[4] Upon founding the privately held company in 1975, Ashraf co-created the first structural-engineering software available to the personal computer,[5] and has since created a suite of products, and developed their capabilities.

ETABS, a multi-story building analysis and design software, was originally conceived by Dr. Edward L. Wilson, a distinguished professor of structural engineering at University of California, Berkeley in the early 1970s, and was subsequently developed by Computers & Structures, Inc. ETABS received recognition as one of the Applied Technology Council and Engineering News-Record Top Seismic Products of the 20th Century.

[5][6][7] CSI has a global reputation as a pioneer in the development of software for structural and earthquake engineering.

CSI's software is used by thousands of engineering firms and is used by sophisticated design professionals in over 160 countries.

He also received the 1998 Arts Recognition Award from the Arts and Culture Commission of Contra Costa County[29] for Diablo Ballet and Ashraf received the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) George Winter Award in 2005.