Paul C Denton

Paul C Denton, Engineering Geologist, Geotechnical Advisor and Company Director

Paul is an engineering geologist with more than 25 years of geotechnical experience specializing in slope stability and other geologic hazard investigations. He is a member of the New Zealand Geotechnical Society and an Engineering Technologist of the Institution of Professional Engineers in New Zealand (TIPENZ). His geotechnical experience in New Zealand since 1991 is supplemented with seven years as an engineering geologist in California where he holds current registration and certification as an engineering geologist. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Earth Sciences from the University of California, Santa Cruz. Since 2005, Paul has shared the role of Geotechnical Advisor to the Nelson City Council, a position shared with the Patriarch of Nelson Geology, Dr Mike R Johnston, former Nelson District Geologist with the New Zealand Geological Survey for 25 years.

Much of Paul's New Zealand experience has been in the Nelson/Marlborough region (top of the South Island). Other work has been on the West Coast, Southland, the Wellington region, the Coromandel Peninsula, Hamilton and Whangarei areas and the Chatham Islands. Paul has worked throughout the Western United States, the Caribbean and New Zealand providing services ranging from geologic resource evaluations and environmental site contamination studies to landslide and faulting investigations. His special interest in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) is reflected in completion of Massey University papers on GIS in 1994 and 1998 and, since 2002, overseeing implementation of a geodatabase to maintain geotechnical and site plan data for Geo-Logic Ltd projects.

A classic view of near vertical strata in the axis of the tightly folded Longford Syncline near Murchison, south of Nelson, South Island, New Zealand

Eco-Friendly Workplace Policy

Consistent with "Think Globally Act Locally" our company policy actively promotes waste minimization and energy efficiency in our daily operations. This includes issuing doublesiding reports and documents and using recycled paper (miminimum post-consumer waste content 35%). Internally all paper is doubleside processed and either recycled through the local scheme or, for confidential materials, shreded. A paperless office goal, while not a reality yet, is reflected in on-line internal reviews and issue of reporting electronically as pdf files is increasingly common. With the help of a an eco-friendly architect recent renovations to the office implemented underfloor solar heating , "super" insulation , energy efficient lighting and rainwater recycling . We anticipate supporting bio-fuel initiatives for the company vehicle in the near future. In the mean time company sponsored tea breaks are a regular for our cycle commuters

Paul says:

Projects I have undertaken vary from building site identification, where hillside stability is an issue, to evaluation and design of mitigation measures and Geotechnical Maintenance Schedules (GMS) to protect "at risk" segments of state highways, municipal pipelines, Department of Conservation walkways/visitor facilities and other engineering works. I can offer specialized expertise in abseil inspection to difficult sites. I have extensive experience with engineering geologic reconnaissance mapping for geotechnically sensitive projects and I take pride in my ability to read and interpret the geology and ground conditions of my projects. In spite of a separation of some 10,000 km between California and New Zealand you would be amazed at the similarities in the geologic settings. I put a lot of energy into sharing my knowledge with clients and the local community, including giving talks and leading school field trips in my spare time. As a geotechnical advisor to the Nelson City Council I have broad knowledge of Council requirements. I have worked extensively with properties subject to, or possibly subject to, Sections 72 of the Building Act (Building on land subject to inundation, landsliding, subsidence etc.). The more difficult the site the greater the challenge - and I appreciate a challenge.

View over Cemetary Islands, Anatohia Bay, Outer Marlborough Sounds

View Paul's Credentials (click here ...)

E-mail Paul directly here paul.denton@geo-logic.co.nz