“Urban Transformation Should Be İzmir’s Top Priority”

Prof. Dr. Gökhan Kılıç, Director of the Disaster Management and Risk Reduction Center and Head of the Department of Civil Engineering at İzmir University of Economics (IUE), stated that urban transformation should be İzmir’s most pressing priority. Emphasizing that buildings, like people, have a limited lifespan, Prof. Dr. Kılıç said, “Earthquakes can occur at any time and anywhere. Instead of focusing on where the epicenter of an earthquake might be, we should prioritize soil-structure interaction and construct earthquake-resistant buildings. Unfortunately, water is sometimes added to concrete mixtures, and the amount of reinforcing steel is reduced to cut costs. Such practices put human lives at risk.”

Speaking from an area along the Balçova Fault, one of İzmir’s most significant seismic sources, Prof. Dr. Gökhan Kılıç stressed the urgent need to accelerate urban transformation efforts across the city. Prof. Dr. Kılıç pointed out that the earthquake of October 30, 2020, is frequently referred to as the “İzmir earthquake,” although this description does not accurately reflect its location. “The earthquake actually occurred off the coast of Samos Island. Unfortunately, nine buildings collapsed in Bayraklı, approximately 77 kilometers from the epicenter, and 117 people lost their lives. On Samos Island, however, only two people died. This highlights the critical importance of soil-structure interaction. What matters most is not where the epicenter is located, but how buildings respond to seismic activity. Earthquakes can happen at any time and anywhere, and science cannot yet predict precisely when and where they will occur. We must construct buildings that are appropriate for the ground conditions on which they stand,” he said.

“BUILDINGS, LIKE PEOPLE, HAVE A LIMITED LIFESPAN”

Comparing İzmir with Istanbul, Prof. Dr. Kılıç noted that significant urban transformation projects and new residential developments have been undertaken in Istanbul since the 1999 earthquake. While emphasizing that Istanbul is not yet fully prepared for a major earthquake, he acknowledged that substantial progress has been made. “İzmir has not experienced a major earthquake in recent years, despite being surrounded by highly active fault lines. Approximately 50 percent of the buildings in İzmir were constructed in or before 1999. There are also many illegally constructed buildings. For this reason, existing structures urgently need to undergo urban transformation or be strengthened through seismic retrofitting projects. We live in an earthquake-prone country, and we must not focus solely on the location of an earthquake’s epicenter. During the Kahramanmaraş earthquakes, buildings collapsed even in Diyarbakır, approximately 300 kilometers away. The earthquakes affected 11 provinces. If a fault in or around İzmir becomes active, buildings constructed on unsuitable ground conditions may collapse. Unfortunately, practices such as adding excess water to concrete mixtures or reducing reinforcing steel to cut costs continue to occur. These practices must be prevented. Our building regulations are comprehensive. Since 1999, they have been revised five times. If buildings are constructed in full compliance with these regulations, we can significantly reduce earthquake damage and potentially withstand earthquakes without structural damage,” he said.

“BUILDINGS ARE BEING MODELED THROUGH THE DIGITAL TWIN PROJECT”

Emphasizing that residents should have the structural condition of their buildings assessed, Prof. Dr. Gökhan Kılıç also highlighted the scientific research being conducted at İzmir University of Economics. Explaining that IUE is working on a project called “Digital Twin,” Prof. Dr. Kılıç said: “We create digital replicas of buildings by modeling them in a virtual environment. Our aim is to determine where and how we should respond in the event of an earthquake. For example, we have begun developing digital twins of buildings in Balçova. After entering building-specific data into the system, we analyze how these structures are likely to behave during an earthquake and identify the types of interventions that may be required for each building. We develop these models by integrating data obtained through non-destructive testing technologies, concrete core samples, and existing architectural and structural plans into a computer-based environment.”