Team Members

Dr. Gabriel Walton

Associate Professor — Colorado School of Mines
Ph.D. — Geological Engineering — Queen’s University
B.Sc. — Geological Engineering— Queen’s University

Background:

Dr. Gabriel Walton received his Bachelors and Ph.D. degrees in Geological Engineering from Queen’s University in Canada, and is currently an Assistant Professor at Colorado School of Mines. In addition to his academic efforts, Dr. Walton has also worked as an independent consultant and has led applied research efforts in collaboration with tunneling and mining industry partners. In addition to advising students in the Geological Engineering program at the Colorado School of Mines, Dr. Walton is also actively involved in the interdisciplinary Underground Construction and Tunnel Engineering graduate program, the only one of its kind in North America.

Research:

Numerical modeling
Mine ground control
Applications of remote sensing and geophysics in rock mechanics and rock engineering
Rockmass characterization
Post-peak behavior of rocks and rockmasses

Email: gwalton@mines.edu

Affiliate Faculty

Ryan Kromer

Ph.D. – Geological Engineering – Queen’s University
B.Sc. – Geological Engineering – Queen’s University

Background:

Dr. Ryan Kromer is a Geological engineering with over nine (9) years of professional and research experience. He has a passion for better understanding the mechanics and behavior of landslides and rock slopes using remote sensing technologies. Dr. Kromer has experience in industry managing geotechnical projects and conducting rockfall hazard assessments. Dr. Kromer’s obtained his PhD from Queen’s University, Canada and spent 1.5 years of this time as a visiting PhD student at the University of Lausanne, Switzerland. His PhD research consisted of studying the prefailure behavior of rockfalls along a railway network in western Canada. He also developed automated methodologies to monitor rock slope and landside deformation in near real time using terrestrial laser scanning. He is currently working as a post-doctoral researcher at the Colorado School of Mines and as a geological engineer at BGC Engineering.

Research:

Developing a low cost automated time-lapse photogrammetric monitoring system to monitor rock slopes at a high temporal frequency
Currently collecting data on a daily basis at a rock slope along I70 near Idaho Springs, Colorado

Website: https://environment.leeds.ac.uk/see/staff/9788/dr-ryan-kromer-
Email: rkromer@mines.edu
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-kromer-6ab4564a/

Sankhaneel sinha

Ph.D. — Geological Engineering — Colorado School of Mines
M.Sc. — Mining Engineering — Southern Illinois University, Carbondale
B.Sc. — Mining Engineering —Indian Institute of Engineering, Science, and Technology, Shibpur

Background:

Sankhaneel moved to the Front Range to pursue his PhD in Geological Engineering, with specialization in Mining Rock Mechanics.

Research:

Integrating in-situ mining data into numerical models to better understand damage processes in large underground excavations
Development of practical support guidelines to minimize ground-related hazard

Email: sankhaneelsinha@mines.edu
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sankhaneel-sinha-193180103/

Research Associates

Luke Weidner

Ph.D. — Geological Engineering — Colorado School of Mines
B.Sc. — Geological Engineering — Michigan Technological University

Background:

Luke is an engineering-in-training (EIT) with five years of research experience. He brings a focus on remote sensing and computational modeling applied to geotechnical hazard and risk assessment.

Research:

Rock slope monitoring along linear infrastructure
Automated point cloud processing and interpretation using machine learning

Email: weidner@mines.edu

Akash Chaurasia

Ph.D. — Mining Engineering — Colorado School of Mines
M.Sc. — Mining and Geological Engineering — University of Arizona
B.Sc. — Mining Engineering — Indian Institute of Technology, (BHU)

Background:

Akash is a Post-Doctoral researcher at the Colorado School of Mines. His research interests lie in the field of rock mechanics using laboratory tests and numerical modeling.

Research:

Roof stability of underground mine openings
Undeground pillar failure mechanism and pillar-support interaction

Email: achaurasia@mines.edu
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chaurasia1996/

Ph.D. Students

Mehrdad Imani Tilenoe

Co-advised by Dr. Ahmadreza Hedayat

M.Sc. — Rock Mechanics — Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
B.Sc. — Mining Engineering — Urmia University, Urmia, Iran

Background:

Mehrdad is doing his Ph.D. in Civil and Environmental Engineering Department at Colorado School of Mines. His main research interest is focused on progressive failure and damage mechanism of rocks using experimental and numerical modeling.

Research:

Experimental and numerical investigation of rock damage processes

Email: mimanitilenoei@.mines.edu
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mehrdad-imani-58771090/

Elizabeth Longar

B.Sc. — Geoengineering — University of Minnesota

Background:

Ellie is pursuing a master’s degree in geological engineering. She is interested in rock mechanics and geological modelling. She spends her free time camping, hiking, and practicing tuba.

Research:

Rockfall precursors evaluated from terrestrial remote sensing

Email: elongar@mines.edu

M.Sc. Students

Andrew Swift

B.Sc. — Geology — Cedarville University

Background:

Andrew is pursuing a Masters in Geological Engineering. He has previous research experience in karst mapping and remote sensing applications and internship experience in geotechnical engineering and wildland firefighting. His research interests include practical applications in geohazards and hydrogeology. In his free time he enjoys hiking, skiing, fishing, and aviation.

Research:

Comparison of in-situ block size distributions and corresponding rockfall volume distributions

Email: andrewswift@mines.edu
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-t-swift/

Sushma Kadel

M.Sc. — Geology — Tribhuvan University
B.Sc. — Geology — Tribhuvan University

Background:

Sushma is pursuing Masters in Geological Engineering at Colorado School of Mines. She has previous research experience in surficial geological mapping and deformational analysis; geotechnical analysis; detailed and statistical analysis of disaster occurrence, and landslide modeling and professional experience in disaster management. Her research interests include industry applications relating to geohazards, especially understanding the mechanics and behavior of landslides and rock slopes using both direct and indirect methods..

Research:

Evaluation of longer-term rockfall trends and potential climate impacts

Email: sushma_kadel@mines.edu
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sushma-kadel-b95688170/

Mia Wallak

B.Sc. — Geological Science — Binghamton University

Background:

Mia is pursuing a master’s degree in geological engineering. She has previous research experience in utilizing data collected from remote sensing to develop visualizations using GIS. In her free time she enjoys snowboarding, going to concerts, and spending quality time with friends and family.

Research:

Evaluation of effectiveness of rock slope hazard mitigation using remote sensing monitoring

Email: mia_wallak@mines.edu

Beau Crockett

B.Sc. — Geoscience — University of Tulsa

Background:

Beau is pursuing a master’s degree in mining engineering. He has experience in geologic field mapping, mineral deposit characterization, and surface and underground aggregate mining. His free time is spent mountain biking, singing, and rockhounding.

Research:

Numerical modeling of time-dependent deformation and stability in underground mines.

Email: beau_crockett@mines.edu

Hayden Jacobson

Ph.D. — Geological Engineering — 2024

Thesis: Remote Estimation of Grain Size Distribution and Simulating its Effects on Debris-Flow Rheology and Post-Fire Variability of Transport by Dry Ravel