Group Members

Associate Professor of Civil Engineering

Dr. Zhang received his BS and MS degrees from Hunan University in 2001 and 2004, respectively, and his PhD degree from University of Regina in 2011, all in environmental engineering. Before joining Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi in 2014, he was a postdoctoral scholar at Stanford University. Dr. Zhang's research interests have involved a variety of topics in hydrology, water resources management, geospatial analysis, environmental systems analysis, and environmental impact assessment.

PhD Candidate, GSCS

Wen is a doctoral student in the Geospatial Computer Science program. She received the B.S. and the M.S. in Geographic Information Science from Lanzhou University in 2016 and 2019 respectively. Her master’s research focused on permafrost deformation analysis using terrestrial LiDAR and UAV. Her current research includes coastal subsidence investigation based on InSAR and other geospatial datasets, as well as coastal flooding prediction. 

PhD Student, GSCS

Lapone received a BSc in geology and MSc in geological engineering. He also has work experience in an industrial career as a seismic interpreter and sub-surface mapper in Thailand, and an academic career, as a teaching assistant at the University of Idaho. His research scope mainly emphasizes stormwater management in urban areas, where the land covers have a significant number of impervious surfaces that could alter the flow and infiltration patterns. He uses a UAV to obtain high-resolution images, integrating them with hydrological and spatial analysis.

PhD Student, CMSS

Beruchya obtained a BA in Political Science with a minor in sustainability and an MS in Environmental Sciences & Policy with a track in geographic information systems (GIS), from the University of Notre Dame and Johns Hopkins University. In her career, she explored the environmental, economic, and social facets of sustainable development. Her particular interest in hydrology and ecosystem services led her to the WESA Lab at TAMU-CC. Beruchya's interdisciplinary research focuses on integrated water resources management, and related geospatial analyses with an emphasis on coastal regions. 

PhD Student, CMSS

Cat obtained a BS in Environmental Spatial Analysis from the University of North Georgia and a MS in Geographic Information Science from California State University, Long Beach. Her research focuses on leveraging geospatial data to help inform equitable urban planning strategies. She is interested in remote sensing, data visualization, integrated water resource management and climate change adaptation. In her free time, Cat enjoys reading a good book or taking a walk with her dog. 

MS Student, CMSS

Olivia obtained a Bachelor of Science degree with a concentration in pre-professional Biomedical Science from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Coastal Marine System Science. She has a background in biology, chemistry, air quality, and technical and professional writing. Olivia has always had a passion for wanting to help improve the environment because of her love for animals. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family and dogs whenever she can.

Undergraduate Student, Mechanical Engineering

Ian is currently a senior at TAMU-CC working for his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering. Ian grew up on a ranch in Hutto, Texas, where he developed a talent of fixing broken equipment, which then grew to his decision of studying Mechanical Engineering. Around campus Ian is involved in a few clubs, most notably, he is the President and Captain of the TAMU-CC Lacrosse team. He hopes to be working for a major automotive or motorcycle manufacturer upon graduation. Ian is an FAA-certificated UAS pilot.

Undergraduate Student, Environmental Science

Hannah Garcia is pursuing a bachelors’ degree in environmental science with a concentration in environmental health and monitoring. She has a special interest in water and air quality and wish to pursue a master’s degree in public health with a concentration in environmental health. She is proficient in using GIS software such as ArcGIS Online and ArcGIS Pro. 

Undergraduate Student, Civil Engineering

Aaliyah is a junior attending Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. She is pursuing a bachelor's in Civil Engineering with a minor in Management Information Systems and is a research assistant for projects on urban stormwater management. When she is not busy with coursework, she likes to spend time with friends or watch Netflix. 

Undergraduate Student, Civil Engineering

Drew is currently a junior at Texas A&M Corpus Christi. He enjoys reading, running, and cooking when he is not at school or work.