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M. Idriss Civil and Environmental Engineering Recipient 1998-1999 Professor Idriss has spent 40 years striving to characterize how soils react to the ground shaking that occurs in an earthquake. His geotechnical advice is sought after by government agencies and advisory panels around the world. In 1989, Professor Idriss was one of eight people named to the Governor’s Board of Inquiry after the destructive 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake in the San Francisco and Monterey Bay areas. That panel eventually recommended that all the state’s approximately 24,000 bridges be inspected for quake worthiness and retrofitted if necessary. As one prominent structural engineer explained, “[Professor Idriss’] contributions to the public safety will be seen by the people of this state when the next earthquake rolls across California.” Since the 1964 Alaska quake, Professor Idriss has been involved in the follow-up of every major earthquake, including those at San Fernando, Mexico City, Loma Prieta, Northridge, and Kobe. His research on soil mechanics and foundation engineering has influenced the construction of dams, nuclear power plants, seaports, office buildings, residences, hospitals, railways, and bridges around the world. Professor Idriss was elected to the U. S. National Academy of Engineering in 1989. The American Society of Civil Engineers has awarded him several high honors, including the first H. Bolton Seed Medal, in 1995, for continuing and sustained contributions to the art and science of geotechnical earthquake engineering. |
