Team Members
Dr. Gabriel Walton
Associate Professor — Colorado School of Mines
Ph.D. — Geological Engineering — Queen’s University
B.Sc. — Geological Engineering— Queen’s University
Background:
Dr. Gabriel Walton received his Bachelors and Ph.D. degrees in Geological Engineering from Queen’s University in Canada, and is currently an Assistant Professor at Colorado School of Mines. In addition to his academic efforts, Dr. Walton has also worked as an independent consultant and has led applied research efforts in collaboration with tunneling and mining industry partners. In addition to advising students in the Geological Engineering program at the Colorado School of Mines, Dr. Walton is also actively involved in the interdisciplinary Underground Construction and Tunnel Engineering graduate program, the only one of its kind in North America.
Research:
- Numerical modeling
- Mine ground control
- Applications of remote sensing and geophysics in rock mechanics and rock engineering
- Rockmass characterization
- Post-peak behavior of rocks and rockmasses
Email: gwalton@mines.edu
Affiliate Faculty
Ryan Kromer
Ph.D. – Geological Engineering – Queen’s University
B.Sc. – Geological Engineering – Queen’s University
Background:
Dr. Ryan Kromer is a Geological engineering with over nine (9) years of professional and research experience. He has a passion for better understanding the mechanics and behavior of landslides and rock slopes using remote sensing technologies. Dr. Kromer has experience in industry managing geotechnical projects and conducting rockfall hazard assessments. Dr. Kromer’s obtained his PhD from Queen’s University, Canada and spent 1.5 years of this time as a visiting PhD student at the University of Lausanne, Switzerland. His PhD research consisted of studying the prefailure behavior of rockfalls along a railway network in western Canada. He also developed automated methodologies to monitor rock slope and landside deformation in near real time using terrestrial laser scanning. He is currently working as a post-doctoral researcher at the Colorado School of Mines and as a geological engineer at BGC Engineering.
Research:
- Developing a low cost automated time-lapse photogrammetric monitoring system to monitor rock slopes at a high temporal frequency
- Currently collecting data on a daily basis at a rock slope along I70 near Idaho Springs, Colorado
Website: https://environment.leeds.ac.uk/see/staff/9788/dr-ryan-kromer-
Email: rkromer@mines.edu
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-kromer-6ab4564a/
Sankhaneel sinha
Ph.D. — Geological Engineering — Colorado School of Mines
M.Sc. — Mining Engineering — Southern Illinois University, Carbondale
B.Sc. — Mining Engineering —Indian Institute of Engineering, Science, and Technology, Shibpur
Background:
Sankhaneel moved to the Front Range to pursue his PhD in Geological Engineering, with specialization in Mining Rock Mechanics.
Research:
- Integrating in-situ mining data into numerical models to better understand damage processes in large underground excavations
- Development of practical support guidelines to minimize ground-related hazard
Email: sankhaneelsinha@mines.edu
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sankhaneel-sinha-193180103/
Research Associates
Luke Weidner
Ph.D. — Geological Engineering — Colorado School of Mines
B.Sc. — Geological Engineering — Michigan Technological University
Background:
Luke is an engineering-in-training (EIT) with five years of research experience. He brings a focus on remote sensing and computational modeling applied to geotechnical hazard and risk assessment.
Research:
- Rock slope monitoring along linear infrastructure
- Automated point cloud processing and interpretation using machine learning
Email: weidner@mines.edu
LinkedIn: lukeweidner.com
Ph.D. Students
Akash Chaurasia
M.Sc. — Mining and Geological Engineering — University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona
B.Sc. — Mining Engineering — Indian Institute of Technology, (BHU), Varanasi, India
Background:
Akash is doing a Ph.D. in Mining Engineering at Colorado School of Mines. His research interests lie in Geotechnical Engineering, focusing on the computation of underground rock mechanics design, which involves stress around openings, rib/snook design, and pillar design.
Research:
- Computation of underground pillar failure mechanism and ground-support interaction
Email: achaurasia@mines.edu
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chaurasia1996/
Hayden Jacobson
B.Sc. — Geological Sciences— University of Oregon
Background:
Hayden is GIT with experience in geotechnical consulting. His academic interests include the relationships between geological hazards, environmental changes, and land use. Other personal interests include aviation, skiing, and climbing.
Research:
- Links between surface roughness, mass wasting events, and wildland fires
Email: jacobson@mines.edu
Mehrdad Imani Tilenoe
Co-advised by Dr. Ahmadreza Hedayat
M.Sc. — Rock Mechanics — Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
B.Sc. — Mining Engineering — Urmia University, Urmia, Iran
Background:
Mehrdad is doing his Ph.D. in Civil and Environmental Engineering Department at Colorado School of Mines. His main research interest is focused on progressive failure and damage mechanism of rocks using experimental and numerical modeling.
Research:
- Experimental and numerical investigation of rock damage processes
Email: mimanitilenoei@.mines.edu
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mehrdad-imani-58771090/
M.Sc. Students
Cam Phillips
B.Sc. — Geological Engineering — Colorado School of Mines
Background:
Cam is a Master’s student studying geological engineering. His research is focused on the use of remote sensing for rockfall monitoring in Colorado. In his spare time, he enjoys hiking, skiing, and rock climbing.
Research:
- Analysis of rockfall trends and causes using terrestrial lidar monitoring
- Comparison of rockfall data from hazardous rock slopes throughout Colorado
Email: cameronphillips@mines.edu
LinkedIn: https:www.linkedin.com/in/cameronphillipsgeo/
JACOB HOLLANDER
B.Sc. — Geology — Univeristy of Georgia
Background:
Jacob is an engineering geologist pursuing a master’s degree in geological engineering. He has 5 years of experience in the civil engineering industry working primarily in dam and tunnel design, geohazard identification, and hydrogeology.
Research:
- Analyzing rock slopes using photogrammetric point clouds
- Determining potential for rock fall events from various climatic and geologic factors
Email: jhollander@mines.edu
LinkedIn: https:www.linkedin.com/in/jacob-hollander-pg-18841557
Keara Barron
B.Sc. — Geological Engineering — Colorado School of Mines
Background:
Keara is pursuing a Masters in geological engineering. Her research interests lie in industry applications relating to geohazards, particularly rockfall.
Research:
- Modeling deterioration of cut slopes for asset management
Email: kbarron@mines.edu
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keara-barron-763171201
Edward Emmons
B.Sc. — Geological Engineering — Colorado School of Mines
Background:
Bennett is pursuing a Masters in Geological Engineering. His research interests are the applications of machine learning in geohazards, particularly rockfalls and mass movements. In his spare time, he plays guitar, hikes, camps, and cooking.
Research:
- Classification of point cloud data using machine learning
- Identification of rock falls based on change detection
Email: edwardbemmons@mines.edu
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edward-emmons/
Elizabeth Longar
B.Sc. — Geoengineering — University of Minnesota
Background:
Ellie is pursuing a master’s degree in geological engineering. She is interested in rock mechanics and geological modelling. She spends her free time camping, hiking, and practicing tuba.
Research:
- Rockfall precursors evaluated from terrestrial remote sensing
Email: elongar@mines.edu
Andrew Swift
B.Sc. — Geology — Cedarville University
Background:
Andrew is pursuing a Masters in Geological Engineering. He has previous research experience in karst mapping and remote sensing applications and internship experience in geotechnical engineering and wildland firefighting. His research interests include practical applications in geohazards and hydrogeology. In his free time he enjoys hiking, skiing, fishing, and aviation.
Research:
- Evaluation of rockfall trends and causative factors
Email: andrewswift@mines.edu
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-t-swift/
Former Team Members
Ella West
Ph.D. — Geological Engineering — 2023
Thesis: Analysis of Rockmass Mechanical Behavior using Rockmass Analog Numerical Models and Laboratory Specimens
Lukas Fahle
Ph.D. — Mining Engineering — 2023
Co-advised by Dr. Elizabeth Holley
Thesis: Mobile Laser Scanning and Octree-Based Statistical Inference Change Detection for Geotechnical Underground Mine Monitoring and Analysis
Cassidy grady
M.Sc. — Geological Engineering — 2023
Thesis: Hazard Mapping in the Arequipa Region of Peru: Remote Methods for Hazard Inventories and Characterization, and Participatory Design to Improve Map Usability
Colby Butcher
M.Sc. — Geological Engineering — 2023
Thesis: Rockslope and Landslide Monitoring using High Temporal Resolution Terrestrial Structure from Motion Photogrammetry: Workflow and Application in the Arequipa Region of Peru
Mohamed Elbahnasawy
M.Sc. — Geological Engineering — 2023
Thesis: Monitoring Large-Scale Rock Slopes for the Detection of Rockfalls using UAV-SfM Photogrammetry at Debeque Canyon, Colorado
Chandan Kumar
Research Associate — Geological Engineering — 2023
NATALY CHACON
M.Sc. — Geological Engineering — 2022
Co-advised by Dr. Zane Jobe
Thesis: Towards Lithology Recognition Using Digital Outcrop Models and Machine Learning
Adam Maslam
M.Sc. — Geological Engineering — 2022
Thesis: Characterization of Rockfall Activity and Identification of Climate-Rockfall Relationships Through High Temporal Resolution Remote Sensing Methods
brian gray
M.Sc. — Geological Engineering — 2021
Thesis: Development of Fixed-Site Photogrammetric Applications and Optimization for Slope Hazard Monitoring
rahel Dean-pelikan
M.Sc. — Underground Construction and Tunnel Engineering — 2021
Thesis: Numerical Modeling of Pillar Stress Redistribution during the Retreat Mining Process
Rami Abousleiman
Ph.D. — Geological Engineering — 2021
Thesis: Comparative Geomechanical Investigation of Empirical, Analytical & Numerical Methods Utilized in Advancing Flat-Roof Excavations in Discontinuous & Laminated Rockmasses
Kendall Wnuk
Ph.D. — Geological Engineering — 2021
Thesis: Processing of Insar Persistent Scatterer Time-Series to Investigate Deformational Processes Induced by Subsurface Excavation
Heather Schovanec
M.Sc. — Geological Engineering — 2020
Thesis: Development of semi-automated lidar processing algorithms to correlate climate variables to rockfall patterns for a slope near Glenwood Springs, Colorado
Carlos E. Contreras Inga
M.Sc. — Geological Engineering — 2020
Co-advised by Dr. Elizabeth Holley
Thesis: Effect of the representation of grain structure on the prediction of brittle rock mechanical behavior using bonded block models
Deepanshu Shirole
Ph.D. — Civil Engineering — 2020
Co-advised by Dr. Reza Hedayat
Thesis: Ultrasonic and image-based characterization of progressive damage processes in intact rocks
Lane Boyd
Ph.D. — Geological Engineering — 2019
Co-advised by Dr. Whitney Trainor-Guitton
Thesis: Application of geostatistical methods for the quantification of multiple-scale uncertainty due to aleatory geologic variability
Mehmet Volkan Ozdogan
Post-doctoral researcher – Colorado School of Mines – 2018-2019 Ph.D. – Mining Engineering – Dokuz Eylul University, Turkey
Research topic: Advancing Methods for Underground 3D Deformation Monitoring Using Point Cloud Data
John Hinton
M.Sc. — Underground Construction and Tunnel Engineering — 2019
Thesis: The Use of a Look-Ahead Geophysical Method to Delineate Water-Bearing Features Ahead of a Tunnel Boring Machine
Meriel Young
M.Sc. — Geological Engineering — 2019
Co-advised by Dr. Elizabeth Holley
Thesis: Factors Predictive of Roof Instability in Addition to the Existing CMRR Criteria at Two Case Study Coal Mines
Brad Meyer
M.Sc. — Geological Engineering — 2018
Co-advised by Dr. Reza Hedayat
Thesis: A New Objective Method for the Determination of Crack Initiation Stress Using Acoustic Emission Data