Kai Chen

Dr. Kai Chen

orcid

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

2Years (2025-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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8 November 2025 in Earth's Future
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
FLFeinan LYU
Feinan LYU
KCKai Chen
Kai Chen
AOAruhan Olhnuud
Aruhan Olhnuud
XSXiaojie Sun
Xiaojie Sun
CGCheng Gong
Cheng Gong
Urban green infrastructure (UGI) is critical for mitigating fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ) pollution, a major obstacle to sustainable urban development. However, the morphological spatial patterns of UGI and their impact on PM 2.5 remain largely unexplored, as most related studies have focused solely on case studies. This study employed morphological spatial pattern analysis to document the national scale spatial distribution of seven UGI morphology space patterns (MSPs) across 288 Chinese cities. It verified the disparities of each MSP under varying geographic conditions and scalar categories. Using advanced interpretable machine learning methods that account for aggregated contribution of location features, the study confirmed the positive role of UGI proportion in mitigating PM 2.5 levels. Significantly, the findings revealed that smaller non‐core UGI areas, such as perforation and islet, exert a more pronounced positive impact on reducing PM 2.5 . Furthermore, the study explored the potential PM 2.5 risks facing Chinese cities due to temporal changes of UGI. The study results not only fill the gap in UGI research, but also contributes a feasible urban planning method and provide a basis for reducing PM 2.5 to promote sustainable urban development.

1 January 2025 in JOURNAL OF NATURAL RESOURCES
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
PDF file
KCKai Chen
Kai Chen
YFYue-Yang Feng
Yue-Yang Feng
YZYan-Xi Zhou
Yan-Xi Zhou
WSWen Song
Wen Song
QZQiang Zhou
Qiang Zhou
Ruishan ChenRuishan Chen
Ruishan Chen
To achieve the goal of carbon peak and carbon neutrality, the installed capacity of photovoltaic (PV) power generation in China will continue to grow rapidly, and the land use is a key issue facing its development. Floating PV, as an important PV development mode, especially in arid and semi-arid regions, shows significant benefits over land-based PV in terms of land conservation, water evaporation reduction, PV performance improvement and mitigation of aquatic weed growth. Also, if floating PV could be integrated with existing hydropower, it would contribute to the transmission and large-scale consumption of PV power generation. However, these benefits are often presented in a qualitative manner and systematic quantitative analysis has not yet been available. Based on hydropower plant information, meteorological data, PV system performance model and water evaporation model for water bodies covered by PV system, this paper evaluates the potential power generation, land conservation and water evaporation reduction benefits from floating PV in the "existing hydropower + floating PV" power generation system, and the feasibility of implementation of the system, taking the Upper Yellow River from Eling Lake estuary to Qingtong Gorge as the study area. The results show that if the floating PV system covers 10% of the water area at the existing hydropower reservoirs, the annual economic benefits in terms of power generation, land saving and water evaporation saving are 5.38 billion yuan, 0.078 billion yuan and 0.052 billion yuan, respectively, with a cumulative annual economic benefit of 5.51 billion yuan. The total investment and potential net income at the end of the lifecycle are 93.06 billion yuan and 41.47 billion yuan, respectively, with an average return on investment of 1.78%, which makes the construction economically feasible. The results of this paper confirm the comprehensive benefits of the "hydropower+floating PV" power generation system, which can help China to adjust and optimize the relevant policies as well as contribute to the sustainable development of PV projects.

10 April 2026 in Sustainability
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
JSJiachen Sun
Jiachen Sun
AOAtasya Osmadi
Atasya Osmadi
FLFulong Liu
Fulong Liu
KCKai Chen
Kai Chen
As a primary energy consumer and carbon emitter, the construction industry (CI) faces a growing conflict between traditional energy-intensive growth models and global sustainable development goals. To promote the sustainable development of the CI, this study establishes a sequential analytical framework following the logic of “coupling evaluation–driving force identification–causal inference” across 30 developed economies (DE) from 2000 to 2022. Initially, the coupling coordination degree (CCD) between the economic and environmental systems of the CI was evaluated, utilizing the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) to characterize the transition from relative to absolute decoupling. The results show that the economy and the environment in the construction industry (CEECI) for DE is generally high (0.70–0.90). Subsequently, based on Green Innovation Growth (GIG) theory, Panel Data Analysis (PDA) is employed to identify the key drivers of the coupling between the economy and CEECI. The results show that for every 1% increase in per capita GDP, CEECI increases by approximately 0.035; for every 1% increase in science and technology investment (ST Inv), CEECI increases by 0.045; and for every 1 unit increase in building energy use (BEU), CEECI decreases by 0.008. Furthermore, Granger causality analysis (GCA) was used to examine the bidirectional predictive relationship. Furthermore, there is a two-way correlation between GDP and CEECI, and a one-way correlation between CEECI and ST Inv. Overall, our results show that further decoupling requires innovation, not just economic growth; therefore, the CI should optimize its industrial structure, prioritize technological innovation, strengthen lifecycle energy management, and promote coordinated global CI improvement.

22 October 2026 in Nature Food
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
PDF file
ZXZilong Xia
Zilong Xia
SBSimon Bush
Simon Bush
NJNan Jia
Nan Jia
Yingjie LiYingjie Li
Yingjie Li
EBEncai Bao
Encai Bao
PDPeijun Du
Peijun Du

24 March 2026 in Earth's Future
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
CGCheng Gong
Cheng Gong
HPHuijun Pang
Huijun Pang
KCKai Chen
Kai Chen
FLFeinan LYU
Feinan LYU
Green infrastructure (GI) effectively mitigates health effects associated with PM 2.5 and urban heat. However, the impact of GI's morphological characteristics on compound exposure remains unclear. With a large urban population, Chinese cities face significant compound exposure risks, yet national‐scale GI planning strategies addressing this issue are lacking. This study incorporates 374 Chinese cities, quantifying and mapping the spatial distribution and changes of four spatial morphological structures of GI, seasonal PM 2.5 pollution, and summer daytime and nighttime land surface temperature over the past 20 years. Results indicate that core areas are larger and have expanded significantly, failing to effectively mitigate compound exposure risks. Although connectors represent a smaller scale of GI, they play a significant and positive role in mitigating compound exposure risk, especially when their proportion exceeds 2% of urban space. We suggest that urban planners prioritize connectivity‐oriented GI strategies to effectively mitigate compound exposure risks.