IET-Sponsored Research in Geoscience

Updated: September 17, 2016

In an effort to provide continuing technical support to the nearly 400 graduates of the IET program in the Houston, Texas area and elsewhere since its beginning in 1992, IET fostered research in areas consistent with the goals of the initial IET program. Although the IET is not currently presenting the IET training program, support continues for the some 400 graduates of the IET program since 1992 through 1997. The support includes:

1. 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 5,000 URLs have been added to the Portal and it has become a popular source of information on geoscience information in Texas, the U.S., and around the world. See the Web Resources Portal, recently converted to the I2M Web Portal (here).
2. In 2002, IET began sponsorship of a major research project on Houston-area faulting and associated impact on the local infrastructure, such as pipelines, water supply, etc. The early work was conducted by personnel of M. D. Campbell and Associates, L.P.

   Their report was tentatively titled:
   
   “Growth Faulting and Subsidence in the Houston, Texas Area: A Guide to the Origins, Relationships, Hazards, Potential Impacts and Methods of Investigation”
   
   A Report for the Graduates of the Institute of Environmental Technology program, Houston, Texas, and re-purposed for the members of the Houston Geological Society (and the Engineering and Environmental Group), and The American Institute of Professional Geologists, and Texas Section of the AIPG.

   The preliminary results of their multi-year study were presented at a Growth Fault Symposium held at Texas A&M University (see program & abstract). A presentation was made at Texas A&M University in 2004 on the preliminary findings of the study (Here). The report is in final review and will be published in due course by personnel of I2M Associates, LLC. 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).

3. In 2004, the Principal Instructor for the IET program, Michael D. Campbell, P.G., P.H., and a Primary Lecturer of IET, 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 are available for those who missed the conferences: (Part I), (Part II), and (Part III).

December 17, 2014 – The IET Guide to Growth Faulting and Subsidence in the Houston, Texas Area has been released after more than 10 years of research and discussions among the geological community in the Houston area (more). The Guide was produced by I2M's Chief Geologist and Chief Hydrogeologist, Michael D. Campbell, P.G., P.H.; by I2M's Project Manager Mining / Environmental Geological Associate, M. David Campbell, P.G.; by I2M's Senior Engineering and Environmental Associate (now President and CEO), Richard C. Bost, P.E., P.G.; and by Henry M. Wise, P.G., Senior Geologist/Hydrogeologist and Remedial Services Senior Specialist for SWS Environmental Services, in La Porte, Texas.

The Guide was announced on the LinkedIn Houston Geological Society Blog for members of the Engineering and Environmental Group (here), and on the LinkedIn AIPG Blog (here) and AIPG Texas Section website news (here).

Based on recent downturns in oil and gas prices, a renewed interest in IET-related training is developing. Watch this space for announcements.