IET-Sponsored Research in Geoscience
IET-Sponsored Research in Geoscience
In an effort to provide technical support to the nearly 400 graduates of the IET program in the Houston, Texas area and elsewhere since its beginning in 1992, IET, with the continued support of the Environmental Litigation Associates and numerous senior environmental geoscientists and engineers in the Houston area, fosters research in areas consistent with the goals of the initial IET program. The IET continues to look for new projects.
In 2000, IET sponsored M. David Campbell, P.G. to construct a Web portal capable of building a user database of geoscience-related URLs. To date, almost 1,800 URLs have been added to the IET Portal and it has become a popular source of information on geoscience information in Texas and the U.S. See the IET Web Resources Portal (here).
In 2002, IET began sponsorship of a major research project on Houston-area faulting and associated impact on the local infrastucture, such as pipelines, water supply, etc. It is nearing completion by personnel of M. D. Campbell and Associates, L.P. Their report, tentatively titled:
"Growth Faulting in the Houston, Texas Area: Origins and Characteristics, Regional and Local Relationships, Subsidence, Associated Geologic Hazards, Economic Impact and Methods of Investigation"
The preliminary results of their 2-yr study were presented at the recent Growth Fault Symposium held at Texas A&M University (see program & abstract). The report is in final review and will be published in late 2005 or early 2006. One of the popular maps from the report shows the general locations of the faults known by the early 1980s (here). The project bibliography generated during the project has been included (here). Not all the citations contained in the bibliography are cited in the report.
In 2004, the principal instructors for the IET program, Michael D. Campbell, P.G., P.H., Richard C. Bost, P.E., P.G., and others embarked on a series of papers dealing with flawed geoscience in forensic environmental investigations. The 1st paper was presented at the 2004 NGWA's national conference in Chicago (here). The 2nd and 3rd papers were presented at the 2005 NGWA's national conference in Baltimore. All three papers will be available for those who missed the conferences: (here).
