Professor James Cooper BSc (Hons), PhD, FHEA

Using weather forecasts, climate change projections and numerical models, I forecast the risk posed to critical infrastructure by weather-related hazards, such as rainfall, erosion, flooding, landslides, and wind. This work has included working with national agencies and companies to assess the climate resilience of electricity transmission infrastructure (towers and substations), water infrastructure (e.g. water treatment plants, sewers, SuD's), transport infrastructure (roads, bridges and rail) and electricity generation assets.

Research Expertise:
• Forecasting and monitoring weather-related hazards
• Assessment of asset risk
• Projecting changes in risk due to climate change

My fundamental research explores the mechanics of water and sediment movement within fluvial, hillslope and estuarine environment. I have expertise in assessing the complex interaction between turbulent flows and sediment beds in order to better predict flooding and sediment transport.

Research Expertise:
• Various aspects of river and estuarine hydraulics and sediment transport, including turbulence, flow resistance, sediment movement and flood and erosion hazard and risk prediction
• Soil erosion, runoff processes and the transport of contaminated sediment on hillslopes due to storm events
• Physical modelling and hydraulic instrumentation, including the use of current and wave flumes, rainfall-simulation, PIV, PTV, ADV, LDA and ADV
• Numerical modelling, including CFD, cellular and particle-based and AI modelling
• Sensor development, including hydraulic instrumentation, ‘smart’ particles and radiation imaging