About Earth Forensics
The Earth Forensics team is comprised of geoscientists and professional educators hired by public entities and private industry around the globe to investigate, identify, and implement solutions to geologic, hydrologic and environmental concerns. Earth Forensics specializes in outside-the-box thinking and applying advanced technology to resolve matters involving water resource protection and development, soil and groundwater contamination, flood and landslide assessment, coastal erosion and stabilization, and impact resolution of global climate change. Earth Forensics consults for clients throughout the United States and around the world.
W. Richard Laton, Ph.D., PG, CHG
President | Founder
Dr. Laton is an expert in the field of hydrology and hydrogeology. He is currently a Professor in the Department of Geological Sciences, Cal State University Fullerton. This is a continuation of a career that includes years of teaching, consulting, litigation support and management experience. Dr. Laton possesses extensive knowledge in the areas of hydrogeology, soil and water contamination, hydrology and surface water, wetlands, coastal monitoring/geomorphology, field sampling techniques, well hydraulics, as well as environmental remote sensing/GIS. His classes at the university encompass such topics as: water quality, environmental sampling, groundwater modeling, well hydraulics, oceanography, and basic geology. Dr. Laton consults for a variety of private companies and public agencies that need input on the above subjects in addition to natural hazard assessment and mapping.
Dr. Laton is a Certified Professional Hydrogeologist in California and Washington; and a Certified Professional Geologist in thirteen states: Alaska | Arizona | California | Florida | Illinois | Indiana | Minnesota | New York | North Carolina | Oregon | Pennsylvania | Texas | Washington
Rene A. Perez, MS, PG, CHG
Senior Hydrogeologist
Mr. Rene Perez oversees and leads our data management and data visualization section. Mr. Perez has over 20 years of experience specializing in geologic, groundwater, contaminate transport, hydrometeorologic, aerial photo interpretation, hydrogeologic investigations/modeling including three dimensional visualization of complex data, and environmental remote sensing/GIS analysis. These efforts are used in our consulting and litigation services to better serve the clients understanding of the nature of a problem and the methods of solving the problems. Our use of technology for communication and information is critical to providing clear and meaningful evaluations of data. Mr. Perez is also a licensed geologist with a master’s degree in Geology this enables him to create logical links of databases and to pull from them the essential elements into visualization and model independently and interactively with the client and other key team members. He has also been involved in natural hazard assessment and mapping for cities and counties.
Mr. Perez has experience in remote sensing and is a certified Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Pilot which he employs to obtain high resolution low altitude aerial and thermal infrared photography. The aerial photography is used to produce accurate high resolution topographic maps and 3D photorealistic models. The models offer a way for Mr. Perez to help clients visualize complex sites and/or changes in topography due to landslides or flooding.
John H. Foster, Ph.D., PG, CEG
Senior Engineering Geologist
Dr. Foster has over 45 years of experience in the practice and teaching of engineering and environmental geology. Engineering geology includes the analysis of rock and soil properties relative to their abilities to withstand designed and natural forces that may impact an engineered structure or facility. Throughout his career he has studied and reported on various types of projects, but he has been keenly interested in landslide geology and the geology of active faults. In addition, Dr. Foster has been engaged in environmental geology projects, such as groundwater contamination, flow modeling and hazardous waste geology.
His experience includes research and investigations in foreign countries as well as the western U.S. His projects have included safety evaluation of existing dams in Utah; evaluation and construction observation of a 7.5 MGD wastewater treatment plant in South Orange County, CA; geological hazards and groundwater resources for a proposed mining town in western Venezuela; a dam site investigation for off stream emergency storage dam in San Diego County, CA; expert testimony in support of plaintiff rights in Rancho Palos Verdes Landslide; rock fall analysis in Silverado Canyon, CA; groundwater geology prior to injection well development in Oro Grande Wash, San Bernardino Canyon and most recently, research and observation of deep monitoring well in San Elijo Lagoon for groundwater resource assessment of bedrock aquifers in San Diego County, CA.
John Jansen, Ph.D., PG, RGP
Principal Geophysicst/Hydrogeologist
Dr. Jansen is a Geophysicist and Hydrogeologist with over 40 years of experience in groundwater resource investigations. His areas of expertise include high-capacity well siting and design, managed aquifer recharge, surface and borehole geophysics, groundwater modeling, mine hydrogeology, and permitting for energy and infrastructure projects. He is frequently engaged as an expert witness in water resource litigation and holds three U.S. patents related to well rehabilitation, horizontal drilling, and in-situ radium treatment.
Dr. Jansen is widely recognized for his contributions to the groundwater industry. He has served on national boards for both the National Ground Water Association (NGWA) and the Environmental and Engineering Geophysical Society (EEGS). He was named the 2013 NGWA McEllhiney Distinguished Lecturer and received the 2012 NGWA Keith A. Anderson Award. In 2025, he was honored as a NGWA Groundwater Fellow. He has also delivered lectures internationally, including keynote addresses and guest lectures in Europe and China on groundwater geophysics and aquifer recharge.
Daisy Yoeung, MS
Environmental Project Consultant/ GIS Specialist
Mrs. Yoeung, has over 15 years of experience assisting with technical reports and litigation support in the fields of environmental sciences, geology, hydrology, and civil engineering. Mrs. Yoeung holds a master’s degree in Health Sciences and a certificate in Geographic Information System (GIS). Currently, her area of concentration has been in data management and visualization as a GIS Specialist. Mrs. Yoeung collects, manages, integrates and analyzes data to provide a better understanding of spatial data. Her experience involves, environmental risk; detection and mapping of contaminated sites; fate and transport of contaminants of concern; mapping of plumes; mitigation; water and sewer line mapping; analysis and calculation of excavation volumes; and mapping historical aerial and topography.
Nick Napoli, PG
Project Geologist
Mr. Napoli has over 20 years of environmental professional consulting experience in the field of hydrogeology, including soil and water contamination, hydrology and surface water, field sampling techniques, well hydraulics and environmental remote sensing/GIS. He has participated in various water related studies throughout the United States. Mr. Napoli is also an avid outdoorsman and adventure traveler, participates in many outdoor sports including rock climbing, hiking, shooting, and thru-trekking, and has extensively explored the Andes, the Himalayas, and the Sierra Nevada Mountains.
