Turkey advances earthquake safety through new technology and school resilience protocols

Academics in Turkey are developing new technologies and partnerships to improve structural safety and disaster resilience. Researchers at Boğaziçi University have developed a system designed for rapid building damage assessment following an earthquake. The device, which is mounted on a building's load-bearing system, measures oscillations and compares them to the building's expected design behavior. It provides residents with immediate information via mobile phones regarding whether the structure has sustained potentially dangerous damage, aiming to reduce public anxiety before professional inspections occur.

In a separate initiative to enhance public infrastructure, Karadeniz Technical University (KTU) has signed a protocol with the Turkish Ministry of National Education. This collaboration aims to increase the disaster resilience of educational buildings by identifying and mitigating structural risks. The KTU Earthquake and Structural Health Application and Research Center will lead the R&D efforts, applying academic expertise in earthquake engineering and structural strengthening to ensure school buildings are better prepared for seismic events.