Robert L. Nigbor, Research Associate Professor

Contact information   Civil and Environmental Engineering University of Southern California 3620 S. Vermont Avenue, KAP 230D Los Angeles, CA 90089-2531   Tel: (213) 740-0603 main office Fax: (213) 744-1426 Email:

Biographical Information

Ph.D. — 1989 — Civil Engineering — University of Southern California
M.S. — 1987 — Civil Eng. (Structural Mechanics) — USC
B.A. — 1978 — Physics — Pomona College, Claremont, CA

Research Associate Professor — 1999 to present — USC
Dr. Nigbor developed, participated in and supervised research in advanced technologies for earthquake engineering.  He supervised graduate students, taught courses in Structural Dynamics, and helped develop a new undergraduate program in CE/Information Technology.

Significant Research Projects include:
    Co-PI of NSF's NEES Collaboratory Development Project
    Co-PI of the NSF/NEES Equip. Site "Permanently Instrumented Field Sites
             for Study of Soil-Foundation-Structure Interaction"
    PI of several PEER Lifelines projects
    Co-PI of development of guidelines for installation of ANSS stations.

Research Engineer — 2004 to present — UCLA
Dr. Nigbor supervises graduate students, teaches, and leads research activities in the general area of earthquake engineering; and manages the NEES@UCLA facility and staff.

Consultant / Geovision Geophysical Services — 2005 to present
Dr. Nigbor is a registered Professional Civil Engineer.  As Director and Chief Scientist for Geovision Geophysical Services in Corona, CA, he advises management on both technical and business issues, and leads technical projects involving engineering design and assessment.  He also consults in earthquake engineering and applied geophysics for domestic and international industrial clients.  Recent projects include vibration mitigation design for SLAC2 and structural health monitoring of a large bridge in Thailand.

Professional Affiliations

COSMOS
    Chair, Senior Advisory Council, 2004-present
ANSS (Advanced National Seismic System)
    Member, Technical Integration Committee, 2003-present
    Member, Structural Monitoring Committee, 2004-present
Member, ASCE
Member, EERI
Member, NEES

Recent Publications

Myrtle, R., S. Masri, R. Nigbor, and J. Caffrey, "Classification and Prioritization of Essential systems in Hospitals Under Extreme Events," Earthquake Spectra, September 2005.

Youd, T., J. Steidl, and R. Nigbor, "Lessons Learned and Need for Instrumented Liquefaction Sites," Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering, Vol., 24, Issues 9-10, October 2004