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December 8, 2025 - GTU Office of Press and Public Relations Gebze Technical University (GTU) is preparing to host another groundbreaking project. Türkiye’s largest seismic isolator testing laboratory is going to be established at GTU. Work has begun on establishing the Seismic Isolator Testing Laboratory, which will be implemented with the vision of creating “disaster-resilient structures” in response to Türkiye’s seismic reality. This comprehensive project has been launched under the coordination of the GTU Marmara Application and Research Center for Disaster-Resilient Structures (MARTEST), led by the Directorate General of Construction Affairs of the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, with valuable financial and technical support from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
Project Launched with an Opening Seminar The project officially kicked off with the Seismic Isolation Seminar held on November 27, 2025, at the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change. Distinguished academics from Türkiye and Japan, senior officials from relevant public institutions, and leading representatives of the sector attended the seminar, expressing their support and commitments to collaboration.
During the seminar the following were presented: * The historical development and future vision of seismic isolation technologies in Türkiye, * Applications, test standards, and field practices in Japan, * The ultimate objectives and expected impacts of the Technical Cooperation Project.
The Critical Role of GTU and MARTEST The project team consists of faculty members from the GTU Department of Civil Engineering and MARTEST administrators, including MARTEST Director Prof. Bülent Akbaş, Deputy Directors Asst. Prof. Ahmet Anıl Dindar and Asst. Prof. Ceren Özer-Sözdinler, and MARTEST Executive Board Member Prof. Selçuk Toprak, who serve as researchers and coordinators. GTU’s Civil Engineering faculty and MARTEST play key roles in this major initiative, contributing their expertise and knowledge in disaster resilience to the establishment of the laboratory.
Additionally, academics in Türkiye who conduct scientific research on seismic isolation provide valuable input as members of the Technical Advisory Board, while sector representatives from the Turkish Association for Seismic Isolation (DİD) support the project by sharing their insights on isolator testing needs and practical applications.
Project Goals and Vision The project, which will run actively until November 2027, aims to: * conduct extensive training and R&D activities on seismic isolators and damping systems to support the construction of earthquake-resilient buildings, * establish a large-scale, state-of-the-art Seismic Isolator Testing Laboratory, the first of its kind in Türkiye, within MARTEST and put it into service on both national and international platforms, * create not just a testing facility but also an innovation hub that will offer engineers, academics, and industry professionals a world-class platform for developing new technologies. |
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