While at Parsons , Chalhoub chaired the committee on base isolation at the Structural Engineers Association of California ( SEAOC ) and developed the simplified design code on seismic design using shock absorbers which was introduced for the first time in the Uniform Building Code in 1990 . Simplified code formulas help engineers worldwide adopt and apply engineering concepts in their daily practice , providing effective design , yet without having to burden themselves with complex research derivations . As a member of the Federal Emergency Management Agency , and as a registered Civil Engineer ( P.E. ) and Structural Engineer ( S.E. ) in the State of California , he worked as a chief engineer in disaster relief missions in the Loma Prieta earthquake , the Landers earthquake , and the Northridge earthquake , three major natural disasters that claimed lives and billions of dollars in property and public facility damage
Northridge earthquake
1994 Northridge earthquake
Michel Soto Chalhoub