MAE Center in Turkey

A team from the MAE Center comprising Amr Elnashai (Director), Jerry Hajjar (Deputy Director), Bill Spencer (Thrust Leader of Information Technology) and Jim Myers (MAEviz Chief Software Architect) visited Turkey, where they presented papers at a risk assessment workshop at Istanbul Technical University, hosted by Professor Muhammed Sahin, Head of Surveying and Geodesy Department at ITU.The Team also visited the US Consulate and provided general advice on earthquake risk in Istanbul and possible issues affecting the US community in the city.The Team visited Kandilli Observatory, Department of Earthquake Engineering, hosted by Professors Mostafa Erdik (Director), Atilla Ansal (General Secretary of the European Association of Earthquake Engineering) and Noray Aydinoglu (Past Chairman of the seismic code of Turkey).The two teams exchanged information and ideas, and common interests were explored and cooperation agreed upon.A Memorandum of Cooperation in research, education and training is currently under consideration.Moreover, the two sides have agreed to hold a workshop in Turkey on Urban Lifelines, with a view to establishing common projects and application test beds.There are also plans to exchange faculty and students and to pair existing projects from the two sides.