Zhongming Lu (He/Him)

I received my Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology under the supervision of Dr. John Crittenden. I also hold bachelor’s degrees in Environmental Science and Economics from Peking University. My research centers on integrated assessment models that address urban infrastructure and sustainability. These models employ complex systems theory and interdisciplinary insights to evaluate infrastructure behavior and environmental impacts in the face of climate change, advancing our understanding of decarbonization and climate adaptation.

I have authored over 50 peer-reviewed publications, including twenty-four as first or corresponding author in renowned journals such as Nature Communications, Environmental Science & Technology, and Water Research. I lead multiple funded projects in Canada, Hong Kong, and Mainland China focused on sustainable infrastructure. My mentorship has been equally rewarding. I have supervised two Ph.D. students—one now a postdoctoral fellow at Oxford and another who became an Assistant Professor at IE University after a postdoc at Stanford. Three research master’s graduates are now working at a global consulting firm and within the Hong Kong government.

I have also made meaningful contributions to sustainability science education by designing innovative courses in quantitative sustainability analysis and research methods that equip students from diverse academic backgrounds to pursue careers in sustainability.

• Integrated Assessment Model

• Infrastructure (Water, Energy) and Sustainability

• Climate Adaptation

• Water Digitalization, Decentralization, and AI

My research has bridged engineering, environmental science, and policy to address global challenges in sustainable infrastructure. I have pioneered three impactful, cross-disciplinary research areas: (1) innovative urban water resource planning through agent-based modeling and decentralized reuse optimization; (2) advancing nature-based solutions by quantifying the co-benefits of green infrastructure for climate adaptation; and (3) infrastructure planning for decarbonization, with a focus on scalable, cost-effective applications of green hydrogen and ammonia. This body of work has provided actionable insights and tools for cities worldwide to achieve climate resilience and carbon neutrality, contributing significantly to both academic knowledge and practical environmental solutions at the global level.

• 2015, PhD, Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, US

• 2010, Environmental Science and Economics (Double Majors), Peking University, China

• Associate Editor, Journal of Cleaner Production

• CIVE 375 - Environmental Engineering Principles
  • Taught in 2025
• ENVE 335 - Decision Making for Environmental Engineers
  • Taught in 2025, 2026

* Only courses taught in the past 5 years are displayed.

• Mingolla, S., Rouwenhorst, K., Gabrielli, P., Sansavini, G., Klemun, M. M., & Lu, Z. (2025). Trade-Offs between Grid Connectivity and Operational Flexibility in Reducing the Cost and Carbon Footprint of Green Ammonia. Environmental Science & Technology, 59(48), 25803-25816.

• Li, Y., Lu, Z., Zhang, X., Zhang, Q., Xu, H., Fung, J. C., & Daigger, G. (2024). Multiobjective Spatial Optimization Framework for Determining the Optimal Degree of Decentralization for Nonpotable Water Reuse in Existing Cities: A Case Study of Hong Kong. Environmental Science & Technology, 58(46), 20424-20433.

• Mingolla, S., Gabrielli, P., Manzotti, A., Robson, M. J., Rouwenhorst, K., Ciucci, F., ... & Lu, Z. (2024). Effects of emissions caps on the costs and feasibility of low-carbon hydrogen in the European ammonia industry. Nature communications, 15(1), 3753.

• Zhuang, Q., Li, M., & Lu, Z. (2023). Assessing runoff control of low impact development in Hong Kong's dense community with reliable SWMM setup and calibration. Journal of environmental management, 345, 118599.

• Li, Y., Mo, W., Derrible, S., & Lu, Z. (2022). Integration of multi-objective spatial optimization and data-driven interpretation to direct the city-wide sustainable promotion of building-based decentralized water technologies. Water Research, 222, 118880.