1. MIT Urban Risk Lab
Room 10-419M, 77 Massachusetts Ave
Cambridge MA 02139
30​th​
September 2016
Letter of Reference for James Penman
To Whom it May Concern,
It is my pleasure to provide a letter of reference for James Penman to support his
forthcoming graduate application. I have known James over the past two years as a student
at the University of Wollongong, where prior to my current role I was employed as a
Research Fellow at the SMART Infrastructure Facility. During this time James undertook his
Bachelors of Engineering undergraduate honors thesis research under my supervision.
James’ thesis focused on developing metrics to assess the effectiveness and impacts of new
flood mitigation infrastructure currently being installed in the city of Jakarta, Indonesia. In
particular James sought to quantify whether current canalisation work undertaken by the
Jakarta government could exacerbate the speed of water flow as well as sediment and trash
build-up, potentially affecting the city’s downstream flood mitigation infrastructure (pumps
and flood gates).
James worked diligently throughout the thesis project, and I was impressed by his levels of
organisation and commitment right from the start. Throughout the course of his studies
James travelled to Jakarta for fieldwork and data collection, in support of his thesis research.
James’ enthusiasm and engagement with the research field team, and collaboration and
management of student researchers from the University of Indonesia, enabled him to work
in not unchallenging conditions, to measure flow rates at different points along Jakarta’s
waterways.
The following research presentation and thesis ny James demonstrated a good
understanding of the relationship between the engineering challenges of hydrological and
hydraulic modelling and the constraints of working in a developing megacity environment.
His thesis received a high-distinction mark from both the second marker and myself.
I have no hesitation in supporting James’ application, and encourage you to contact me if I
can provide any further recommendation.
Yours Faithfully,
Tomas du Chemin Holderness ​BSc (Hons), PhD, CGeog, FRGS
Research Scientist
MIT Urban Risk Lab
tomash@mit.edu