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July 4, 2024-GTU Office of Press and Public Relations
A protocol has been signed between GTU and the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change for the "National Earthquake and Structural Engineering Laboratory," where studies will be conducted to predict and mitigate the damages that disasters can cause in structures.
The laboratory, established by the Gebze Technical University (GTU) Application and Research Center for Disaster-Resilient Structures (MARTEST) to conduct studies on mitigating disaster damages and risks, has gained national status. With the protocol signed between GTU and the Republic of Türkiye's Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change (ÇŞİDB), the MARTEST Laboratory has gained the status of a "National Earthquake and Structural Engineering Laboratory" and will conduct studies across Türkiye. The National Earthquake and Structural Engineering Laboratory will be a center for working on mitigating disaster risks, creating an earthquake-resistant building stock, providing solutions with economic and new construction technologies for the efficient use of national resources, becoming a leading country in construction technology in the region, and developing construction materials for use in building design and implementation. It will conduct training activities and collaborations with universities and relevant institutions/organizations.
Currently, at MARTEST, the project "Research and Education Center for Creating Disaster-Resilient Societies" is ongoing, supported by the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) under the SATREPS program. This project aims to reduce the impacts of disasters and test and develop national and international technologies in this field. The laboratory construction, which started in July 2023, is planned to be completed by the end of 2024, with the National Earthquake and Structural Engineering Laboratory becoming operational in 2025.
Regarding the protocol, GTU Rector Prof. Hacı Ali Mantar stated, “We believe that the laboratory will play an important role in raising social awareness and fostering the concept of resilient urban living against earthquakes and other possible disasters. We have started actual works with all our stakeholders to provide immediate scientific solutions to the disasters that bring sorrow to our country, and we will continue with all our efforts. I wish that the National Earthquake and Structural Engineering Laboratory will be beneficial for our country.”
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