Heritage Value of Quanzhou’s Pu-Jing Temple Pilgrimages
Supervised by Associate Professor Zhuge Jing (Southeast University), cooperated by Liu Lin, Wang Zhicheng, Chen Yali, Yao Peifan.
- Used ArcGIS to map and couple the location of Pu-Jing Temples and distribution of God believes in Quanzhou,
- Designed a real route for AR game and visit for temples based on the religious connection among them under the theme of Pilgrimage,
- Proposed a technical framework to accommodate the interactive strategies between real heritage components and virtual gamified elements.
Virtual Reality × Architectural Design
2021.10-2022.06 | Bachelor Thesis
Information Utopia: Design of 3D Immersive and Interactive Exhibition Based on XR and Game Engine
— Taking 2022 Virtual Grad Show for School of Architecture in Southeast University as An Example
A Self-Initiated Project supervised by Associate Professor Yu Chuanfei (Southeast University) and obtained Award for Outstanding Undergraduate Graduation Design.
- Developed the virtual museum’s core functionalities using Unreal Engine, focusing on navigation in virtual space, interactive displays of graduates’ work, and campus environment visualization,
- Explored display strategies for 3D architectural works in virtual environments, enhancing user engagement.
2020.09-2021.10
Research on Online Virtual Exhibition Halls Based on Interactive Operations and Spatial Experience
— A Case Study of Online Annual Exhibition by Architectural Schools
Individual work, Supervised by Associate Professor Yu Chuanfei (Southeast University).
- Collected strategies employed by 100 architecture schools worldwide for their annual project exhibitions during the 2020 pandemic outbreak.
- Tracked changes in annual project exhibition strategies of 50 of these schools from pre-pandemic (2019) through to 2023.
- Analyzed data and studied the 2022 Cooper Union school’s End of Year Show through graphics, to understand the strengths and weaknesses of 2D web pages, 3D environments, and interactive galleries in showcasing architectural works.
2019.09-2020.10
VR/AR/MR-based Campus Information Display and Communication Space Design
— Taking School of Architecture’s Evaluation System and Exhibition Space as the Case
Group Leader, supervised by Associate Professor Yu Chuanfei (Southeast University) and granted by Southeast University’s Student Research Training Program (SRTP).
- Assessed the existing exhibition spaces and evaluation methods within the Architecture School,
- Redesigned the Front Hall of the Architecture Department in Southeast University, integrating XR technology to demonstrate its impact on educational activities and space utilization.