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
Rockfall triggering by cyclic thermal stressing of exfoliation fractures
Relations between rainfall–runoff-induced erosion and aeolian deposition at archaeological sites in a semi-arid dam-controlled river corridor
Spatial distribution of landslides triggered from the 2007 Niigata Chuetsu–Oki Japan Earthquake
Rock fall dynamics and deposition: an integrated analysis of the 2009 Ahwiyah Point rock fall, Yosemite National Park, USA.
Monitoring subsurface hydrologic response for precipitation-induced shallow landsliding in the San Francisco Bay area, California, USA
Stability of steep slopes in cemented sands
High-resolution three-dimensional imaging and analysis of rock falls in Yosemite valley, California
Rainfall infiltration-induced landslides
New approaches to stability analysis of steep coastal bluffs
LIDAR & SASW technologies for geotechnical earthquake engineering
Science and Products
Rockfall triggering by cyclic thermal stressing of exfoliation fractures
Relations between rainfall–runoff-induced erosion and aeolian deposition at archaeological sites in a semi-arid dam-controlled river corridor
Spatial distribution of landslides triggered from the 2007 Niigata Chuetsu–Oki Japan Earthquake
Rock fall dynamics and deposition: an integrated analysis of the 2009 Ahwiyah Point rock fall, Yosemite National Park, USA.
Monitoring subsurface hydrologic response for precipitation-induced shallow landsliding in the San Francisco Bay area, California, USA
Stability of steep slopes in cemented sands
High-resolution three-dimensional imaging and analysis of rock falls in Yosemite valley, California
Rainfall infiltration-induced landslides
New approaches to stability analysis of steep coastal bluffs
LIDAR & SASW technologies for geotechnical earthquake engineering
*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