FOTAS Welcomes MATAM Directors
New Horizons in Earthquake Early Warning Systems with FOTAS
Prof. Dr. Cenk Yaltırak, Director of the Disaster and Risk Management Application and Research Center (MATAM) at Istanbul Technical University (ITU), and Prof. Dr. Fatih Bulut visited our R&D Center for an important meeting focused on the use of our fiber optic-based acoustic sensing system, FOTAS, in earthquake early warning systems.
During the visit, a detailed technical discussion was held on how FOTAS technology could be integrated with Turkey’s widespread fiber optic infrastructure to enhance the early and precise detection of seismic waves.
A First Step Toward Joint Projects
MATAM’s ongoing efforts to dynamically monitor active fault lines—especially in the Marmara Region—align closely with FOTAS’s ability to generate high-resolution data. In this context, FOTAS was evaluated as a complementary system to accelerometers, capable of collecting continuous and contactless data via fiber optic networks. It was emphasized that FOTAS can provide critical insights before, during, and after seismic events.
The meeting laid the groundwork for future R&D-focused collaboration, exploring possible project models, development strategies, and field applications.
Field Experience Enriching Technical Exchange
During the visit, Prof. Dr. Cenk Yaltırak and Prof. Dr. Fatih Bulut were also briefed on the ongoing installation of the FOTDES system beneath the Marmara Sea. Insights were shared on how existing submarine fiber optic cables are being transformed into an earthquake early warning network through Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) technology. The discussions highlighted the system’s potential role in enabling timely precautions for gas distribution networks and transportation infrastructure, which the visiting professors followed with great interest and valuable scientific input.
Thank You for the Visit
We sincerely thank Prof. Dr. Cenk Yaltırak and Prof. Dr. Fatih Bulut for their kind visit and insightful contributions, and we look forward to strengthening our scientific collaboration in the future.