Brian Collins
Brian Collins is a supervisory research civil engineer with the Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science center. Brian works primarily with the Landslide Hazards Program addressing a wide range of landslide issues including storm-induced shallow landslides and debris flows, deep-seated landslide mobility, and rockfall initiation.
Professional Experience
2008-present, Research Civil Engineer, U.S. Geological Survey, Menlo Park, CA
2006-2008, Mendenhall Post-doctoral Researcher, U.S. Geological Survey, Menlo Park, CA
2005-2006, Engineering Research Manager, Blackhawk Geological Hazard Abatement District, San Ramon, CA
2004-2005, Postdoctoral Researcher, University of California, Dept. of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Berkeley, CA
2000-2004, Research Assistant, University of California, Dept. of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Berkeley, CA
1998-2000, Staff Engineer, Golder Associates, Lakewood, CO
1995-1998, Teaching Assistant, University of Colorado, Dept. of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Boulder, CO
Education and Certifications
University of California, Berkeley, Ph.D., 2004, Geotechnical Engineering
University of Colorado, Boulder, M.S., 1997, Geotechnical Engineering
Purdue University, B.S.C.E., 1995, Civil Engineering
Affiliations and Memberships*
National Park Service, Yosemite National Park, California
National Weather Service, Monterey, California, Weather Forecast Office
University of Lausanne, Risk Analysis Group, Lausanne, Switzerland
École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Laboratory of Experimental Rock Mechanics, Lausanne, Switzerland
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 67
Gully annealing by fluvially-sourced Aeolian sand: remote sensing investigations of connectivity along the Fluvial-Aeolian-hillslope continuum on the Colorado River Gully annealing by fluvially-sourced Aeolian sand: remote sensing investigations of connectivity along the Fluvial-Aeolian-hillslope continuum on the Colorado River
Processes contributing to development of ephemeral gully channels are of great importance to landscapes worldwide, and particularly in dryland regions where soil loss and land degradation from gully erosion pose long-term, land-management problems. Whereas gully formation has been relatively well studied, much less is known of the processes that anneal gullies and impede their growth...
Authors
Joel B. Sankey, Amy E. East, Brian D. Collins, Joshua J. Caster
Landslide mobility and hazards: implications of the 2014 Oso disaster Landslide mobility and hazards: implications of the 2014 Oso disaster
Landslides reflect landscape instability that evolves over meteorological and geological timescales, and they also pose threats to people, property, and the environment. The severity of these threats depends largely on landslide speed and travel distance, which are collectively described as landslide “mobility”. To investigate causes and effects of mobility, we focus on a disastrous...
Authors
Richard M. Iverson, David L. George, Kate E. Allstadt, Mark E. Reid, Brian D. Collins, James W. Vallance, Steve P. Schilling, Jonathan W. Godt, Charles Cannon, Christopher S. Magirl, Rex L. Baum, Jeffrey A. Coe, William H. Schulz, J. Brent Bower
Detecting thermally driven cyclic deformation of an exfoliation sheet with lidar and radar Detecting thermally driven cyclic deformation of an exfoliation sheet with lidar and radar
Rock falls from steep, exfoliating cliffs are common in many landscapes. Of the many mechanisms known to trigger rock falls, thermally driven deformation is among the least quantified, despite potentially being a prevalent trigger due to its occurrence at all times of year. Here we present the results of a field-based monitoring program using instrumentation, ground-based lidar, and...
Authors
Brian D. Collins, Greg M. Stock
Quantitative rock-fall hazard and risk assessment for Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park, California Quantitative rock-fall hazard and risk assessment for Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park, California
Rock falls are common in Yosemite Valley, California, posing substantial hazard and risk to the approximately four million annual visitors to Yosemite National Park. Rock falls in Yosemite Valley over the past few decades have damaged structures and caused injuries within developed regions located on or adjacent to talus slopes highlighting the need for additional investigations into...
Authors
Greg M. Stock, Nicolas Luco, Brian D. Collins, Edwin L. Harp, Paola Reichenbach, Kurt L. Frankel
High-resolution topography and geomorphology of select archeological sites in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Arizona High-resolution topography and geomorphology of select archeological sites in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Arizona
Along the Colorado River corridor between Glen Canyon Dam and Lees Ferry, Arizona, located some 25 km downstream from the dam, archaeological sites dating from 8,000 years before present through the modern era are located within and on top of fluvial and alluvial terraces of the prehistorically undammed river. These terraces are known to have undergone significant erosion and retreat...
Authors
Brian D. Collins, Skye C. Corbett, Joel B. Sankey, Helen C. Fairley
Historical rock falls in Yosemite National Park, California (1857-2011) Historical rock falls in Yosemite National Park, California (1857-2011)
Inventories of rock falls and other types of landslides are valuable tools for improving understanding of these events. For example, detailed information on rock falls is critical for identifying mechanisms that trigger rock falls, for quantifying the susceptibility of different cliffs to rock falls, and for developing magnitude-frequency relations. Further, inventories can assist in...
Authors
Greg M. Stock, Brian D. Collins, David J. Santaniello, Valerie L. Zimmer, Gerald F. Wieczorek, James B. Snyder
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 67
Gully annealing by fluvially-sourced Aeolian sand: remote sensing investigations of connectivity along the Fluvial-Aeolian-hillslope continuum on the Colorado River Gully annealing by fluvially-sourced Aeolian sand: remote sensing investigations of connectivity along the Fluvial-Aeolian-hillslope continuum on the Colorado River
Processes contributing to development of ephemeral gully channels are of great importance to landscapes worldwide, and particularly in dryland regions where soil loss and land degradation from gully erosion pose long-term, land-management problems. Whereas gully formation has been relatively well studied, much less is known of the processes that anneal gullies and impede their growth...
Authors
Joel B. Sankey, Amy E. East, Brian D. Collins, Joshua J. Caster
Landslide mobility and hazards: implications of the 2014 Oso disaster Landslide mobility and hazards: implications of the 2014 Oso disaster
Landslides reflect landscape instability that evolves over meteorological and geological timescales, and they also pose threats to people, property, and the environment. The severity of these threats depends largely on landslide speed and travel distance, which are collectively described as landslide “mobility”. To investigate causes and effects of mobility, we focus on a disastrous...
Authors
Richard M. Iverson, David L. George, Kate E. Allstadt, Mark E. Reid, Brian D. Collins, James W. Vallance, Steve P. Schilling, Jonathan W. Godt, Charles Cannon, Christopher S. Magirl, Rex L. Baum, Jeffrey A. Coe, William H. Schulz, J. Brent Bower
Detecting thermally driven cyclic deformation of an exfoliation sheet with lidar and radar Detecting thermally driven cyclic deformation of an exfoliation sheet with lidar and radar
Rock falls from steep, exfoliating cliffs are common in many landscapes. Of the many mechanisms known to trigger rock falls, thermally driven deformation is among the least quantified, despite potentially being a prevalent trigger due to its occurrence at all times of year. Here we present the results of a field-based monitoring program using instrumentation, ground-based lidar, and...
Authors
Brian D. Collins, Greg M. Stock
Quantitative rock-fall hazard and risk assessment for Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park, California Quantitative rock-fall hazard and risk assessment for Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park, California
Rock falls are common in Yosemite Valley, California, posing substantial hazard and risk to the approximately four million annual visitors to Yosemite National Park. Rock falls in Yosemite Valley over the past few decades have damaged structures and caused injuries within developed regions located on or adjacent to talus slopes highlighting the need for additional investigations into...
Authors
Greg M. Stock, Nicolas Luco, Brian D. Collins, Edwin L. Harp, Paola Reichenbach, Kurt L. Frankel
High-resolution topography and geomorphology of select archeological sites in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Arizona High-resolution topography and geomorphology of select archeological sites in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Arizona
Along the Colorado River corridor between Glen Canyon Dam and Lees Ferry, Arizona, located some 25 km downstream from the dam, archaeological sites dating from 8,000 years before present through the modern era are located within and on top of fluvial and alluvial terraces of the prehistorically undammed river. These terraces are known to have undergone significant erosion and retreat...
Authors
Brian D. Collins, Skye C. Corbett, Joel B. Sankey, Helen C. Fairley
Historical rock falls in Yosemite National Park, California (1857-2011) Historical rock falls in Yosemite National Park, California (1857-2011)
Inventories of rock falls and other types of landslides are valuable tools for improving understanding of these events. For example, detailed information on rock falls is critical for identifying mechanisms that trigger rock falls, for quantifying the susceptibility of different cliffs to rock falls, and for developing magnitude-frequency relations. Further, inventories can assist in...
Authors
Greg M. Stock, Brian D. Collins, David J. Santaniello, Valerie L. Zimmer, Gerald F. Wieczorek, James B. Snyder
*Disclaimer: Listing outside positions with professional scientific organizations on this Staff Profile are for informational purposes only and do not constitute an endorsement of those professional scientific organizations or their activities by the USGS, Department of the Interior, or U.S. Government