Consultants
Civotec LLC specializes in forensic engineering consulting, analysis, and expert investigation of structural, geotechnical, and material failures. Our expertise includes failure analysis of foundations, retaining walls, slopes, and structural components, as well as forensic evaluations of roofing, water infiltration, and material degradation.
We provide litigation support, expert witness services, and forensic testing to determine the root cause of failures, assess liability, and recommend remediation strategies. Our advanced capabilities include seismic failure investigations, geomechanics modeling, and numerical simulations for complex forensic cases.
Beyond forensic investigations, Civotec LLC offers professional training and courses in forensic engineering and develops specialized software solutions to support failure analysis and forensic assessments. We are committed to scientific precision, technological advancement, and innovative problem-solving to deliver cost-effective and defensible solutions for our clients.
Our Team of Consultants
Nima Shiehbeiki, P.E.
Mr. Shiehbeiki is a structural engineer with extensive experience of structural analysis and design of residential and commercial buildings. He is a licensed professional engineer in CA, TX, LA, KY, and MI. His areas of expertise include structural assessments, foundation design, structural engineering, and drafting in a wide range of buildings, from renovation and modernization of existing buildings to design of new structures, component design, and connection design for conventional steel framing. His team has designed and provided construction packages for hundreds of buildings in residential, commercial, storage, industrial, oil & gas, education, science & technology, and healthcare sectors.
Rifat Bulut, Ph.D.
Dr. Bulut obtained his doctoral degree in civil engineering from Texas A&M University and his master’s degree from Texas Tech University. Dr. Bulut’s main areas of expertise include unsaturated soils, expansive soils, residential and light commercial building foundations on expansive soils, soil stabilization, and soil-structure interaction. He has extensive experience in the field of soil suction measurements, behavior of expansive soils, interaction of various chemical additives with expansive soils, and numerical modeling of slabs on expansive soil foundations. Dr. Bulut has published widely in reputed journals and conference proceedings.
Amin Barari, Ph.D.
Dr. Amin Barari completed his PhD in the area of geotechnical engineering at the Aalborg University in 2012 where he was subsequently employed as postdoctoral researcher at offshore foundations research group. He also took up Postdoc position at Virginia Tech after visiting research associate position at the Technical University of Denmark, in 2015. His expertise is in the areas of geotechnical engineering, offshore geotechnics, seismic response of earth systems, soil-structure interaction, and consequences of soil liquefaction.
Dennis C. Duru, P.E., CEG, R.G.
Mr. Duru provides geotechnical, engineering geologic and near surface geophysics services. He has extensive experience in geohazard evaluation, deep and shallow foundations, retaining walls, engineered slopes, problematic soil and rock, site-specific seismic, steep slope, and laboratory testing services. He believes in optimized geotechnical investigation and data collection to provide site and project specific recommendation. Mr. Duru is licensed as a professional engineer (PE), and as a certified engineering geologist (CEG) and registered geologist (RG).
Jay N. Meegoda, Ph.D., P.E., ASCE Fellow
Dr. Meegoda received his BS (Honors) from University of Sri Lanka and his M.S. and his Ph.D. from the University of California at Davis. He has been working as educator, consultant and researcher in engineering for over 42 years. He utilizes scientific concepts and engineering technologies in his areas of expertise to provide solutions to real world problems. Dr. Meegoda has worked with state and local governments, and foreign governments to provide technical input for broad range of problems.
Meron Alebachew
Mrs. Meron is a geotechnical engineer with experience in industry and academia, specializing in geotechnics and civil engineering disciplines. She has expertise in construction monitoring, inspection, and structural and foundation design assessments for residential, commercial, healthcare, and highway projects. Her areas of interests include construction inspection and monitoring, structural evaluations, optimized geotechnical investigations, seismic hazard analysis, liquefiable soils, computational geotechnics, soil-structure interaction, and the seismic response of earth systems and geotechnical structures sp. piles.
Ash Zamiran, Ph.D., P.E.
Dr. Zamiran is a geotechnical and structural consultant with over than 15 years of industry and academic experience in different forensic engineering disciplines. Currently, Dr. Zamiran is a forensic civil engineering consultant and Senior Lecturer at University of Houston. He has extensive experiences in forensic investigations and failure analysis of structures, pavements, and geo-systems. Dr. Zamiran is a member of ASCE Geo-Institute Computational Geotechnics Committee. He was the winner of national ASCE Edmund Friedman Award in 2019 and ASCE St. Louis Young Engineer Award in 2018.
Our Mission
At Civotec Forensic Engineering, our mission is to deliver scientifically rigorous, objective, and innovative forensic engineering solutions that uncover the root causes of failures in structures, foundations, and materials. We are committed to providing independent, defensible analyses that support legal cases, insurance claims, and engineering assessments while promoting safety, sustainability, and technological advancement. Through cutting-edge investigation methods, expert consulting, and specialized training, we empower clients with the knowledge and solutions needed to prevent future failures and build a more resilient built environment.
Our Core Values
Scientific Integrity – Every forensic investigation is guided by evidence-based analysis, accuracy, and ethical responsibility to ensure unbiased conclusions.
Reliability & Objectivity – Our findings are independent, defensible, and based on engineering principles, providing clients with trustworthy expertise for legal, insurance, and technical cases.
Sustainability & Innovation – We incorporate resource-efficient solutions, non-destructive testing, and advanced technologies to minimize environmental impact and enhance long-term resilience.
Commitment to Safety – Health and safety are at the forefront of every project, ensuring secure investigation practices, compliance with regulations, and risk mitigation strategies for all stakeholders.
Health and Safety
At Civotec Forensic Engineering, health and safety are at the core of every forensic investigation. Our work often involves assessing structural failures, unstable foundations, hazardous materials, and compromised environments, requiring strict safety protocols and risk management strategies.
We prioritize safe investigation practices by utilizing non-destructive testing methods, advanced monitoring technologies, and compliance with OSHA and industry safety standards. Whether conducting site inspections, material testing, or structural failure analysis, our team follows rigorous procedures to protect personnel, clients, and the surrounding environment. Safety is not just a requirement—it’s a responsibility we uphold in every forensic engineering project.
Sustainability
At Civotec Forensic Engineering, sustainability is integrated into our forensic engineering approach, ensuring that investigations and solutions not only address failures and defects but also promote long-term resilience and environmental responsibility. By utilizing non-destructive testing methods, optimizing material reuse strategies, and recommending sustainable remediation techniques, we help reduce waste, extend the lifespan of structures, and minimize environmental impact. Our commitment to scientific integrity, resource efficiency, and innovative problem-solving ensures that forensic engineering contributes to a more sustainable and resilient built environment.