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January 18, 2026 - GTU Office of Press and Public Relations The MARTEST (Application and Research Center for Disaster-Resilient Structures), established at Gebze Technical University (GTU) as one of Türkiye’s most strategic investments in the field of earthquake engineering, hosts senior international visitors. During the visit, a Japanese Parliamentary Delegation consisting of members of the House of Councillors of Japan, along with the Consul General of Japan and accompanying diplomats, conduct on-site examinations of the center’s international-standard testing capabilities.
Full Support From MP Hülagü and Mayor Büyükgöz The visit, showcasing a strong example of collaboration among the university, local government, and central government, was officially hosted by GTU Rector Prof. Hacı Ali Mantar. Prof. Sadettin Hülagü, Kocaeli Member of Parliament, and Zinnur Büyükgöz, Mayor of Gebze, accompanied the delegation and emphasized the project’s critical importance for both the region and the country.
Senior-Level Review by the Japanese Parliamentary Delegation The parliamentary delegation from the House of Councillors of Japan examined the project from both diplomatic and technical perspectives. Delegation members Oie Satoshi, Uchikoshi Sakurara, and Yokoyama Shinichi received detailed information from Center Director Prof. Bülent Akbaş on a wide range of topics, including seismic isolator testing systems, shaking table infrastructure, and ongoing research activities at the center. Representatives from the Consulate General of Japan in Istanbul and JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) also accompanied the delegation and evaluated the progress of the “Creating Disaster-Resilient Societies” (SATREPS-MARTEST) project carried out jointly by the two countries.
Academic Staff and Technical Presentations The academic team behind the success of the GTU MARTEST led the technical leg of the visit. The team, headed by Center Director Prof. Bülent Akbaş and Vice-Rector Prof. Hasari Çelebi, included Prof. Selçuk Toprak, Asst. Prof. Ahmet Anıl Dindar, Asst. Prof. Ceren Özer-Sözdinler, and JICA Project Coordinator Sho Amemiya. In their presentations to the visiting delegation, the academics emphasized that the center was designed not only as a laboratory but also as an international “Training and Research Complex.”
The Power of Technology in Tsunami Evacuation Within the framework of the SATREPS-MARTEST Project and its tsunami risk assessment and preparedness efforts, Prof. Taro Arikawa and his team from Chuo University introduced a virtual reality-based tsunami evacuation application. Using appropriate scenarios derived from a tsunami database based on earthquakes and submarine landslides, the application aims to enable coastal populations to evacuate as quickly and safely as possible. The Japanese parliamentary delegation also experienced the virtual reality application firsthand. The initiative seeks to enhance tsunami awareness and to support the creation of tsunami-resilient communities in coastal areas.
MARTEST: Türkiye’s Seismic Hub The National Earthquake and Structural Engineering Laboratory within MARTEST aims to become Türkiye’s largest seismic testing center, with a shaking table scheduled for completion in September and a seismic isolator testing laboratory planned to begin construction in the coming years. As part of the project, activities of vital importance are being conducted, including structural testing, tsunami risk assessment studies, real-time earthquake monitoring plans, and disaster awareness and preparedness initiatives aimed at building resilient cities. Strengthened by JICA support, the center serves as a regional hub for disaster preparedness research and planning.
The program began with a project briefing and Q&A session at the Rectorate Building and continued with on-site inspections at the MARTEST laboratories. After examining real-time tests and technical infrastructure, the Japanese Parliamentary Delegation described Türkiye’s technological advancement in earthquake resilience as an “exemplary collaboration.”
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