ASCE has honored Zhaohui Joey Yang, Ph.D., P.E., M.ASCE, with the 2024 Harold R. Peyton Award for Cold Regions Engineering for outstanding contributions to cold regions engineering, most notably research efforts associated with improving the seismic design of bridge foundations in frozen ground, and for his contributions to engineering education and service to the profession.
Yang serves as a professor of civil engineering in the University of Alaska Anchorage, is associate director of Alaska University Transportation Center, and is director for the UAA’s Geotechnical and Frozen Ground Engineering Research Laboratory. He has also served as the civil engineering department chair (2016-2020). His research has improved the seismic design of infrastructure on frozen ground. The recommendations and design methods derived from his research are included in the bridge design manual of the State of Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities. His impressive publication record consists of more than 80 journal articles, two co-authored books, and many research reports.
Yang has been very active in serving the profession through the ASCE Cold Regions Engineering Division, including chairing the Frozen Ground Committee of that technical group.
The Harold R. Peyton Award for Cold Regions Engineering is presented to a member of the Society who has made outstanding contributions to cold region engineering or to a basic understanding of cold environments, including dissemination of knowledge of cold climates technology, through publishing innovative technical or research papers.