Jieling Xiao

• Multisensory Urbanism
• Soundscape
• Smellscape
• Environmental Design and Wellbeing
• Urban Design
• Urban Transformation 
• Place Branding

• Ph.D, University of Sheffield, UK
• M.Arch in Urban Design, University College London, UK
• M.A PgCert In Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, Birmingham City University, UK
• B. Arch in Architecture, Wuhan University of Technology, China

• Fellowship of Higher Education
• SEDA Accreditation in Postgraduate Supervision
•  Academy of Urbanism and Modernist Society

Jieling delivers and facilitates seminars and workshops related to environmental design and sustainability across the School at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Modules include Technical Investigation in BA (Hons) Architecture year 3, Architecture Synergies in MArch year 1. She also teaches design in studios for MA Interior Architecture and Design and supervises PhD students with multicultural backgrounds.

Jieling is interested in people’s every day sensory experiences in cities across different cultures, and how planners and urban designers can learn from such. Her research focuses on understanding, assessing and enhancing the perceptual qualities of public spaces via design, public participatory and artistic inputs. In Particular, how sounds and smells are perceived and considered in the design process.

In her research, Jieling often uses participatory methods to understand people’s experiences, emotions and decision-making in relation to spaces. Her recently co-edited book ‘Perception – driven approaches to assess and design urban spaces’ provides an overview of opportunities and challenges of current the field of perception focused studies.

Jieling is a frequent reviewer for journals such as Applied Acoustics, Urban Science, Cities, etc. She is also on editorial board of Journal of Contemporary Urban Affairs and Review Editor of Journal of Frontiers of Psychology. Within the University, Jieling has joined three research clusters - CCVA, Urban Cultures and Performance Research Hub.

Journal Papers and Book Chapters

• Xiao, J., Aletta, F., & Ali-Maclachlan, I. (2022). On the Opportunities of the Soundscape Approach to Revitalise Acoustics Training in Undergraduate Architectural Courses. Sustainability, 14(4), 1957.
• Xiao, J., Aletta, F., Radicchi, A., McLean, K., Shiner, L. E., & Verbeek, C. (2021). Recent Advances in Smellscape Research for the Built Environment. Frontiers in Psychology, 12.
• Feng, H., & Xiao, J. (2021). Dynamic Authenticity: Understanding and Conserving Mosuo Dwellings in China in Transitions. Sustainability, 13(1), 143.
• Xiao, J., Tait, M., & Kang, J. (2020). Understanding smellscapes: Sense-making of smell-triggered emotions in place. Emotion, Space and Society, 37, 100710.
• Jieling Xiao, 2018. ‘Smell, Smellscape And Place-making: A Review Of Approaches To Study Smellscape’ in Handbook of Research on Perception-driven Approaches to Urban Assessment and Design (IGI-Global, Hershey), pp. 240-298.
• Xiao, J., & Hilton, A. 2019. An Investigation of Soundscape Factors Influencing Perceptions of Square Dancing in Urban Streets: A Case Study in a County Level City in China. International journal of environmental research and public health, 16(5), 840.
• Xiao, J., Tait, M & Kang, J., 2018. A perceptual model of smellscape pleasantness. Cities.76(2018)105-115.
• Xiao, J., Lavia, L., & Kang, J., 2018. Towards an agile participatory urban soundscape planning framework. Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, 61(4), 677-698.
• Aletta, F., & Xiao, J. 2018. What are the Current Priorities and Challenges for (Urban) Soundscape Research?. Challenges, 9(1), 1-11.
• Feng, H. & Xiao, J., 2018. Funerals as festivals: celebrations of life in Mosuo tribe in China. Journal of Architecture and culture. Special issue: architecture, festival and the city. pp. 473-484.
• Xiao. J. 2018. Smells, smellscapes and place-making. In Aletta, F. and Xiao, J. (Eds.). 2018. Perception-driven Approaches to Urban Assessment and Design. Hershey: IGI Global. pp.240-298.
• Xiao, J., Tait, M., & Kang, J., 2017. The design of urban smellscapes with fragrant plants and water features. In Henshaw, V., McLean, K., Medway, D., Perkins, C., & Warnaby, G. (Eds.). 2017. Designing with smell: practices, techniques and challenges. Routledge.pp.83-95.
• Xiao, J. & Aletta, F., 2016. A soundscape approach to exploring design strategies for acoustic comfort in modern public libraries: a case study of the Library of Birmingham. Noise Mapping, 3(1), 264-273.

Books

• Aletta, F. & Xiao, J. (Eds). 2018. Perception-driven approaches to assess and design urban spaces. Hershey: IGI Global.
• Book translation with Dr, Xie Hui (Associate Professor at School of Architecture, Chongqing University, China) from English to Chinese: Henshaw, V. 2013. Urban smellscapes: Understanding and designing city smell environments. London: Routledge. (With publisher, Beijing: China Architecture and building press, to be published in 2019)

Conference papers

• Xiao, Aletta, Ali-Maclachlan. 2020. Challenges and opportunities of using soundscape research to revitalise acoustic design education for architectural disciplines. Amps 2020 conference: Teaching-Learning-Research: Design and Environments. 02-04 December, 2020 (Virtual).

• Xiao, J., Aletta, F. & Hilton, A., 2018. Soundscape of square dances in Chinese cities: a case study of managing activity sounds in public spaces. In proceedings of 2018 International Conference on China Urban Development: Urban transformation and ‘new style’ urbanization in China. 9-12 July 2018, Glasgow.  
• Xiao, J. 2018. Breath Free Stations: smellscape designs and planning in urban intermodal transit spaces. In Proceedings of 2018 AMPS Conference on Health: The Design, Planning and Politics of How and Where We Live, 25-26 January 2018, University of the West England, Bristol 
• Xiao, J., 2016. A case study to explore smellscape in open spaces around railway stations from the well-being perspective. In Proceedings of 2016 Wellbeing International Conference, 5-7 September 2016, Birmingham, United Kingdom.
• Xiao, J., Kang, J., Tait, M., & Henshaw, V., 2015. Smellscapes in urban intermodal transit spaces: understanding pleasantness as a concept for design in an English context. In Proceedings of the International Conference on Changing Cities 2: Spatial, Design, Landscape & Social-economic Dimensions, 22-26 June 2015, Porto Heili, Greece.
• Lavia, L., Xiao, J., Kang, J., & Easteal, M., 2015. Developing an applied sound scape approach: Mapping the stakeholder engagement process in the City of Brighton and Hove, UK. In Proceedings of INTER-NOISE 2015 - 44th International Congress and Exposition on Noise Control Engineering: Los Angeles, United States.
• Xiao, J., Kang, J., Tait, M., & Henshaw, V., 2015. Use the method of walking to explore the smell environment in Chinese urban intermodal transit spaces. A case study in Wuchang Railway Station’, The intricacy of walking and the city: experiments and methods, international conference, 21-23 January 2015, Paris-Marne la Vallée, France.

Edited special issue 

• Xiao, J., Aletta, F. & Radicchi, A. (eds.) (2022). Frontiers Research Topic: Smells, Wellbeing and Built Environment. Available from: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/14619/smells-well-being-and-the-built-environment  

• Sanchez, M., Frost, C. & Xiao, J. (eds.) (2018). Special issue: architecture, festival and the city. Journal of Architecture and culture. Vol. 6 (3).