SAGEEP 2022 Luncheons and Conference Events/Activities

Luncheons

Monday, March 21
Geoscientists without Borders^® (GWB) Luncheon
"Developing A Landslide Early Warning System in a Data Sparse Region: A Case Study from The Western Ghats, India"
Speaker:  C. L Vishnu, Ph.D. scholar, Geological and Mining Engineering and Sciences, Michigan Technological University
Time:  12:00 noon - 1:30 p.m. (MT)

The GWB Luncheon presentation focuses on the development of an early warning system for rain-triggered landslides. Two major aspects must be considered in developing such a model:

1) Accurate rainfall measurements to model the rainfall pattern,
2) Accurate slope stability parameters to model slope susceptibility to failure.

The project's study area, Idukki, a district in Kerala, India, bordering the Western Ghats, has a history of extreme rainfall events followed by frequent and intense landslide activity, especially during the monsoon months. Figure 1 shows a glimpse of the landslide activity in the region. The year 2018 alone witnessed 2223 landslides in the monsoon months. As is evident from the figure, Idukki has a sparse rain gauge network that is hardly able to cover the spatial variations in rainfall over an area of about 4000 sq. km. Therefore, it was challenging to satisfy the first requirement of having accurate rainfall measurements for a landslide early warning system.

Vishnu Chakrapani Lekha is a Ph.D. scholar in Geological Engineering from Michigan Technological University. His research area includes landslide monitoring using remote sensing, geospatial analysis, and geophysics. 

GWB supports projects providing humanitarian support to communities throughout the world using geophysics to find water, prevent landslides, and more.  Proceeds from the luncheon go to GWB on behalf of EEGS/SAGEEP 2022.

Tuesday, March 22
EEGS Luncheon and Annual Meeting
Time:  12:00 noon - 1:30 p.m. (MT)
Room:  Colorado I-J

The Environmental and Engineering Geophysical Society (EEGS) will hold its Annual Meeting at the EEGS luncheon.  EEGS Executive Committee members will provide an update on the state of our society, the results of EEGS’ election of Board members for 2022-2023, and recognition of our volunteers.  Following will be a presentation by our featured speaker, Kari Meier, USACE.

DoD Climate and Sustainability: Motivation, Considerations, and Direction for Implementation
Kari Meier, PhD

Dr. Meier’s presentation will provide insight into the U.S. Department of Defense’s (DoD) motivation for developing climate change strategy, with consideration of current and anticipated challenges. New directions are facilitated by recent executive orders that emphasize the importance of greenhouse gas emissions and reporting, including disclosures for major federal vendors. This talk will translate these directions to the Department’s intent to account for GHG emissions in its supply chain, movement to encourage supply chain emissions reductions, and intent to define goals for reducing GHG in DoD’s supply chain with an objective of net zero by 2050. The talk will close with considerations that relate the role of geophysics to DoD’s sustainable initiatives.

Dr. Kari Meier supports the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense (Environmental and Energy Resilience) from her position with the US Army Corps of Engineers, Headquarters. She is the USACE Integrator for PFAS work and the Action Officer for Military Munition Support Services. She recently completed assignment with the DoD Climate Action Team, where she supported completion of DoD’s Climate Adaptation Plan. She has continued her involvement with DoD’s climate sustainability and mitigation initiatives with emphasis on greenhouse gases and sustainable chemistry, promotion of supply chain chemical transparency/disclosure, leveraging of purchasing power, and encouragement of advancements in sustainable procurement. She received her PhD in Atmospheric Chemistry from the Georgia Institute of Technology. Prior to joining USACE in 2006, she held positions as contract support and chemist to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 

Events & Activities:

Monday, March 21

Exhibitors' Equipment Outdoor Demonstration & Brewpub "Field Trip" / Fundraiser at the Woods Boss 
Join fellow SAGEEP attendees on Monday, March 21 from 4:30 to 5:30 pm. at the Benedict Fountain Park in Denver (401 E 20th Ave., Denver) to view the equipment demonstrations provided by the participating companies (see list on Exhibiting/Sponsorship Opportunities). 

Immediately following the demonstrations, join colleagues and fellow Outdoor Demo attendees for the Brewpub Fundraiser at the nearby Woods Boss Brewing Company - Brewery and Taproom.  Woods Boss has transformed an early 1900 brick building into a beautiful brewery and tap room in Denver featuring 24 taps with 20 craft beers brewed in-house with a gluten-free option as well as root beer and kombucha.  For every "pour", Wood Boss will donate $2 to the EEGS Foundation.  Located at 2210 California Street, it's walking distance from the Benedict Fountain Park. 

Map of Outdoor Demo Event and Woods Boss Brewing Company

Tuesday, March 22

GeOpen House and SAGEEP Conference Evening/Networking Event
Colorado E-J

The GeOpen House is a special opportunity for the Denver and surrounding geo-community to learn about geophysics, share perspectives, and network across the aisle. Special panels and sessions will explore how geophysics can contribute to environmental and engineering challenges facing society now and in the future. An evening networking reception will provide a fun and inclusive forum for anyone interested in geoscience and engineering, from students to senior professionals.

GeOpen House registration is a fraction of standard day rates and includes all the highlights below. 

• Panel Sessions

• Drones and Shallow Subsurface Characterization: Four industry experts discuss the use of unmanned aerial vehicles UAVs, applications, challenges, current practice, and opportunities for future development.
• Engineering Sustainability and Climate Change: Experts from government agencies, research institutes, and the private sector discuss impacts of climate change on infrastructure and communities and engineering challenges for sustainability.
• Technical Session 
• Groundwater Management and Geophysics as municipalities improve groundwater resource management (co-sponsored by Colorado Groundwater Association)
• Combining Drones/UAV’s and Geophysics for applications ranging from agricultural soil mapping to detecting landmines and unexploded ordnance (UXO).
• Geoprofessional Networking Evening
• Join other conference attendees for hors d’oeuvres, drinks, and networking. With an easy to use mobile app, you will be automatically matched to other attendees with complementary interests from jobs, to mentorship, professional experience, and more

Conference Evening/Networking Event

Join delegates, exhibitors, and attendees of the GeOpen House for the Conference Evening/Networking event featuring hors d’oeuvres, drinks, and conversation.  To facilitate networking, an easy to use mobile app will be automatically match you to others attendees with complementary interests from jobs, to mentorship, professional experience, and more. Go to app.speednetworking.com and complete your brief networking profile now using event code NETWORK@SAGEEP22 – you must have a completed profile by March 22nd @ 5pm to receive network matching results.  Tickets are available from the SAGEEP 2022 Registration Desk.

Includes admission to the afternoon technical program sessions on Tuesday and admittance to the exhibit hall and Conference Evening event.