Workshop Logistics

Workshop Timing

All participants should plan to bring a LAPTOP to the workshop. Windows operating system is preferable.

The main workshop program will begin on Tuesday August 6 at 8:00 am on the Colorado School of Mines campus. The workshop will conclude at 5:30 pm on Thursday August 8.

Participant Checklist

Pre-Workshop Meetings

Preparatory 1- to 1.5-hour webinars/meetings will be held the week of July 22. There will be one each for the three near-surface geophysical methods (ground penetrating radar, seismic, and electrical resistivity). You should plan to attend the one related to the method you will be focusing on more during the workshop, but you are encouraged to attend all three if you would like to learn more about more methods. Real-time attendance is preferable, but the sessions will be recorded for people who cannot attend at the offered times. Meetings times are listed on the Participant Checklist page.

Travel*

Colorado School of Mines is located in Golden, CO on the western side of the Denver metropolitan area. The workshop will provide hotel accommodation and food during the workshop and reimburse for up to $700* towards travel expenses (flights and ground transportation).

Travel by Air

Denver International Airport (DEN) is the closest airport to Golden, CO. You should plan to arrive by evening Monday August 5 and depart Mines campus no sooner than 5:30 pm on Thursday August 8. For people coming from outside the Denver area, we anticipate that most participants will stay at the hotel for the night of August 8 and depart August 9.

Participants flying into the Denver area have two options for obtaining plane tickets:

1) Purchase their own flights and be reimbursed after the workshop

Show information on requirements for booking your own flight.

Check with the workshop organizer (beth.pratt-sitaula@earthscope.org) before purchasing any flights that do not follow the guidance below.

Flights should be in/out of Denver International Airport - arrive by Monday August 5; depart Friday August 9 (it is possible to depart August 8 but departing flight should be 8:30 pm or later)
Fine to arrive/depart on different dates if the cost is similar (typically, no additional nights of housing can be provided by the project; check with organizer if an additional night is needed to manage your travel logistics)
Must be economy/coach class ticket
Must be US air carrier
Be prudent and responsible with the ticket price you select so that grant resources are conserved
The maximum reimbursement is $700 for combined flights and ground transportation, so if you go above that, you will be responsible for the difference

2) Work with the EarthScope travel booking service

Show information for using EarthScope's travel booking service

GANT Gateway travel booking service is available for participants who would prefer not to incur their flight expenses up front and be reimbursed later. Contact workshop organizer (beth.pratt-sitaula@earthscope.org) if you have questions. You will need to follow the guidance below. You will receive an email with the link to the booking service when it is ready.

Flights should be in/out of Denver International Airport - arrive by Monday August 5; depart Friday August 9 (it is possible to depart August 8 but departing flight should be after 8 pm)
Must be economy/coach class ticket
Must be US air carrier
Be prudent and responsible with the ticket price you select so that grant resources are conserved
If your selected flight is >$700 you cannot use the travel booking service. You will need to purchase your own ticket and be reimbursed for $700.
If you wish to travel on days different than August 5 and August 9 (or August 8 after 8pm), you cannot use the travel booking service. You will need to purchase your own tickets and be reimbursed up to $700. It is fine to arrive/depart on different dates if the cost is similar, but we just cannot manage it through the booking service. (typically, no additional nights of housing can be provided by the project; check with organizer if an additional night is needed to manage your travel logistics)

Ground Transportation to/from Denver Airport

We will provide more information about ground transportation options closer to the workshop time.

The primary modes:

Rideshare from the airport - we will provide information about other people's arrival times in case participants are interested to carpool
Light rail to JeffCO Govt Center-Golden Station and rideshare to the hotel

Travel by Rail

There are Amtrak routes that serve the Denver region. If you choose to come via rail, follow the same basic guidance as for purchasing plane tickets (above).
RTD light rail Line W can be taken from Union Station in downtown Denver to JeffCO Govt Center-Golden Station.

Travel by Car

Travel by personal car may be used instead of common carrier options if it is comparable or cheaper in price or notably more convenient.*
If a participant prefers to travel by car, even though it is more expensive, they can only be reimbursed up to the amount of a typical coach plane ticket for the same itinerary.

If you are staying at the hotel - navigate to Hampton Inn Denver-West/Golden - 17150 W Colfax Ave, Golden, CO 80401
If you are from the Denver area outside Golden and are driving directly to campus, park on campus near the Green Center (see parking map (Acrobat (PDF) 1.6MB May24 24) for allowable lots). Make sure you have entered your vehicle information on the Participant Travel Information form or emailed it to beth.pratt-sitaula@earthscope.org. Come up to Green Center rm 228 (GeoMakerSpace).

Show *EarthScope travel policy on carrier selection*

EarthScope travel policy states that "the most economical mode of transportation that reasonably meets business travel needs should be used. Travel by common carrier (air, rail, bus) is considered the most advantageous method. Other EarthScope methods of transportation may be advantageous only when the use of common carrier transportation would interfere with the performance of business or impose an undue hardship upon the traveler, or when the total cost by common carrier exceeds the cost by another method of transportation."

If you have any questions about your choice of travel mode, please contact Beth Pratt-Sitaula (beth.pratt-sitaula@earthscope.org) before making purchases.

Lodging

Participants will stay at Hampton Inn Denver-West/Golden. Each person will have a private bedroom. Bookings will be made for participants for the nights of August 5-8 (four nights). You will be asked to provide a credit card for incidentals, but the primary hotel bill will be paid for by the project (unless you are paying for your own travel support).

Communications

Hampton Inn and Mines campus offers free wireless internet access.

Getting to/from campus

All participants who are staying at the hotel will have morning and evening shuttles to/from campus. See the Program page for details on campus shuttle times.

Meals

Workshop organizers will do their best to provide meals that match participants' dietary needs. Be sure to provide information about dietary needs in the Participant Travel Information form. Breakfasts will be available in the hotel breakfast area. Lunches, beverages, snacks, and Tue-Thur dinners will be part of the workshop program. Travel day meals are the responsibility of the participant.

Venue

The workshop will be held in the Geophysics Department on the Colorado School of Mines campus.

Primary meeting room: Green Center 228 (GeoMakerSpace)
Other breakout rooms will include: Green Center B83, 238, 259

Weather

Typical weather in the Denver area in early August has highs of ~85F and lows ~55F with a possible range of 45-100F. Usually it is sunny, but rain is possible -- particularly afternoon thunderstorms.

Packing

LAPTOP (ideally Windows OS, but some shared onsite Windows machines will be available)
Sturdy outdoor shoes (we will actually not be "hiking" or going long distances, but there could be some uneven ground; be sure to let us know if you have any mobility issues)
Outdoor clothes for sun, rain, heat, and cold (field sites will be on or adjacent to campus)
Field supplies that you like to use (notebook, tablet, pens, pencils, etc.)
Sunscreen, sunglasses, sunhat
Toiletries
Daypack
Coffee mug (to minimize use of disposables)
Water bottle (to minimize use of disposables)