Senior Engineering Geologist
Expertise:
Engineering Geology
Neotectonics/Paleoseismology
Slope Processes
Photogeologic Interpretation
Peer Review
Dr. Wright applies his knowledge of geology and engineering geology to a wide variety of projects. His almost 40 years of experience encompasses evaluation and mitigation of potential geologic hazards, such as landslides and active faults, land use planning studies, water resources studies, and technical and regulatory peer review. Strengths include careful observation/documentation, project management, and technical writing, and he is also highly skilled at identifying problems and developing practical solutions. As a result, Dr. Wright’s participation on projects enables clients to make effective decisions about public safety and cost.
His project experience ranges from geologic and seismic hazard/feasibility studies to siting/routing studies, design-level investigations, and construction observation for dams, landfills, buildings, and nuclear power plants. He has been involved in numerous safety inspections and forensic observations for mitigation of potential hazards, including fault investigations and slope stability investigations for pipelines, penstocks, tunnels, and levees. Dr. Wright has completed regional land use planning studies located in the U.S. and Asia. He has conducted basic research on the Peninsula segment of the San Andreas fault zone, and has been a member of post-earthquake evaluation teams for the 1999 Chi-Chi, Taiwan and 2001 Bhuj, Gujarat, India earthquakes.
Dr. Wright has authored or co-authored 19 technical papers and publications dealing with a wide variety of topics. He also has been the recipient as a key investigator of seven U.S. Geological Survey, National Earthquake Hazard Reduction Program (NEHRP) and Bay Area Paleoseismic Experiment (BAPEX) grants.
Over his career, Dr. Wright has developed excellent relationships with and earned the respect of local, state, and state regulatory agencies. He is the Town Geologist for the towns of Woodside and Los Gatos in California. Dr. Wright has served on several independent technical review boards and has recent and specific experience serving on California Department of Water Resources (DWR) Independent Consultant and Director’s Safety Review Boards for dams and their appurtenances.
Education:
- Ph.D. Earth Sciences, University of California, Santa Cruz, 1982
- B.A., Geology, University of California, Santa Jose, 1968
Registration:
- Professional Geologist, CA, 3288, 1976
- Certified Engineering Geologist, CA, 962, 1977
- Certified Engineering Geologist, OR, 962, 1978
- Registered Geologist, OR, 15, 1978
- Registered Geologist, ID, 482, 1980
Affiliations:
Geological Society of America
Earthquake Engineering Research Institute
Geo-Engineering Earthquake Reconnaissance (GEER) Association