Research Description
Professor Ximing Cai is a research pioneer in integrated hydrologic-economic modeling for river basin management and water systems operations. His current research areas include coupled human-natural system analysis with an emphasis on human interferences in hydrological processes, water-energy-food system modeling especially in dry areas, and sustainable water resources management particularly in developing countries. He has authored or co-authored more than 110 peer-reviewed journal papers, three books and several monographs. He currently serves as Editor for Water Resources Researchthe flagship journal of water resources, published by the American Geophysical Union, and on the editorial board of other major water journals. He has received several awards, including the National Science Foundation CAREER award and best paper awards from Water International and the Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management. He has worked as a consultant to the World Bank, the United Nations and other international agencies.
Courses Taught
Professor Cai teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in water resources engineering, surface water hydrology and application of geographic information systems, and river basin management.
Additional Campus Affiliations
Ben Chie Yen Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering
Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering
Professor, National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA)
Professor, Center for Digital Agriculture, National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA)
Professor, Center for East Asian and Pacific Studies
External Links
Recent Publications
Cai, X. (2026). Human Interference Quantification and Representation in Hydrological Models—Introduction to the Special Collection on Quantifying Human Interferences in Hydrology. Water Resources Research, 62(2), Article e2025WR041489. https://doi.org/10.1029/2025WR041489
Chen, Y., Zheng, Y., Cai, X., Yu, B., & Zheng, Z. (2026). A Hybrid Empirical and Conceptual Model for Improving the Representation of Reservoirs With Limited Data in Hydrological Models. Water Resources Research, 62(5), Article e2025WR041958. https://doi.org/10.1029/2025WR041958
Chen, Y., Cai, X., Ding, W., & Delaney, C. J. (2026). Balancing Water Supply and Flood Risk for FIRO by Combining Optimal Hedging and Risk Tolerance-Based Operating Rules. Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management, 152(6), Article 04026010. https://doi.org/10.1061/JWRMD5.WRENG-7133
Ma, Y., Zhu, T., Cao, Z., Yan, Y., & Cai, X. (2026). A hydro-agro-economic analysis of sustainable water and salt management in an arid irrigation district. Agricultural Water Management, 333, Article 110603. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2026.110603
Ma, Y., Zhu, T., Cai, X., Cao, Z., & Yan, Y. (2026). Sustaining Irrigated Production in Arid Regions. In J. R. Bathi, & T. Yee (Eds.), World Environmental and Water Resources Congress 2026: Krewe of Innovation - Proceedings of World Environmental and Water Resources Congress 2026 (pp. 453-463). (World Environmental and Water Resources Congress 2026: Krewe of Innovation - Proceedings of World Environmental and Water Resources Congress 2026). American Society of Civil Engineers. https://doi.org/10.1061/9780784486931.037