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Zhenghong Tang is the associate dean for research and innovation for the College of Architecture and a professor of Community & Regional Planning in the College of Architecture at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. His research focuses on environmental planning, hazard mitigation, and Geo-AI. Dr. Tang's work aims to strengthen local planning capacity, fostering greater community resilience and environmental sustainability.  

Tang also serves as a professor in the Landscape Architecture Program at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He also holds a courtesy professor in the School of Natural Resources and the School of Global Integrative Studies, and serves as a faculty fellow in the Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute and the Center for Great Plains Studies.

Tang teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in various subjects including CRPL 470/870 Environmental Planning and Policy, CRPL 433/833 GIS in Environmental Design and Planning, CRPL 471/871 Environmental Impact Assessment, CRPL 472/872 Hazard Mitigation Planning, CRPL 802 Planning Theory, and CRPL 990 Planning Studio.

Tang's research agenda encompasses two major research areas:

(1)  Promoting “integrated planning” approach to improve state and local planning capacity for community resilience and sustainable development: Tang's research focuses on advancing an "integrated planning" approach to strengthen the capacity of state and local agencies in addressing extreme hazards, enhancing community resilience, and promoting sustainable development. This approach emphasizes the importance of tackling long-term, complex, and strategic environmental challenges, such as droughts and floods, through coordinated and adaptive planning. Tang collaborates extensively with state and local planning agencies, advocating for adaptation practices that support sustainable community development.  

• Project to aid cities in planning for extreme weather
• Husker research flows to help state’s water management plan
• Researchers probe climate’s impact on groundwater quality
• Integrating wetland conservation in local planning guidebook
• Planning students helping to revitalize David City's downtown
• Students, Extension helping village explore relocation after flooding
• Students present vision for downtown Beatrice reutilization
• Nebraska team helping hard-hit communities prepare for future floods

(2)  Developing geospatial information platforms with machine/deep learning algorithms/Artificial intelligence (Geo-AI) for effective conservation and environmental management: Dr. Tang's current research focuses on developing geospatial information platforms that leverage machine learning, deep learning algorithms, and artificial intelligence (Geo-AI) for conservation mapping and environmental decision-making. These near-real-time platforms provide high-resolution, advanced insights into ecosystem services at spatiotemporal scales. This information supports federal, state, regional, and local agencies in wetland restoration, watershed planning, and soil and water conservation, offering valuable scientific assistance to guide effective environmental management.

• Project will use drones to survey wetland habitats
• Tang's expertise furthers wetlands preservation efforts
• Geospatial technology helps restore wetlands
• Salt Creek tiger beetle: the focus of new conservation project
• Tang taps mobile tech, aids access to environmental data
• UNL team to promote green infrastructure in Omaha
• Innovative tool integrates water resource management

For more information, please visit Tang’s personal webpage.