My Expertise

As a Research Geologist, I utilize the scientific method to acquire geologic knowledge and arrive at conclusions about the world around us. The scientific method is conducted in an objective manner and tends to produce unbiased results. I can bring over 40 years of geologic experience to your business.

Expert Witness

I have served as an expert witness for the US Department of Justice, US Environmental Protection Agency, and Nevada Department of Transportation and have been on numerous committees to render scientific judgment.

An expert must maintain professional integrity throughout the entire process, from preparation to the final testimony. If the expert presents testimony he or she does not firmly believe in, it will probably be borne out under cross-examination, to the disadvantage of the client.

I have a reputation for honesty and integrity. I am a Certified Professional Geologist with the American Institute of Professional Geologists. That organization, as well as my previous employer, the United States Geological Survey, demand the highest integrity of their members.

Aggregate Resources Expert

I was the US Geological Survey Research Geologist for Aggregate Resources from 1976 until my retirement in 2011. I conducted research on geologic issues related to the location, identification, characterization, extraction and processing of aggregate (sand, gravel, and stone) resources, and the reclamation of mined out areas.

I have conducted projects throughout the country including Arizona, the Colorado Front Range, Gulf Coastal Plain, New England, northern Illinois, northern Virginia, and Wind River Reservation.

Technical Writing

I authored over 300 peer-reviewed technical reports and maps while employed by the US Geological Survey.

I write a monthly column on geology for Aggregates Manager and for Quarry, the official journal of the Institute of Quarrying, Australia. The column has been the recipient of the American Association of Business Publications Editors Award of Excellence on multiple occasions.

Data Mining

Data mining is the process of accessing, selecting, exploring, and modeling large amounts of data to identify meaningful patterns and relationships and summarizing the data into useful information.

I have acquired, or have access to, vast amounts of historical data regarding the production and value of aggregate resources and other industrial minerals. The data are at the world, national, state, and regional levels, and can be displayed as tables, maps, graphs, and so forth. I have decades of experience interpreting and visualizing those data.

Sustainability

I have been involved in sustainability for well over a decade and have authored a number of papers on the subject including:

Langer, W.H., 2009, Chapter 1 — Sustainability of aggregates in construction, in Sustainability of Construction Materials, Woodhead Publishing, Cambridge, UK, p. 1–30.
Langer, W.H., Giusti, C., and Barelli, G., 2004, Sustainable development of natural aggregate with examples from Modena Province, Italy, in Yernberg, W.R., ed., Transactions Volume 314: Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration, Inc., Littleton, Colorado, p. 138–144.
Langer, W.H., Šolar, S.V., Shields, D.J., and Giusti, C., 2003, Sustainability indicators for aggregates, in Agioutantis, Z., ed., Proceedings of the International Conference on Sustainable Development Indicators in the Minerals Industries, Athens, Greece, Milos Conference Center, p. 251–257.

Lecturer

I have lectured extensively throughout the USA, Australia, Canada, and Europe. Venues include:

USA: Aggregate Producers Associations (various states); American Institute of Professional Geologists (AIPG); American Fisheries Society; Colorado School of Mines; Forum on Geology of Industrial Minerals; International Center for Aggregates Research (ICAR); National Indian Mineral Conference; National Stone, Sand, and Gravel Association (NSSGA); Northwest Mining Association; Symposium on the Application of Geophysics to Engineering and Environmental Problems (SAGEEP); Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration (SME); and others.
Australia: Institute of Quarrying, Australia (IQA)
Canada: Forum on Geology of Industrial Minerals (Halifax, Quebec, Victoria)
England: Forum on Geology of Industrial Minerals & Extractive Industry Geology Conference
Finland: Aggregates 2001, Helsinki
Hungary: NATO Advanced Study Institute Workshop on Deposit and Geoenvironmental Models for Resource Exploration and Environmental Security
Slovenia: NATO Advanced Study Workshop on Sustainable Mineral Resource Management in Karst Areas
Spain: International Association of Professional Geologists