Bill Burns,
Engineering Geologist, MS, RPG, CEG

Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries, Portland Office
800 NE Oregon St., Suite 965
Portland OR 97232
phone: (971) 673-1538
fax: (971) 673-1562

bill.burns@dogami.state.or.us

EDUCATION

Master of Science (MS), Portland State University, Portland, OR

• Major: Geology (Engineering Geology)
• Master's Thesis: Engineering Geology and Relative Stability of the Southern Half of Newell Creek Canyon, Oregon City, Oregon
• Teachers Assistant (TA) and Research Assistant (RA)
• Graduated 1999

Bachelor of Science (BS), Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL

• Major: Geology
• Post Bachelor Studies, Civil Engineering Department at FSU
• Graduated 1994

CONTINUED EDUCATION

American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Seminar, Earthquake Induced Ground Motions, 2006
Association of Engineering Geologists (AEG) Short Course, Soil Strength and Slope Stability, 2008

TEACHING

Adjunct Professor, Portland State University, Department of Geology, 2011

• Masters Student Thesis committee member

Courses

• PSU, Engineering Department
  Geotechnical Case Histories, 2010
  Geotechnical Case Histories, 2002
  
  
• PSU, Geology Department
  Advanced Engineering Geology, 2009
  Landslides, 2011

LICENSES AND REGISTRATIONS

Registered Professional Geologist (RPG), Oregon & Washington
Certified Engineering Geologist (CEG), Oregon & Washington

WORK EXPERIENCE

Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries (DOGAMI), Portland, OR, 2004-present

• Landslide Geotechnical Specialist / Engineering Geologist
• Technical lead on landslide hazards at DOGAMI
• Principal Investigator on projects involving research and creation of geologic hazard maps, risk analysis, and report writing and publication
• Grant development and writing

GeoStandards Corporation, Portland, OR, 1998-2004

• Senior engineering geologist, project manager, and office manager

Mount Hood National Forest, Gresham, OR, 1996

• Engineering Geologist

NTL Engineering and Geoscience, Inc., Great Falls, MT,1993

• Lab Technician and field Assistant

PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

Association of Engineering Geologists (AEG)

• Oregon Section AEG Program Chair 2005-06
• Oregon Section AEG Newsletter Editor 2006-2012

Geological Society of America (GSA)

GRANTS

2011: Received USGS-NEHRP Multi-hazard Grant, Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries, Portland, OR for "Landslide Inventory Mapping, Portland Metropolitan Region."

2010: Received FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) Planning Grant as Principal Investigator, Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries, Portland, OR for "Landslide Risk Analysis along the Highway 30 Corridor, Columbia and Clatsop Counties, Oregon."

2009: Received USGS Cascade Volcanic Observatory Grant (ARRA-SV0008A) as Principal Investigator, Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries, Portland, OR for "Mult-Hazard Risk and Vulnerability Assessments at Select drainages Around Mount Hood (OR) Using Methodologies That Would Be Applicable to Other Volcanic Areas."

2009: Received Oregon Geospatial Enterprise Office Grant as Principal Investigator, Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries, Portland, OR for "Landslide Element Standard and Statewide Landslide Information Database – Release 2 Development."

2009: Received USGS Landslide Grant (09CRGR000) as researcher, Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries, Portland, OR for "Collaborative Landslide Hazard Study Initiative"

2009: Received Washington County Grant (CA 09-0103) as Principal Investigator, Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries, Portland, OR for "Regional Landslide Susceptibility Maps of the Western Half of the Linnton Quadrangle, Washington and Multnomah Counties, Oregon."

2008: Received City of Silverton Grant (41460-11242008) as Principal Investigator, Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries, Portland, OR for "Regional Landslide Hazard Maps of the City of Silverton, Marion County, Oregon."

2008: Received USGS Landslide Grant (08CRGR0005) as researcher, Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries, Portland, OR for "Collaborative Landslide Hazard Study Initiative"

2007: Received FEMA DR 672 Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) Planning Grant as Sub grantee, Principal Investigator, Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries, Portland, OR for "Landslide Inventory, Susceptibility Maps, and Risk Analysis of the City of Astoria, Clatsop County, Oregon."

2007: Received Washington County Grant (100075) as Principal Investigator, Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries, Portland, OR for "Regional Landslide Hazard Mapping, SW Quarter of the Beaverton Quadrangle, West Bull Mountain Planning Area, Washington County, Oregon."

2007: Received USGS Landslide Grant (07CRGR0009) as researcher, Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries, Portland, OR for "Collaborative Landslide Hazard Study Initiative"

2006: Received USGS Landslide Grant (06CRGR) as researcher, Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries, Portland, OR for "Collaborative Landslide Hazard Study Initiative"

2005: Received FEMA Pre-Disaster Mitigation Program Grant (EMS-2005-PC-0004) as Sub grantee and Principal Investigator, Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries, Portland, OR for "Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan Development Support Project, Region 5 Mid-Columbia River and Region 8 South Eastern Oregon Counties"

2005: Received USGS Landslide Grant (05CRGR) as researcher, Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries, Portland, OR for "Collaborative Landslide Hazard Study Initiative"

1997: Received METRO Grant (905828) as research assistant, Portland State University, Portland, OR for "Landslides in the Portland, Oregon Metropolitan Area Resulting from the Storm of February 1996: Inventory Map, Database and Evaluation"

PUBLICATIONS

Burns, W.J., Mickelson, K.A., Saint-Pierre, E.C., 2011. Statewide Landslide Information Database of Oregon Release-2, Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries, SLIDO-2

Burns, W.J., Madin, I.P., Mickelson, K.A., and Williams, K.J., 2011. Partial Landslide Inventory of the Western Portion of Coos County, Oregon, Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries, Open-File Report O-11-01.

Burns, W.J. and Duplantis, S., 2010. Landslide Inventory Maps for the Portland Quadrangle, Multnomah, and Washington Counties, Oregon, Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries, IMS-33, Plates 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Burns, W.J. and Duplantis, S., 2010. Landslide Inventory Maps for the Lake Oswego Quadrangle, Clackamas, Multnomah, and Washington Counties, Oregon, Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries, IMS-32, Plates 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Burns, W.J., 2010. Understanding Landslide Deposits. Oregon Geology Fact Sheet. Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries.

Burns, W.J., Coe, J.A., Sener Kaya, B., Ma, L., 2010. Analysis of Elevation Changes Detected from Multi-Temporal Lidar Surveys in Forested Landslide Terrain in Western Oregon, Environmental and Engineering Geoscience, v. XVI, n. 4, pp. 315-341.

Burns, W.J. and Mickelson, K.A., 2010. Landslide Inventory Maps for the Astoria Quadrangle, Clasop, County, Oregon, Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries, IMS-31, Plates 1, 2, 3, 4

Burns, W.J. and Mickelson, K.A., 2010. Landslide Inventory Maps for the Oregon City Quadrangle, Clackamas, County, Oregon, Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries, IMS-30, Plates 1, 2, 3

Burns, W.J., 2009. Landslide Inventory Maps for the Canby Quadrangle, Clackamas, Marion, and Washington Counties, Oregon, Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries, IMS-29, Plates 1, 2, 3, 4

Burns, W.J., 2009. Landslide Inventory Map of the Southwest Quarter of the Beaverton Quadrangle, Washington County, Oregon, Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries, IMS-27

Burns, W.J., Madin, I.P., 2009. Landslide Inventory Map of the Northwest Quarter of the Oregon City Quadrangle, Multnomah County, Oregon, Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries, IMS-26

Burns, W.J., Madin, I.P., 2009. Landslide Protocol for Inventory Mapping of Landslide Deposits from Light Detection and Ranging (Lidar) Imagery, Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries, Special Paper 42

Burns, W.J., 2008. Regional Landslide Hazard Maps of the Southwest Quarter of the Beaverton Quadrangle, West Bull Mountain Planning Area, Washington County, Oregon. Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries, Open File Report O-08-09.

Burns, W.J., Madin, I.P., Ma, L., 2008. Statewide Landslide Information Database of Oregon Release-1, Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries, SLIDO r-1

Burns, W.J., Hofmeister, R.J., and Wang, Y., 2008. Geologic Hazards, Earthquake and Landslide Hazard Maps, and Future Earthquake Damage Estimates for Six Counties in the Mid-Willamette Valley Including Yamhill, Marion, Polk, Benton, Linn, and Lane Counties and the City of Albany, Oregon, Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries, IMS-24

Burns, B., Hinkle, J., Hay, S., 2008, The Woodson Debris Flow, Woodson, Oregon, Association of Engineering Geologist NEWS, March 2008, v. 51, no.1

Burns, W. J., 2007, Comparison of remote sensing data¬sets for the establishment of a landslide mapping protocol in Oregon. AEG Special Publication 23: Vail, Colo., Conference Presentations, 1st North American Landslide Conference.

Burns, W.J. and Wang, Y., 2007. 2007 Landslide Symposium Proceedings and Field Trip Guide. Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries, Open File Report O-07-04.

Burns, W.J., and Wang, Y., 2007, A new working group in Oregon: The Oregon Landslide Workgroup (OLW), In 2007 Landslide Symposium Proceedings and Field Trip Guide, Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries, Open File Report O-07-04.

Burns, W.J., 2007 Comparison of mapping techniques in the Portland hills pilot study area. In 2007 Landslide Symposium Proceedings and Field Trip Guide, Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries, Open File Report O-07-04.

Madin, I.P. and Burns, W.J., 2006. Map of Landslide Geomorphology of Oregon City, Oregon and Vicinity Interpreted from LIDAR Imagery and Aerial Photographs. Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries Open File Report O-06-27

Burns, W.J., 2006. USGS Debris Flow Flume at H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest. Oregon Geology, Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries, Fall 2006, Volume 67, Number 1

Madin, I.P. and Burns, W.J., 2006. Pilot Study, Mapping Portland Landslides with LIDAR. Cascadia from the Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries, Fall 2006, Volume 4, Number 2.

Burns, W.J., 2006. Landslide Hazards in Oregon. Oregon Geology Fact Sheet. Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries.

Wang, Y. and Burns, W.J., 2006. Rapid Visual Screening Program in Oregon, Earthquake Engineering Research Institute Newsletter Volume 40, Number 8

Wang, Y. and Burns, W.J., 2006. Oregon's Recipe for Mitigating Earthquakes. Geotimes, August 2006.

Wang, Y., and Burns, W.J., 2006. Facilities Statewide to be Assessed for Seismic Safety. Local Focus, Leagie of Oregon Cities, April 2006.

Wang, Y. and Burns, W.J., 2006. New Earthquake Safety Laws: Oregon's Public Schools and Emergency Facilities. Association of Engineering Geologist News, March 2006, V. 49, No. 1.

Burns, W.J. and Wang, Y., 2006. New Earthquake Safety Legislation. Partnerships In Action, Partners for Disaster Resistance and Resilience: Oregon Showcase State Program. Winter 2006.

Wang, Y. and Burns, W.J., 2005. Earthquake Oregon Performs Seismic Needs Assessment., Engineering Research Institute Newsletter, Volume 39, Number 12

Burns, W.J., 1999. Engineering Geology and Relative Stability of the Southern Half of Newell Creek Canyon, Oregon City, Oregon: Portland State University, Masters Thesis, 147 p. Also available at http://nwdata.geol.pdx.edu/Thesis/FullText/1999/BurnsW/

Burns, S.F., Burns, W.J., James, D.H., and Hinkle, J.C., 1998. Landslides in Portland, Oregon: Metropolitan Area Resulting from the Storm of February 1996: Inventory Map, Database, and Evaluation. METRO Natural Hazards Publication 905828, p.1-65.

CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS

Burns, T.A., Burns, W.J., Lesh, J.T., 2011. Using Lidar Based High Resolution Topography and GIS to Optimize Hiking Trail Alignment Design, Souter Mountain, Oregon. Proceedings of the 9th Annual Urban Ecology and Conservation Symposium, Urban Ecosystem Research Consortium, p.19.

Burns, W.J., Coe, J.A., Madin, I.P., 2010. Using Lidar to Locate and Attribute Landslides in Oregon, Geologic Society of America Abstracts with Programs Vol. 42, No. 5

Mickelson, K.A., Burns, S.F., and Burns, W.J., 2010. Lidar Based Landslide Inventory and Susceptibility Mapping for the Panther Creek Watershed, Coast Range, Oregon, Geologic Society of America Abstracts with Programs Vol. 42, No. 5

Mickelson, Burns, and Burns 2010 AEG, Lidar Based Landslide Inventory and Susceptibility Mapping for the Panther Creek Watershed, Coast Range, Oregon, AEG News 2010 Programs with Abstracts, Vol. 53.

Burns, W.J., Coe, J.A., Sener Kaya, B., Ma, L., 2009. Analysis of Elevation Changes Detected from Multi-Temporal Lidar Surveys in Forested Landslide Terrain in Western Oregon, Geologic Society of America Abstracts with Programs Vol. 41, No. 7.

McConnell, and Burns, 2009. State Geologic Landslide Programs: What is Working and What Isn't, Geologic Society of America Abstracts with Programs Vol. 41, No. 7.

Burns, W.J., Madin, I.P., Ma, L., 2008. Statewide Landslide Information Database of Oregon Release-1, Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, Vol.40, No. 6.

Burns, W.J. and Madin, I.P., 2007. A New Landslide Database of Oregon. In 2007 Landslide Symposium Proceedings and Field Trip Guide. Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries, Open File Report O-07-04.

Burns, W.J., Wang, Y., Hofmeister, R.J., Watzig, R., 2007. Relative earthquake induced hazard maps and identified landslide hazard maps for six counties in the Mid-Willamette Valley including Yamhill, Marion, Polk, Bentron, Linn, and Lane Counties, Oregon, In 2007 Landslide Symposium Proceedings and Field Trip Guide. Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries, Open File Report O-07-04.

Madin, I.P., Burns, W.J., Sanchez, M., 2007. Producing the Oregon City LIDAR Map. 2007 Landslide Symposium Proceedings and Field Trip Guide, Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries, Open File Report O-07-04.

Madin, I.P. and Burns, W.J., 2007. Earthquake and landslide hazards at the far ends of the Portland Hills Fault zone, Geologic Society of America, Abstracts with Programs Vol. 39, No. 4

Burns, W.J., Hofmeister, R.J., Wang, Y., LeDuc, A., Sigrist, D., 2006. Geologic Hazard Maps and Risk Assessments in Oregon: FEMA Natural Hazards Mitigation Plans for Six Counties in the Mid/Southern Willamette Valley, Oregon. 100 Anniversary Earthquake Conference: Commemorating the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake. Oral Presentation, Program, p.79

Wang, Y., Burns, W.J., 2006. Case History on the Oregon GO Bond Task Force: Promoting Earthquake Safety in Publics Schools and Emergency Facilities. 100 Anniversary Earthquake Conference: Commemorating the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake. Oral Presentation, Program, p.134

Wang, Y., Burns, W.J., 2005. 2004 Sumatra Earthquake and Tsunami Versus Cascadia Subduction Zone Models. 2005 UNAVCO / IRIS JOINT WORKSHOP, June 9 - 11, 2005. Poster Presentation. http://www.unavco.net/community/meetings/2005/viewabstract.asp?id=6930

Wang, Y, Burns, W. 2005. Seismic Site Specific Hazard Studies: DOGAMI's Regulatory Role. ATC-35 Seminar on New Knowledge of Earthquake Hazard in Oregon and Implications for Seismic Design Practice, April 7, 2005, Portland, OR

Burns, S.F., W. Burns, D. James, and J. Hinkle, (1999) Reactivation of ancient landslides in Northwest Oregon from 1996 to 1999. GSA Abstracts with Programs, Pg. A287

Burns, S.F., Burns, W.J., James, D.H., and Hinkle, J.C., 1998. Landslides in Portland, Oregon: Processes, Damages, Remediation, and Resulting Land Use Planning. Association of Engineering Geologists, Programs with Abstracts, 41st Annual Meeting, p. 81

Burns, S.F., Burns, W.J., James, D.H., and Hinkle, J.C., 1998. Landslide Mapping in Portland, Oregon: Processes, Causes, Damages, Remediation, and Resulting Land Use Planning. Geological Society of America, Abstracts with Programs, v. 30, n. 5, p. 7

Burns, S.F., Burns, W.J., James, D.H., and Hinkle, J.C., 1998. Landslide Mapping in Portland, Oregon: Processes, Causes, Damages, Remediation, and Resulting Land Use Planning: Proceedings of the Oregon Academy of Science, v.34, p.26

Burns, W.J., Fiedorowicz, B.K., 1997. Landslides Inventory and Slope Susceptibility of Forest Park, Portland, Oregon: Proceedings of the Oregon Academy of Science, v.33, p.35

Burns, W.J., 1996, Soil Chronosequence on Stream Terraces of the Sandy River at Oxbow Park, OR: Proceedings of the Oregon Academy of Science, v.32, p.28-29

AWARDS AND NOMINATIONS

• Geological Society of America, 2011. Nominated for the GSA Public Service Award.
• Oregon Department of Geology, 2006. Outstanding Contribution Towards Completion of the Seismic Needs Assessment and Report
• Oregon Department of Geology, 2005. Performance Award

PROFESSIONAL TALKS/PRESENTATIONS AND PUBLIC EDUCATION

Oregon Seismic Safety Policy Advisory Commission (OSSPAC)
Office of Emergency Management Association (OEMA)
Chicago Title Insurance Company of Oregon
The Oregon Geographic Information Council (OGIC)
National Ski Patrol (NSP)
Southwest Portland Neighborhoods (SWNI)
Southwest Portland Hills Neighborhood (SWHRL)
Bull Mountain CPO4B
Oregon City
Astoria
Silverton
Lake Oswego
West Linn
Portland
Sherwood
Woodburn
Seaside
Sandy
Troutdale
Hood River
Clackamas County
Hood River County
Multnomah County
Clatsop County
Wasco County
Lane County
Marion County
Morrow County
Lake County
Harney County
Gilliam County
Wheeler County
Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT)
Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries Governing Board
Oregon Planners Institute (OPI)
Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
USGS Cascades Volcanic Observatory

TV, NEWSPAPER, AND RADIO INTERVIEWS

Portland's Channel 2 (KATU)
Portland's Channel 6 (KOIN)
Portland's Channel 8 (KGW)
Portland's Channel 12 (KPTV)
The Discover Channel - Raging Nature: Landslides

Statesman Journal, Salem
Oregonian, Portland
Clackamas Print, Clackamas Community College
Daily Astorian, Astoria
Associated Press

KINK
KEX
KXL
KTRO

 

Last Updated: June 2011

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