Dr. Fang's Research

"There are a lot of gray areas, and that's where we need to focus. People need to realize there isn't always a right and wrong answer, but we need to think about it, because there are some answers that are more right than others." --- Patrick Brezonik (U of MN).

Funded Research Projects

At Auburn University, Alabama (2007–)
–Funded by the National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP), Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) and Auburn Highway Research Center (HRC):

"Guidelines for Resilient Erosion- and Sediment-Control Practices". NCHRP 24-52, 8/5/2023-8/4/2026 (Co-PI with Dr. Donald, Dr. Perez is PI at Auburn, with UT Knoxville, Oklahoma State Univeristy, Fagan Consulting, LLC, and JEO Consulting Group) )
"Designing and Evaluating Infiltration Swales for Retaining and Infiltrating Roadway Stormwater Runoff". Alabama Department of Transportation, 5/16/2022 to 12/31/2024 (Co-PI with Dr. Donald, Dr. Perez is PI)
“Optimization of Sediment Basin Configurations”. Auburn Highway Research Center, 1/1/2022–9/30/2023 (Co-PI, Dr. Perez is PI)
"Resilient Design with Distributed Rainfall-Runoff Modeling". NCHRP Synthesis Topic 53-11, 11/1/2021-9/30/2022 (Co-PI, Dr. Vasconcelos is PI)
“An Excel-based Tool for Improved Hydrological Assessments in Alabama”. Auburn Highway Research Center, 1/1/2022–9/30/2023 (Co-PI, Dr. Vasconselos is PI)
"Determing the Average Available Wordkdays for ALDOT Construction Projects". Alabama Department of Transportation, 5/16/2022 to 9/15/2023 (PI, Co-PI with Dr. Perez)
"Evaluation of ALDOT Erosion Control Practices using Rainfall Simulation on Various Soil Types and Slope Gradients". Alabama Department of Transportation, 5/1/2020 to 4/30/2022 (Co-PI with Dr. Donald, Dr. Perez is PI)
"Best Practices for Construction Site Stormwater Treatment using Flocculants". Alabama Department of Transportation, 5/1/2020 to 4/30/2022 (Co-PI with Dr. Donald, Dr. Perez is PI).
"Evaluation of ALDOT Erosion Control Practices using Rainfall Simulation". Alabama Department of Transportation, 5/1/2018 to 6/14/2020 (Co-PI with Dr. Donald, Dr. Zech is PI).
“Evaluation of High-rate Settling Technology for Sediment Control in Roadway Construction Sites". Alabama Department of Transportation, 5/2/2014 to 6/1/2016 (Co-PI with Dr. Zech, Dr. Vasconcelos is PI).
“Analysis and Potential Solutions to Sediment Deposition in Dean Road Bridge Watershed, Midland City, AL”. Alabama Department of Transportation, 6/1/2016 – 12/31/2017 (Co-PI, with Dr. Vasconcelos as PI and J. Brian Anderson as Co-PI).
"Evaluation of Inlet Protection Practices using Large-scale Testing Techniques". Alabama Department of Transportation, 5/1/2013 to 4/31/2015 (Co-PI, Dr. Zech is PI)
"Evaluation of ALDOT Ditch Check Practices using Large-scale Testing Techniques". Alabama Department of Transportation, 5/1/2012 to 8/31/2014 (Co-PI, Dr. Zech is PI)
"Assessing Performance Characteristics of Sediment Basins Constructed in Franklin County". Alabama Department of Transportation, 8/10/2010 to 8/31/2012 (PI, Co-PI Dr. Zech and Dr. Clement)
"Evaluation of Scour Potential of Cohesive Soils – Phase 2". Alabama Department of Transportation, 2/2010–9/30/2013 (Co-PI, Dr. Anderson is PI)
“Evaluation of EFA Testingresults for ALDOT's Bridge Scour Calculation". Auburn Highway Research Center (HRC), 1/1/2016 to 8/31/2017 (PI with Dr. Anderson).
“Testing and Improving Design Configurations of Sediment Basins". Auburn Highway Research Center (HRC), 1/1/2013 to 8/31/2014 (PI)
"Evaluation of a 20-inch Wattle Ditch Check Practice using Large-scale Testing Techniques". Auburn Highway Research Center (HRC), 10/1/2011 to 4/31/2012 (Co-PI, Dr. Zech is PI)
“Development of a Proto-type Model for Sediment Pond Based on Field Investigation”. Auburn Highway Research Center (HRC), 1/15/2010–09/01/2010 (Co-PI)
“Design and Construction of Rainfall-induced Large-scale 3:1 Erosion Control Plots at AU-ESCTF". Auburn Highway Research Center (HRC), 1/1/2015 to 6/30/2016 (Co-PI with Dr. Donald, Dr. Zech is PI)

–Funded by the Other Agencies:

"Development of an Economic Benefit-Cost Impact GIS Tool to Evaluate the Ability of Natural and Nature-Based Features (NNBFs) to Preserve Coastal Communities and Businesses". 2/1/2022-1/31/2024, Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium (Co-PI with Dr. Bowers, Dr. LaMondia is PI).
"Evaluation of Rock Check Dam Performance Using Large-Scale Testing Techniques". Iowa Department of Transportation, 12/1/2023 to 11/30/2024 (Co-PI with Dr. Donald, Dr. Perez is PI).
"Evaluation of Sediment Basin Performance using Large-scale Testing Techniques". Iowa Department of Transportation, 5/1/2020 to 4/30/2022 (Co-PI with Dr. Donald, Dr. Perez is PI).
"Studying Effects of Sub-zero Temperatures on the Volume of Water and Discharge in the Missouri River”. Northwestern Energy, 9/1/2019 to 11/30/2022 (PI with Dr. Jiang in Montana Tech).
“A Prototype Framework of Climate Services for Decision Making". AU Presidential Awards for Interdisciplinary Research (PAIR), 7/1/2018 to 6/30/2020 (one of Co-PIs, Dr. Di Tian is PI).
"Forecasting the Ecological Health of Coastal Waters in Alabama and China" and "Identifying Potential Bioaccumulatin Hotspots of Heavy Metals in Dynamic Esturaine Systems in Alabama and China", OUC-AU Joint Center of Aquaculture and Environmental Sciences. 1/1/2017 to 9/30/2019 (Co-PI, Dr. Alan Wilson and Dr. Matthew Waters as PIs).
"Monitoring and Modeling Hydrodynamic and Water Qualuity Conditions in Cotton Bayou." City of Oranage Beach, Alabama, 8/1/2016 to 9/15/2018 (Co-PI, Dr. Joel Hayworth as PI).
"Three-dimensional Flow and Thermal Discharge Modeling under Different Operation and Climate Scenarios". Alabama Power Company, 5/1/2017 to 12/31/2017 (PI)
"Three Dimensional Flow and Thermal Discharge Modeling: Phase II – Model Improvement". Alabama Power Company, 7/1/2011 to 12/31/2013 (PI)
"Physical Model Investigation on the Mixing of Oil-dispersed Substances in Mobile Bay Ship Channel." Alabama’s Rapid Response Program for BP-Gulf Research Initiative, 1/1/2011 to 12/31/2011 (CO-PI, Dr. Vasconcelos is PI)
"Three Dimensional Flow and Thermal Discharge Modeling for the Greene County Steam Plant". Alabama Power Company, 3/1/2011 to 12/31/2011 (PI)
"Three Dimensional Flow and Thermal Discharge Modeling". Alabama Power Company, 8/16/2010 to 12/31/2010 (PI)
"Identification of Potential Coldwater Refuge Lakes Important for Sustaining Cisco Habitat under Climate Warming Scenarios in Minnesota”, funded by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources through University of Minnesota (4/12/2008–2/31/2010, PI) - more information on cisco
“Impacts of Human Activities and Climate Change on Water Resources and Ecosystem Health in the Wolf Bay Basin: A Coastal Diagnostic and Forecast System (CDFS) for integrated assessment” funded by the Auburn University Water Resources Center (6/1/2008–5/31/2011, Co-PI).

At Lamar University, Texas (1995–2007)
–Funded by Texas Department of Transportation

“Use of the Rational and Modified Rational Methods for TxDOT Hydraulic Design”, funded by TxDOT (Texas Department of Transportation) in cooperation with Texas Tech University (PI, Dr. David Thompson), University of Houston (Dr. Theodore G. Cleveland), and USGS at Austin (Dr. William Asquith) (9/1/2007–8/31/2010, Project 0-6070, adjunct professor at Lamar University).
"Establish Effective Lower Bounds of Watershed Slope for Traditional Hydrologic Methods", funded by TxDOT (Texas Department of Transportation) in cooperation with Texas Tech University (PI), and USGS (9/1/2008–8/31/2011, Project 0-6382, through Auburn University).
"Regional Characteristics of Storm Hyetographs" funded by the Texas Department of Transportation in cooperation with Texas Tech University (PI), University of Houston, and USGS at Austin (09/01/2000–8/31/2005, CO-PI, Project 0-4194).
"Regional Characteristics of Unit Hydrographs and Rainfall Loss Analysis" funded by the Texas Department of Transportation in cooperation with Texas Tech University (PI), University of Houston, and USGS (09/01/2000–8/31/2007, Project 0-4193).
“Estimating Time Parameters of Direct Runoff and Unit Hydrographs for Texas Watersheds" funded by the Texas Department of Transportation in cooperation with Texas Tech University, University of Houston, and USGS (9/1/2003-8/31/2005, leading PI, Project 0-4696).
“Synthesis of Storm Drain Design; Current Methodologies and Need for Alternatives to the Rational Method” funded by the Texas Department of Transportation in cooperation with Texas Tech University (PI) (9/1/2002–8/31/2003, Project 0-4553).
"Guidance for Design in Areas of Extreme Bed-Load Mobility" funded by the Texas Department of Transportation in cooperation with Texas Tech University (PI), University of Houston, and USGS (9/1/2003–8/31/2008, Co-PI, Project 0-4695).
“Correlation of Texas Cone Penetrometer Test Values and Shear Strength of Texas Soils”, (9/1/2003-8/31/2005), funded by the Texas Department of Transportation in cooperation with the University of Houston, the University of Texas at Arlington (PI) (Co-PI with Dr. Mien Jao, Project 0-4862).
“Implementation of Storm Event Statistical Data for Project Planning Purposes”, (5/1/2005-8/31/2006) funded by the Texas Department of Transportation with Texas Tech University (PI), University of Houston, and USGS at Austin (Project 5-4194).

–Funded by the Other Agencies:

"Alterations of Water Availability, Water Quality and Fish Habitats in Cold Regions by Climate Change" funded by the US EPA in cooperation with Heinz G. Stefan (PI) at the University of Minnesota (10/01/96–03/31/99) - 45 publications.
“Internet and Component-based Modeling System for Lake Water Quality and Fish Habitat Projections” funded by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board ATP (Advanced Technology Program) (01/01/2000–8/31/2002) (leading PI, Co-PI are Dr. Wenran Zhang at Lamar University, Dr. Theodore Cleveland at University of Houston, and Dr. Alan Groeger at Texas State University at San Marcos).
"Reservoir Water Quality Simulations from Two- or Three-Dimensional Water Quality Models" funded by the US Department of Agriculture through the Texas State University System in cooperation with Texas State University – San Marcos (7/1/2004–6/30/2007, Co-PI).
“The Sabine-Neches Waterways Feasibility Study - Pipeline/Facilities Relocation and Removals” funded by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in cooperation with Dr. Victor Zaloom (PI), and Dr. Mien Jao at Lamar University (09/01/2001–8/31/2002, Co-PI).
“Design of Confined Placement Areas for the 50-Year Dredged Material Management Plan” funded by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in cooperation with Dr. Victor Zaloom (PI), Dr. Hsing-wei Chu, and Dr. Mien Jao at Lamar University (09/01/2002–6/30/2003, Co-PI).
“Jefferson County Highway 87 Shore Protection Clay Sediment Characterization”, the Pacific International Engineering, (2/1/2003–8/31/2003) with Dr. Victor Zaloom (PI), Dr. Hsing-wei Chu, Dr. Jerry Lin, and Dr. Mien Jao.
Texas Water Development Board grant for one-year study in Nutrient Transport and Water Quality Monitoring in Sabine Lake Bayous (09/01/1999–10/31/2000, PI).
"Assistance in Field Data Collection Effort for the Sabine Neches Waterway Project" funded by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Coastal & Hydraulic Laboratory (6/2001–9/2001, PI).
“Development of a 2-dimensional Numerical Model for Flood Risk Simulation with Application to the City of Beaumont” funded by Lamar University Research and Graduate Studies as a part of 2002 University Scholar Award (PI).
Lamar Research Enhancement grant (09/01/04 to 08/31/05) to conduct research in “Simulation of Spatially Varied Flows and Performance of Inlets in Superelevation Transitions” in cooperation with Dr. Ken Aung at the Mechanical Engineering Department.
Lamar Research Enhancement grant (09/01/98–08/31/99) to conduct a research in Variation of Reservoir Water Temperatures under Inflows (PI).
Lamar Research Enhancement grant (09/01/96–08/31/97) to conduct a research in Water Temperature Dynamics in Toledo Bend Reservoir, Texas (PI).