Dr. James Li
Areas of Academic Interest
Water resources engineering
Urban stormwater management
Hydraulic engineering of open channels and closed conduits
Industrial spill management
Bioassay analysis techniques for persistent toxic pollutants
Environmental benefits of urban green roofs
Education
| Year | University | Degree |
| 1991 | University of Toronto | PhD |
| 1986 | University of Windsor | MASc |
| 1983 | University of Windsor | BASc |
Selected Courses
| Course Code | Course Title |
| CVL903 | Water Resources Engineering |
| CVL300 | Environmental Impact Assessment |
| CV8202 | Surface Water Pollution Analysis |
Spotlight
James Li鈥檚 professional life revolves around water: water that falls from the sky, the quality of our lakes and rivers, the state of our sewage systems.
鈥淚鈥檝e always been drawn to disciplines and innovations that advance society,鈥� says Li. 鈥淎s a graduate student, I was focused on the environmental impact of engineering. I then became interested in eco-hydrology, stormwater management, water pollution 鈥� everything to do with water resources in the urban environment.鈥�
Managing the hydrologic cycle in a city as large as Toronto is a particular challenge. The current 鈥渃ollect and drain鈥� approach to stormwater, for example, means that the city鈥檚 salt and surface garbage are getting washed off the streets and into Lake Ontario. That鈥檚 untreated waste.
With our lakes and rivers changing for the worse, Li is focused on sustainable solutions. And he considers himself lucky to be working with young people who grew up with a green mindset and want to find those solutions. 鈥淢ore and more engineering students are interested in the environment,鈥� he says. 鈥淲ith increasing urbanization and global warming changing our storm patterns, we need the energy and creativity of young people engaged in sustainable engineering.鈥�
鈥淭o my mind, the biggest engineering problems are urban. With the movement of populations around the world to cities, we need smart people working on green solutions.鈥�
- University of Toronto, Connaught Scholarship, 1987-1989
- Ontario Graduate Scholarship, 1990-1991
- Diplomate, Academy of American Water Resources Engineers
- Li, J., Joksimovic, D., Tran, J. 2015. A Right of Way Stormwater Low Impact Development Practice, Journal of Water Management Modeling, DOI:10.14796/JWMM.C390.
- Parhizgari, Z. and Li, J. 2014. A Physiologically-based Pharmacokinetic Model for Deposition of 2,3,7,8-TCDD in Fathead Minnow and Medaka, Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, SETEC PRESS, 33(5):1064-1071.
- Eric, M., Fan, C., Joksimovic, D., and Li, J. 2013. Modeling low impact development potential with hydrological response units, Water Science and Technology, International Water Association Publishing, 68(11): 2382-2390.
- Cao, W., Li, J., Joksimovic, J., Yuen, A., Banting, D. 2013. Probabilistic Spill Occurrence Simulation for Chemical Spills Management. Journal of Hazardous Materials (Elsevier B.V.), 262:517-526.
- Sze, K., J. Li, P鈥檔g, J. 2012. Evaluation of stormwater impacts on larviciding chemicals at catch basins for west nile virus control, ASCE Journal of Environmental Engineering, 2(138): 182-189.
- Member, Professional Engineer Ontario
- Diplomate, Academcy of American Water Resources Engineers
- American Society of Civil Engineers, Associate Member
- Canadian Association on Water Quality, Member
- Water Environment Federation, Member
- International Water Association, Member
- International Association of Hydraulic Research, Member