Dr Zi Qian

Assistant Professor

School: Engineering, Physics and Mathematics

Zi is an Assistant Professor in the School of Engineering, Physics and Mathematics. Prior to joining Northumbria University in 2018, she received her PhD from Newcastle University, specialising in Subway Climatology, which has significant implications for metro ventilation strategies and energy consumption. She has experience working on EPSRC and BEIS funded projects in Sustainable Building and Environment, Renewable Energy Systems, and Energy Optimisation. Zi holds an MEng and a BEng (Honours) in Building Services Engineering.

Zi’s research focuses on building performance, urban microclimate interactions, and low-carbon energy systems. Her recent work centres on quantifying the feedback effects of urban microclimates on building energy use through coupled simulation workflows, and systematically reviewing the impact of microclimate conditions on building operation and energy performance. She has also investigated energy storage technologies for renewable energy integration. She has further extended her earlier research in Subway Climatology to encompass air quality and thermal comfort.

Overall, her research integrates simulation, experimental analysis, and system-level optimisation to improve building energy efficiency, sustainability, and environmental performance across urban and infrastructure contexts.

Email Zi

Key Publications

Please visit the Pure Research Information Portal for further information
Quantifying Urban Microclimate Feedback on Building Energy Use Using a Coupled Simulation Workflow, Pasandi, L., Qian, Z., Woo, W. 1 Nov 2025, In: Building and Environment
A Comprehensive Review of Applications and Feedback Impact of Microclimate on Building Operation and Energy, Pasandi, L., Qian, Z., Woo, W., Palacin, R. 1 Sep 2024, In: Building and Environment
Enhancing Microclimate and Reducing Building Energy Consumption: Utilizing Exterior Redirecting Transparent Louvers for Thermal And Visual Comfort in Iran's Diverse School Buildings, Pasandi, L., Qian, Z., Woo, W., Palacin, R. 1 Oct 2024, In: International Journal of Advances in Science Engineering and Technology
Comparative Analysis of CIBSE Admittance and ASHRAE Radiant Time Series Cooling Load Models, Hepple, R., Yang, S., Khattak, S., Qian, Z., Prasad, D. 29 May 2022, In: CivilEng
Design for Sustainability: An approach based on the integration of BIM and Building Performance Analysis, Malleshappa, G., Gbadamosi, A., Qian, Z., Feng, H., Oluwayemi, B. 1 Sep 2022, The Eighth International SEEDS Conference 2022
Spray and engine performance of Cerium Oxide nanopowder and carbon nanotubes modified alternative fuel, Zhang, Z., Lu, Y., Qian, Z., Roskilly, T. 15 Jul 2022, In: Fuel
An assessment of Horlock's approximate analysis of feed and district heating cycles for steam and CHP plant, Qian, Z., Agnew, B. 1 May 2021, In: Thermal Science and Engineering Progress
An Investigation of Ventilation Dynamics in an Underground Station, Qian, Z. 14 Sep 2020, CIBSE ASHRAE Technical Symposium 2020
Refurbishment options to decarbonise a 1960s public office building by 2050s, Ng, B., Tindall, J., Edge, J., Morrell, J., Tioh, D., Choi, K., Du, H., Wei, S., Waggott, A., Barber, A., Keating, M., Walker, S., Qian, Z. 12 Apr 2018, CIBSE Technical Symposium 2018
Validating the performance of a Double Skin Facade in winter in a hot arid climate, Qian, Z., Hamza, N. 2016, International Conference on Passive and Low Energy Architecture

PGR Supervision

Leila Pasandi Developing a methodology to measure and optimise the impacts of climate change on urban building environment Start Date: 01/10/2022
Leila Pasandi Developing a methodology to measure and optimise the impacts of climate change on urban building environment Start Date: 01/10/2022 End Date: 17/10/2025