Cornforth Consultants :: Larry A. Pierson

Lawrence A. Pierson

Registration
Engineering Geologist - OR, WA

Geologist - OR, WA

Career
2000 - present
Staff Consultant
Cornforth Consultants, Portland, OR

1978 - 2000
Chief Engineering Geologist
Oregon Department of Transportation
(ODOT), Salem, OR

Education
1975/B.S. in Geology
University of California, Los Angeles, CA

Honors/Societies
National Academy of Science, Transportation Research Board, Committee on Engineering Geology (Chairman)

National Academy of Science, Transportation Research Board
Subcommittee on Rockfall Management

Member-author TRB Task Force AFP 15T publication on Rockfall Evaluation and Control

Member, Association of Engineering Geologists

Member, American Rock Mechanics Association

Member, International Society of
Rock Mechanics

U.S. Representative (Debate Panel) to 11th International Congress of the International Society of Rock Mechanics; Lisbon, Portugal

Staff Consultant

Mr. Pierson has over 40 years of experience in engineering geology, and is a nationally recognized expert in the field of rock mechanics with a specialty in transportation projects. Twenty-two years of his experience were with the Oregon Department of Transportation where he served as a Geotechnical Manager and Chief Engineering Geologist. He was responsible for rock slope and rockfall mitigation designs, foundation evaluations for structures, and managing quarry operations and transportation research projects. As part of national pooled-fund research projects, he has developed management and design systems including the Rockfall Hazard Rating System (RHRS) used by U.S. and Canadian transportation agencies as a rock slope management tool, and a national transportation guideline for design of rockfall catchment areas (RCAD).

With Landslide Technology Mr. Pierson has managed major geotechnical projects for the Federal Highway Administration, State DOTs and regional utility companies. He has managed the development of geotechnical procedure manuals and has provided expert witness services on several rockfall litigations and construction claims for transportation agencies.

Several projects representative of Mr. Pierson’s experience include:

Comprehensive RHRS Implementation, Montana Department of Transportation, Montana
Rockfall Litigation, Washington Department of Attorney General, Washington
Diablo Dam Rockfall Mitigation, Seattle City Light, Washington
Highway 101 Neahkahnie Bridges and Viaducts Rockfall Mitigation, Manzanita, Oregon
Cougar Dam Intake Tower Modifications, McKenzie River, Oregon
Rockfall Litigation, Ministry of Attorney General, British Columbia, Canada
Going-to-the-Sun Road Transportation Corridor Improvements, Glacier National Park, Montana
Lemolo Canal No. 2 Rockfall, Tokatee Falls, Oregon
ODOT's Kruger Rock Stability Research Facility, Portland, Oregon
Prospect Penstock Rockfall, PacifiCorp, Oregon
RHRS Implementation, Virginia and Utah Departments of Transportation
Al Baha Descent Highway, Ministry of Communications, Al Baha, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Third Avenue Extension, Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities, Ketchikan, Alaska