AI analysis identifies high risk in collapsed Istanbul building

An artificial intelligence-supported structural analysis program has identified a collapsed seven-story building in Maltepe, Istanbul, as being in a very high-risk category. Prof. Dr. Şenol Hakan Kutoğlu, a Geomatics Engineering professor at Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit University, used his team's software to evaluate photos of the building taken nine months prior to its collapse.

Following FEMA rapid building assessment standards, the AI detected numerous geometric deficiencies in both vertical and horizontal planes. The software assigned the building a score of only 0.5 out of 3 and classified it with a 95% probability as a very high-risk structure. The software, which is accessible to the public, calculates soil values and seismic levels based on location data and identifies structural weaknesses such as short columns or soft stories through facade photography.