Engineering · Mapping · Science

Forged in Alaska, delivered with impact

Geological investigations, mapping, management consulting, and whatever comes next. The tools are free. This site is a portfolio and playground for science, research, technology and innovation.

Certified Professional Geologist · PMP & PMI-ACP · GIS & Remote Sensing · Drone Operations · 3D Printing & Fabrication · Alaska

Capabilities

A multi-disciplinary practice spanning field geology, spatial analysis, and applied science. Alaska is home base — remote terrain, permafrost, and logistics complexity are the norm, not the exception.

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Project Management

PMP- and PMI-ACP-certified. Investigation program management, multidisciplinary field team coordination, technical deliverable oversight, and agile project delivery frameworks applied to engineering and science work.

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Subsurface Investigation

Drill program planning and oversight. SPT methodology; hollow-stem auger, rotary, sonic, and cable-tool drilling; test pit supervision; sampling, field logging, and lab test specification. Permafrost and remote-access experience throughout.

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Engineering Geology

USCS field identification; rock mass description per ISRM methods; slope stability and geologic hazard assessment. Alaska context includes glaciomarine silts, Bootlegger Cove Formation, Cook Inlet Quaternary, and Péwé loess deposits.

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Pavement Evaluation

Pavement distress identification and root-cause analysis. Frost heave and thaw-weakening diagnosis; subgrade characterization; Alaska-specific failure mechanisms from freeze-thaw cycling and permafrost differential settlement.

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GIS & Spatial Analysis

Geographic information systems, spatial dataset development, cartographic production, and analytical mapping. Remote sensing data integration, raster and vector analysis, and field-to-map workflows for engineering and environmental projects.

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Drone & Remote Sensing

UAS operations; photogrammetric survey and 3D model generation; orthomosaic and DEM production; change detection and site monitoring. Applied to geotechnical, environmental, and infrastructure projects in remote Alaska terrain.

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Research & Applied Science

Independent research in geoscience, planetary science, and applied math. Prior work in asteroid and small-body geology. Current interests include thaw consolidation modeling, regional Alaska geology, and quantitative tools for field practitioners.

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3D Printing & Fabrication

Meteor Forge Industries — our origin — custom 3D printing, prototyping, and small-batch fabrication. FDM and resin. Field instrument mounts, custom parts, models, and whatever else needs to exist in physical form.

Tools, Models & Interactive Resources

Browser-based tools for practitioners and curious people. No login, no cost, no server required — everything runs in the browser. Built for field use and professional reference, with offline capability planned.

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LiveGL & GIS

Geology & Field Tools

Field identification guides, investigation planning, and diagnostic tools for soil, rock, and subsurface conditions. Includes GIS and spatial tools as a sub-category.

  • Rock & Soil Identification Guide — GL02
  • Pavement Distress Identification — GL01
  • Subsurface Investigation Planning — GL03
  • Well / Boring Geometry Builder — GL04
  • GCP Planning Aid — GIS01
  • Map Projection Reference Guide — GIS02
  • UAS Pre-Flight Decision Tree — GIS03

Explore tools

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Live — Under ReviewGT

Geotechnical Design

Flexible pavement section design, frost susceptibility screening, and ESAL traffic analysis — all grounded in Alaska DOT&PF methodology and the AKFPD Manual.

  • Pavement Section Design Calculator — GT01
  • Subgrade Frost / Casagrande Checker — GT02
  • ESAL Calculator — GT03

Explore design tools

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In ProgressRI — Weird Science

Research & Innovation

AI-assisted data analysis, computational models, and independent research tools. Planetary geology, regional Alaska geoscience, and quantitative modeling experiments live here.

  • AI Historical Data Analysis — RI01
  • Thaw Consolidation Model — RI02

Explore research tools

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In ProgressPM

Project Management

Project Management tools and simulators. Practical tools for practitioners working toward or maintaining PMP and PMI-ACP credentials.

  • PMI Event Prep — PM01

Explore PM Tools

Contact & Connect

Available for consulting, project collaboration, and technical support. Engineering geology, GIS, drone remote sensing, and project management — primarily Alaska and the Pacific Northwest. All tools on this site are open-access and free to use; feedback and field reports are always welcome.

Independence Notice: This site is an independent personal project by Ian Minnock and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or developed on behalf of the Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities, any government agency, or any employer. References to agency specifications are for informational purposes only. All tool outputs are design aids and should be verified by a qualified professional before use.