College of
Engineering / Departments
/ Civil
and Environmental Engineering
/ Faculty
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)
- "Resilen
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).