I am Professor of Structural Geology and Foundation Professor of Earth Sciences at Royal Holloway, University of London. I direct the Omnidrome Research and Innovation Centre, the Salt Dynamics Group, and the Analogue Tectonic Modelling Laboratories (ATML@RHUL).

With more than 36 years of experience in structural geology, energy geoscience, salt tectonics, neotectonics, and geomechanics, my work bridges the physical and digital geosciences. I lead research that combines geological process understanding with emerging drone, robotics, and AI technologies to advance Earth systems analysis and support the global energy transition.

Before joining Royal Holloway in 2007, I held research and teaching positions at Dalhousie University (Canada), GFZ Potsdam (Germany), the University of Hamburg (Germany), and the Technical University of Berlin (Germany).

Research Overview

My research investigates how the Earth’s crust deforms and evolves through time, from plate boundaries to reservoir scale. I study the mechanical and structural processes that shape sedimentary basins, fold-and-thrust belts, and rifted continental margins—integrating field observation, geomechanics, and analogue modelling.

A major strand of my work examines salt tectonics and basin evolution, exploring the dynamics of rifted margins and intra-continental basins, and their implications for subsurface energy storage and resource systems. This includes applied research on hydrogen and compressed air energy storage (HES and CAES) in salt structures of the North Sea.

Omnidrome Research and Innovation Centre

As Director of Omnidrome, I lead a cross-university research centre dedicated to advancing drones, robotics, and AI of Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS). The centre fosters multi-disciplinary collaboration across science, engineering, and social science departments, linking academic research with industrial and community partners.

My own research within this framework focuses on the development and application of drone technologies in geoscience—including UAV-based digital mapping, 3D modelling, and environmental monitoring—while supporting Omnidrome’s broader mission to advance autonomous systems research across disciplines.

Research Themes

• Tectonic and mechanical processes: Faulting, fracturing, and non-linear deformation from basin to outcrop scale.
• Salt tectonics and basin evolution: Deformation, flow, and structural control in rift and passive margin systems.
• Coupled tectonic–surface interactions: Feedback mechanism between deformation, erosion, and sedimentation.
• Energy geoscience: Subsurface energy storage and structurally complex reservoirs.
• Analogue and digital modelling: Development of physical simulation and strain monitoring techniques, material testing, and integration with seismic and geomechanical models.
• Drone and AI applications in geoscience: UAV-based imaging and remote sensing, 3D photogrammetry, and digital analysis of geological, geomorphic and environmental processes.

Impact and Collaboration

My research supports academic, industry, and government partnerships across Europe and North and South America, and East Asia. It contributes to the development of sustainable subsurface energy systems, improved understanding of geohazards and resource dynamics, and the creation of innovative digital tools for geoscience and technology research.

Through the Omnidrome, I promote cross-disciplinary innovation at the intersection of science, engineering, and social impact, enabling new applications of drone and autonomous systems across diverse research domains.