Eric F. Wood, a professor of civil and environmental engineering, has been elected to the National Academy of Engineering, one of the highest career honors for engineers.

Wood, the Susan Dod Brown Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, was recognized by the academy “for development of land surface models and use of remote sensing for hydrologic modeling and prediction.” Among other accomplishments, Wood has led a team of researchers at Princeton in the development of a drought monitor capable of observing isolated regions not served by other systems. Working with UNESCO, Wood and the members of his Terrestrial Hydrology Research Group have deployed research stations for the monitor at several locations in Africa and South America.

“Eric has been a visionary researcher in examining Earth’s water cycle,” said James Smith, the William and Edna Macaleer Professor of Engineering and Applied Science and chair of civil and environmental engineering. “His work has shed new light on how the climate system works and provided groundbreaking tools, especially through satellite remote sensing, for managing water resources.”

Wood joined the Princeton faculty in 1976. A fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, he is a recipient of the Alfred Wegener Medal from the European Geosciences Union and the Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz International Prize for Water. He is among 67 new members and 12 foreign members elected to the academy this year. Election reflects significant contribution to engineering research, practice or education.