April 23, 2025. Time: 12:49 PM. Istanbul was once again shaken by great fear. The 6.2-magnitude earthquake that struck off the coast of Silivri was felt strongly on both the European and Asian sides of the city. People rushed out into the streets in panic. Some hurried to pick up their children from school, while others tried to reach their loved ones. Mobile phones failed, transportation came to a halt, and evacuation announcements were made in public institutions. But at that moment, one question was on everyone’s mind: “What if a bigger one hits?” We were right to ask that. Because according to experts, the seismic gap in the Sea of Marmara, which is expected to rupture, still remains. In other words, this earthquake was merely a precursor to the major Istanbul earthquake. A forewarning. Unfortunately, we were once again caught unprepared by this warning. Now, the real issue we need to talk about again is this: Cities that are not managed with data cannot safely navigate crises. And at this point, we must become familiar with a concept we should be hearing much more about: Urban Information Systems.
What Is an Urban Information System? Why Is It Vital?
Urban Information Systems (UIS) are the digital memory, spatial intelligence, and strategic compass of modern city management. In the simplest terms, they are integrated information systems in which all physical, social, demographic, and infrastructural data related to a city are collected, processed, visualized, and presented to decision-makers through analyses on a single digital platform.
So, what does this mean? Thanks to UIS, hundreds of variables—such as the age of buildings in a city, their year of construction, number of floors, structural system type, even how many people live in each building, how many of them are elderly or disabled; the geological characteristics of the ground, risk of landslides or liquefaction, proximity to active fault lines, and the routes of infrastructure systems (natural gas, water, sewage, electricity)—can be visualized layer by layer on a single digital map. This system is not merely a data repository. UIS is the digital twin of a city—its spatial reflex, its predictive intelligence. It is, in essence, a living, thinking, and learning entity. Just as a doctor can diagnose illnesses by reading an MRI scan of the human body, a city manager can use UIS to detect the “invisible vulnerabilities” of a city. Which buildings need urgent structural reinforcement? In which areas is population growth putting pressure on infrastructure? On which street would an ambulance be unable to maneuver? Which gathering area is actually inaccessible? All of this can be analyzed with this system. In this sense, UIS is not only a tool for planning institutions but also a decision-support system for the entire public administration.
What Does All This Have to Do with Earthquakes?
The answer is simple: An earthquake is not just ground shaking. It is a sudden confrontation with the unknown, a collision between unpreparedness and consequence. And the impact of that confrontation is directly tied to data-driven decisions made before the earthquake occurs. This is precisely where UIS comes into play. An earthquake is a natural event. But the collapse of buildings, the inability of people to reach assembly areas, and ambulances being unable to navigate narrow streets—these are not natural outcomes; they are managerial failures. If a UIS is in place, such administrative vulnerabilities can largely be addressed.
In a vast metropolis like Istanbul—home to millions, with complex infrastructure and an aging building stock—do we truly know the answers to the following questions?
- How many buildings were constructed before the 1999 Marmara earthquake?
- Which neighborhoods have the weakest ground conditions?
- How many assembly areas exist in the most densely populated districts, and how accessible are they?
- Which schools or hospitals are located in the highest-risk zones?
- Where are the settlements with the highest concentrations of people with disabilities, the elderly or children?
Today, the answers to these questions are either incomplete or must be gathered manually from various institutions. In other words, there is no truly unified, real-time, and accessible system. However, if Urban Information Systems (UIS) are in place, all of this data can be displayed layer by layer on a digital map within minutes. Not only decision-makers but also citizens can access information about their own neighborhoods. Risks become visible. Uncertainty is replaced by science.
Before an earthquake occurs, UIS paves the way for life-saving planning in the following areas:
- High-risk zones can be identified through detailed ground and structural analyses,
- The structural systems of buildings can be examined, and reinforcement needs can be prioritized,
- Assembly areas can be evaluated not only by quantity but also by accessibility and adequacy,
- Evacuation routes can be tested through scenario simulations to detect potential obstacles in advance,
- Vulnerable groups (such as individuals with disabilities, the elderly, or families with infants) can be spatially mapped, enabling customized emergency response plans.
In short, every rational, data-driven precaution that can be taken before an earthquake becomes possible with UIS.
So Why Is Istanbul Still Making Plans on Paper?
Why are building inventories still stored in file folders? Why does one still need to submit a formal request to a municipal office just to find out how many assembly areas exist in a neighborhood? Worse yet, even data sharing between institutions is not systematic. Municipalities, provincial directorates, AFAD, and other agencies operate on different systems, with different standards. Yet disaster management should function like an orchestra. And the conductor of that orchestra is a powerful data system—such as a UIS.
If we had a strong Urban Information System in place today, perhaps thousands of buildings would already have been analyzed, reinforced, or vacated. Perhaps hundreds of children would now be continuing their education in safe buildings instead of risky schools. Perhaps thousands of citizens, knowing the condition of the buildings they live in, would find the courage to act instead of living in fear. But we are still waiting. And this waiting is not just a loss of time—it is a risk to human life.
The Moment of the Earthquake: The First 72 Hours Are Life Itself
When an earthquake strikes, the first 72 hours are critical—they are worth their weight in gold. Search and rescue operations, emergency response, and logistical coordination during this period can save lives. If this window is not used effectively, lives that could have been saved may be lost. During these crucial hours, UIS can perform the following functions:
- Instantly map the affected areas.
- Identify inaccessible roads,
- Direct search and rescue teams,
- Collect emergency aid requests from citizens,
- Monitor damage to infrastructure systems (gas, water, electricity).
With UIS, the interior of the disaster becomes visible. Who needs what? What has collapsed? Which area has gone silent? All of this can be observed and coordinated from a single screen.
After the Earthquake: Crisis Management Is More Than Clearing the Rubble
We often assume that the danger is over once the earthquake stops. But in reality, true crisis management begins at that point. UIS is also an indispensable tool in the recovery and reconstruction phases:
- Conducting damage assessments accurately and quickly,
- Ensuring fair and equitable distribution of aid,
- Planning temporary shelter areas,
- Prioritizing infrastructure repairs.
Moreover, UIS allows data from past earthquakes to be archived. This enables future planning to be guided by evidence-based decisions. Because a city without memory is doomed to repeat the same mistakes.
Where Is the World—and Where Are We?
Many countries around the world have learned from the major disasters they’ve experienced and placed Urban Information Systems (UIS) at the core of their disaster management strategies. Because they now understand well: you cannot prevent natural disasters, but you can manage them effectively. And at the heart of that management lies data.
Japan stands as the most advanced example in this field. In Tokyo, the early warning system detects P-waves and, within seconds, halts metro lines, disables elevators, and shuts off gas systems automatically. All of this happens within moments. People receive alert messages and move to safe positions. Lives are saved. In Japan, UIS is structured not only for earthquakes but also for multi-disaster scenarios such as tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, and typhoons. Hundreds of thousands of sensors monitor risks from beneath the ocean to subway tunnels, from bridges to building foundations. In the event of an earthquake, public transportation halts, factories suspend operations, and gas valves shut off—within seconds. At the center of all these interventions are integrated information systems operating in real time. Japan understands this principle clearly: If you can’t capture the data, you can’t manage the disaster.
In the United States, San Francisco implements a program called “Resilient SF,” which annually publishes UIS-based risk assessments. By layering data such as building inventory, soil conditions, poverty levels, and elderly population statistics, they identify areas most vulnerable during disasters. Municipalities use these maps not only to take preventive measures but also to inform the public. In San Francisco, UIS is not just a system—it is a comprehensive urban safety strategy.
After the 2011 Christchurch earthquake in New Zealand, UIS became the backbone of the reconstruction process. Every step—damage assessment, infrastructure restoration, and temporary housing placement—was managed using digital maps and integrated systems. Local residents were able to access information about the condition of their homes and submit aid requests through the system. Transparency and public participation were ensured throughout the process.
In Türkiye, however, even the most basic data still resides in folders across various institutional computers. Data sharing is not a systemic reflex but rather depends on individual initiative. Disaster data held by AFAD is not compatible with building inventories managed by municipalities. Hospital capacity data from the Ministry of Health is not integrated with road condition data from the Ministry of Transport. In Istanbul, for example, if an earthquake strikes a particular area:
- The fire department uses one map,
- AFAD pulls data from another system,
- Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality is linked to a different coordination center,
- Electricity and gas distribution companies operate with separate alarm protocols.
The roadmap of the Transportation Directorate does not align with the underground cable map of the telecom companies. So, is a street blocked? Is there a gas line beneath it? Can an ambulance get through? No single system offers a consolidated view of all this critical information.
And the Result? Chaos, Silence, and Helplessness in the First Hours of a Disaster
Communication breakdowns, wasted time, overlapping responses—or worse, no response at all. In the critical first minutes of a disaster, the inability to access accurate information isn’t just an organizational flaw; it poses a direct risk to human life. Another alarming fact: in some cities in Türkiye, building inventories are still not digital. Officials are still walking street by street, jotting down notes on paper. Let alone establishing a UIS—basic data is still in notebooks.
What Are We Waiting For?
The April 23, 2025 Silivri earthquake was like a silent scream rising from the depths of the Marmara Sea. This time, there was no major destruction, no mass casualties. But that wasn’t luck. It was only temporary. The Silivri earthquake was the echo of what scientists have long warned us about—the footsteps of the impending major Istanbul earthquake. And those footsteps are drawing closer every day. That’s why we must stop talking about narrowly escaping disaster by chance, and instead start talking about taking precautions with reason and preparation.
An investment in Urban Information Systems is not an investment in concrete, but in knowledge; not in panic, but in preparedness; not in appearance, but in saving lives. This system is not merely a technical tool—it is the digital expression of respect for life, institutional responsibility, and collective conscience. Because at this point, none of us can say, “We didn’t know.”
No official, no local authority, no planner, no citizen is innocent in this matter. Science is warning us. History is warning us. The maps are warning us. Experts are warning us every single day. There will be an earthquake. We don’t know when. But we do know it will happen. And in the face of such a certain threat, continued inaction is not just negligence—it becomes a crime against the future.
And let us not forget: Urban Information Systems are not just the concern of engineers or technocrats. This system directly affects every mother who sends her child to school, every person with an elderly parent living alone, every individual with a disabled neighbor, and every living being in the city’s streets. None of us knows where, when, or how strong the next earthquake will be. But we know this for certain: Disasters are natural. Deaths are often the result of neglect.
Final Word: Let Us Embrace Knowledge, Not Ignorance
Urban Information Systems are no longer a matter of choice—they are a necessity. In this era, a city that still cannot answer the question “Who is where, doing what?” is essentially inviting its own disaster. We cannot prevent natural disasters, but we can reduce their impact. And we have no time to lose.
UIS is a technology that, with a single command, can save thousands of lives. But if we don’t press that button today, tomorrow may be too late. Today, we understand this clearly: Data buys time. Time saves lives. And knowledge shapes the future.
That is why every investment made in UIS is not just about building a system—it is a step toward a future that is safer, smarter, and more humane.
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