Book details
Explore stories of how we use data, science, and location to better understand, model, and manage one of Earth’s primary resources: water.
At a time when extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and costly, this book demonstrates how innovations in flood and drought forecasting are reshaping our ability to react—specifically, how geographic thinking enhances water science and creates understanding.
From the development of the US National Water Model to AI-driven real-time flood mapping, disparate layers of georeferenced environmental, demographic, and scientific data can be merged and made meaningful. Scientists, emergency responders, communities, and private citizens rely on this information to anticipate floods, manage drought, and make decisions that can save lives. Readers can learn how raw data from ground measurements and satellite imagery become interactive maps that are interpreted and shared, and how they support collaboration, planning, and design across local, regional, and global scales.
Drawing on a lifetime of leadership at the intersection of hydrology and geographic information systems (GIS), author and expert hydrologist David Maidment introduces readers to a transformative approach that connects data, maps, and advanced technologies to reveal how water moves through our world and affects human life.
Blending technical innovation with deeply human stories, Maidment reflects on personal experiences with devastating floods and the urgent need for better warning systems, underscoring the real-world stakes of his work. These narratives bring clarity and emotional resonance to complex scientific concepts, making the book relevant to GIS and hydrology professionals yet accessible to a wide audience.
More than a technical guide, Geowater is a call to action. It challenges readers to rethink how we use data and technology to confront the growing challenges of water scarcity, flooding, and environmental change. By linking global processes to local consequences, Maidment shows that a geographic approach to water is key to building a more resilient and sustainable future.
Insightful, timely, and forward-looking, Geowater is for scientists, policymakers, students, and anyone concerned about the future of water on our planet.
Part of a new series based on eight core “geomethods” first established in Jack Dangermond’s book, The Power of Where.
David R. Maidment is a specialist in surface water hydrology and the application of GIS to hydrology. He is the Hussein M. Alharthy Centennial Chair Emeritus in Civil Engineering at the University of Texas at Austin, where he served on the faculty from 1981 to 2019. He received his bachelor’s degree in agricultural engineering from the University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand, and his MS and PhD degrees in civil engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
