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
Assessing the feasibility of satellite-based thresholds for hydrologically driven landsliding
Detection of rock bridges by infrared thermal imaging and modeling
Enhanced landslide mobility by basal liquefaction: the 2014 SR530 (Oso), Washington landslide
Relaxation response of critically stressed macroscale surficial rock sheets
Terrestrial lidar data of the February 14, 2019 Sausalito Boulevard Landslide, Sausalito, California
A regime shift in sediment export from a coastal watershed during a record wet winter, California: Implications for landscape response to hydroclimatic extremes
Identifying physics‐based thresholds for rainfall‐induced landsliding
Thermally induced fracture of macroscale surficial granite sheets
Rapid 3-D analysis of rockfalls
Assessing rockfall susceptibility in steep and overhanging slopes using three-dimensional analysis of failure mechanisms
Thermal influences on spontaneous rock dome exfoliation
Lidar-Based Rock-Fall Hazard Characterization of Cliffs
Science and Products
Assessing the feasibility of satellite-based thresholds for hydrologically driven landsliding
Detection of rock bridges by infrared thermal imaging and modeling
Enhanced landslide mobility by basal liquefaction: the 2014 SR530 (Oso), Washington landslide
Relaxation response of critically stressed macroscale surficial rock sheets
Terrestrial lidar data of the February 14, 2019 Sausalito Boulevard Landslide, Sausalito, California
A regime shift in sediment export from a coastal watershed during a record wet winter, California: Implications for landscape response to hydroclimatic extremes
Identifying physics‐based thresholds for rainfall‐induced landsliding
Thermally induced fracture of macroscale surficial granite sheets
Rapid 3-D analysis of rockfalls
Assessing rockfall susceptibility in steep and overhanging slopes using three-dimensional analysis of failure mechanisms
Thermal influences on spontaneous rock dome exfoliation
Lidar-Based Rock-Fall Hazard Characterization of Cliffs
*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