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Neven Matasovic, PhD, PE, GE, DGE

Principal / Geotechnical Practice Lead, Geo-Logic Associates, Inc.

Costa Mesa, California

Email

(714) 465-8240

Dr. Matasovic is a Principal and the Geotechnical Practice Lead of Geo-Logic Associates, Inc., DBS&A’s parent company.

He has over 30 years of professional experience. He practices in the areas of in geotechnical, geoenvironmental, and earthquake engineering. His practice focusses on design, permitting and closure of solid, hazardous, and radioactive waste disposal facilities, closure of contaminated sites, and design, evaluation, and retrofit of water storage and retention facilities. His project and research experience includes siting, conceptual and detailed cell design, performance assessment, litigation support, and sponsored research. He has participated in more than 250 municipal solid waste, low-level radioactive, and hazardous waste landfill-related projects, including management of pre-design and closure design of 16 Superfund sites.

Dr. Matasovic’s specialty expertise includes advanced numerical modeling and directing a wide range of specialty in-situ and laboratory testing programs that are required for this type of modeling, including interpretation and validation of testing and modeling results. He performs waste fill stability assessments, failure analysis, liquid migration and settlement evaluations, and a variety of other engineering evaluations in support of permitting, litigation support, and cell and site closure design. Dr. Matasovic’s specialty experience also includes design and performance assessment of composite, monolithic, capillary break, and evapotranspirative (ET) covers at landfill, mine, and Superfund sites.

Dr. Matasovic is a leader in developing evaluation and mitigation methods for the seismic design of solid and hazardous waste landfills. He co-developed unique large-scale laboratory equipment for static and cyclic testing of non-traditional geo-materials, such as municipal solid waste, mining, and construction byproducts, and composite landfill liner interfaces. He also co-developed a method for nondestructive in-situ evaluation of nonlinear dynamic properties of solid and containerized liquid waste at hazardous waste sites. Dr. Matasovic further made significant contributions in the areas of seismic site response evaluation, seismic deformation analysis, and seismic slope stability evaluation.

Dr. Matasovic co‑authored two federal government guidance documents, including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) seismic design guidance for municipal solid waste landfills. He has been honored with the Prakash Foundation award for excellence in the practice of geotechnical earthquake engineering, a discipline in which he has authored and co-authored more than 100 technical papers, including 19 peer-reviewed and the Peck Award-winning journal papers, and 4 state-of-the-art conference papers. Dr. Matasovic is a member of the Academy of Geo-Professionals. He is a Fellow of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and serves on its Earthquake Engineering and Soil Dynamics Committee.

  • Education

    Ph.D., Geotechnical Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles

    Master of Science, Geotechnical Engineering, University of Zagreb, Croatia

    Bachelor of Science, Civil Engineering, University of Zagreb, Croatia

  • Registration / Certification

    Professional Geotechnical Engineer, California, No. GE2557

    Professional Engineer, California, No. C55861

    Professional Engineer, Alaska, No. CE9659

    Professional Engineer, Hawaii, No. PE18301

    Diplomate, Geotechnical Engineering, No. D.GE 1380

  • Specializations

    Geotechnical Engineering

    Geoenvironmental Engineering

    Earthquake Engineering

    Geohazard Characterization and Mitigation

    Geoenvironmental Containment/ Cleanup Engineering

    Landfills, Disposal Sites, and Waste Containment Facility Permitting and Design

    Water Retention Structures, Dams, and Levee Engineering

  • Affiliations

    American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)

    ASCE GEO-Institute

    International Society of Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering (ISSMGE)

    Seismological Society of America (SSA)

    Earthquake Engineering Research Institute (EERI)

Select Publications and Presentations

Matasovic, N. and Thiel, R. (2021), “Discussion of ‘Procedure for Estimating Shear-Induced Seismic Slope Displacement for Shallow Crustal Earthquakes,’ by J. Bray and J. Macedo,” ASCE Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering, Vol. 147, No. 5.

Witthoeft, A.F., Warner, R.M., and Matasovic, N. (2019), “Dynamic Numerical Evaluation of Landfill Perimeter Levee on Liquefiable Subgrade Mitigated with Cement Deep Soil Mixing,” In: Case Histories – Capturing the Accomplishments of our Profession, ASCE Geotechnical Special Publication No. 308, pp. 151-159.

Kavazanjian, E., Jr., Wu, X, Arab, M. and Matasovic, N. (2018). “Development of a Numerical Model for Performance-based Design of Geosynthetic Liner Systems, Geotextiles and Geomembranes, Vol. 46, Issue 2, pp. 166-182, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geotexmem.2017.11.005

Matasovic, N. and Zekkos, D. (2017), “Modulus Reduction and Damping Curves for Landfill Covers,” In: Geotechnical Frontiers 2017: Seismic Performance and Liquefaction, ASCE Geotechnical Special Publication No. 281, pp. 101-108.

Matasovic, N. (2014). “Earthquakes and Geosynthetics in Mining”. Keynote Presentation Abstract, Proc. Geosynthetics Mining Solutions 2014. Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, 1 p.

Groholski, D.R., Hashash, Y.M.A., and Matasovic, N. (2014). “Learning of Pore Pressure Response and Dynamic Soil Behavior and from Downhole Array Measurements”. Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering, Elsevier. Vol. 26, Issues 61 – 62, pp. 40-56.

Matasovic, N., Conkle, C., Witthoeft, A. Stern, A., Hadj-Hamou, T. (2013). “Back Analysis of Landslide Deposit Basal Failure Plane Residual Shear Strength”. In: Challenges and Recent Advances in Geotechnical and Seismic Research and Practice. ASCE Geotechnical Special Publication No. 232, pp. 471-480.

Matasovic, N. (2013). “Site Response: 1D Time Domain Analyses”. In: Encyclopedia of Earthquake Engineering, edited by Michael Beer, Edoardo Patelli, Ioannis Kougioumtzoglou and Ivan Siu-Kui Au., Springer.

Matasovic, N. and Hashash Y.M.A. (2012). “Site Response Analysis in Transportation Engineering Practice – a TRB Survey”. Proc. GeoCongress 2012. Oakland, California. March 25-29.

Kavazanjian, E. Jr., Arab, G. M., and Matasovic, N. (2011). “Seismic Analysis of Heap Leach Pad Liner Systems”. Proc. 5th International Conference on Earthquake Geotechnical Engineering, Santiago, Chile. CD ROM Paper No.: SEIKA.

Arab, G M., Kavazanjian, E. Jr., and Matasovic, N. (2010). “Nonlinear Time-Domain Analysis of a Sliding Block on a Plane,” Proc. 5th International Conference on Recent Advances in Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering and Soil Dynamics. San Diego, California. CD ROM Paper 4.08.

Susilo, K., Matasovic, N. and Johnson, R.S. (2009b). “Important Considerations, Opportunities, and Strategies for Implementing Infiltration Practices as Stormwater BMPs”. Proc. 8th StormCon. Anaheim, California.

Susilo, K., Matasovic, N. and Johnson, R.S. (2009a). “Considerations, Opportunities, and Strategies for Infiltration Stormwater BMPs”. Proc. World Environmental and Water Resources Congress 2009, Great Rivers. Kansas City, Missouri. pp. 971-980.

Kwok, O-L.A., Stewart, J.P., Hashash, Y.M.A., Matasovic, N., Pyke, R., Wang, Z., and Yang, Z. (2007). “Use of Exact Solutions of Wave Propagation Problems to Guide Implementation of Nonlinear Ground Response Analysis Procedures”. ASCE Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering. Vol. 133, No. 11, pp. 1385-1398.

Kwok, O-L.A., Stewart, J.P., Hashash, Y.M.A., Matasovic, N., Pyke, R., Wang, Z., and Yang, Z. (2006). “Utilizing Nonlinear Seismic Ground Response Analysis Procedures for Turkey Flat Blind Predictions”. Proc. 3rd International Symposium on The Effects of Surface Geology on Seismic Motions. Grenoble, France. Paper No. 50, pp. 255-264.

Stewart, J.P., Kwok, O-L.A., Hashash, Y.M.A., Matasovic, N., Pyke, R., Wang, Z., and Yang, Z. (2006). “Overcoming Hurdles that Limit the Application of Nonlinear Seismic Ground Response Analysis in Engineering Practice”. Proc. 5th National Seismic Conference on Bridges and Highways. San Francisco, California. CD-ROM Paper B04, 11 p.

Kwok, O-L.A., Stewart, J.P., Hashash, Y.M.A., Matasovic, N. Pyke, R., Wang, Z. and Yang, Z. (2006). “Practical Implementation of Analysis Routines for Nonlinear Seismic Ground Response Analysis”. Proc. Eighth U.S. National Conf. on Earthquake Engineering (8NCEE). San Francisco, California. CD-ROM Paper No. 546.

Matasovic, N., Caldwell, J. and Guptill, P. (2004). “The Role of Geotechnical Factors in Northridge Earthquake Residential Damage”. Proc. 5th International Conference on Case Histories in Geotechnical Engineering. New York, New York. CD ROM Paper 3.14.

Mansour, C., Steinberg, A., and Matasovic, N. (2004). “Analysis, Design and Construction of the Supporting Structure and Wharf Retrofit for a new Shiploader at the Port of Long Beach, California”. Proc. Ports 2004. Houston, Texas. CD ROM Paper No. 106.

Luke, B.A., Matasovic, N. and Kemnitz, M. (2002). “Evaluating the Seismic Response of Deep Sandy Soil Deposits”. Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America. Vol. 91, No. 6, pp. 1516-1525.

Kavazanjian, E., Jr. and Matasovic, N. (2001). “Seismic Design of Mixed and Hazardous Waste Landfills”. Proc. 4th International Conference on Recent Advances in Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering and Soil Dynamics. State-of-the-Art Paper No. SOAP-11. San Diego, California.

Munfakh, G., Kavazanjian, E., Jr., Matasovic, N. Hadj-Hamou, T., and Wang, J. (1999). “Ground Motion Characterization”. In: Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering Reference Manual, FHWA-HI-99-012, U.S. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration. Washington, D.C. Chapter 4.

Field, E.H., Kramer, S., Elgamal, A.-W., Bray, J.D., Matasovic, N., Johnson, P.A., Cramer, C., Roblee, C., Wald, D.J., Bonilla, L.F., Dimitriu, P.P., and Anderson, J.G. (1998). “Nonlinear Site Response: Where We’re At”. Seismological Research Letters, SSA. Vol. 69, No. 3, pp. 230-234.

Matasovic, N. and Kavazanjian, E. Jr. (1998), “Cyclic Characterization of OII Landfill Solid Waste”. ASCE Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering. Vol. 124, No. 3, pp. 197 210.

Matasovic, N. Kavazanjian, E., Jr., and Giroud, J.P. (1998). “Newmark Seismic Deformation Analysis for Geosynthetic Covers”. Geosynthetics International, IGS Journal. Vol. 5, Nos. 1 – 2, pp. 237-264.

Matasovic, N. and Kavazanjian, E., Jr. (1998). “Performance of Solid Waste Landfills in Earthquakes”. Earthquake Spectra. Journal of the EERI. Vol. 14, No. 2, pp. 319-334.

Kavazanjian, E., Jr., Matasovic, N. Hadj-Hamou, T., and Sabatini, P.J. (1997). “Design Guidance: Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering for Highways”. Geotechnical Engineering Circular No. 3, DTFH61 94 C 00099. U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration. Washington, D.C. Vol. I 186 p., Vol. II, 163 p.

Matasovic, N., Kavazanjian, E., Jr. and Yan, L. (1997). “Newmark Deformation Analysis with Degrading Yield Acceleration”. Proc. Geosynthetic ’97. Long Beach, California. Vol. 2, pp. 989-1000.

Yan, L., Matasovic, N. and Kavazanjian, E., Jr. (1996). “Seismic Response of Rigid Block on Inclined Plane to Vertical and Horizontal Ground Motions Acting Simultaneously”. Proc. 11th ASCE Engineering Mechanics Conference. Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Vol. 2, pp. 1110 1113.

Matasovic, N. and Kavazanjian, E., Jr. (1996). “Observations of the Performance of Solid Waste Landfills During Earthquakes”. Proc. 11th World Conference on Earthquake Engineering. Acapulco, Mexico, CD-ROM Paper No. 341.

Matasovic, N. and Vucetic, M. (1995). “Seismic Response of Soil Deposits Composed of Fully-Saturated Clay and Sand”. Proc. 1st International Conference on Earthquake Geotechnical Engineering. Tokyo, Japan, Vol. 1, pp. 611 616.

Matasovic, N. and Vucetic, M. (1995). “Generalized Cyclic Degradation-Pore Pressure Generation Model for Clays”. ASCE Journal of Geotechnical Engineering. Vol. 121, No. 1, pp. 33 42.

Richardson, G.N., Kavazanjian, E., Jr. and Matasovic, N. (1995). “RCRA Subtitle D (258) Seismic Design Guidance for Municipal Solid Waste Landfill Facilities”. EPA Guidance Document 600/R 95/051. United States Environmental Protection Agency. Cincinnati, Ohio. 143 p.

Matasovic, N. and Vucetic, M. (1993). “Cyclic Characterization of Liquefiable Sands”. ASCE Journal of Geotechnical Engineering. Vol. 119, No. 11, pp. 1805 1822.

Matasovic, N. (1991). “Selection of Method for Seismic Slope Stability Analysis”. Proc. 2nd International Conference on Recent Advances in Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering and Soil Dynamics. St. Louis, Missouri. Vol. 2, pp. 1057-1062.