Dr Frank Zou
Lecturer
School of Architecture, Design and Planning
Researcher biography
As a quantitative urban data scientist and planner, I specialise in analysing and modelling complex urban systems (including housing, transport, and infrastructure) in an increasingly intelligent and data-driven world to inform evidence-based public policy and planning practices. My research addresses critical challenges such as housing financialisation and affordability, transport equity and sustainability, and climate-resilient, liveable communities in both Australian and global contexts. Through interdisciplinary research, industry partnerships, and innovation-led education, I translate complex urban data into practical solutions while mentoring the next generation of urban researchers through PhD, Master's, and Honours supervision.
Publications
Book Chapter
Zou, Zhenpeng (2023). Shared micro-mobility: a panacea or a patch for our urban transport problems?. Intelligence for future cities: planning through big data and urban analytics. (pp. 91-108) edited by Robert Goodspeed, Raja Sengupta, Marketta Kyttä and Christopher Pettit. Cham, Switzerland: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-31746-0_6
Journal Articles
Zou, Zhenpeng, Sigler, Thomas, Charles-Edwards, Elin and Corcoran, Jonathan (2025). Diving or thriving? How COVID-19 reshaped Australian short-term rental submarkets. Environment and Planning B: Urban Analytics and City Science, 52 (8), 2018-2036. doi: 10.1177/23998083251324268
Zou, Zhenpeng, Sigler, Thomas, Rambaldi, Alicia, Charles-Edwards, Elin and Corcoran, Jonathan (2025). Does a 180-day cap on short-term rentals affect housing markets? Evidence from regional New South Wales. Regional Studies, 59 (1) 2506601, 1-18. doi: 10.1080/00343404.2025.2506601
Buning, Richard J., Hardy, Anne, Corcoran, Jonathan, Pojani, Dorina, Zou, Zhenpeng and Chen, Milly (2025). Charting a research agenda for micromobility and tourism. Annals of Tourism Research Empirical Insights, 6 (1) 100164, 1-5. doi: 10.1016/j.annale.2024.100164
Ngo, Nicole S., Zou, Zhenpeng, Yang, Yizhao and Wei, Edward (2024). The impact of urban form on the relationship between vehicle miles traveled and air pollution. Transportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives, 28 101288, 101288. doi: 10.1016/j.trip.2024.101288
Zou, Zhenpeng, Sigler, Thomas, Corcoran, Jonathan and Charles-Edwards, Elin (2024). Reset or renaissance? An exploratory comparison of pre- and post-pandemic regional short-term rental markets in Australia. Regional Studies, Regional Science, 11 (1), 614-631. doi: 10.1080/21681376.2024.2402479
Sigler, T., Zou, Z., Corcoran, J. and Charles‐Edwards, E. (2023). Spatio‐temporal variation in the bid–rent functions of long‐term and short‐term rentals: evidence from South‐East Queensland, Australia. Tijdschrift voor Economische en Sociale Geografie, 115 (1), 42-63. doi: 10.1111/tesg.12588
Wilson, Tom, Zou, Frank and Sigler, Thomas (2022). Were there really 1 million unoccupied dwellings in Australia on census night 2021?. Australian Population Studies, 6 (2), 14-26. doi: 10.37970/aps.v6i2.106
Bas, Javier, Zou, Zhenpeng and Cirillo, Cinzia (2021). An interpretable machine learning approach to understanding the impacts of attitudinal and ridesourcing factors on electric vehicle adoption. Transportation Letters, 15 (1), 1-12. doi: 10.1080/19427867.2021.2009098
Peng, Binbin, Erdoğan, Sevgi, Nasri, Arefeh A. and Zou, Zhenpeng (2021). Towards a health-conscious transportation planning: a framework for estimating health impacts of active transportation at local level. Journal of Transport and Health, 22 101231, 1-11. doi: 10.1016/j.jth.2021.101231
Zou, Zhenpeng and Cirillo, Cinzia (2021). Does ridesourcing impact driving decisions: a survey weighted regression analysis. Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, 146, 1-12. doi: 10.1016/j.tra.2021.02.006
He, Pan, Zou, Zhenpeng, Zhang, Yongping and Baiocchi, Giovanni (2020). Boosting the eco-friendly sharing economy: the effect of gasoline prices on bikeshare ridership in three U.S. metropolises. Environmental Research Letters, 15 (11) 114021, 114021. doi: 10.1088/1748-9326/abbb52
Zou, Zhenpeng, Younes, Hannah, Erdoğan, Sevgi and Wu, Jiahui (2020). Exploratory analysis of real-time e-scooter trip data in Washington, D.C. Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, 2674 (8), 285-299. doi: 10.1177/0361198120919760
Younes, Hannah, Zou, Zhenpeng, Wu, Jiahui and Baiocchi, Giovanni (2020). Comparing the temporal determinants of dockless scooter-share and station-based bike-share in Washington, D.C. Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, 134, 308-320. doi: 10.1016/j.tra.2020.02.021
Zou, Zhenpeng (2019). Examining the impact of short-term rentals on housing prices in Washington, DC: implications for housing policy and equity. Housing Policy Debate, 30 (2), 269-290. doi: 10.1080/10511482.2019.1681016
Lewis, Rebecca, Parker, Robert, Zou, Zhenpeng, Hovekamp, Winston, Mcgowen, Megan and Sherrard, Ryan (2018). Voter-approved annexations in an urban growth boundary regime: the impacts on housing values, density, and economic equity. Growth and Change, 49 (2), 286-313. doi: 10.1111/grow.12235
Conference Papers
Zou, Zhenpeng, Shokputov, Alibi and Erdoğan, Sevgi (2022). Commuting trends during the COVID-19 pandemic: Evidence from Maryland. Transportation Research Board 101st Annual MeetingTransportation Research Board, Washington DC, United States, 9-13 January 2022. Washington, DC United States: Transportation Research Board, The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.
Hong, Lingzi, Wu, Jiahui and Zou, Zhenpeng (2020). Spatial accessibility and equity of public libraries in urban settings. 15th International Conference, iConference 2020, Boras, Sweden, 23-26 March 2020. Cham, Switzerland: Springer International Publishing. doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-43687-2_45
Creative Work
Zou, Frank (2024). When make yourself at home doesn't work for tourist towns. Melbourne, VIC, Australia: Monash University. doi: 10.54377/9d9d-146a
Newspaper Articles
Sigler, Thomas and Zou, Zhenpeng (2024, 03 08). Think short-stay rentals like Airbnb are out of control? Numbers are down, especially in our biggest cities The Conversation
Buning, Richard, Corcoran, Jonathan, Rahbar, Maisie, McKercher, Bob, Pojani, Dorina, Sigler, Thomas, Zou, Frank and Hardy, Anne (2023, 01 25). Why e-scooters are the 'public mobility glue' for urban transport Contact Magazine