Ni-Bin Chang

University of Central Florida | UCF · Department of Civil, Environmental & Construction Engineering

Spatially contiguous aerosol type grids were rarely available for air quality management in the past. To bridge the gap, we developed an integrated remote sensing and big data analytics framework to generate spatially gap-free aerosol type grids between 2000 and 2020 in China. The effect of emission control via environmental management on haze redu...

Environmental, social, and economic sustainability patterns interact in various dimensions of an urban environment. Exacerbated population growth triggers an emphasis on better resource management strategies addressing the balance of supply and demand over food, energy, and water sectors while considering social and economic development. Promoting...

The retrofit of existing buildings at a community scale can provide a huge opportunity to reduce the community's energy consumption and subsequent greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in support of the United Nations agenda for net-zero emissions and decarbonization. This study demonstrates a community-scale food-energy-water-waste nexus through 6 scenar...

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) belong to a class of anthropogenic chemicals that were popularly used by industry for their hydrophobicity and stain resistance; yet the latest studies demonstrate that PFAS possess adverse ecological and human health effects. This study investigated the mechanisms and efficiencies of removal of perfluoroo...

Developing a big data analytics framework for generating the Long-term Gap-free High-resolution Air Pollutant concentration dataset (abbreviated as LGHAP) is of great significance for environmental management and Earth system science analysis. By synergistically integrating multimodal aerosol data acquired from diverse sources via a tensor-flow-bas...

Urban areas often face versatile stressors (e.g., food security, congestion, energy shortage, water pollution, water scarcity, waste management, and storm and flooding), requiring better resilient and sustainable infrastructure systems. A system dynamics model (SDM), explored for the urban region of Orlando, Florida, acts as a multi-agent model for...

In spite of a variety of PM 2.5 modeling schemes, general guidance for full-coverage PM 2.5 concentration mapping from satellite observations is still lacking. The current technical gap is tied to how to integrate multiscale data from multiple sources to generate a spatially contiguous map that can better recognize PM 2.5 distribution patterns with...

Data gaps in satellite aerosol optical depth (AOD) retrievals pose a huge challenge in near real-time air quality assessment. Here, we present a multimodal aerosol data fusion approach to integrate multisource AOD and air quality data for the generation of full coverage AOD maps at hourly resolution. Specifically, data gaps in each Himawari-8 AOD s...

This study investigated the removal of selected per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from water via two green sorption media (IFGEM-7 and AGEM-2). Both selected filtration media contain sand (85–91%) and clay (3–4%), in addition to recycled iron (Fe) (5–7.5%) or aluminum (Al) (4.5% in AGEM-2 only). Batch and column studies were integrated and...

This study examines a green building retrofit plan through a system dynamics model (SDM) creating symbiosis embedded in a building-scale food-energy-water (FEW) nexus. An indicator approach was employed to exploit cross-domain seams via the use of carbon, water, and ecological footprints for sustainability, as well as food security and energy suppl...

Developing a big data analytics framework for generating a Long-term Gap-free High-resolution Air Pollutants concentration dataset (abbreviated as LGHAP) is of great significance for environmental management and earth system science analysis. By synergistically integrating multimodal aerosol data acquired from diverse sources via a tensor flow base...

Satellite and ground‐based remote sensing images, as well as reanalysis data, are widely used to measure and/or model aerosol properties of Earth's atmosphere. However, none of these data sources are perfect: satellite data suffer from various sources of uncertainties and data gaps; ground observations have limited spatial coverage; and reanalysis...

Agent-based modeling (ABM) involves developing models in which agents make adaptive decisions in a changing environment. Machine-learning (ML) based inference models can improve sequential decision-making by learning agents' behavioral patterns. With the aid of ML, this emerging area can extend traditional agent-based schemes that hardcode agents'...

Few studies have examined the critical role of policy and network governance mechanism in addressing sustainability and FEW nexuses. This study aims to examine the efforts in meeting the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the urban environment. More specifically, the study seeks to examine how growing demands on the food-energy-water (FEW)...

Prediction of mean annual runoff is of great interest but still poses a challenge in ungauged basins. The present work diagnoses the prediction in mean annual runoff affected by the uncertainty in estimated distribution of soil water storage capacity. Based on a distribution function, a water balance model for estimating mean annual runoff is devel...

Filter media have oftentimes been used in fixed-bed column tests to examine their removal efficiencies for various pollutants, such as nutrients in stormwater runoff. With limited data sets from column studies, a response surface method (RSM), such as the Box-Behnken Design (BBD), and machine learning methods, can be used to transition from discret...

Understanding the effects of best management practices (BMPs) on nitrate reduction in karst aquifers is critical for spring restoration. In this study, Conduit Flow Process (CFPv2) and Conduit Mass Three-Dimensional (CMT3D) models were applied to evaluate nitrate removal for Silver Springs in Florida using blanket filters composed of biosorption-ac...

In situ PM2.5 concentration observations have long been used as critical data sources in haze-related studies. Due to the frequently occurring haze pollution events, China started to regularly monitor PM2.5 concentration nationwide from the newly established air quality monitoring network in 2013. Nevertheless, the acquisition of these invaluable a...

The integration of food-energy-water (FEW) sectors is essential for addressing the co-evolution of urban infrastructure systems during urban growth. But how these evolutionary pathways can affect an urban growth model is unclear. This review paper offers a synthesis of the current philosophy of a FEW nexus in connection with the realm of urban grow...

Aerosol optical depth (AOD) is widely recognized as a critical indicator in understanding atmospheric physics and regional air quality because of its capability for quantifying aerosol loading in the atmosphere. Retrieving AOD from space-borne sensors’ observations has become the primary technique for monitoring aerosol loading on a large scale. Th...

In situ PM2.5 concentration observations have long been used as critical data sources in haze related 20 studies. Due to the frequently occurred haze pollution events, China started to monitor PM2.5 concentration nationwide routinely from the newly established air quality monitoring network. Nevertheless, the acquisition of these invaluable air qua...

The present work diagnoses the prediction in mean annual runoff affected by the uncertainty in estimated distribution of soil water storage capacity. Based on a distribution function, a water balance model for estimating mean annual runoff is developed, in which the effects of climate variability and the distribution of soil water storage capacity...

Recycled materials were used in three types of green sorption media for nutrient removal and possible recovery in high nutrient-laden agricultural discharge and stormwater runoff. The three types of green sorption media included in this comparative study were two new aluminum-based green environmental media (AGEM) and one existing iron-filings base...

The eutrophication of water bodies due to excessive amounts of nutrients is an ongoing issue that coincides with the depletion of the commercial and affordable phosphorus reserves that are required for food production. This paper presents the development of Advanced Green Environmental Media (AGEM) for nutrient removal and recovery, in stormwater r...

Ensuring urban areas have access to clean drinking water, safe food supply, and uncontaminated water bodies is essential to the good health of millions of urban residents. This paper presents the functionality of Iron Filings-based Green Environmental Media (IFGEM) in terms of nutrient removal efficiencies to support water quality management and ur...

Nonpoint sources pollution from agricultural crop fields and urbanized regions oftentimes have elevated concentrations of dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) in stormwater runoff, which are difficult for microbial communities to decompose. The impact of elevated DON can be circumvented through the use of green sorption media, such as Biosorption Activ...

The Food-Energy-Water (FEW) nexus for urban sustainability needs to be analyzed via an integrative rather than a sectoral or silo approach, reflecting the ongoing transition from separate infrastructure systems to an integrated social-ecological-infrastructure system. As technology hubs can provide food, energy, water resources via decentralized an...

The Food-Energy-Water (FEW) nexus for urban sustainability needs to be analyzed via an integrative rather than a sectoral or silo approach, reflecting the ongoing transition from separate infrastructure systems to an integrated social-ecological-infrastructure system. As technology hubs can provide food, energy, water resources via decentralized an...

Water resources in karst systems are particularly vulnerable to contamination by polluted surface water, such as stormwater runoff, due to their specific geologic and hydrogeological characteristics. Better understanding of near-surface karst systems may inform contaminant transport and protective management of karst aquifers and springs. Ground pe...

Data gaps in surface air quality measurements significantly impair the data quality and the exploration of these valuable data sources. In this study, a novel yet practical method called diurnal-cycle-constrained empirical orthogonal function (DCCEOF) was developed to fill in data gaps present in data records with evident temporal variability. The...

In this study, a rapid infiltration basin (RIB) designed as green infrastructure for co-disposal of wastewater effluent and stormwater runoff was retrofitted for sustainable groundwater recharge after nitrogen removal. For comparison of nitrogen removal efficiency via different filtration media, the RIB was divided into two sub-basins for different...

Hurricane Bob passed over the New England region in August 1991, causing significant damage to life, property, and the environment, making it one of the costliest hurricanes in New England history. The environmental impact of a hurricane of this magnitude warrants careful assessment to devise preventive measures and mitigation strategies to bolster...

Roadside drainage networks can result in changes to watershed hydrology and water quality. By acting as hydrological links between urban development, agricultural fields, and natural streams, roadside ditches may be modified by filling in some green sorption media to control nitrogen pollution. Biosorption activated media (BAM), one of the green so...

Data gaps are frequently observed in the hourly PM2.5 mass concentration records measured from the China national air quality monitoring network. In this study, we proposed a novel gap filling method called the diurnal cycle constrained empirical orthogonal function (DCCEOF) to fill in data gaps present in hourly PM2.5 concentration records. This m...

Ground-measured PM2.5 concentration data are oftentimes used as a response variable in various satellite-based PM2.5 mapping practices, yet few studies have attempted to incorporate ground-measured PM2.5 data collected from nearby stations or previous days as a priori information to improve the accuracy of gridded PM2.5 mapping. In this study, Gaus...

Excess nitrogen in the ecosystem could result in eutrophication and harmful algal bloom in an ecosystem. Low impact development (LID) facilities, regarded as an integral part of green infrastructures for flow control and water quality management may include, but are not limited to, dry/wet ponds, green roof, bioswale or linear ditch, vegetated natu...

Atmospheric stability significantly influences the accumulation and dispersion of air pollutants in the near-surface atmosphere, yet few stability metrics have been applied as predictors in statistical PM2.5 concentration mapping practices. In this study, eleven stability metrics were derived from radiosonde soundings collected in eastern China for...

This paper presents a thorough review of control technologies that have been applied to wastewater treatment processes in the environmental engineering regime in the past four decades. It aims to provide a comprehensive technological review for both water engineering professionals and control specialists, giving rise to a suite of up-to-date pathwa...

Iron filings‐based green environmental media (IFGEM) is a new type of green sorption media that may be applied to heterogeneous environments for removing nutrients. To confirm the reliability and efficacy of this new green sorption media, multiple factors must be considered for a holistic assessment, primarily temperature effect, varying influent c...

Green sorption media, which includes the utilization of renewable and recycled materials, can be used as a means for nutrient and copper removal in various low-impact development facilities. In this study, a green sorption media mixture consisting of recycled tire chip, expanded clay, and coconut coir was physiochemically evaluated for copper remov...

Copper, a commonly occurring heavy metal in stormwater runoff, was tested for its inhibitory effects on key nitrogen cycle bacteria in Biosorption Activated Media (BAM) and woodchip. The information in this paper is used to show that copper can enhance the denitrification process through enzyme cascade reactions since nitrous reductase is the enzym...

Eutrophication has been a long-term issue in aquatic environments, where dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) recalcitrance is important. Bioavailable nitrogen qualification and quantification for effluents from stormwater and wastewater are always a challenge. The information in this study deepens the understanding of the interactions between carbon a...

Multi-scale modeling analysis is often required for comprehensive resilience assessment of urban drainage infrastructures to account for global climate change impact and local watershed response. The goal of this study was to develop a multi-scale modeling platform for drainage infrastructure resilience assessment in a coastal watershed. The model...

Global sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies can affect terrestrial precipitation via ocean-atmosphere interactions known as climate teleconnections. Nonstationary and nonlinear characteristics of the teleconnection signals passing through the complex ocean-atmosphere-land system may provide a unique opportunity to quantify large-scale climate va...

Global sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies are observed to have a significant effect on terrestrial precipitation patterns throughout the United States. SST variations have been correlated with terrestrial precipitation via ocean–atmospheric interactions known as climate teleconnections. This study demonstrates how the scale effect could affect...

A long-term coherent total column ozone (TCO) record is essential to ozone layer variability assessment, especially the detection of early signs of ozone recovery after years of depletion. Because of differences in satellite platforms and instruments design, calibration, and retrieval algorithms, however, significant cross-mission biases are observ...

Seagrass beds compdse a unique marine ecosystem that acts as a biofilter in marine environments and serves as a.spawning ground and nursery for various species of fish. Long-term monitoring of seagrass beds is critical to understanding the dynamic relationships between the ecosystems and the stresses from natural systems and society. This study inv...

The Biosphere Reserve of La Mancha Húmeda is a wetland-rich area located in central Spain. This reserve comprises a set of temporary lakes, often saline, where water level fluctuates seasonally. Water inflows come mainly from direct precipitation and runoff of small lake watersheds. Most of these lakes lack surface outlets and behave as endorheic s...

The Biosphere Reserve of La Mancha Húmeda is a wetland-rich area located in central Spain. This reserve comprises a set of temporary lakes, often saline, where water level fluctuates seasonally. Water inflows come mainly from direct precipitation and runoff of small lake watersheds. Most of these lakes lack surface outlets and behave as endorheic s...

Seagrass beds comprise a unique marine ecosystem that acts as a biofilter in marine environments and serves as a spawning ground and nursery for various species of fish. Long-term monitoring of seagrass beds is critical to understanding the dynamic relationships between the ecosystems and the stresses from natural systems and society. This study in...

Given the advancements of remote sensing technology, large volumes of remotely sensed images with different spatial, temporal, and spectral resolutions are available. To better monitor and understand the changing Earth's environment, fusion of remotely sensed images with different spatial, temporal, and spectral resolutions is critical for distinct...

Timely adjustment of operating strategies in drinking water treatment in response to water quality variations in both natural and anthropogenic causes is a grand technical challenge. One essential approach is to develop and apply integrated sensing, monitoring, and modeling technologies to provide early warning messages to plant operators. This pap...