Wanhong Yang

My research interests fall within the broad areas of environmental and resource management and GIS applications. More specifically, I am interested in conducting research in: 1) integrating economic, environmental and GIS modeling in solving resource use conflicts; 2) cost-benefit analysis in environmental and resource management; 3) comparison of different environmental management and policies.

I am currently conducting research on cost effectiveness of agricultural conservation programs with funding from Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, Ducks Unlimited Canada, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Canada Foundation for Innovation, Ontario Innovation Trust, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food, and Canadian Water Network.

• GEOG*3480 GIS and Spatial Analysis
• GEOG*3600 Geography of a Selected Region
• GEOG*4480 Applied Geographic Information Systems
• GEOG*6090 Research Methods
• GEOG*6550 Environmental Modelling

Asgari, M., Yang, W., Lindsay, J., Shao, H., Liu, Y.B., Miranda, R.Q., and Dehnavi, M.M. 2023. Development of a knowledge-sharing parallel computing approach for calibrating distributed watershed hydrologic models. Environmental Modelling and Software 164. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsoft.2023.105708.

Asgari, M., Yang, W., Lindsay, J., Tolson, B., and Dehnavi, M.M. 2022. A review of parallel computing applications in calibrating watershed hydrologic models. Environmental Modelling and Software 151. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsoft.2022.105370.

Asgari, M., Yang, W., and Farnaghi, M. 2022. Spatiotemporal data partitioning for distributed random forest algorithm: Air quality prediction using imbalanced big spatiotemporal data on spark distributed framework. Environmental Technology & Innovation 27, 102776. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eti.2022.102776.

Lindsay, J.B, Yang, W., and Hornby, D.D. 2019. Drainage network analysis and structuring of topologically noisy vector stream data. ISPRS International Journal of Geo-Information 8(9), 422; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijgi8090422.

Liu, Y.B., Yang, W., Shao, H., Yu, Z., and Lindsay, J. 2018. Development of an integrated modelling system for evaluating water quantity and quality effects of individual wetlands in an agricultural watershed. Water 10, 774; doi:10.3390/w10060774.

Leslie, J., Weersink, A., Yang, W., and Fox, G. 2017. Actual versus environmentally recommended fertilizer application rates: Implications for water quality and policy. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment 240: 109-120.

Shao, S., Yang, W., Lindsay, J., Liu, Y.B, Yu, Z., Oginskyy, A. 2017. An open source GIS-based decision support system for watershed evaluation of BMPs. Journal of American Watershed Resources Association 1-11. DOI: 10.1111/1752-1688.12521.

Pattison-Williams, J. K., Yang, W., Liu, Y.B., & Gabor, S. 2017. Riparian wetlands and phosphorous removal: A case study of social return on investment in the Black River watershed. Ecosystem Services 26: 400-410.

Liu, Y.B, Yang, W., Leon. L., Wong, I., McCrimmon, C., Dove, A., Phil Fong, P. 2016. Hydrologic modeling and evaluation of Best Management Practice scenarios for the Grand River watershed in Southern Ontario. Journal of Great Lakes Research, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jglr.2016.02.008.

Yang, W., Liu, Y.B., Ou, C., and Gabor, S. 2016. Examining water quality effects of riparian wetland loss and restoration scenarios in a southern Ontario watershed. Journal of Environmental Management 174: 26-34.

Yang, W., Liu, Y.B., Cutlac, M., Boxall, P., Weber, M., Bonnycastle, A. and Gabor, S. 2016. Integrated economic-hydrologic modeling for examining cost-effectiveness of wetland restoration scenarios in a Canadian prairie watershed. Wetlands 36:577–589.

Yang, W., Liu, Y.B., Ou, C., and Gabor, S. 2016. Examining water quality effects of riparian wetland loss and restoration scenarios in a southern Ontario watershed. Journal of Environmental Management 174: 26-34.

Yang, W., Liu, Y.B., Cutlac, M., Boxall, P., Weber, M., Bonnycastle, A. and Gabor, S. 2016. Integrated economic-hydrologic modeling for examining cost-effectiveness of wetland restoration scenarios in a Canadian prairie watershed. Wetlands 36:577–589.

Liu, Y., Yang, W., Qin, C., and Zhu, A., 2016. A review and discussion on modeling and assessing agricultural best management practices under global climate change. Journal of Sustainable Development 9(1): 245-255.

Lawley, C. and Yang, W. 2015. Spatial interactions in habitat conservation: Evidence from prairie pothole easements. Journal of Environmental Economics and Management 71: 71–89.

Liu, Y.B., Yang, W., Yu, Z., Lung, I., & Gharabaghi, B. 2015. Estimating sediment yield from upland and channel erosion at a watershed scale using SWAT. Water Resources Management 29: 1399-1412.

Liu, Y.B., Yang, W., Yu, Z., Lung, I., & Yarotski, J. 2014. Assessing the effects of small dams on stream flow and water quality in an agricultural watershed. Journal of Hydrologic Engineering 19(10), 05014015.

Yang, W., Liu, W., Liu, Y.B, Corry, R.C., Kreutzwiser, R.D. 2014. Cost-effective targeting of riparian buffers to achieve water quality and wildlife habitat benefits. International Journal of River Basin Management 12 (1): 43-55.

Liu, Y.B., Shen, H., Yang, W., and Yang, J. 2013. Optimization of agricultural BMPs using a parallel computing based multi-objective optimization algorithm. International Journal of Environmental Resources Research 1(1): 39-50.

Miranda, Rodrigo de Queiroga, Ph.D., Post-doctoral Fellow, November 2021 – August 2023.
Project: Integrated Economic-Hydrologic Modeling for Watershed Evaluation of BMPs.

Shao, Hui (Shawn), Ph.D., Post-doctoral Fellow and Research Associate, March 2014 – September 2022.
Project: Integrated Economic-Hydrologic Modeling for Watershed Evaluation of BMPs.

Liu, Yongbo, Ph.D., Post-doctoral Fellow and Research Scientist, July 2005 – June 2021.
Project: Integrated Economic-Hydrologic Modeling for Watershed Evaluation of BMPs.

Yu, Zhiqiang, Ph.D., Post-doctoral Fellow, August 2010 – September 2013.
Project: Integrated Economic-Hydrologic Modeling for Watershed Evaluation of BMPs.

Shen, Hailiang, Ph.D., Post-doctoral Fellow, May 2011 – November 2011.
Project: Integrated Economic-Hydrologic Modeling for Watershed Evaluation of BMPs.

Ou, Chunping, Ph.D., Post-doctoral Fellow, October 2007 – September 2010.
Project: Assessment of CREP and CRP in Selected States in the U.S.

Nangia, Vinay, Ph.D., Post-doctoral Fellow, June 2008 – May 2009.
Project: Integrated Economic-Hydrologic Modeling for Watershed Evaluation of BMPs.

Yang, Jing, Ph.D., Post-doctoral Fellow, January 2007 – June 2008.
Project: Integrated Economic-Hydrologic Modeling for Watershed Evaluation of BMPs.

Wu, Kangsheng, Ph.D., Post-doctoral Fellow, July 2006 – June 2007.
Project: Integrated Economic-Hydrologic Modeling for Watershed Evaluation of BMPs.

Singh, Amanjot, Ph.D., Post-doctoral Fellow, April 2004 – August 2005.
Project: Cost-Effective Targeting of Wetland Conservation in Agricultural Watersheds.

Meyer-Aurich, Andreas, Ph.D., Post-doctoral Fellow, April 2004 – March 2005.
Project: Cost-Effective Targeting of Wetland Conservation in Agricultural Watersheds

GIS and Watershed Management

I am recruiting one Ph.D. and/or one MSc student to join my research program on examining cost effectiveness of agricultural conservation programs (https://weg.uoguelph.ca). My research team members, comprising postdoctoral fellows, graduate, and undergraduate research assistants, have versatile expertise in watershed hydrologic modeling, integrated GIS, hydrologic and economic modeling, watershed evaluation of beneficial management practices (BMPs), and desktop GIS and WebGIS based interface tool development.

I welcome students from all related disciplines such as geography, hydrology, soil science, ecology, economics, and forestry. Students will have flexibility in choosing a range of research topics related to GIS-based watershed hydrologic and integrated economic-hydrologic modelling and GIS interface development. Sample projects may include watershed modelling to identify critical source areas on agricultural landscapes for water quality protection, and to examine economic and environmental trade-offs of conservation practices in agricultural watersheds.

Students will receive well rounded training in GIS, watershed modelling, economic analysis, and policy evaluation related to various aspects of agricultural conservation programs. Previous graduate students have gained employment in government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and consulting firms. Interested candidates are encouraged to contact Dr. Wanhong Yang (wayang@uoguelph.ca) to discuss further.