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James Cooper

Professor James Cooper
BSc (Hons), PhD, FHEA

Faculty Director of Postgraduate Research for Science & Engineering
Geography and Planning

Contact

James.Cooper@liverpool.ac.uk

+44 (0)151 794 2852

Research

What is the climate resilience of critical infrastructure to weather-related hazards?

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

How does water and sediment move within fluvial, hillslope and estuarine environments?

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

Research grants

Enhancing the climate resilience of the energy network sector: Forecasting the risk and vulnerability of electricity transmission towers to erosion

UK RESEARCH AND INNOVATION

June 2021 - November 2022

Improving emergency response to extreme storm events in a changing climate: Impacts of flooding and erosion on road accessibility

NATURAL ENVIRONMENT RESEARCH COUNCIL

November 2020 - August 2021

Quantifying the impact of extreme storms on runoff and erosion

NATURAL ENVIRONMENT RESEARCH COUNCIL

December 2020 - October 2024

Erosion hazards in a changing climate: making inland communities more resilient

UK RESEARCH AND INNOVATION

February 2019 - March 2021

Physical and biological dynamic coastal processes and their role in coastal recovery (BLUE-coast)

NATURAL ENVIRONMENT RESEARCH COUNCIL

May 2016 - January 2022

Advanced Compton-geometry gamma radiation imaging for radionuclide measurement in soils and geomaterials

NATURAL ENVIRONMENT RESEARCH COUNCIL

March 2014 - June 2015