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Wonmin Sohn
Assistant Professor
Landscape Architecture
Water
Office
3572 Dana
About
Wonmin Sohn, PhD, integrates landscape architecture, urban planning, GIS, and hydrologic modeling to advance disaster-resilient planning and nature-based climate solutions. Her research enhances the performance of green infrastructure and develops planning frameworks for effective hazard risk reduction through geospatial analytics. She has led federal projects funded by HUD, NFWF, EPA, and other state and non-profit entities.
Her interdisciplinary collaborations span environmental engineering, geography, horticulture, and urban planning. Her work has earned more than 20 honors and awards, including the 2024 Council of Educators in Landscape Architecture (CELA) Excellence in Research and Creative Work Award and the 2023 President’s Award from the National Association of State Park Directors. She holds national and international leadership roles, serving as CELA Urban Design Track Co-Chair and Board Member at Large for Sigma Lambda Alpha.
Publications
Select publications since 2023. Additional publications listed in CV.
Sohn, W., Xu, Z., Lu, G., Kim, J.-H. (2026). An Integrated Vulnerability-Resilience Framework for Multi-Criteria Climate Risk Assessment in Depopulating Urban Landscapes. Landscape and Urban Planning. 271 (105620).
Shahmohammad, M., Salamattalab, M., Sohn, W., Kouhizadeh, M., and Aghamohmmadi, N. (2024). Opportunities and Obstacles of Blockchain Use in Pursuit of Sustainable Development Goal 11: A Systematic Scoping Review. Sustainable Cities and Society, 112(105620).
Xu, Z. and Sohn, W. (2024). A Longitudinal Comparison of Flooding Mechanisms in Growing and Shrinking Regions: Evaluating Changes in Impervious Composition and Green Infrastructure Connectivity. Urban Climate, 55(101875).
Sohn, W., and Kotval-Karamchandani, Z. (2023). Risk Perception of Compound Emergencies: A Household Survey on Flood Evacuation and Sheltering Behavior during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Sustainable Cities and Society, 94(104553).
Park, S., Sohn, W., Piao, Y., and Lee, D. (2023). Adaptation Strategies for Future Coastal Flooding: Performance Evaluation of Green and Grey Infrastructure in South Korea. Journal of Environmental Management, 334(117495).
Research
2023-2027
PI, “Restoring Wetland and Terrestrial Habitat to Improve Green Spaces and Water Quality in Pierce Park (MI)” funded by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. Co-PIs: Li, X., Kim, J.-H., Keeler, M., DeLisle, J., & Ford, R. Total grant amount (including $324K matching): $1,159,687.
2023-2025
PI/Co-PI, “Building Resilience Against Climate Effects” funded by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (Prime Sponsor: US Environmental Protection Agency). PIs/Co-PIs: Kim, J.-H., Sohn, W., Beyea, W. and Neumann, B. $354,880.
2021-2024
PI, “Development of Comprehensive Climate Vulnerability and Resilience Capacity Indexes for Enhancing Urban Recovery in Midwestern Communities” funded by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development. Co-PI: Kim., J.-H. Total grant amount (including $163,073 matching): $326,146.
2021-2022
PI, “Longitudinal Assessment of Development Composition and Spatial Patterns of Green Infrastructure for Effective Flood Control in Growing and Shrinking US Metropolitan Areas” funded by the Council of Educators in Landscape Architecture, CLASS Fund. $25,000.
Education
- PhD, Urban and Regional Sciences, Texas A&M University
- MLA, Texas A&M University
- BS, Landscape Architecture and Rural Systems Engineering, Seoul National University
Affiliations
- Member, American Geophysical Union (AGU)
- Member, Council of Educators in Landscape Architecture (CELA)
- Member, American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA)
- Member, Michigan Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects (MiASLA)
