Watershed Hydrology & Modeling
SWAT, SWAT+, SWMM, process simulation, calibration, and high-performance computing.
Environmental Scientist | Hydrologic & Watershed Modeler
Lifeng Yuan
Watershed Hydrology · Environmental Modeling · Climate & Extreme Events · Environmental Data Science
Profile
Modeling environmental systems for practical decisions
I am an experienced Environmental Scientist with over 20 years of academic and professional expertise in environmental modeling, soil erosion, hydrology, agroecosystem, climate change impact analysis, and stormwater modeling.
My work combines advanced numerical models, machine learning, artificial intelligence, statistical analysis, and geospatial methods to explain complex environmental processes and support decision-making across government, research, and industry.
Full professional profile- 20+
- Years of expertise
- 50+
- Peer-reviewed articles
- 20+
- Conference presentations
Research areas
From rainfall to watershed response
Hydroinformatics & Machine Learning
Support vector regression, wavelet analysis, Python, R, and physics–data integration.
Climate Change & Agroecosystem Modeling
WEPP, CMIP, GCM ensembles, CLIGEN, storm intensification, crop yield, and soil loss.
Urban Stormwater & Contaminant Transport
SWMM and PCSWMM modeling for runoff, contaminant transport, and emergency response.
GIS & Remote Sensing
ArcGIS, DEM analysis, ERDAS, ENVI, spatial modeling, and Google Earth Engine.
Selected projects
Research designed for real-world use
Stormwater Fate and Transport of Biological Contaminants
High-resolution SWMM development to simulate Bacillus anthracis transport across urban surfaces under multiple storm scenarios.
Climate-Sensitive Agricultural Management and Erosion Prediction
WEPP and Python automation for evaluating crop yield and soil loss under storm intensification and alternative tillage systems.
Advancing Streamflow Prediction with SWAT and Machine Learning
Hybrid SWAT–SVR and SWAT–Wavelet approaches for streamflow, sediment prediction, and watershed tool evaluation.
Latest work
Recent publications
- 2025
Evaluating Parsivel²’s raindrop data: A comparative study of different terminal drop velocity models on simulated and natural rain events
Yuan, Lifeng; Mikelonis, Anne M; Sawyer, Jonathan · Atmospheric Environment
- 2024
Exploring the statistical characteristics of coastal winter precipitation measured using a Parsivel² disdrometer: A case study in North Carolina
Yuan, Lifeng; Mikelonis, Anne M; Pirhalla, Michael · Atmospheric Research
- 2023
Using SWMM for Emergency Response Planning: A Case Study Evaluating Biological Agent Transport Under Various Rainfall Scenarios and Urban Surfaces
Yuan, Lifeng; Mikelonis, Anne M; Yan, Eugene · Journal of Hazardous Materials
- 2022
Evaluating Monthly Flow Prediction Based on SWAT and Support Vector Regression Coupled with Discrete Wavelet Transform
Yuan, Lifeng; Forshay, Kenneth J · Water
- 2022
Modeling surface runoff and soil loss response to climate change under GCM ensembles and multiple cropping and tillage systems in Oklahoma
Yuan, Lifeng; Zhang, X-C John; Busteed, Phillip; Flanagan, Dennis C; Srivastava, Anurag · Soil and Tillage Research
Collaboration & service
Interdisciplinary science across agencies and journals
Experience includes multi-agency collaboration with EPA, USDA, DHS, and the U.S. Coast Guard; proposal development; Quality Assurance Project Plans; project and technical review; and service as a journal reviewer and guest editor.
Professional serviceField & laboratory
- Soil and water sampling design, surveys, analysis, and instrumentation
- River and lake water-quality monitoring in the Poyang Lake region
- Artificial rainfall and rill-erosion experiments with 3D laser scanning
- Land-use investigations and aerial and satellite image interpretation
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