Skip to main content

Gregory Baker, PhD, is a lifelong educator and recently-elected lifetime Fellow of the Geological Society of America whose research and teaching is focused on utilizing state-of-the-art quantitative imagery to support hypothesis testing of near-surface Earth science problems.

His driving creed is "learning by doing"; therefore, courses as well as student research projects incorporate discussions of and hands-on planning, acquisition, data processing, data analysis and interpretation of real-world problems.

Learn more about Baker by visiting the following: Researchgate, Vimeo, Sketchfab, Linkedin, and Geoavatar.

 For scientific publications and work, please visit either: Researchgate or Scholar.google 

Science conducted by Dr. Baker and CMU students in “The Bakery”

(Also see recent Maverick Magazine article featuring Dr. Baker)

  • Drones: LiDAR, Thermal imagery, Multispectral analyses, Structure-from-Motion 3D
  • Hydrogeology: Groundwater Investigations, Groundwater Modelling, Critical Zone
  • Geophysics: Seismic reflection imaging, Seismic tomography, Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR)
  • Structural Geology/Tectonics: Paleoseismicity, Rock Fractures, Plate Tectonics
  • Programming: Image Analyses, 3D Model Building, Machine Learning

Some recent Projects cooked up in “The Bakery” by Dr. Baker and supervised students

  • Geoscience Education: Impact of Classroom Transformation on Inequality in DFW Rates for Women and Underrepresented Minorities in Introductory Geology Courses
  • Groundwater: Application of RGB and multispectral drone (sUAS) photogrammetry of alluvial fans in the Grand Valley of Colorado USA for detecting shallowly-buried channel features that may act as groundwater conduits;   Examining meter-scale fluid channelization in a subhorizontal bedrock fracture by tracking high salinity tracer using surface ground penetrating radar
  • Water Resources: Combining multiple seismic and ground penetrating radar techniques to analyze geologic controls of riparian meadow complexes in the Central Great Basin, Nevada USA;   Estimates of high-flow stream flood discharge using drone (sUAS) photogrammetry and LiDAR imagery in an ephemeral stream, Mesa County, Colorado USA
  • Structural Geology/Tectonics: Determination of Mesoscopic Fracture Kinematics from Drone-based Remote Sensing in Unaweep Canyon, Western Colorado;   Characterizing an incised valley fill in the Aberdeen Member, Upper Cretaceous Blackhawk Formation, Book Cliffs Utah
  • Paleoclimatology: Holocene evolution of parabolic dunes, White River Badlands, South Dakota, USA
  • Glacial Geology: Incorporating near-surface geophysical techniques into basic science research on alpine glaciers and glacial deposits;   Near-surface seismic reflection profiling of the Matanuska Glacier, Alaska USA
  • Geomicrobiology: Acquisition Criteria for UAV (drone) structure-from-motion (SfM) and photogrammetry of architecture of extremophile microbial mats, Puerto Rico USA
  • Archaeology: Multi-tool geophysical surveys of a 4th Century Roman fort, Humayma, Jordan;   A multi-tool geophysical investigation of the Dreamer’s Bay ancient Roman port, Akrotiri Peninsula, Cyprus

Recent courses taught by Dr. Baker

  • Weather & Climate [GEOL 103]
  • Water, People, & the Environment [GEOL 108]
  • Historical Geology (Paleogeography) [GEOL 112/L]
  • Field-Based Physical Geology [GEOL 113/L]
  • Structural Geology [GEOL 301/L]
  • Intro to Groundwater [GEOL 415/L]
  • Drone Explorations on Earth [GEOL 470]
  • Summer Geological Field Mapping [GEOL 480]
  • Field Methods in Hydrogeology [GEOL 496: Topics]

Examples of Media from research & teaching

  • 3D Models generated by Dr Baker and The Bakery can be found on Sketchfab 

Mt. Hillers / Henry Mtns SfM 3D Geology Model by GeoAvatar on Sketchfab

Some Facts about Dr. Baker

(Also see recent Maverick Magazine article featuring Dr. Baker)

  • Coordinator of CMU’s Watershed Sciences minor (2019 - )
  • Faculty Advisor, Sigma Gamma Epsilon (SGE) Earth Science Honors Society, CMU’s Zeta Nu Chapter (2019 - )
  • Chair, CMU Assessment Committee (2025 - )
  • Advisory Board Member, CMU’s Hutchins Water Center (2020 - )
  • Member of the Mesa County Hazard Mitigation Planning Team (2024 - )
  • Elected lifetime Fellow of the Geological Society of America, 2024
  • Supervised undergraduate student KennaLee Worster, 1st Place Undergraduate Research Presentation Competition, Hydrogeology Division, Geological Society of America, 2023
  • Research supervisor for 6 PhD and 14 MS graduated students (while on the faculty at SUNY Buffalo & University of Tennessee before arriving at CMU) 

Recent students who have Conducted Research with Dr. Baker

  • Cole Beyers, CMU Geology Major, Senior Honors Thesis, 2024-25
  • Graceanne Hanson, CMU Geology Major, Senior Honors Thesis, 2024-25
  • Zachary Shomers, CMU Geology Major, Independent Research, 2024-25
  • KennaLee Worster, CMU Geology Major, Independent Research, 2023-24
  • Janelle Pethick, CMU Anthropology Major, Independent Research, 2023-24
  • Anja Riedel, CMU Geology Major, Senior Honors Thesis, 2021-23
  • Laura Kleim, CMU Geology Major, Independent Research, 2022-23
  • Karlie Hadden, CMU Geology Major, Senior Honors Thesis, 2020-22
  • Jarad Lavelle, CMU Geology Major, Structured Research, 2019-21

Recent student presentations at the CMU Showcase

  • Beyer, C. and Baker., G.S., 2025, Determination of Mesoscopic Fracture Kinematics from Drone-based Remote Sensing in Unaweep Canyon, Western Colorado, USA
  • Hanson, G. and Baker., G.S., 2025, Estimates of high-flow stream flood discharge using drone (sUAS) photogrammetry and LiDAR imagery in an ephemeral stream, Mesa County, Colorado USA
  • Shomers, Z., Baker, G.S., and Aslan, A., 2025, Preliminary Structural Investigation of Laramide Deformation, South Shale Ridge, De Beque, Colorado, USA
  • Hanson, G., Martin, L., and Baker., G.S., 2024, Three-year seasonal monitoring of Ladder Creek to estimate sediment flux and stream competence using drone orthomosaic imagery, Mesa County, Colorado USA
  • Pethick, J. and Baker., G.S., 2024, Drone (sUAS) multispectral imaging of human footprints for enhanced forensic site investigation
  • Worster, K. and Baker., G.S., 2024, Hydrogeological and hydrogeochemical analysis of a Grand Mesa alluvial fan near Whitewater, Mesa County, Colorado USA
  • Schmidt, A., Johnson, V., and Baker., G.S., 2023, Dotsero Volcano magnetic survey
  • Myers, William, Baker, G.S., and Aslan, A., 2023, Integrating drone orthomosaic imagery and structure-from-motion 3D digital models with stratigraphic analysis of the Rabbit Valley paleontological area, Colorado USA
  • Hanson, G. and Baker, G.S., 2023, Analysis of time-lapse drone structure-from-motion orthoimagery in sections of Ladder Canyon for monitoring spring snowmelt-runoff related sediment fluxes, Western Colorado USA
  • Eccher, M., Dambro, L., Moore, C., Kennard, D., and Baker, G.S., 2023, Mitigation plan for North American beaver dam flooding at Avant Vineyards riparian forest
  • Hadden, K. and Baker., G.S., 2021, Preliminary investigation of the crustal and upper mantle tomography of the Devil’s Canyon area in the Grand Valley of Western Colorado USA
  • Horvat, D.J. and Baker., G.S., 2021, Identifying shallow unexposed features in basement rock through ground-based magnetic surveying in the vicinity of Devil’s Canyon, Grand Valley, Western Colorado USA
  • Lavelle, J. and Baker., G.S., 2021, Using drone (sUAS) structure-from-motion (SfM) photogrammetry to detect motion of the West Salt Creek Landslide headwall, Mesa County, Colorado: Presented at the 2021 Colorado Mesa University 12th Annual Student Showcase.
  • Anderson, C.D., Horvat, D.J., Dacuag, R.M., Hadden, K., Johnson, V., Baker, G.S., Livaccari, R., and Eckberg, E., 2021, Preliminary structural and geophysical investigation of possible Cenozoic intrusive events along the northeast Uncompahgre Plateau in Western Colorado 

Recent supervised students presenting their research at National Scientific Conferences

  • Hanson, G.Q., Martin, L., and Baker, G.S., 2024, First-order estimates of high-flow stream flooding discharge from competence measurements using time-lapse drone (sUAS) orthomosaic imagery, Mesa County, Colorado USA: Geological Society of America Abstract Program, Vol. 56, No. 5. doi: 10.1130/abs/2024AM-404888.
  • Renshaw, C., Baldauf, P., Grimley, D., Baker, G.S., and Nichols, J., 2024, Fossil gastropods as Late Pleistocene paleoenvironmental proxies, White River Badlands, South Dakota, USA: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 56, No. 5, 2024 doi: 10.1130/abs/2024AM-402603.
  • Kleim, L. and Baker, G.S., 2023, Application of multispectral drone (sUAS) photogrammetry to improve dinosaurian ichnofossil trackway identification in the Catus Park area, Western Colorado USA: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, Vol. 55, No. 6. doi: 10.1130/abs/2023AM-392898.
  • Worster, K. and Baker, G.S., 2023, Application of RGB and multispectral drone (sUAS) photogrammetry of alluvial fans in the Grand Valley of Colorado USA for detecting shallowly-buried channel features that may act as groundwater conduits: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, Vol. 55, No. 6. doi: 10.1130/abs/2023AM-395359.
  • Riedel, A., Baker, G.S., 2022, Assessing azimuthal seismic first-arrival tomography (ASFT) to quantify geometry of multiple sets of shallow subvertical bedrock fractures for hydrogeologic studies: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, Vol 54, No. 5. doi: 10.1130/abs/2022AM-383503
  • Anderson, C.D., Horvat, D.J., Dacuag, R.M., Hadden, K., Johnson, V., Baker, G.S., Livaccari, R., and Eckberg, E., 2021, Preliminary structural and geophysical investigation of possible Cenozoic intrusive events along the northeast Uncompahgre Plateau in Western Colorado: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol 53, No. 6. doi: 10.1130/abs/2021AM-368314
  • Staub, A., Kamola, D., and Baker, G.S., 2021, Characterizing an incised valley fill in the Aberdeen Member, Upper Cretaceous Blackhawk Formation, Book Cliffs, Utah: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol 53, No. 6. doi: 10.1130/abs/2021AM-367129
  • Byers, C.W., Kramer, H.D., Burkhart, P.A., Baldauf, P., Baker, G.S., McClinton, B., Brown, C., Peet, E., Forrest, A., and Ramey, D., 2019, Sand provenance across the White River Badlands toward the Nebraska Sand Hills: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 51, No. 5.

More Info on Dr. Baker