̽̽

John Lens, P.E., D.GE

Senior Lecturer - Professor of Practice, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

PRONOUNS he/him

John.Lens@uvm.edu
john lens
John.Lens@uvm.edu
Pronouns he/him
Alma mater(s)
  • Ph.D. - University of Vermont
  • M.S. - University of California at Berkeley
  • B.S. - University of Vermont
  • A.S. - Springfield Technical Community College
Affiliated Department(s)

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

BIO

I am in my tenth year of teaching engineering at ̽̽ and my fifth decade of professional engineering practice. My career started as a construction laborer and layout engineer progressing through senior engineering roles, including starting and co-owning an engineering company. I followed that with earning my doctorate in engineering and now teach and contribute to academic research. I also provide senior engineering advising at an international engineering firm.

Courses

  • CE 003 - Intro to Civil & Envir Engr
  • CE 185 - Capstone Design I
  • CE 286 - Foundation Design
  • CE 295 - Engineering Project Management

Awards and Achievements

I am a licensed Professional Engineer (Vermont and New Hampshire).

Area(s) of expertise

Primary: Geotechnical and geoenvironmental, Seismic, Infrastructure systems
Secondary: Structures and Materials, Climate and geo-hazard mitigation, Sustainable design processes

Bio

I am in my tenth year of teaching engineering at ̽̽ and my fifth decade of professional engineering practice. My career started as a construction laborer and layout engineer progressing through senior engineering roles, including starting and co-owning an engineering company. I followed that with earning my doctorate in engineering and now teach and contribute to academic research. I also provide senior engineering advising at an international engineering firm.

Courses

  • CE 003 - Intro to Civil & Envir Engr
  • CE 185 - Capstone Design I
  • CE 286 - Foundation Design
  • CE 295 - Engineering Project Management

Awards and Achievements

I am a licensed Professional Engineer (Vermont and New Hampshire).

Areas of Expertise

Primary: Geotechnical and geoenvironmental, Seismic, Infrastructure systems
Secondary: Structures and Materials, Climate and geo-hazard mitigation, Sustainable design processes

Selected Publications:

Examples of my engineering practice and research experience explained in publications include:

Lens, J.E., Dewoolkar, M.M., Hernandez, E.M.,” System-wide Seismic Vulnerability of Aging Multiple-Span Multiple-Girder Bridges in Low-to-Moderate Seismic Hazard Regions” Special Issue on Central and Eastern North America, Earthquake Spectra journal of the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute, July 2021

Lens, J.E., Dewoolkar, M.M., Hernandez, E.M., Quantifying the Vulnerability of Vermont Bridges to Seismic Loading, VTrans Research Project 737-12, Final Report 2019-12, May 2019.

Frolik, J., Lens, J.E., Dewoolkar, M.M., Weller, T.M.,” Effects of Soil Characteristics on Passive Wireless Sensor Interrogation,” IEEE Sensors Journal, Vol. 18, No. 8, April 2018.

Lens, J. E., and Dewoolkar, M. M., “Are there gender differences in the value that civil and environmental engineering students place on service provided through service-learning projects?” GeoCongress 2015, San Antonio, Texas. 

Lary, D., Lens, J.E., Adnams, K.E., “Design of a New Parallel Lake Water Intake for the Champlain Water District in South Burlington, Vermont,” ASCE Pipelines Conference, Atlanta, GA, 2008.

Lens, J.E., and Benda, Christopher C., “Surprises and Solutions When Driving Piles in Mountain Valleys of Vermont,” Proceedings, Deep Foundations Institute, 32nd Annual Meeting, Colorado Springs, CO, October 2007.

Lens, J.E., Schnabel, H., Kelley, S. P., “Once Again, Engineering and Contractor Tenacity Overcome Tough Geology,” Proceedings, Deep Foundations Institute 31st Annual Meeting 2006, pp. 457-464, Washington, DC 2006.

Henry, K.S., Olson, J.P., Farrington, S.P., and Lens, J.E., “Improved performance of unpaved roads during spring thaw,” Report to the Vermont Agency of Transportation, US Army Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory, ERDC/CRREL TR-05-1, 2005.

Lens, J.E., Simon, R.S., Martin, P.J.,” Wrapping up Environmental Issues in an Embankment” ASCE Construction Congress, pp. 289-294, Cambridge, MA, 1991.