Dr Maidment is a specialist in surface water hydrology, and in particular in the application of geographic information systems to hydrology. In 2016, he was elected to the National Academy of Engineering "For development of geographic information systems applied to hydrologic processes". In 2019, he received an Outstanding Service Award from the National Hydrologic Research Council In recognition of foundational work leading to the development of the National Water Model. In 2017, he received the Water Drop Award from the Consortium of Universities for the Advancement of Hydrologic Science, Inc (CUAHSI) in recognition for your outstanding leadership and dedicated service to the National Water Center Innovators Program Summer Institute. In 2015, he received the J. Mike Howard Lectureship of the Texas Floodplain Management Association. In 2014, he was recognized as Geospatial Scientist of the Year, by Geospatial Media "For contribution to geospatial science as a specialist in surface water hydrology, and in particular in the application of geographic information systems to hydrology". In 2012, he received the Ray K. Linsley Award from the American Institute of Hydrology "In recognition of his contributions in the field of Surface Water Hydrology". In 2011 he received the Ven Te Chow Award from the American Society of Civil Engineers "For notable contributions in water resources engineering, hydrology and hydraulic engineering, outstanding service to the profession through application of GIS in surface water and groundwater hydrology, authoring books and research papers in water resources engineering, and mentoring of young engineers." In 2011 he received the Distinguished Alumnus Award, Civil and Environmental Engineering Alumni Association, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. "For significant and lasting impact on teaching, research and practice in the fields of hydrology and water resource engineering, including the pioneering of geographical information systems applications in hydrology and technologies that have been adopted by national and international institutions". In 2010 he received the AWRA Award for Water Resources Data and Information Systems, "In recognition of his outstanding contributions to the application of Geographic Information Systems to water resources engineering and sciences." This award was also permanently renamed the David R. Maidment Award for Water Resources Data and Information Systems, "In honor of his many contributions to the field and his furtherance of the mission of the American Water Resources Association."