Priestley was then professor of structural engineering at the University of California , San Diego ( UCSD ) from 1987 until 2000 . During this time his research focused on the seismic design of concrete bridges . In the wake of the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake and the 1994 Northridge earthquake he was a member of various California Department of Transportation ( Caltrans ) committees and commissions reviewing the design of damaged bridges , and was also a member or chair of a number of Caltrans committees investigating the seismic strengthening of existing structures . He became professor emeritus of structural engineering at UCSD in 2001
1989 Loma Prieta earthquake
1989 Loma Prieta earthquake
Nigel Priestley