On February 6, 2023, not only 11 provinces but also the whole of Turkey were deeply shaken by successive earthquakes centered in Kahramanmaraş. Our state mobilized all its institutions in the search and rescue and relief efforts that started immediately after the earthquake. During this period, we, as TÜBİTAK, contributed to the process with our volunteers working in the region, with our technologies that can be quickly adapted to urgent needs, and with research programs to analyze the disaster, while we designed and implemented new support mechanisms in line with the needs in the Disaster Region with our support for academia, industry, scientists, science and society. We provided science and society support to the earthquake region. We conducted earthquake-related research in our Centers and Institutes. We continue our earthquake-related studies.
What did we do immediately after the earthquake?
Not only did we ensure that researchers could deploy to the earthquake zone within 24 hours to conduct research, but we also created new support programs to address the needs in the region.
TUBITAK 1002-C Natural Disasters Focused Field Study Emergency Support Program
Immediately after the earthquake, "TÜBİTAK Natural Disasters Focused Fieldwork Emergency Support Program" was launched with a proactive approach. The applications received under the program were evaluated and decided within 24 hours and the support process was initiated. Following the earthquake disaster, 124 applications were received from 61 different institutions covering topics such as collection of scientific data, seismic, geological, geodetic, tectonic, geotechnical, structural health and damage, transportation structures, sea level change, soil structure and liquefaction, surface fracture, landslides, radon gas output, agriculture, environment, historical and cultural structures, health services, psychology, social sciences, food safety, disaster management, etc., in line with the aim of ensuring preparedness for similar disasters. 577 scientists from all over Turkey collected field data in fields ranging from geophysics to logistics.
The "Mw 7.8 Pazarcık (Kahramanmaraş) Earthquake Series" project is being carried out under the TUBITAK 1002-C Natural Disasters Focused Field Study Emergency Support Program in cooperation with TÜBİTAK MAM Earth Sciences Research Group, Yıldız Technical University and Istanbul Technical University under the leadership of Boğaziçi University. Within the scope of the project, measurements were carried out using three GNSS systems of TÜBİTAK MAM for geodetic studies.
BİÇABA
We opened the call for the We Will Work Together and Succeed Together Program (BİÇABA) to enable undergraduate, graduate and doctoral students and postdoctoral researchers affected by earthquakes to take part in research projects conducted or supported by TÜBİTAK. Within the scope of the call, 1,317 undergraduate students, 648 master's students, 419 doctoral students and 99 postdoctoral researchers were eligible for support. Undergraduate students were supported for 6 months, graduate students for 12 months, PhD students for 24 months and Postdoctoral Researchers for 12 months.
ONE THOUSAND EFFORTS
On March 1, 2023, we opened the "Special Call for Earthquake Region Universities - BİNBİRÇABA" within the scope of the "1001-Scientific and Technological Research Projects Support Program" in order to support the R&D activities of our researchers affected by the earthquake disaster on February 6, 2023 and to minimize the impact of the earthquake disaster on the research ecosystem in the relevant region. With this call, it was aimed to focus on the needs in the region by not staying away from research activities of researchers and students, to contribute to the preservation of the accumulation of knowledge in these provinces, to support the universities in the earthquake region and the researchers working at the university, and to increase their contributions to the region and the provinces where they are located. With the "Special Call for Universities in the Earthquake Region, BINBİRÇABA", we supported 396 projects with 634.98 million TL (at constant 2025 prices).
SPECIAL CALL FOR EARTHQUAKE RESEARCH
Within the scope of the 1001-Scientific and Technological Research Projects Support Program, the call for "Earthquake Research" was opened on February 15, 2021. Innovative construction models and advanced materials; multifaceted earth science research; scenario, prediction and analysis studies; robotic systems for search and rescue activities; and socio-economic and social widespread effects of earthquakes. 347 projects were proposed and 81 projects were supported.
TEKNOÇABA
On February 6, 2023, we opened the "2023-EARTHQUAKE REGION Special Call-TEKNOÇABA" within the scope of the 1501-Industry R&D Support Program and 1507-SME R&D Startup Support Program carried out by the Directorate of Technology and Innovation Support Programs (TEYDEB) in order to support the project-based research, technology development and innovation activities of our SME-scale organizations affected by the earthquakes that occurred on February 6, 2023.
A total of 156 project applications were received under the call. It was decided to support 95 of the projects with 330 million TL, and 138.5 million TL was allocated to 89 projects.
Within the scope of TÜBİTAK scientist scholarship and support programs, the following special calls were opened and 113 support decisions were made:
- Earthquake Call for 2221 Guest or Sabbatical Scientist Support Program Earthquake Call for 2221 Guest or Sabbatical Scientist Support Program in order to enable our researchers, who continue to work on the earthquake disaster we are experiencing, to collaborate with international researchers
- 2224-A Program for Supporting Participation in Scientific Activities Abroad - Earthquake Special Call to support researchers who want to participate in scientific activities to be organized abroad on earthquake-related topics
- 2224-B Program for Supporting Participation in Domestic Scientific Activities - Earthquake Special Call to support researchers who want to participate in scientific activities to be organized in Turkey on earthquake-related topics
- 2237-A Scientific Training Activities Support Program - Earthquake Special Call to support scientists who want to organize face-to-face or online scientific training events on earthquake-related topics
Science Everywhere
We have prepared 4007 Disaster Region "Science is Everywhere" Special Support Call for 11 provinces directly affected by the earthquakes in our country and Gürün district of Sivas province.
Within the scope of the call, projects aiming to carry out workshop activities for all students from pre-school to high school were supported to contribute to the adaptation processes of our children and young people living in the earthquake zone to daily life with scientific activities.
106 project applications were made to the 4007 Disaster Region "Science is Everywhere" Special Support Call and 52 projects were supported.
Within the scope of the program, more than 50 thousand people participated in the activities organized by 52 projects. We supported these projects with 5.48 million TL (at constant 2025 prices).
In the call, where the upper limit of support was stated as 75,000 TL, the average project budget was 64,000 TL, and approximately 3,300,000 TL support budget was transferred to the project executors.
TUBITAK Takes an Active Role in Search and Rescue Efforts!
The team of 156 people, mostly experienced volunteers, set out with the motivation to touch as many lives as possible. The Disaster Coordination Group provided alternative and fast solutions to problems such as weather opposition and transportation problems on the road to ensure that the personnel reached the region safely. TUBITAK personnel, 156 of whom voluntarily traveled to the region from both Gebze and Ankara, started search and rescue operations under the coordination of AFAD.
As TÜBİTAK, we did not leave our citizens who were transferred from the earthquake zone to different parts of the country alone, we provided them with aid support. We also established a TÜBİTAK Informatics Laboratory consisting of 20 computers for earthquake-affected students staying in the KYK dormitory in Çubuk to prepare for their exams.
We set up stations in the region and monitored aftershocks
Aftershocks monitored
Immediately after the February 6 earthquakes, the TÜBİTAK MAM Earth Sciences Research Group went to the earthquake zone as 2 teams and established 8 aftershock observation stations within the scope of the Emergency Observation Researches After Major Earthquakes (DEPAR-II) Project being carried out at TÜBİTAK Marmara Research Center (MAM).
In 2020, aftershocks were monitored 24/7 at a total of 15 near-field earthquake monitoring stations, including 7 seismological monitoring stations operated within the scope of the "Gaziantep Province Seismic Hazard Assessment Project" initiated for the earthquake hazard of the region. Seismic hazard maps were created for the fault segments threatening Gaziantep province. Damage distribution was obtained for scenario earthquakes. Building inventory representing the province was compiled and soil class (Vs30) and foundation vibration frequency maps describing the local soil conditions were created.
208 seismological stations were established and observations started
The NSF (National Science Foundation) RAPID project, which we realized in cooperation with TÜBİTAK MAM, University of Missouri and Georgia Tech, started in May with the installation of 136 seismological stations covering the provinces of Malatya, Adıyaman, Kahramanmaraş, Kayseri, Osmaniye, Adana and Hatay. In July, for a special study, 72 additional stations were installed perpendicular to the fault line in the earthquake zone and observations continued. Field work was completed in September 2023. The data collected with the state-of-the-art measurement systems installed in the region within the scope of the project will enable the determination of earthquake parameters with high precision and to reveal the seismic activity in the near-field fault systems in detail.
TÜBİTAK MAM Earth Sciences Research Group developed the Seismic Seismic Receiver Array in Motion (HSAD) measurement system to investigate deformation and structural damage in earthquake zones. This 48-channel system, which can collect data in different frequency bands, was used in Hatay and Diyarbakır provinces, and the results obtained were reported to the relevant institutions and organizations.
Within the scope of TÜBİTAK 1002-C Natural Disasters Focused Field Study Emergency Support Program, measurements are being carried out with 3 GNSS systems belonging to TÜBİTAK MAM for geodetic studies in the "Mw 7.8 Pazarcık (Kahramanmaraş) Earthquake Series" project under the leadership of Boğaziçi University in cooperation with TÜBİTAK MAM Earth Sciences Research Group, Yıldız Technical University and Istanbul Technical University.
We updated our technologies to meet the needs and made them available
Artificial Intelligence Based Matchmaking Program (DERINGÖRÜ)
The DerinGörü Face Recognition System, which has been protecting our country's strategic facilities until today, was customized for earthquake victims with a fast and devoted work. The DerinGörü face recognition and matching software developed by TÜBİTAK BİLGEM has been actively used by the Ministry of Family and Social Services.
This system has been activated in the fastest way possible to find the children who came out of the rubble but whose families could not be found. Thanks to our DerinGörü system, more than 300 children have been matched so far. In addition, the DeepSight system was officially integrated into enabız.
Artificial Intelligence Based Fake Account Analysis (SMAnalysis)
We launched the Twitter analysis application to prevent disinformation and fraud through fake accounts on social media. With this application, we respond to another important need in this process as an effective force in the fight against disinformation on social media by detecting suspicious accounts and tweets that collect donations using the names of organizations such as AFAD, AKUT and Kızılay, which carry out aid activities in the region, with artificial intelligence and reporting them to BTK. More than 2 million tweets were analyzed on Twitter and nearly 400 suspicious tweets were identified by removing "retweet" interactions. In addition to detecting bank accounts that are not approved by the governorate, the system also has the ability to detect crypto wallet addresses that are not approved by the governorate.
We continue to develop technology for future needs
The Disaster Management Program was established under TÜBİTAK BİLGEM in order to work on technologies that can be developed to assist disaster victims and search and rescue teams before and after disaster events such as earthquakes, fires and floods. On May 1, 2023, R&D projects continue in the program, which was officially launched at TÜBİTAK BİLGEM.
The following projects are being carried out under the disaster management program:
-CANDORA (CANDORA) Under Debris Live Detection Doppler Radar: The aim is to develop a portable Doppler Radar System Prototype that can be used to detect the presence and location of live victims under the rubble. The system will be sensitive to movements such as hand/arm movements and breathing movements.
-Smartphone Debris Search System (ATEAS): It is aimed to identify the disaster victims under the rubble, determine their status and location with the smartphones belonging to the people under the rubble.
-Acoustic Seismic Sensor Based Live Under Debris Detection System (AkuSTECTS): It is aimed to create a prototype product that can be used to detect whether there are live people under the rubble with acoustic and seismic sensors.
We organized meetings to inform the public about the data obtained during the earthquake
Virtual Conference on Earthquake Research
In 2021, within the scope of the "Call for Earthquake Research" opened under the "1001-Scientific and Technological Research Projects Support Program" and after the February 6 earthquakes, an event was organized to evaluate the progress made in the projects supported under the 1002-C Natural Disasters Focused Fieldwork Emergency Support Program, to plan future studies and to increase the interaction between the projects. On March 30, 2023, the opening speeches of the event were delivered by the Vice President, Minister of Industry and Technology, President of TÜBİTAK and President of AFAD. Our event, which was broadcast live on TÜBİTAK YouTube channel, took place in 17 sessions, 9 parallel sessions before noon and 8 parallel sessions in the afternoon. Project Abstracts Booklet of the Virtual Conference on Earthquake Research can be accessed from the link below: https://tubitak.gov.tr/sites/default/files/26720/deprem_arastirmalari_sanal_konferansi_proje_ozetleri.pdf
TUBITAK prepared a special issue of the Turkish Journal of Earth Sciences dedicated to earthquakes and the people who lost their lives in earthquakes
Following the February 6 earthquakes, many scientists conducted field research in the affected region. Accordingly, it was decided to publish a special issue titled "February 2023, Southern Turkey Earthquake Sequence" in December 2023 in our academic journal Turkish Journal of Earth Sciences published by TÜBİTAK. In this special issue, dedicated to the earthquakes mentioned above and the people who lost their lives in these earthquakes, seismic events were analyzed from a geoscientific perspective, and six articles on various aspects were accepted. https://journals.tubitak.gov.tr/earth/ published on the website.
Delays in the publication of journals published in the provinces affected by the earthquake disaster; journals with TR Index applications or indexed journals or delays in fulfilling TR Index processes were not taken into account in the evaluations and TR Index processes.
DergiPark provided technical infrastructure, hosting and technical support services to journals. Publishers in the earthquake region were prioritized and facilitated in these matters.
TUBITAK 1007- Turkey Paleoseismology Research Project
In the Project for the Determination of Paleoseismological Characteristics of Turkey's Resilient Faults, which is supported within the scope of TÜBİTAK 1007 Public Institutions Research and Development Projects Support Program and carried out under the management of TÜBİTAK MAM, AFAD and MTA are the institutions in need, and the Union of Municipalities of Turkey is the organization that will encourage the implementation of the project results by local governments. The project was put into effect as of 01/09/2023. On October 30, 2023, with the participation of the Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacır, the presentation and signing ceremony of the "Research Platform for Determining the Paleoseismological Characteristics of Turkey's Resistant Faults" was held.
More than 100 researchers and 90 scholarship holders from 26 universities, 14 of which are project executing organizations, AFAD and MTA. Our scientists will determine the geometries of live faults, the recurrence periods of earthquakes in the relevant fault segments, the dates of the last surface rupture, slip rates and information on the average amount of slip in each earthquake through the most up-to-date methods and analyzes to be carried out in the internationally standardized TÜBİTAK MAM AMS Laboratory, which we ensure sustainability with our own resources. In 128 fault segments, we are conducting research to predict the magnitude and time of possible earthquakes, and with the studies to be carried out, earthquake scenarios that may affect residential areas in the regions where live faults are located will be revealed. This study, which will contribute to the development of the databases of institutions, will be an important data source to be used in updating the Earthquake Hazard Map of Turkey created by AFAD.
TUBITAK and AFAD Call for Joint Earthquake Research
The "1001-UDAP National Earthquake Research Program Joint Call", which is carried out in cooperation with TÜBİTAK and AFAD with a co-financing model, was opened on February 6, 2024. A total of 233 projects applied to the call organized within the framework of the cooperation protocol and 51 projects were decided to be supported as a result of the evaluations.
Earthquake Resilience Studies for Airports by TÜBİTAK and DHMI
On February 6, 2023, the earthquakes once again demonstrated the critical role of air transportation in disaster management and emergency response. In this context, TÜBİTAK MAM and State Airports Authority (DHMI) signed a cooperation protocol between the two institutions following the successful work carried out in the earthquake zone. Within the scope of the project launched in November 2023, earthquake hazard and ground parameters are being examined in detail to ensure the operational sustainability of airports. The project, which includes multidisciplinary "Seismic Hazard Assessment" and "Soil Deformation Investigation" studies, is initially being implemented in two pilot sites. The project, which aims to develop airport-specific solutions, will be expanded to other airports in the future and will become a comprehensive program.
As TÜBİTAK, we continue our earthquake-related studies meticulously in many aspects.
