Evaluation of Changing Building Characteristics in Turkey

Seismic risk combines earthquake induced hazard with structural response and determines loss that is equaled or exceeded over some time period. In this sense, it is of prime importance to utilize proper earthquake loss models that are able to consider local characteristics of building stock in a realistic way. The aim of this study is to compile changing characteristics of Turkish buildings that is believed to be necessary to develop representative models for loss estimations. Accordingly, a statistical survey will be carried out on the general properties of Turkish buildings using building permit statistics given by Turkish Statistical Institute (TSI). Previous studies on general characteristics of Turkish building stock is based on relatively small regions, limited number of buildings or old data. However, design characteristics of Turkish buildings have been altered within the last decade because of changing socioeconomic factors and regulations related with earthquake safe design. Thus, by including information of relatively new building stock, this study aims to perform a broader statistical survey about Turkish buildings in terms of use of building, occupancy, number of dwellings, number of stories, structural system, and geometrical properties. Making use of this information, this study is deemed to be a source for earthquake damage and loss estimation studies in urban areas in Turkey