Research Scientist, Rice University, Houston, TX. (May 2007 – Present)

  1. Managing the hydrologic and hydraulic analysis project for the Yuna River watershed in the Dominican Republic; collaborating researchers and engineers from the Dominican Republic’s Water Resources Authority (INDRHI) and the Center for Space Research (CSR) at UT Austin to analyze and pinpoint areas for the LiDAR survey in order to develop digital elevation derived hydrologic and hydraulic models; leading the team to develop hydrologic and hydraulic models and delineate floodplains for this watershed in order to carry out appropriate flood control design for the local government ($150,000).
  2. Developed a real-time flood warning system for the Highway 288 junction over Brays Bayou, a highly flood-prone section, using calibrated hydrologic/hydraulic models and real-time NEXRAD rainfall data. Highway 288 is a major evacuation route from the Gulf coast. The recently developed hydraulic prediction tool (FPML) is also being incorporated into this flood warning system to visualize floodplain in near real time; designed and developed another real-time radar-based flood warning system for two flood-prone locations: Mandell St. near SH-59 and Tellepsen Rd near IH-45 in Houston, Texas for TxDOT; calibrated the SWMM models for both locations and developed rainfall – water surface elevation correlations with a detailed hydrologic/hydraulic study in order to provide flood warning information in real-time based on radar rainfall information. This project is funded by TxDOT with ( $200,000) for two years.
  3. Designing and developing a real-time flood warning system for several cross sections over Oyster Creek in Sugar Land, Texas. The flood alert system is based real-time NEXRAD radar rainfall data, a well-calibrated hydrologic model, and an operational data transfer platform. The project is funded by the City of Sugar Land with ($80,000).
  4. Re-evaluating the stormwater system in Harris Gully with updated drainage information, hydrologic & hydraulic models, land use information, and recently-installed flood control facilities. The project is funded by the Texas Medical Center with ($50,000).
  5. Re-evaluating the stormwater system and floodplain maps within the Rice University and its surrounding areas with updated land use information and flood control improvement. The project is funded by Rice University with ($45,000).
  6. Performing an analysis of inland flooding and storm surge risk for the Clear Lake City Water Authority (CLCWA) using information collected during Hurricane Ike (2009) and hydrologic & hydraulic models; the research results will be used to inform local residents and governmental agencies how to deal with floods and hurricane induced storm surge; funding for local infrastructural improvements will be allocated upon these research results as well.  The project is funded by CLCWA with ($65,000).
  7. Performing a pilot project that integrates a comprehensive coastal flood warning system with a “lifeline” evacuation analysis of the roadways and bridges on the Clear Lake areas in Texas. This project is funded by the Shell Sustainability Center with ($42,000).
  8. Coordinating major research universities (UT-Austin, TAMU, LSU, UH, etc.) and other public and private entities to collaborate and exchange technical information of inland flooding induced by severe storms for the Center of Severe Storm Prediction, Education, and Evacuation from Disasters  (SSPEED) with funding from Houston Endowment ($2.5 Million).
  9. Performing a study of storm surge impacts on the Houston Ship Channel using collected Hurricane Ike storm surge information, the results from Advanced Circulation Model (ADCIRC), and a 2-D MIKE-FLOOD model. This research is sponsored by the SSPEED center.
  10. Performed a study for a land development project within the Cypress Creek watershed using a distributed hydrologic model (VfloTM) in order for the local agency to control and monitor overland runoffs from developed areas. The sizing and locations of detention ponds were determined by my simulated results. The results and recommendations were also published in the ASCE Journal of Hydrologic Engineering providing conceptual land planning suggestions.
  11. Conducted a hydrologic/hydraulic study for the confluence of Oyster Creek and Ditch B to provide multiple tailwater conditions. The located is about 700 feet downstream of Dulles Ave. in the City of Sugar Land. The tailwater conditions were simulated based on the calibrated Oyster Creek models and were developed for FEMA frequencies (10%, 2%, 1%, and 0.2%).
  12. Developed groundwater flow and transport models (GW-Vistas) to evaluate groundwater directions under fluctuations of Mississippi River and operations of city supply wells in Myrtle Grove in Louisiana. Different scenarios and boundary conditions were set up and simulated to see negative impact from a Dow refinery plant on the surrounding neighborhood. This work was done to provide expert opinions as support for a litigation case.
  13. Conducted numerous detailed hydrologic and hydraulic studies for the purpose of evaluating flood risk and the causes of flooding events for the litigation cases from California, Florida, Louisiana, and Texas.

Ph.D. Rice University, Houston, TX (March 2004- May 2007)

  1. Developed advanced features of real-time flood forecast and control systems for flood-prone areas by incorporating real-time radar and storm surge data. This research was supported on the center of Collaborative Adaptive Sensing of the Atmosphere (CASA) from the National Science Foundation (NSF).
  2. Developed unsteady state hydraulic modeling system to accurately delineate flood maps. This research was supported by CASA, an ERC of NSF.
  3. Developed a hydraulic prediction tool, floodplain map library (FPML) for FAS2 to dynamically respond to real-time radar rainfall. This system can provide emergency personnel more lead time to initiate strategic measures. This research was supported by CASA from NSF.
  4. Managing Flood Alert System (FAS3) for the Texas Medical Center and Brays Bayou area to keep the system running properly on a daily basis for the past years.
  5. Developed and improved distributed models for Harris Gully area including the Texas Medical Center; incorporated pipe flow mechanism into the system to account for pressure flow; simulation results matched well with the measured data for historical rainfall events; awarded USGS Research Grant ($5000) for this research work.
  6. Investigated in modeling groundwater flow for a former airplane jet repair facility in Connecticut, which was contaminated by chlorinated compounds used as grease detergent for many decades; modeled groundwater flow around a Dow Chemical facility in Louisiana; developed models for a contaminated site in Jerome, Florida to simulate creosote transport in groundwater using MODFLOW &MT3D.
  7. Accomplished a hydrologic and hydraulic analysis by using HEC-HMS and HEC-RAS for many local projects under various flooding scenarios.

Research Assistant, Lamar University, Beaumont, TX(Jan 2001-May 2003)

  1. Developed natural attenuation models accounting for injection of oxygen releasing compound; planned to design the injection, so as to optimize the increase in dissolved oxygen content in groundwater.
  2. Established a regression analysis of concentration versus distance for stable plumes as an analytical solution for one-dimensional, steady state, contaminant transport; quantified biodecay rate constants based on field data; performed sensitivity analysis on the total decay rate constants.

Workshops and Teaching Experience

  1. Groundwater Contamination Transport Modeling (CEVE518) at Rice University.   
    (2004 to present)
  2. Urban Hydrology and Floodplain Analysis (CEVE412) at Rice University.            
    (2004 to present)
  3. GIS and its Applications (CEVE 512) at Rice University.                                        
    (2004 to present)
  4. Engineering Geographic Information System (CIVE7342) at University of Houston     
     (Fall, 2010)
  5. Flood Alert System Training Session at Texas Medical Center Library                  
     (September, 2010)
  6. Flood Alert System Training Session at TxDOT                                                       
    (January, 2009)
  7. Flood Alert System Training Session at Transtar                                                         
    (February, 2009)
  8. Flood Alert System Training Session at Rice University                                              
     (January, 2008)
  9. Flood Alert System Training at Texas Medical Center Library.                                      
     (March, 2007)
  10. Mass Transfer Lab (CHEN4420) at Lamar University.                                                     
     (2001- 2003)