Opening Ceremony for the Marmara Earthquake and Structural Engineering Test Center (MARTEST) Held at Gebze Technical University

On September 11, Gebze Technical University hosted the opening ceremony of the Marmara Earthquake and Structural Engineering Test Center (MARTEST Center). The center aims to minimize earthquake damage by conducting seismic testing of structures.
The ceremony was attended by Gebze Technical University Rector Prof. Haci Ali Mantar, Turkish-Japanese University of Science and Technology Rector Prof. Mustafa Vershan Kok, Gebze Deputy Mayor Şener Akın, Martest Center Director Prof. Blunt Akbaş, Japanese representative for the Martest Project, Prof. Kaneda from Kagawa University, JICA Turkey Office Chief Representative Watanabe, and many other experts and project members.
The establishment of Martest Center is a significant steptoward strengthening earthquake preparedness in Türkiye. Many buildings in the country were constructed before 1998 revision of seismic standards, making them vulnerable to earthquakes. Although newer buildings have improved resistance, the 2023 earthquake in southeastern Turkiye highlighted the urgent need for structural inspections and public awareness.
The Marmara region, including Istanbul, faces high seismic risks due to the North Anatolian Fault, which stretches over 1,000 km beneath the sea. The 1999 Izmit-Kocaeli earthquake triggered a tsunami of up to 2.5 meters and caused damage from ground liquefaction. A future major earthquake in this economically vital region could result in severe tsunami related damage.
The MARTEST Center will gradually introduce experimental equipment for research on earthquake-resistant structures and tsunami disasters. The first installation will be a large-scale shaking table, scheduled for completion by June 2026. The Center will continue to develop earthquake engineering technologies and contribute to disaster mitigation efforts.
A Joint Coordinating Committee (JCC) meeting for the SATREPS project was held in conjunction with the opening ceremony. The following day, a symposium was organized to share the progress of the MARTEST project. At the symposium, Mr. Watanabe, JICA Turkiye Chief Representative stated, "Turkey and Japan share the common challenge of frequent and serious natural disasters, particularly earthquakes. Through the MARTETS project, Japan's experience and expertise are being shared and deepened in response to Turkiye’s needs."
Gebze Technical University continues collaborative research under the SATREPS project to build a disaster-resilient society. The opening of MARTEST Center marks a major milestone, signaling the beginning of a new phase in the project.