RESILIENT - Earthquake Awareness for Architectural Heritage Preservation

Türkiye is one of the world's most significant regions for cultural and archaeological heritage, boasting 21 UNESCO World Heritage sites. However, much of this heritage is located in highly seismic areas and faces a constant risk of severe damage or permanent loss. This vulnerability was starkly demonstrated by the 2023 Türkiye–Syria earthquake, which claimed over 50,000 lives, destroyed more than 150 historic structures, and caused over $100 billion in damage.

Correctly perceiving and understanding the seismic risks to which historic buildings are exposed is a fundamental prerequisite for building an authentic culture of seismic prevention. Conversely, because catastrophic earthquakes often have long return periods, both local populations and authorities tend to underestimate the risk. This gap in time often erodes the safety culture developed after previous disasters, leaving communities poorly prepared to take proactive measures to protect their architectural and cultural heritage. Addressing this global challenge requires a holistic approach that bridges social and engineering sciences. Only an interdisciplinary perspective can provide local communities with the necessary background to understand how cultural heritage is vulnerable and how its preservation can positively impact their community's life.

The ongoing RESILIENT project, funded by the British Council and led by Dr Bartolomeo Panto’ (Durham University Department of Engineering and Institute of Hazard, Risk and Resilience fellow), aims to increase seismic risk awareness among local communities and policymakers in earthquake-prone historic areas of Türkiye. By leveraging vernacular practices, the project seeks to drive a culture of seismic prevention rooted in everyday citizen action. A primary goal is to engender an active exchange between academic research and community needs, thereby fostering a pervasive understanding of seismic risks among local stakeholders and encouraging their proactive involvement in preserving their cultural legacies.

Adopting a transdisciplinary approach, RESILIENT bridges social science, engineering, and digital cultural heritage to predict and mitigate tangible and intangible losses from seismic events. The research integrates engineering numerical simulations—isolating combined geotechnical-structural vulnerabilities in heritage assets to project damage scenarios—with social science methodologies that map community connections to these sites. By blending these disciplines, the project drives an effective, bidirectional knowledge transfer between academia and society, directly transforming research into actionable community disaster readiness.

RESILIENT Transdisciplinary Approach

Operating across sectors,  unites local authorities, tourism operators, heritage custodians, and cultural associations to foster a pervasive awareness of seismic risks and encourage proactive community involvement in preserving local legacies. Supported by an extensive international research alliance and backed by key national stakeholders, the project is strategically positioned to advance UN-SDG 11: Sustainable Cities. Ultimately, RESILIENT aims to instigate lasting societal impact and substantial progress in seismic risk mitigation, effectively safeguarding Türkiye's precious cultural heritage.

RESILIENT directs its efforts towards the Urla district of the İzmir province (western Türkiye), an area of significant cultural heritage and archaeological importance, including Liman Tepe, the oldest settlement layer of the ancient city of Klazomenai dating back to 5000 BCE.

The inaugural RESILIENT network meeting with the Liman Tepe Excavation Team took place on 22 July 2026 at the Ankara University Mustafa V. Koç Research Center for Maritime Archaeology (ANKÜSAM). Hosted by Prof. Vasıf Şahoğlu, Director of ANKÜSAM and the Liman Tepe excavation sites, the event aimed to map out a collaborative framework between Durham University, the RESILIENT team, and this vital Turkish research group. The meeting brought together researchers across multiple disciplines—including engineering, architecture, and archaeology—from Ankara and Cyprus universities, alongside the İzmir Institute of Technology (İYTE). Their diverse expertise stimulated a highly productive discussion on vernacular architecture, heritage culture, and sustainable conservation strategies.

The first RESILIENT network meeting with the Liman Tepe excavation team at ANKÜSAM (Urla, Izmir)

Views of Urla city centre (left), Karantina Island (centre), and the Liman Tepe excavation site (right)