James has a Ph.D. in environmental engineering.
He developed the first integrated hydrodynamic, transport, and water quality model of Moreton Bay, an important environmental, economic and cultural resource adjacent to a major city (Brisbane, Australia). The model was subsequently adopted as a major component of the Brisbane River and Moreton Bay Study (BRMBS). BRMBS was an interdisciplinary study of Moreton Bay and its major tributaries, initiated to address water quality issues. It linked sewage and diffuse loading with environmental degradation.
He has provided consultancy services to various institutions relating to hydrological modelling, satellite image processing, and software development.