New Zealand Earthquake Report Cites GTU's Study

November 28, 2025 - GTU Office of Press and Public Relations
 

GTU achieves a significant milestone in the field of international earthquake risk management. The work of Asst. Prof. Dicle Kızıldere-Gökyer from the Department of Architecture at the GTU Faculty of Architecture is cited in New Zealand’s 2025 Earthquake Risk Management Report.

The article titled "Earthquake disaster-induced urban policies: paradoxes and challenges in Turkey", authored by Asst. Prof. Dicle Kızıldere-Gökyer of Gebze Technical University (GTU), Department of Architecture, Faculty of Architecture, has been referenced in the report "Analysis of Seismic Risk Mitigation Programmes in Overseas Jurisdictions and a Brief Guide to Regulatory Approaches to Life Safety", published in 2025 by the New Zealand Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment (MBIE). This citation once again demonstrates GTU’s increasing visibility and academic influence in the international literature on disaster management, earthquake policy, and resilient urbanization.

Prof. Kızıldere’s 2024 article, published in the journal Urban Research & Practice, offers an in-depth analysis of the structural paradoxes encountered in urban transformation, post-disaster policymaking, and decision-making processes developed in Türkiye following major earthquakes.

The study’s examination of the administrative challenges and implementation paradoxes caused by rapid post-disaster policy formation; issues of social justice, displacement, and social vulnerability in urban transformation processes; Türkiye’s earthquake experiences providing model-like insights for international policymakers; and the need for evidence-based decision-making in post-disaster regulations, all contribute to its significance as a key source. MBIE’s report aims to compare seismic risk mitigation programs across different countries and develop new life-safety-oriented regulatory frameworks, making the study particularly valuable.

The work offers a comprehensive examination of how policy processes triggered by disasters such as earthquakes lead to complex social, spatial, and administrative outcomes, and provides internationally comparable data for Türkiye’s secondary policymaking processes.

An indicator of GTU’s international impact

With its strong research infrastructure, multidisciplinary work culture, and disaster-focused research capacity, GTU continues to generate knowledge at both national and international levels in the fields of disaster risk reduction, urban resilience, sustainable urban planning, and structural safety.

Regarding the study, GTU Rector Prof. Hacı Ali Mantar stated: “As GTU, we take great pride in seeing our scientific research contribute to global policymaking processes. The fact that the work of Prof. Dicle Kızıldere-Gökyer is referenced in a national report of a country like New Zealand, where earthquake awareness is remarkably high, once again highlights our university’s academic impact and scientific competence. This international citation aligns with GTU’s goal of becoming a regional center of expertise in disaster studies and contributes to enhancing the global visibility of our young researchers. GTU will continue to expand its scientific contributions in disaster sciences, resilient urbanism, and sustainable policy development.”