JESSICA FERNANDEZ
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Research.

Research is, in the broadest sense, how we garner and test information to answer a question that solves a problem. During my years practicing full time as a landscape architect and campus planner, there were many challenges which afflicted the decisions I made on a regular basis. However, my goal as a practitioner was not to create knowledge, and I often found myself following the trends of the industry to inform choices which impacted the built environment. My decision to shift professionally to the academic realm was, in part, based upon my desire to learn and to share knowledge in ways that are helpful to the future of the field of landscape architecture. In this way, I am able to provide empirically-based evidence that can appropriately and responsibly inform the future shape of our landscape fabric. Continuing my professional specialization in campus planning and sustainable urban design, my research interests tie human interaction, perception, and activity to the physical built environment. My research agenda includes current and future exploration of the following:​​

  • Emerging media for progressive landscape architectural design and communication strategies
  • Big data as a tool for understanding place-making and community improvement
  • Campus planning and urban design as they relate to human experience and social sustainability

The implications of these research interests range from the creation of best practices during the design and planning process for improvement of social and physical environments, to bringing cutting edge research approaches such as the use of big data further into the realm of landscape architecture, to normalizing the use of virtual reality and other technologies in the design industry. The common thread that ties these interests together is the indubitable connection between people, place, and the environment in the practice of landscape architecture. My research has been presented widely at CELA, ASLA, EDRA, and IMCL national conferences, and published through various peer-reviewed journals and other research platforms. 




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Recent Peer-Reviewed Publications:

Song, Y., Wang, R., Fernandez, J., Li, D. (2020). Investigating sense of place of the Las Vegas strip using online reviews and machine learning approaches. Landscape and Urban Planning. DOI: 10.1016/j.landurbplan.2020.103956

Song, Y., Fernandez, J., & Wang, T. (2020). Understanding Perceived Site Qualities and Experiences of Urban Public Spaces: A Case Study of Social Media Reviews in Bryant Park, New York City. Sustainability. DOI: 10.3390/su12198036

Fernandez, J. & Powers, M. (2020). Before the neo-liberal campus: University, place, and the business of higher education. Architecture and Culture.
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Fernandez, J., Powers, M., & Song, Y. (In press). “Measuring collaboration in community and campus planning.” Journal of Architecture and Planning Research.

2017 Fernandez, J. & Song, Y.  Evaluating Landscape Character through Parametrical Indicators: A Case Study of the Campus-Community Edge. Proceedings, 54th Conference on International Making Cities Livable, Sante Fe, NM. 

2017 Song, Y. & Fernandez, J. A Glimpse of Big Data: How Social Media can Inform Urban Design. Proceedings, 54th Conference on International Making Cities Livable, Sante Fe, NM.
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Jessica Fernandez     .     jessica@alphadesign.studio    .    142 Jackson Street Building    .    Athens, GA
  • Home
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    • Contact
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