Curriculum Vitae

Andrew Branson, EIT #

Geological Engineer-in-Training (EIT)
Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (613)893-0019

Education #

Queen’s University
Master of Applied Science (MASc), Geophysics & Geodesy
2018 – 2022

• Thesis-based research in InSAR, geodesy, and remote sensing
• Recipient of Geoscience BC Scholarship and KEGS Scholarship

Bachelor of Applied Science (BASc), Geological Engineering
2014 – 2018

Professional Experience #

BGC Engineering — Geological Engineer-in-Training #

March 2023 – February 2026

Mine & Infrastructure Monitoring (New Afton Mine) #

March 2023 – March 2025

• InSAR analysis and interpretation for tailings dams, slopes, and infrastructure
• Terrestrial LiDAR scanning and photogrammetric change detection
• Instrumentation installation, commissioning, and monitoring:
  • Vibrating wire piezometers, extensometers, settlement plates
  • GNSS monuments and Geo4Sight systems
• Dam raise construction quality assurance (CQA)
• Bathymetric data processing and interpretation
• Diamond drilling and geotechnical core logging
• Sonic drilling and soil logging, including:
  • Shelby tube sampling
  • SPT and LPT testing

Geophysics Group #

March 2025 – January 2026

• Completed geophysical programs across mining, pipeline, and transportation projects, including:
  • Macassa Mine: Depth to bedrock investigation for TSF expansion
  • Trans Mountain Expansion Pipeline: GPR surveys of pipeline crossings for void/sinkhole detection
  • Mount Nansen Mine Remediation Project: Permafrost characterization for contaminant pathway modelling
  • Yellowstone Infrastructure: Bedrock characterization for highway expansion.
  • Fording River Operations Mine: Foundation investigation of TSFs as part of EVRs due diligence.
• Planned, executed, and interpreted:
  • Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT)
  • Seismic Refraction Tomography (SRT)
  • Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR)

Rock Mechanics Support #

• Geotechnical rock core logging at Donlin Gold (August 2025) and New Afton Mine

GeoSolutions Consulting Inc — Consultant #

February 2022 – Present

LittoralEye #

Global maritime vessel detection platform built on Sentinel-1 SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar) imagery.

• Designed and built a processing pipeline ingesting ~1,000 Sentinel-1 granules per day (global coverage), running ship detection algorithms on a local compute cluster, and storing results in a partitioned PostGIS database
• Developed a FastAPI backend serving filtered vector tiles and spatiotemporal statistics via PostGIS spatial queries
• Built an interactive web frontend (Vite, MapLibre GL JS) with date range and vessel size filters, draw-to-query area-of-interest tools, and Chart.js time-series visualization
• Deployed services (tile server, API, frontend) on self-built hardware behind Nginx and a Cloudflare tunnel — live at littoraleye.ca
• Stack: Python, PostgreSQL/PostGIS, FastAPI, MapLibre GL JS, Linux

Canadian Ski Patrol (CSP) — Volunteer Ski Patroller #

Sun Peaks, British Columbia
Fall 2024 – Present (winter seasonal)

• On-hill first response to injuries and medical incidents
• Patient assessment, stabilization, and evacuation
• Scene safety and hazard assessment in alpine environments

TRE Altamira — Geospatial Analyst #

May 2021 – March 2023

• Managed InSAR projects from feasibility through delivery for mining and energy clients
• Performed displacement analysis using SAR platforms such as TSX, CSK, SNT, ALOS and led the outreach and investigation of SAOCOM feasibility for InSAR.
• Automation and scripting team lead (Python, R, PowerShell)
• SFTP file transfer and data delivery team lead.

Pioneer Exploration — Field Manager #

July 2020 – April 2021

• Managed UAV magnetic survey programs:
  • Flight planning, piloting, QA/QC, and logistics
• Oversaw telemetry monitoring and remote field operations
• Operated in remote environments using snowmobiles, helicopters, and Sherp/Fattruck platforms

Queen’s University — Research Assistant (Geophysics & Geodesy Lab) #

November 2017 – July 2020

• Field surveys in British Columbia targeting podiform chromite occurrences
• Completed ~200 line-km of ground magnetic surveys in addition to targeted EM-31 and RES/IP.
• Generated DEMs and deformation products using Sentinel-1 data
• Conducted PSInSAR subsidence monitoring and DInSAR earthflow analysis
• Developed analysis scripts in Python, R, and MATLAB on Linux systems

Geological Survey of Canada — Permafrost Research Assistant #

May 2018 – September 2018

• Supported permafrost field programs across:
  • Mackenzie River Valley (NWT)
  • Nunavut
• Installed and maintained thermistor cables, thaw tubes, and weather stations
• Assisted with ERT surveys and drilling programs
• Ground-truthing of RADARSAT-2 and ALOS-2 InSAR observations

Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (OMNRF) — Park Warden #

June 2016 – September 2017

• Night warden, Rideau River Provincial Park (2016)
• Interior warden, Algonquin Park North Operations (2017)
• Enforcement patrols by foot, vehicle, canoe, and floatplane

Camp Pathfinder — Canoe Tripping Guide #

June 2012 – August 2015

• Guided multi-week wilderness canoe expeditions in Algonquin Park and Temagami

Technical Skills #

Programming & Scripting #

• Python
• MATLAB
• R
• Bash
• PowerShell

Data, Automation & Systems #

• Python-based data processing and automation pipelines
• Linux systems administration
• Bash and PowerShell scripting
• Geospatial data workflows and large dataset management
• Version control (Git)
• Containerized services (Docker)
• Networked data systems and remote access (VPNs, SSH, SFTP)
• Automated data ingestion and monitoring workflows

Geophysics & Monitoring #

• InSAR displacement analysis (PSInSAR, DInSAR)
• Tailings, slope, and infrastructure deformation monitoring
• Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT)
• Seismic Refraction Tomography (SRT)
• Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR)
• Terrestrial LiDAR scanning and change detection
• GNSS monitoring
• Bathymetric data processing
• UAV and ground magnetic surveys

Field & Operational Experience #

• Extensive field experience on active mine sites
• Working around heavy mining equipment, haul trucks, drills, and construction activities
• Instrumentation installation and monitoring in active operational environments
• Tailings storage facility (TSF) access and fieldwork
• Drill site supervision (diamond and sonic drilling)
• Helicopter- and vehicle-supported field operations
• Experience working in construction quality assurance (CQA) programs
• Remote and wilderness fieldwork in mountainous and northern environments
• Qualified chainsaw operator (OMNRF)
• Bear safety training with firearms qualification for dispatch (OMNRF)

Conferences & Presentations #

• PDAC (2016–2020; poster presentation)
• Inquiry@Queen’s Undergraduate Conference (2017)
• Queen’s Space Conference (2017)
• Queen’s Oil and Gas Conference (2016, 2018)
• Queen’s Conference on Business and Mining (2018)

Certifications & Qualifications #

• H₂S Alive
• Respirator fit testing (half-face)
• SP-100 Forest Firefighting
• Park Warden Initial Training (law, legislation, court procedure)
• PAL (Firearms License)
• Defensive Driving Certification
• Pleasure Craft Operator Card