Turkish universities launch major disaster and flood risk research projects

Karadeniz Technical University (KTU) has been selected for an EU-funded Horizon Europe project aimed at enhancing disaster preparedness in Trabzon. Led by Prof. Dr. Ayfer Dönmez Çavdar, the three-year initiative will use artificial intelligence to analyze disaster risks and develop modular structures that serve as safe shelters during emergencies and social spaces during normal times. Trabzon will serve as a pilot city alongside Naples, Barcelona, and Poznan. The project involves collaboration with the Trabzon Metropolitan Municipality, AFAD, and a forest industry company in Kastamonu for prototype production.

Separately, Bursa Technical University (BTU) has entered a protocol with the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change to research potential flood risk areas in Turkey's upper basins. Led by Prof. Dr. Burak Arıcak, with researchers from Middle East Technical University and Yıldırım Beyazıt University, the project aims to map high-risk zones by analyzing historical flood data. The resulting scientific infrastructure and decision-support tools are intended to help authorities prioritize interventions and mitigate future flood damage.