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.