People: Faculty / Staff Directory

Keqi Zhang Assistant Professor, joint appointment with Department of Environmental Studies. Ph.D., University of Maryland, 1998. zhangk@fiu.edu, 305-348-1607

Dr. Zhang is the Co-Director of the Laboratory for Coastal Research at the International Hurricane Research Center. His research interests are airborne LIDAR mapping, 3D visualization, GIS, hurricane vulnerability, and coastal erosion. Dr. Zhang's current research involves developing classification algorithms for determining surface topography and roughness from airborne LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) data, developing a high-resolution numerical model for the overland flow of storm surge by incorporating surface topography and features from LIDAR measurements, and building 3D animation system for hurricane impact. He also conducts research on coastal changes in response to climate change, sea level rise, and human activity using GIS.

Recent Publications:

Zhang K. and D. Whitman 2005. Comparison of three algorithms for filtering airborne LIDAR data. Photogrammetric Engineering and Reomote Sensing. 71, 313-324.

Zhang K., D. Whitman, S.P. Leatherman, and W. Robertson, 2005. Quantification of the changes caused by Hurricane Floyd along Florida’s Atlantic Coast using airborne LIDAR survey. Journal of Coastal Research, 21, 123-134.

Robertson, W., D. Whitman, K. Zhang, and S. P. Leatherman, 2004. Mapping shoreline position using airborne laser altimetry. Journal of Coastal Research, 20, 884-892.

Zhang K., S.C. Chen, D. Whitman, M. L. Shyu, J. Yan, and C. Zhang, 2003. A progressive morphological filter for removing non-ground measurements from airborne LIDAR data. IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing, 41, 872-882.

Whitman D., K. Zhang, S.P. Leatherman, and W. Robertson, 2003. An Airborne Laser Topographic Mapping Application to Hurricane Storm Surge Hazard. In G. Heiken, R. Fakundiny, and J. Sutter (editors), Earth Science in the Cities, p. 363-376.

Other Significant Publications: 

Zhang K., B.C. Douglas, and S.P. Leatherman, 2004. Global warming and long-term sandy beach erosion. Climatic Change, 64, 41-58.

Zhang K., W. K. Huang, B.C. Douglas, and S.P. Leatherman, 2002. Shoreline position variability and long-term trend analysis. Shore and Beach, 70, 31-36.

Zhang K., B.C. Douglas, and S.P. Leatherman, 2002. Do storms cause long-term beach erosion along the U.S. East Barrier Coast? Journal of Geology, 110, 493-502.

Zhang K., B.C. Douglas, and S.P. Leatherman, 2001. Beach erosion potential for severe nor'easters. Journal of Coastal Research, 17, 309-321.

Zhang K., B.C. Douglas, and S.P. Leatherman, 2000. Twentieth century storm activity along the U.S. East Coast. Journal of Climate, 13, 1748-1761.