Hyongki Lee

Hyongki Lee is the Kaspar J. Willam Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Houston, where he has served as Professor since 2023. He previously held Associate Professor (2017-2023) and Assistant Professor (2011-2017) positions at the same institution. Dr. Lee directs the Geosensing Systems Engineering Graduate Program and specializes in spaceborne geodetic instruments for terrestrial water dynamics research.

• Ph.D. in Geodetic Science, Ohio State University, 2008
• M.Sc. in Civil and Environmental Engineering (Geomatics & Remote Sensing), Yonsei University, 2002
• B.Sc. in Civil and Environmental Engineering, Yonsei University, 2000

His research integrates satellite altimetry, SAR/InSAR, and GRACE data to quantify terrestrial water storage changes for water resource management, flood forecasting, and climate studies. Key projects include operational flood prediction systems for the Mekong Basin and glacier dynamics monitoring in Alaska.

Recent work focuses on machine learning-enhanced flood modeling (2025) and multi-sensor water extent mapping (2024). His FIER framework enables rapid inundation forecasting via rotated EOF analysis.

• Kaspar J. Willam Professorship (2025)
• Cullen College of Engineering Professorship (2020-2024)
• ASCE EWRI Best Case Study Award (2021)
• NASA New Investigator Award (2014)

Dr. Lee has supervised 15+ graduate students and postdoctoral researchers, including Tien Du and Chi-Hung Chang. His lab (NCALM) secures grants from NASA, NOAA, and NSF for remote sensing applications in vulnerable regions like the Mekong and Congo basins.