Weikang Kong | Projects

This project was developed during the AI4CITIES Workshop at Tongji University (Summer 2025). Our goal was to explore how multimodal AI models could deepen the understanding of urban design, enabling machines to interpret city plans with spatial, visual, and conceptual awareness.

The work began with a simple but crucial question: in the age of large language models, can AI truly “read” a city? Existing general models often lack spatial reasoning and domain knowledge. Their analyses remain surface-level, unable to grasp the layered relationships that shape urban space. To address these challenges, we built our own training framework and fine-tuned a domain-specific model, PlanGPT-VL, based on Qwen-7B with guidance from a 32B teacher model.

Our team worked along two parallel tracks—data and technical development—closely connected throughout the process. The data track focused on building a benchmark for urban design cognition, collecting a wide range of master plans and competition projects, and structuring them into a six-level, eighteen-dimension evaluation system. The technical track developed a full multimodal training workflow integrating Critical Point Thinking (CPT) to improve reasoning depth and stability. Through this iterative process, we linked datasets, prompts, and evaluation metrics into a complete, reproducible pipeline.

The fine-tuned PlanGPT-VL achieved clear improvements over the baseline models in both recognition and interpretation of urban design drawings, especially in understanding spatial hierarchy, design intent, and form language. The results suggest promising applications in automated design review, public communication, and architectural education.

I also had the opportunity to lead our group presentation, sharing how the model connects AI reasoning with the human process of reading and judging design. It was an inspiring collaboration that revealed how intelligent systems might one day participate in the creative and analytical practices of urbanism.

Time: 07/2025

Authors: Weikang Kong, Shao Yuchen, Yang Yuchen, Qiao Nenghuan, Jiang Yating, Guo Hanzhe, Pu Zhengsheng, Zheng Hongzhou, Yu Jialu, Wang Tianyi, An Fenghong, Cha Siqi, Chen Minxin, Zhu He

Supervisor: Prof. Xiansheng Hua - Tongji University / Alibaba
Prof. Wenjia Zhang - Tongji University
Dr. Shuxian Liang - Tongji University / Alibaba

Display Demo

Overall workflow

My presentation

Omnidirectional Opening Community

This project explores how the concept of open communities can guide sustainable urban regeneration by improving active mobility and spatial connectivity. In dense urban environments where gated communities dominate, openness offers a new way to balance security, accessibility, and social inclusion.

The study takes the Tongji University–Wujiaochang area in Shanghai (3.3 km²) as its site. Although this district forms a vibrant innovation ecosystem, its active mobility network is fragmented by walls and access controls. Field analysis identified 257 gates and nearly 48 km of walls, revealing the structural barriers that hinder everyday mobility and resource sharing.

Based on these findings, the project proposes a three-phase planning framework guided by two strategies: Network Integration and Functional Reshaping. The first reconstructs the active mobility system through quantitative and qualitative analysis, selectively opening 52 gates and removing 10 wall segments to create a more continuous network. The second redefines how newly connected spaces can support shared urban functions, transforming underused land and facilities into active public spaces such as small plazas, community paths, and mixed-use courtyards.

To sustain openness over time, the project also introduces a digital co-governance model, where residents and authorities manage space through a mobile platform for timed access, navigation, and participatory planning.

Ultimately, the Omni-Directional Open Community envisions an urban model that begins with spatial openness, grows through shared functions, and endures through collective governance, offering a more accessible, inclusive, and connected city life.

Time: 02/2025-06/2025

Author: Weikang Kong

Supervisor: Prof. Jian Zhuo, Prof. Xiang Liu - Tongji University

Omnidirectional Opening Community

Introduction

Overall Planning Framework

Current condition of the research site

New Network Plan

Community Spatial Design

Scene 1: The Main Corridor

Scene 2: The Community Plaza

Mobility Justice: Rethink Scooter Bans
A Case Study in Shanghai

Due to safety concerns, many cities in China have implemented bans on a new form of transportation—mobility scooters. However, these scooters have become an essential mode of transport for many elderly and disabled individuals, who often have few alternatives. This study focuses on the elderly population in Shanghai and aims to advocate for a reconsideration of the current policy. It explores the following three key questions:

1. Why do people choose to use mobility scooters?

2. How do people use mobility scooters, and what value do they provide to users?

3. What impacts could existing policies have on users?

By analyzing user characteristics, travel behavior, and the effects of current policies, this study aims to demonstrate the indispensable role of mobility scooters, and to propose more inclusive policies and planning strategies to remove barriers to mobility for the elderly population.

Time: 12/2023 - Present

Authors: Weikang Kong, Xiaolan Huang, Fenghong An

Supervisor: Prof. Mi Diao - Tongji University

Mobility Scooter

Revealing Urban Heat Island Effect
A Machine Learning Persepctive

Cities are currently facing overheating issues caused by global warming and the urban heat island (UHI) effect. These issues have numerous negative impacts on physical and mental health, energy consumption, and ecological environments. The planar and three-dimensional forms of urban elements, including buildings and green spaces, significantly influence the formation of urban heat islands. This project aims to develop a model, based on machine learning algorithms and explainable AI, to reveal the quantitative relationships between the morphological characteristics of buildings and greenery and the intensity of the urban heat island effect. Moreover, based on the predictive model and related findings established in this research, a monitoring and evaluation tool is envisioned for various stakeholders involved in urban development, aiming to help construct more ideal living environments.

Time: 1/2023 - 9/2023

Authors: Yanting Shen, Weikang Kong, Xilong Chen, Fan Fei, Yiwen Xu

Supervisor: Prof. Jiawei Yao - Tongji University

Publications:

Shen, Y., Kong, W., Fei, F., Chen, X., Xu, Y., Huang, C., & Yao, J. (2024). Stereoscopic urban morphology metrics enhance the nonlinear scale heterogeneity modeling of UHI with explainable AI. Urban Climate, 56, 102006. DOI

Shen, Y., Kong, W., Chen, X., Fei, F., Xu, Y., Huang, C., & Yao, J. (2023). Using GeoAI to Reveal the Contribution of Urban Park Green Space Features to Mitigate the Heat Island Effect. In Proceedings of the 41st International Conference on Education and Research in Computer Aided Architectural Design in Europe (eCAADe) (Vol. 2, p. 2). Proceeding

Urban heat island effect in Shanghai

Introduction

2D and 3D indicators for modeling urban heat island effect

Modeling and analysis with explainable AI

Urban Heat Monitoring and Design Evaluation Tool

Influence of Spatial Factors on Pedestrian Flow

As the "People's City" concept gains traction, the design of public space renewal at the neighborhood scale has become increasingly crucial. However, there is a lack of systematic experimental research on how spatial elements influence pedestrian flow. This study uses machine learning algorithms and video data to explore the impact of spatial elements on pedestrian behavior, aiming to provide a theoretical foundation for developing a quantitative evaluation system.

The research follows an experimental approach in four steps: hypothesizing that spatial elements affect pedestrian flow characteristics, designing experiments with control groups; using YOLOv5 and DeepSORT algorithms to track pedestrian trajectories in videos, and applying Trajectory Clustering algorithms to analyze and compare pedestrian flow under different spatial configurations.

The results show that specific spatial elements, such as art installations and landscape features, significantly influence pedestrian flow speed and trajectory deviation. The cloud art installation increases pedestrian speed and reduces trajectory deviation, while landscape sculptures strongly guide pedestrian flow off-track. These findings provide new quantitative insights for the design of public spaces at the neighborhood scale and have significant practical applications.

Time: 8/2021 - 3/2022

Authors: Weikang Kong, Wanyin Han, Jiale Yu, Hongyun Chen

Supervisor: Prof. Fan Yang - Tongji University

Pedestrian flow recognition

Research framework

The result of flow recognition and perspective transformation

New Water Town: "Tuan" Reunited

The ChuanSha Urban Sub-center is a new city being developed from the ground up in Shanghai, which is located in the southeastern corner of Shanghai's main urban area, adjacent to the Disney Resort. In the plan, It mainly serves functions such as tourism and leisure, innovation and technology office spaces. The urban design draws inspiration from the historical "Salt Tuan" community structure along Shanghai's coastal region, aiming to reimagine this traditional social organization and urban framework in a modern way. It seeks to reconnect today's isolated urban lives and contribute to the development of an innovative city for the future.

Time: 03/2024 - 06/2024

Course: Urban Design

Authors: Weikang Kong, Jingyi Gao

Site location: Chuansha Town, Shanghai

History of "Tuan"

Feature of "Tuan"

Design Logic

Functional mixed layout

Industry Chain Planning

Ecological Space Planning

Night Scene

Master plan of urban design

Master plan of a typical new "Tuan"

Urban skyline and vertical development control

Under Water Pressure: Sports Complex

The existing swimming pool and gym at Tongji University can no longer meet the growing and diverse activity needs of students. This design proposes the reconstruction of a sports complex on the original site, integrating various sports facilities and student organization spaces. The strict area and height requirements for sports venues make vertical stacking and large spans inevitable. The design introduces an innovative lever-like structural approach, elevating the pool to enhance the swimming experience while organizing club activities within the structure, achieving an highly open ground level and spatial integration.

Time: 04/2023 - 06/2023

Course: Interdisciplinary Studio (4)

Authors: Weikang Kong, Zhenyuan Zhang, Yanzi Jin, Mengfei Zhao

Site location: Tongji University

Requirements and Design logic

Functions

Structures

1F Plan

2F Plan

3F Plan

4F&5F Plan

Structure Model 1

Structure Model 2

Weight loading test for 1:50 model: 14kg

Persepctive: Entrance

Persepctive: The first floor

Persepctive: Swimming pool

Persepctive: Badminton court

Persepctive: Club activity spaces

Persepctive: View from the second floor

Home Above Market: Ascending by Steps

The Suzhou Twin Towers Food Market is about to undergo renovation, with the need to construct social rental housing that meets the diverse needs of different groups, based on the existing market. This design is grounded in Suzhou's traditional transportation organization and introduces a spatial section prototype. By creating platforms at different heights, this spatial relationship not only evokes the distant historical memory of the city, which once relied on waterway transportation, but also provides a better private living experience for the upper-level residences through elevation differences, while offering the lower-level market improved lighting and ventilation opportunities.

Time: 09/2022 - 12/2022

Course: Interdisciplinary Studio (2)

Author: Weikang Kong

Site location: Suzhou, Jiangsu

Design logic

1F Plan

2F Plan

3F Plan

Housing units

Architecture overview

Perspective: Street

Persepctive: Food market

Section

Persepctive: Communal Platform

Persepctive: Housing units

Parcel Hub Under the Highway

Won the First Prize of the 10th International Architecture Design Competition for College Students of Teamzero Award (1st of 683 submissions), awarded with 80,000 RMB (~12,000 USD).

In the 1990s, Shanghai built several urban expressways, such as the North–South Elevated Line and the inner ring line, to solve the severe traffic problems. Now they have become an important part of Shanghai’s urban texture. However, such a traffic machine that is incompatible with the high density and small scale of the central urban area has brought obstacles to the passage and communication of residents on both sides from the beginning. In the absence of interpersonal communication, the isolation of urban functions has gradually spread under the division of these elevated roads.

In this design, we take the elevated road as the starting point, introduce the Green Park into the underground, and establish an urban public area with two traffic places, which is worth stopping and can be copied and promoted. With the express station and the cloud market as the core of the function, people in various functional areas nearby are encouraged to meet here to create the possibility of communication, and the "invisible" buildings are used to integrate the traffic efficiency, interpersonal communication, and street vitality, so as to put forward a bridging plan for the broken city.

Time: 07/2022 - 08/2022

Authors: Weikang Kong, Jiacheng Cui, Xilong Chen

Site location: Shanghai

1995, The N-S elevated road that crosses residential areas

Site plan

Section

Ground floor plan

Under ground floor plan

Parcel Hub Under the Highway

Perspective

Waving and Soaring: Revitalization of Dongmen

Won the Second Prize of Competition of Metaverse IP and Space Design for Dongmen (2nd of all submissions), awarded with 10,000 RMB (~1,500 USD).

With the theme of "Waving & Soaring", the inspiration for the transformation of the West Square comes from the "East Gate" sculpture, which is similar to the wave shape. As the transportation hub of the East Gate Pedestrian Street area, the plan integrates four modes of travel: bus, subway, bicycle and walking, and creates a continuous pedestrian system friendly to travelers through the large roof covering of "sail" intention. Different roof coverings define different areas of the square. The sculpture "East Gate" is moved to the east to activate the front space of the square, forming a pedestrian distribution area and the central area of the square. Combining the gap between the subway entrance and the trees and vegetation, the U-shaped space is enclosed, and the rest areas on both sides are divided, thus creating a comfortable tourist experience.

Time: 07/2023 - 08/2023

Authors: Weikang Kong, Jiale Yu, Dongyu Cheng, Kayiu Au

Site location: Shenzhen, Guangdong

Site Plan

Structure design

Waving and Soaring

Perspective

Fangta Park Restaurant Design

Feng Jizhong's Concept of "Kuang-Ao":
旷 (Kuang): Refers to the openness and expansiveness of space, giving people a sense of freedom and spaciousness. It is usually manifested in spaces with strong openness and wide vistas.

奥 (Ao): Refers to the depth and introspection of space, giving people a feeling of tranquility and complexity. It is commonly found in deep corridors, winding paths, or spaces that have a strong sense of enclosure.

冯纪忠, Feng Jizhong (1915-2009): a renowned Chinese architect, the designer of Songjiang Fangta Park.

The site is located at the northeast corner of Fangta Park in Songjiang District, Shanghai. With consideration for the historical continuity of the site, the plan is to construct a restaurant here that is open only to the courtyard.

The site is situated at the turning point of two "Ao" passages. In the design, while maintaining the continuous "Ao" experience of the external passages, the interior of the restaurant aims to create localized "Kuang" spaces as a distinctive feature of the restaurant itself, thereby providing a richer experience for touring the entire garden. Based on the site conditions, corridors with a strong sense of interface are used as a barrier between "Kuang" and "Ao," dividing the building into three parts and organizing functions with a stepped floor plan. This approach creates rhythm and cadence in form while respecting the preserved architecture.

Time: 03/2023 - 06/2023

Course: Interdisciplinary Studio (1)

Author: Weikang Kong

Site location: Songjiang, Shanghai

Fangta (Square Pagoda)

Master Plan of Fangta Park, 1979 Feng Jizhong

Site Plan

Current Status of the Site

Design Logic

1F Plan

2F Plan

Secion A-A

Secion B-B

Secion C-C

Secion D-D

Perspective: Inside the restaurant 1F

Perspective: Inside the restaurant 2F

Perspective: Cafe

Perspective: Entrance

Perspective: Overall

ArchKids Shanghai: City & Architecture Adventures

This extracurricular interest course is designed for middle school students and is managed by Uptown Lab. The team consists of 12 undergraduate students from the College of Architecture and Urban Planning at Tongji University. The curriculum is divided into two main components: theory and practice.

Theory Component: Over the span of eight weeks, participating students will explore and study eight different urban buildings in Shanghai, including areas such as Lujiazui, lane houses (lilong), private gardens, and Jing'an Temple. Classes are conducted through a combination of interactive activities and theoretical lectures, fostering a comprehensive understanding of Shanghai's architectural diversity.

Practice Component: In the practical section, students will apply their theoretical knowledge by creating craft projects with their hands. During six weeks, each student will learn the fundamental techniques of paper-cutting art. They will then innovatively incorporate lighting to create light and shadow paper sculptures. This creative process allows students to transform their favorite buildings and landscapes into unique handcrafted artworks.

Time: 09/2024 - 12/2024

Team: CAUP Uptown Lab

Contribution: Project leader, Course design, Teaching