DRR in URBAN PLANNING PROCESS in ISTANBUL Geomatic Engineer, MSc. Emin Yahya MENTEŞE Directorate of Earthquake & Ground Analysis
ISTANBUL-Some facts Housing more than 15 million inhabitants Most crowded city in Europe Producing around 30% GDP of whole Turkey; ~300 billion$ Ancient history; reaching out to 7th millenium B.C. First human settlement is recorded to 5500 B.C. Capital of empires: Rome, Byzantium, Ottoman Housing around 2500 endemic plants (More than Poland, England, Netherlands, Finland or Iceland)
NATURAL HAZARDS & ISTANBUL Flash Floods: In 2009, 40 people lost their lives
NATURAL HAZARDS & ISTANBUL Landslides
NATURAL HAZARDS & ISTANBUL Earthquake 5000 collapsed buildings 20000 heavily damaged buildings 30000 casualties 35000 hospitalized people
URBAN PLANNING in ISTANBUL Legislation Urban Planning Bylaw Article 8, Clause 10 In the settlements or urban environments where disaster and other urban risks are high; urban risk analysis or prevention plans are done where necessary. Disaster risk reduction measures are taken into account in the plans. Article 18, Clause 1, Sub-clause h It is essential to consider the disaster risk reduction measures based on relevant hazard reports and geological investigations. Article 21, Clause 6 In the places where an approved geological-geotechnical or microzonation report do not exist, no land use plan can be prepared.
URBAN PLANNING in ISTANBUL Legislation Urban Planning Bylaw Article 21, Clause 7 In urban plans, it is obligatory to rely on the landsuitability notions in geological-geotechnical or microzonation reports. Article 21, Clause 13 In urban plans; open spaces, roads and other spatial elements that may be needed in a disaster or emergency are taken into account.
Law 6306; so called: Urban Transformation Law The Law of Transformation of Areas under the Disaster Risks came into force in 2012 The aim and scope To determine the procedures and principles regarding the rehabilitation, clearance, and renovations of areas and buildings at disaster risks in accordance with relevant standards with a view to creating healthy and safe living environment.
URBAN PLANNING in ISTANBUL Authorized Institutions Central Govt. Ministry of Environment and Urban Planning Administration of Social Housing Local Govt. Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality District municipalities
URBAN PLANNING in ISTANBUL Spatial Hierarchy 1/100.000 plans 1 st STEP 1/25.000 or 50.000 plans 2 nd STEP 1/5000 plans 3 rd STEP 1/1000 plans 4 th STEP
So how the process goes Start preparing the plan - Based on authorization the decision to make the plan is given Ask the stakeholders for data - Data from relevant stakeholders are gathered Analyze the data - All data from stakeholders are analyzed together The draft plan is prepared - Based on the data analysis, the draft plan is created Ask the stakeholders for their opinion - Based on their expertise; the stakeholders provide their official opinion on the draft plan The plan is revised and send to the municipal council for their approval
So far we have seen: Legislative Institutional Spatial Processual aspects of planning in Istanbul But what about performance??? Regarding ten essentials for making cities resilient
10 essentials for Making Cities Resilient organisation and coordination assign a budget prepare risk assessments critical infrastructure that reduces risk safety of all schools and health facilities realistic, risk compliant building regulations and land use planning principles education programmes and training protect ecosystems and natural buffers early warning systems and emergency management needs of the affected population
Prepare risk assessments 10 Essentials propose to: Case in Istanbul use these as the basis for urban development plans and decisions this information is available to the public and fully discussed with them. Yes; almost all type of disaster risk assessment is available And is used as basis in urban plans But they are not publicly available
Realistic, risk compliant building regulations and land use planning principles 10 Essentials propose to: Case in Istanbul Identify safe land for low income citizens and upgrade informal settlements, wherever feasible. The 2007 building regulation is quite robust Land use planning principles are in place and comprehensive But there is no consistent policy regarding informal settlements And there is a certain lack of public participation
Protect ecosystems and natural buffers 10 Essentials propose to: Case in Istanbul Mitigate floods, storm surges and other hazards to which a city may be vulnerable. Adapt to climate change by building on good risk reduction practices. Buffer zones are taken into account in land use plans But they are mostly not assessed based on detailed geoscientific analyses Climate change scenarios are not taken into account are even do not exist.
Needs of the affected population 10 Essentials propose to: Case in Istanbul Ensure that the needs of the survivors are placed at the centre of reconstruction Exact place for transitional shelters are not determined in the land use plans. Only some districts have emergency plans and assume these areas to be used as shelters But there is no legislative protection of these areas
As a result Istanbul is a hazard prone city Istanbul is not in threat because of the level of these hazards, but because of vulnerability and exposure In Istanbul, urban planning process has various tools that address DRR, there is even a new legislation: urban transformation law which directly aims at reducing disaster risks The regulations seem adequate for DRR activities
As a result Based on urban transformation law, there are various rebuilding activities but these are far away from creating healthy and safe living environment as proposed in the law itself. Social aspect of the planning and DRR is almost nonexistent. Moreover, other stakeholders (universities, private sector, NGOs/NPOs) are also out of the system The planning mechanism is at the hands of public sector and city councels; control mechanisms are beyond reach of people
Thanks for your attention