Jim O’Donnell

EDUCATION:
BA  Geophysics 196x---U.C. Berkeley-Geology & Geophysics Dept.
MA Geophysics 196x---U.C. Berkeley-Geology & Geophysics Dept.
NOAA Visiting Scientist 197x-7x--U.C. Berkeley, Engineering Geoscience Dept.

EXPERIENCE:
Geosciences Dept/UNLV- Received grant in 1999 from Nevada Earthquake Safety Council (NESC) for promoting Earthquake Awareness and Education by upgrading UNLV’s Seismograph and the work was completed in April 2000.  Installed three seismometers, with WWVB timing, digital recording, and software, which allows for computing earthquake magnitude, epicenter locations, and digital signal analysis of the data.  The seismograms are recorded and displayed in the Lilly Fong Geosciences building in real time.  Served as PI (2001-2002) on a project to develop the Nevada Educational Seismograph Network (NESN) for Nevada high schools.  Seismographs have been placed in 5 Las Vegas high schools as well as 14 rural Nevada schools.  Funding for this project comes from the NESC and the Nevada Public Agency Insurance Pool.  Served as UNLV Liaison to UNR and assisted UNR (2001) in locating four strong motion sites in the Las Vegas area for the USGS-Advanced National Seismic System (ANSS) Initiative. Presented seminar to Geoscience Dept on the Nevada Educational Seismograph Network (December 2001).  Consulting geophysicist to UNLV’s Black Hills Fault Paleoseismic Trenching Project (2001-2003). Advising and assisting Wanda Taylor (UNLV-Structural Geologist), and Barbara Luke (Civil Engineer), project PI’s, on geophysical methods to be used in fault detection. Serve as a consultant to staff and students on how to conduct geophysical surveys, such as Seismic, GPR, EM and Magnetics.
http://www.unlv.edu/Colleges/Sciences/Geoscience/

Engineering Geophysics Laboratory (EGL)/UNLV- Consultant with EGL to assist graduate students in the use of geophysical methods and instrumentation.  Assisted Prof. Barbara Luke with class fieldwork, geophysical surveys, and gave seminar on ‘Geophysical Methods with Emphasis on Engineering Applications.’  Installed geophones in Sept 1999 that are located in Boulder City, which are recording micro earthquakes (M<2, too small to be felt) originating near the Dam, and in Eldorado Valley. These research geophones are the seismometer of choice for recording local earthquakes, and are on loan from the EGL.  They record continuously in Boulder City, except when needed by the EGL for their seismic surveys. Recently appointed as Adjunct Research Faculty Member in the Civil and Environmental Engineering Dept (2001).  http://www.ce.unlv.edu/egl/

Presented lectures, 2002, to Prof’s Ladkany’s graduate class in Earthquake Engineering on:  Earthquakes, Faulting, Seismicity, Liquefaction = Potential Ground Motion Hazards in the Las Vegas Valley (Basin)- A recipe for disaster!	

Harry Reid Center/UNLV- Nevada Risk Analysis Management Program (NRAMP) researcher, part time (10 hours/week), worked on contaminated groundwater problem from underground nuclear testing conducted at the Nevada Test Site (NTS). Estimated underground nuclear test yields from seismic magnitudes for 230 tests shot in the groundwater (1997-1998).

Holmes & Narver (H&N) Consultant- Prepared and gave presentations on DOE’s Weapons Test, Technology Transfer, and Emergency Management programs. The presentations were given to Nevada Testing & Technologies (NT2), which consisted of H&N, Foster Wheeler Environmental Corp., E-Systems, Parsons Brinkerhoff, and British Nuclear, Inc. Served on the NT2 Review Team, which reviewed the NT2 proposal to manage the NTS (1995).

DOE/NV Test Scientific Officer- Contracting Officer’s Representative to monitor M&O contractor activities (REECO, EG&G, H&N.) Chaired the Deployable Seismic Verification Working Group, which developed state-of-the-art, and real time, seismic systems to be used in verifying the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (1987-95.) Also served as Technology Transfer Specialist and Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Specialist (1992-94) with National Weapons Laboratories (Los Alamos, Livermore, and Sandia), DOD agencies, DOE/HDQ’s and M&O contractors. Supported Containment Evaluation Panel (all tests at NTS had to be approved by this panel) with geological and geophysical information on the NTS (1990-94).  Managed DOE/NV’s Seismic Safety Program, which involved seismic strong motion network, ground motion prediction, and building structural response studies, seismic records library for DOE/NV (1992-94).  Monitored Nuclear Emergency Search Team and Threshold Test Ban Treaty Implementation programs for DOE/NV (1987-91).  Retired in Dec-1994 with 26 years of civil service.

Supervised borehole geophysics and seismic prospecting programs in Saudi Arabia for ARAMCO (1980-85)

Supervised geothermal exploration of Western U.S. for USGS (1975-80)

Developed geophysical methods and instrumentation for NOAA (1965-75)

Skills/Expertise:
Geological, Geophysical, Geotechnical and Engineering Geoscience Background
Geophysical Methods and Instrumentation
Technical Supervisor
Technical Program Management
Geophysical Consultant to geophysical instrumentation companies, and geotechnical firms in Las Vegas

Publications/Accomplishments:
Co-authored 4 papers published in the Engineering Geology & Geotechnical Engineering (EGGE) symposium 
 held on the UNLV campus during March 2001.  The papers dealt with:  Faulting, Seismicity, Seismic          Hazards, Anomalous Shaking and Estimated Losses from a Local M6.9 Event in the Las Vegas Region.
Co-founder of the NESN project to develop high school seismographs for Earthquake Education and 
    Awareness, and also to motivate student’s interest in science & engineering (1999-2003).  
Received Nevada Earthquake Safety Council Awards for Excellence, on 24 August 2001 in Las Vegas, NV, 
    for developing Nevada Educational Seismograph Network. (http://www.nbmg.unr.edu/nesc/awards5.htm)
Received Western States Seismic Policy Council (WSSPC) Awards for Excellence, on Sept. 17, 
2002 in Denver, CO; for developing and operating the Nevada Educational Seismograph Network. 
(http://www.wsspc.org/award/2002/NESCedunet.htm)
Serve on the Board of Directors for the Nevada Earthquake Safety Council, 2000-2003; conducted a survey 
	for the NESC/ANSS that made a priority list of Las Vegas buildings, to be instrumented with strong motion 
	accelerometers, for an earthquake safety mitigation program.
Member of Geological Society of Nevada (GSN), Association of Engineering Geologists (AEG), and 
Consortium of Organizations for Strong-Motion Observation Systems (COSMOS).                                                                                                          Presented a talk, March 14, 2000, to the AEG on ‘Seismicity, Seismic Hazards, and Anomalous Shaking in the Las Vegas Region.’
Published 15 scientific papers on Resource Assessment of Geothermal Areas in Western US (1970-80) Registered Geologist No. 1240, State of California, 1970                                                                      Registered Geophysicist No. 158, State of California, 1974                                                                       DOE/NV: Chaired Deployable Seismic Verification System Working Group (1987-92)                      Managed DOE Technology Transfer Program and Seismic Safety Program (1990-94)