DrJames Gong

Dr James (Jinzhe) Gong focuses on advancing sustainable water resource and asset management through innovation, collaboration, and education. He works closely with the water industry to tackle complex challenges and deliver practical benefits to communities. His research spans smart water and sewer networks for predictive asset management, modernising premise plumbing design and operation, and climate adaptation for critical water infrastructure.

James recently partnered with the Hydraulic Consultants Association Australasia to lead the most significant update in 50 years to water demand estimation for Australian residential apartments. The new approach addresses long-standing issues of peak demand overestimation in the plumbing standard AS/NZS 3500.1, reducing unnecessary oversizing of water services. Endorsed by the Australian Building Codes Board, it has been incorporated into the National Construction Code (NCC) 2025 as a Verification Method (B1V1 Determination of velocity).

Before joining Deakin University, James worked as a Data Analytics Engineer at South Australian Water Corporation on the Adelaide City Smart Water Network project, and as a Senior Research Fellow at the University of Adelaide. His contributions helped achieve a 50% reduction in pipe breaks across Adelaide’s city network, and laid the technology foundation to a spin-off company Adelitics. One of his key innovations—a hydraulic transient-based pipe condition screening tool—has since been commercialised under the trademark p-CAT.

James is currently the coordinator of the Infrastructure and Environment research theme in the School of Engineering, leading multidisciplinary research teams investigating sustainable solutions in the areas of built and natural environment. He represents and advocates for the early- and mid-career researchers (EMCRs) in the Research Committee in the Faculty of Science, Engineering and Build Environment. James is Deakin's Membership Representative in Water Research Australia, an elected committee member in the Australian Water Association VIC branch, and a volunteer in the Customer Advisory Committee organised by Barwon Water, bridging higher education and the water industry.