Earthquake hazard analyes and urban transformation planning: Example of Kahramanmaraş-Dulkadiroglu

It is undeniable that Turkey is located within one of the most active seismic zones in the world. While investing in these regions, urban development planning must not be ignored. In newly selected residential areas, seismic hazards must be analyzed in detail alongside the geological. Geophysical, and geotechnical characteristics of the region. Therefore, seismic hazard analyses are strictly required before designing earthquake-resistant structures. This study calculates resonance period intervals and spectral amplification ratios using microtremor measurements performed at designated locations within the project site of planned post-earthquake housing in the Kahramanmaraş-Dulkadiroğlu region. The soil-structure period relationship and the seismic hazard level were examined. The correlations among the natural period of the structure, the number of stories in the resonance zone, and building height were determined using curves that identify the number of stories within the resonance zone corresponding to the dominant soil vibration period. Furthermore, the seismic hazard level was identified based on the spectral amplification ratio. Conclusively, geophysical methods must be utilized during site selection for urban renewal projects to minimize or eliminate the adverse effects of earthquakes. Smart cities developed solely on ecological and technological criteria, yet lacking earth science data, remain vulnerable to natural hazards like earthquakes. Through the case study of Kahramanmaraş-Dulkadiroğlu, this study emphasizes the necessity of defining planning and implementation principles before executing urban renewal projects, highlighting the vital role of geophysical parameters. If the dominant soil vibration period is known, the designed structure's height and number of stories can easily be determined using resonance zone curves. Additionally, the soil layer thickness has been evaluated based on the earthquake-resonance relationship, indicating that calculating soil thickness—namely, the bedrock depth—is imperative for accurate dominant soil vibration period computations.