Philip J. Shaller

Dr. Philip Shaller brings over 25 years of experience in the field of engineering geology, with significant expertise in the assessment and mitigation of geologic hazards, including landslides, debris flows, alluvial fan flooding, post-wildfire flooding hazards, expansive and collapsible soils, and coastal hazards. He also has considerable experience in geologic and geomorphic site characterization, aerial photo analysis, and the logging of subsurface borings including mapping, subsurface characterization and construction observation during construction of the Getty Center museum complex in Los Angeles, CA; investigation of a proposed railroad alignment between Sheridan, WY and Miles City, MT, geological and geochemical investigation of the Ka Loko Dam failure in Hawaii, numerical modeling of the La Conchita landslide in California, investigation of damaged infrastructure and ground deformation following the Northridge Mexicali, and Bhuj (India) earthquakes, investigation of a potentially life-threatening landslide at the Matahina Reservoir complex in New Zealand, and a geologic feasibility and risk assessment of a pipeline installation through the Niger Delta. He has consulted extensively on high profile projects across the globe, and has defended his opinions in depositions, mediation and trial.

ADDITIONAL AREAS OF EXPERTISE

Air Photo and Terrain Analysis
Coastal Processes, Flooding and Sand Migration
Flood Hazard Analysis
Geologic Mapping and Subsurface Characterization
Ground Motion and Seismic Hazards
Landslides and Slope Stability

Publications

The Eureka Valley Landslide: Evidence of a Dual Failure Mechanism for a Long-Runout Landslide, Lithosphere, December 2020
Rapid In Situ Conversion of Late-Stage Volcanic Materials to Halloysite Implicated in Catastrophic Dam Failure, Hawaii, Clay Minerals 2016; 51:499-515.
Conceptual site model for Newark Bay — Hydrodynamics and sediment transport, Journal of Marine Science and Engineering 2014; 2(1):123-139.
Comment on: When landslides are misinterpreted as faults: Case studies from the western United States, Environmental & Engineering Geoscience, February 2013
When landslides are misinterpreted as faults: Case studies from the western United States, Environmental & Engineering Geoscience , November 2012
Needs and benefits of Co-operation, In: Flood Hazard Identification and Mitigation in Semi- and Arid Climates, January 2012
Numerical modeling of the 2005 La Conchita landslide, Ventura County, California, In: Flood Hazard Identification and Mitigation in Semi- and Arid Environments. French RH and Miller JJ (eds), World Scientific Publishing Co., Inc., Hackensack, NJ, September 2012; pp. 164-191
The 2005 La Conchita landslide, California: Part 1 - Geology, In: 5th International Conference on Debris-Flow Hazards Mitigation: Mechanics, Prediction and Assessment, Padua, Italy, June 14-17, 2011. Italian Journal of Engineering Geology and Environment, Genevois R, Hamilton D, and Prestininzi A (eds), GeneCasa Editrice Università La Sapienza, Rome, Italy, 2011; 745-750.
The 2005 La Conchita landslide, California: Part 2 - Modeling, In: 5th International Conference on Debris-Flow Hazards Mitigation: Mechanics, Prediction and Assessment, Padua, Italy, June 14-17, 2011. Italian Journal of Engineering Geology and Environment, Genevois R, Hamilton D, and Prestininzi A (eds), GeneCasa Editrice Università La Sapienza, Rome, Italy, 2011; 751-758.
Proposed revision of marine terrace extent, geometry, and rates of uplift, Pacific Palisades, California, Environmental & Engineering Geoscience 2004 Aug; X(3):253-275.
See CV for further publications

Philip J. Shaller, Ph.D., P.G., C.E.G.

Senior Managing Consultant

Publications

Home Office

California - Irvine

Areas of Expertise

Associations