Zhenghong Tang is a professor and the program director in the Community and Regional Planning Program, and 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.

Research Interests

With a keen research interest in environmental planning, hazard mitigation, and geospatial science and technology, Tang's scholarly work revolves around the integration of local planning tools with strategic environmental management and hazard mitigation. His research agenda encompasses three primary research categories:

(1)  Promoting “integrated planning” approach to improve state and local planning capacity for extreme hazards, community resilience, and sustainable development: Tang's research endeavors are focused on promoting an "integrated planning" approach to enhance the capacity of state and local planning for extreme hazards, community resilience, and sustainable development. He conducts comprehensive evaluations of various state and local plans, including but not limited to comprehensive plans, hazard mitigation plans, emergency operations plans, climate action plans, and watershed plans. Through his research, Tang promotes the significance of employing an integrated planning approach to effectively address long-term, uncertain, and strategic environmental and hazard challenges, such as droughts and floods. In addition, Tang actively collaborates with state and local planning agencies to advocate for adaptation planning practices that contribute to community sustainable development. By bridging the gap between research and practice, Tang aims to enhance the planning capacity of state and local agencies and foster resilient and sustainable communities in the face of environmental hazards.

• 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
• Create Thriving, Livable Communities to Attract People and Jobs to Rural Areas and Tribal Nations
• 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 precision conservation and environmental management:  Tang's current research focuses on developing geospatial information platforms that utilize machine/deep learning algorithms and artificial intelligence (Geo-AI) for precision conservation and environmental management. This involves integrating low-altitude Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) and environmental sensors such as Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) and multispectral/thermal/oblique photogrammetry sensors, as well as ground measurements such as Ground Penetrating Radar and field surveys. The geospatial information platforms  enable high-resolution and advanced understanding of ecosystem services at a spatiotemporal scale. This information is used to provide scientific assistance to federal, state, regional, and local agencies in wetland restoration, watershed planning, and soil and water conservation. The use of machine/deep learning algorithms and AI in these platforms allows for precise and data-driven decision-making in conservation and environmental management efforts. The integration of geospatial information platforms with machine/deep learning algorithms and AI has the potential to significantly improve the understanding of ecosystems and their services, leading to more effective and targeted conservation and management strategies. This research has implications for environmental planning and decision-making at various scales, and may contribute to sustainable resource management and conservation practices.

• 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

(3)  Planning for mobile-enabled society through incorporating crowdsourcing data, citizen science, and mobile devices for environmental data sharing, visualization, and decision making:  Tang's research focuses on planning for a mobile-enabled society by incorporating crowdsourcing data, citizen science, and mobile devices for environmental data sharing, visualization, and decision making. He develops GPS-synchronous mobile information systems that enable the transfer of complex scientific environmental databases to citizens, as well as allowing citizens to report real-time information to stakeholders. Tang's research lab has successfully published a series of mobile information applications for iOS and Android systems. These applications are designed to facilitate data sharing and visualization, as well as enable citizens to actively contribute to environmental monitoring and reporting. The use of mobile devices and crowdsourcing data allows for real-time data collection and dissemination, creating opportunities for citizen engagement and participation in environmental decision making processes. The incorporation of crowdsourcing data, citizen science, and mobile devices in environmental planning and decision making has the potential to greatly enhance the understanding of environmental issues and involve citizens in environmental management efforts. The use of mobile-enabled systems allows for increased accessibility to environmental data and promotes active engagement of citizens in environmental stewardship. Tang contributes to the development of innovative approaches for incorporating mobile technologies in environmental planning and decision making, with implications for improving environmental outcomes and promoting sustainable practices.

• 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: http://www.unl.edu/ztang2