İstanbul Earthquake Rapid Response and Early Warning Laboratory

Boğaziçi University started to work towards an Istanbul Earthquake Rapid Response and Early Warning System in 1998. The proposal was approved by the Council of Ministers in the 2001 fiscal year following the 1999 Kocaeli and Düzce earthquakes (Decree: 5/4/2001 - 2001/2232).

The establishment of the Istanbul Earthquake Rapid Response and Early Warning System commenced on May 10th, 2001. The design and technical specifications were prepared by the Department of Earthquake Engineering of Boğaziçi University, Kandilli Observatory and Earthquake Research Institute.

In 2012 the system was updated with the support of the Istanbul Governorate. 

Istanbul Earthquake Rapid Response and Early Warning System  consists of 100 rapid response and 10 early warning stations.

Building damage distribution maps are prepared following an earthquake with the help of  strong ground motion parameters estimated from real-time data received from the stations and Istanbul's building inventory in order to  assist the authorities in the prioritization of rapid response efforts.  The early warning system can transmit data to critical facilities in order to enable initiation of their controlled shut down, taking advantage of seconds between P and S waves of seismic records from stations.

For further queries please contact Prof. Dr. Eser Çaktı