Associate Professor Zheng Yanjie of Minnesota State University Visits BNU and Gives an Academic Report

On March 14, 2019, at the invitation of Professor Xu Zongxue, Director of Beijing Key Laboratory of Urban Water Cycle and Sponge City Technology, Zheng Yanjie, Associate Professor of the Department of Water Conservancy Engineering of Minnesota State University and SWMM model developer, visited Beijing Normal University and delivered a wonderful academic report. Attendees included Professor Hu Litang, Deputy Director Peng Dingzhi, Associate Dean Pan Chengzhong, Associate Professor Pang Bo, and teacher Zhu Zhongfan of the College of Water Sciences of BNU; Dr. Qu Zhaosong, Chairman of Beijing Sinfotek Co., Ltd.; Liu Bo, Secretary General of Changsha Sponge City Industry Alliance; Shen Yan, Associate Researcher of National Meteorological Information Center; Wen He, Director of Asian-Pacific Construction Technology & Information Group; Yao Liwei, Editor of China Flood & Drought Management magazine; and nearly 30 doctoral and master candidates from Beijing University of Technology and the Faulty of Geographical Science and the College of Water Sciences, BNU.

Professor Xu Zongxue presided over the symposium. He warmly welcomed Associate Professor Zheng Yanjie and gave the audience a detailed introduction to him. Then, Associate Professor Zheng Yanjie gave an academic report under the title of "Application of Hydraulic Models in Green Urban Drainage". Beginning with Rome, the birthplace of sponge city, he explained the development of sponge city to the audience with profundity and an easy-to-understand approach. Based on his academic experience in sponge city, Associate Professor Zheng Yanjie summarized two major challenges facing China: fragmentation of sponge cities and the confluence system of rain and sewage in dense urban areas. He also introduced the details of his ideas and insights on the development and application of the SWMM model. Zheng advised Chinese teachers and students not to directly use foreign rainfall patterns and models, but to study and model China's rainfall and urban hydrology and hydrodynamics on their own.

Associate Professor Zheng Yanjie delivers the academic report

After the report, the audience communicated and discussed with Zheng on the report. For every question, Zheng gave detailed and thorough answers. Intriguing and easy to understand, Zheng's report left a deep impression on the audience, broadening their academic horizon, inspiring their enthusiasm for scientific research, and deepening their awareness of loving, protecting and saving water. That has an enlightening and helpful impact on the study of our college.

Associate Professor Zheng Yanjie discusses with the audience

With a doctoral degree in civil engineering granted by the University of Colorado, Associate Professor Zheng Yanjie currently teaches in the Department of Hydraulic Engineering of Minnesota State University. He used to work as a water conservancy engineer for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, a municipal engineer for the City of Aurora, and manager of the water resources engineering design department of AMEC Consulting. He has played a leading role in many construction equipment water-saving projects under the U.S. federal government. His research fields mainly include urban rainfall flood management, flood zone management, and flood control and reduction. His works include the Standard for Urban Rainwater Drainage and Engineering Design, Design of Statistical Model for Water Conservancy in the Midwest, and Design and Analysis of Hydraulic Models for Urban Areas.