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March 14, 2025 - GTU Office of Press and Public Relations
A significant week-long event is organized at Gebze Technical University (GTU) as part of disaster awareness training and risk mitigation efforts in collaboration with Japan.
The event, involving academics and experts from both Türkiye and Japan, covered topics such as post-earthquake evacuation analysis, virtual reality-based disaster training, and field studies.
Under the SATREPS-MARTEST Project, led by Kagawa University from Japan, and financed by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), a week of intensive work took place with Japanese researchers visiting GTU. The activities were organized with the leadership of Prof. Selçuk Toprak, the Türkiye Group Leader, and Prof. Mayumi Sakamoto, the Japan Group Leader. These efforts focused on risk mitigation in cities and disaster awareness training.
Disaster Awareness Trainings and Analyses On the first day of the event, activities led by the MARTEST Project's 4th Working Group (WG4) were reviewed, and the progress made was discussed. The disaster awareness trainings conducted by AFAD and Red Crescent were evaluated, along with current and planned training programs. Prof. Maki Koyama discussed alignment with programs in Japan, and detailed exchanges took place about educational materials to address the needs of both Türkiye and Japan delegations.
On the second day, evacuation analyses conducted after the February 6, 2023 Kahramanmaraş earthquakes were examined, with comparisons made to the 1999 earthquakes. Strategies applicable to future earthquakes were discussed. Additionally, a visit was made to the Kadıköy Municipality Disaster Center, where mutual knowledge-sharing occurred with researchers from GTU, Yıldız Technical University, and Japan.
Virtual Reality-Based Disaster Training On the third day, a Virtual Reality (VR) Workshop was held, led by Risu Ando from Hyogo University. Presentations on the use of VR technology in disaster preparedness and response were followed by applied demonstrations. The workshop, attended by many participants from GTU and other institutions, was accompanied by Mehmet Emin Koçan, Director of Kocaeli AFAD, and AFAD staff. Brainstorming took place on how to integrate VR and advanced technologies into disaster training modules. The outcomes of this workshop will contribute to the development of future training materials, helping create more disaster-resilient communities.
Field Studies and Earthquake Surveys in Yalova On the fourth day, within the scope of risk mitigation studies in cities, a meeting was held in Yalova, the pilot province of the MARTEST Project, with municipal officials. Prof. Ayşegül Askan and Prof. Murat Altuğ Erberik from METU, Prof. Selçuk Toprak from GTU, Japanese researchers, and students from both universities conducted field studies on building resilience and geotechnical issues. Additionally, Japanese researchers conducted evacuation surveys with individuals who had experienced the 1999 earthquakes, focusing on preparation and awareness for future earthquakes.
Ongoing Efforts to Increase Disaster Awareness On the final day, public awareness training activities took place, with Prof. Kumamoto Kunihiko conducting video recordings. The ongoing laboratory construction within GTU campus, as part of the MARTEST Project, was also visited. This laboratory aims to become a central hub for disaster risk mitigation studies in Türkiye and is planned to be designated as a National Laboratory by the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change.
Through the WG4 activities and the coordinated efforts of other groups, the project aims to further strengthen the academic and technical collaboration between Türkiye and Japan. |
