Karin Şeşetyan

Asst. Prof.

karin@boun.edu.tr

Phone:

(+90) 216 516 32 29

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Education:

Ph.D. in Earthquake Engineering, 2007, Boğaziçi University, Istanbul
Joint Ph.D. in Earth Sciences, 2007, Université de Paris XI, Ecole Normale Supérieure
M.Sc. in Earthquake Engineering, 1997, Boğaziçi University, Istanbul
B.Sc. in Civil Engineering, 1994, Boğaziçi University, Istanbul

Experience:

2013 – present: Assistant Professor, Department of Earthquake Engineering, Boğaziçi University, Istanbul
2009 – 2013: Project Manager, Seismic Hazard and Risk Modeler, EMME (Earthquake Model of Middle East) Project, Boğaziçi University, Istanbul
2000-2008: Research Assistant, Bogazici University, Kandilli Observatory and Earthquake Research Inst., Earthquake Engineering Department
2007-2008: Part time Researcher, European Commission Project, FP6, Network of Research Infrastructures for European Seismology (NERIES), 2006-2010
1998-1999: AGF Hayat Garanti Sigorta, Department Responsible at Health Department
1996-1999: AGF Garanti Sigorta, Project Management and Management Information Systems
1994-1996: Research Assistant, Bogazici University, Kandilli Observatory and Earthquake Research Inst., Earthquake Engineering Department

Departmental Responsabilities

Academic supervisor of MSc students since 2019
Departmental admissions responsible since 2019

Research Interests:

Earthquake Related Hazard and Risk Assessment
Microzonation for Earthquake Induced Hazards
Simulation of Strong Ground Motion

Research

Involvement in Recent Projects

EU-Horizon 2020 SERA Project (2017 – present), JRA3: Updating and extending the European Seismic Hazard Model, Source Zone Modelling, core team member.
EU-Horizon 2020 RISE Project (2019 – present), WP 4, team member.
Tomorrow’s Cities (2019 – present) the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) Urban Disaster Risk Hub, Istanbul Hub team member
Update of Seismic Loss Estimations for Istanbul (2017 – 2019), funded by the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, team member.
Development of a prototype of a macroseismic database for Turkey (2014 – 2016), funded by Boğaziçi University Research Fund, project coordinator.
EU – FP7 MARSITE Project (2013 – 2016), task leader: Improvement of the probabilistic seismic hazard assessment by taking into account uncertainties and ground-motion variability.
Compilation of an earthquake catalogue of the pre-1900 period for the SINOP Nuclear Power Plant site (2015-2016), project coordinator.
Update of National Seismic Hazard Maps for the New Turkish Earthquake Resistant Design Code (2014 – 2016) sponsored by Prime Ministry Disaster and Risk Management Authority, task leader: computation of seismic hazard; team member: seismic source modeling.

Theses Supervised

MSc Thesis: Earthquake Information System: A Crowdsourcing Mobile Application to Inform and Gather Data, Cenk Tarhan, completed in 2019
MSc Thesis: Assessment of Uncertainties Associated with Probabilistic Seismic Hazard Estimates in Marmara Region, Hülya Yüksel, ongoing
PhD Thesis, co-supervisor: Constraining the Source Properties of the 1894, 1766 and 1509 İstanbul Earthquakes, Nesrin Yenihayat, ongoing
PhD Thesis, co-supervisor: Monte Carlo Simulation Based Seismic Risk Assessment for İstanbul, Murathan Paksoy, ongoing

Publications

Papers published in International Journals

Şeşetyan K, Sakin O, Sönmez S, Demircioglu Tümsa MB (2020), Seismic History of Central North Anatolian Region: New Contribution from Ottoman Archives, Seismological Research Letters, accepted for publication.
Tsereteli N, Danciu L, Varazanashvili O, Sesetyan K, Qajaia L, Sharia T, Svanadze D, Khvedelidze I (2020), The 2020 National Seismic Hazard Model for Georgia (Sakartvelo), in Building Knowledge for Geohazard, Assessment and Management in the Caucasus and other Orogenic Regions, NATO Science for Peace and Security Series C: Environmental Security, eds. Bonali, FL, Pasquaré Mariotto F, Tsereteli N, accepted for publication.
Hancılar U, Şeşetyan K, Caktı E (2020), Comparative earthquake loss estimations for high code buildings in Istanbul, Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering, 129, 105956, published online, DOI: 10.1016/j.soildyn.2019.105956.
Şeşetyan K, Demircioglu Tümsa MB, Akıncı A (2019), Evaluation of the seismic hazard in the Marmara Region (Turkey) based on updated databases, Geosciences, 9, 489, DOI 10.3390/geosciences9120489.
Hancılar U, Şeşetyan K, Caktı E (2019), Comparative Damage and Economic Loss Estimations under Design Basis Earthquake Level for Post-2000 Buildings in Istanbul, Teknik Dergi, 30/3, 9107-9123, DOI: 10.18400/tekderg.326939.
Şeşetyan K, Danciu L, Demircioglu MB, Giardini D, Erdik M, Akkar S, Gülen L, Zare M et al. (2018), The 2014 Seismic Hazard Model of the Middle East: Overview and Results, Bulletin of Earthquake Engineering, DOI 10.1007/s10518-018-0346-4.
Eroğlu Azak T, Kalafat D, Şeşetyan K, Demircioğlu MB (2018) Effects of seismic declustering on seismic hazard assessment: a sensitivity study using the Turkish earthquake catalogue, Bulletin of Earthquake Engineering, DOI 10.1007/s10518-017-0174-y.
Danciu, L, Şeşetyan K, Demircioglu MB, Gülen L, Zare M, Basili R, Elias A et al. (2018), The 2014 Earthquake Model of the Middle East: seismogenic sources, Bulletin of Earthquake Engineering, DOI 10.1007/s10518-017-0096-8.
Şeşetyan K, Demircioğlu MB, Duman T, Çan T, Tekin S, Eroğlu Azak T, Fercan Zülfikar Ö (2018) A probabilistic seismic hazard assessment for the Turkish territory part I: the area source model, Bulletin of Earthquake Engineering, DOI 10.1007/s10518-016-0005-6.
Demircioğlu MB, Şeşetyan K, Duman T, Çan T, Tekin S, Ergintav S (2018), Probabilistic seismic hazard assessment for the Turkish territory: part II—fault source and background seismicity model, Bulletin of Earthquake Engineering, DOI 10.1007/s10518-017-0130-x.
Hancilar U, El-Hussain I, Sesetyan K, Deif A, Cakti E, Al-Rawas G, Safak E, Al-Jabri K (2018), Earthquake risk assessment for the building inventory of Muscat, Sultanate of Oman, Nat Hazards (2018) 93:1419–1434, DOI 10.1007/s11069-018-3357-1
Çaktı E, El-Hussain I, Şeşetyan K, Deif A, Hancılar U, Al-Rawas G, Kamer Y, Al-Jabri K (2016) Development of ground-shaking maps for the Sultanate of Oman, Nat Hazards (2016) 82:1357–1373 DOI 10.1007/s11069-016-2247-7.
Şeşetyan K, Çaktı E, Madariaga R (2015). Engineering Implications of Source Parameters and 3D Wave Propagation Modeling for the 2004 Parkfield, California, Earthquake. Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, V 105 (3). 1739-1755.
Woessner J, Danciu L Giardini D, Crowley H, Cotton F, Grünthal G, Valensise G, Arvidsson R, Basili R, Demircioglu MB, Hiemer S, Meletti C, Musson RW, Rovida A, Sesetyan K, Stucchi M et al. (2015), “The 2013 European Seismic Hazard Model: key components and results”, Bulletin of Earthquake Engineering, 13: 3553–3596, DOI 10.1007/s10518-015-9795-1.
Zare M, Amini H, Yazdi P, Sesetyan K, Demircioglu MB, Kalafat D, Erdik M, Giardini D, Khan MA, Tsereteli T(2014), “Recent developments of the Middle East catalog”, Journal of Seismology, 18:749–772, DOI 10.1007/s10950-014-9444-1
Stucchi M, Rovida A, Gomez Capera AA, Alexandre A, Camelbeeck T, Demircioglu MB, Gasperini P, Kouskouna V, Musson RW, Radulian M, Sesetyan K, Vilanova S, et al. (2013), “The SHARE European Earthquake Catalogue (SHEEC) 1000–1899”, Journal of Seismology, 17/2, 523 - 544DOI 10.1007/s10950-012-9335-2.
Erdik M., Sesetyan K., Demircioglu M., Hancilar U., Zulfikar C., Durukal E., Kamer Y., Yendogan C., Tuzun C., Cagnan Z. and Harmandar E., Acta Geophysica, Special Issue IGRS, “Rapid Earthquake Hazard and Loss Assessment for Euro-Mediterranean Region” (submitted)
Sesetyan K., Zulfikar C., Demircioglu M.B., Hancilar U., Kamer Y., and Erdik M., Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering, Special Issue Earthquake Early Warning, “Istanbul Earthquake Rapid Response System: Methods and Practices” (submitted)
Erdik M., Sesetyan K., Demircioglu M.B., Hancilar U., and Zulfikar C. Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering, Special Issue Earthquake Early Warning, “Rapid Earthquake Loss Assessment After Damaging Earthquakes” (submitted)
Çağnan, Z., K. Şeşetyan, C. Zülfikar, M.B. Demircioğlu, Ç. Kariptaş, E. Durukal, and M. Erdik (2008) “Development of Earthquake Loss Map for Europe”, Journal of Earthquake Engineering, Vol: 12S2.
Strasser, F.O., J.J. Bommer, K. Şeşetyan, M. Erdik, Z. Çağnan, J: Irizarry, X. Goula, A. Lucantoni, F. Sabetta, I.E. Bal, H. Crowley, and C. Lindholm (2008) “A Comparative Study of European Loss Estimation Tools for a Scenario in Istanbul”, Journal of Earthquake Engineering, Vol: 12S2.
M.Erdik, M.B. Demircioglu, K. Sesetyan, E. Durukal and B. Siyahi (2004) “Earthquake Hazard in Marmara Region, Turkey” Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering, Vol: 24, pp. 605-631.
M. Erdik, N. Aydinoglu, Y. Fahjan, K. Sesetyan, M.B. Demircioglu, B. Siyahi, E. Durukal, C. Ozbey, Y. Biro, H. Akman and O. Yuzugullu (2003) “Earthquake Risk Assessment for Istanbul Metropolitan Area”, Earthquake Engineering and Engineering Vibration, Vol.2 No.1.
Erdik et al. (2003) “Earthquake Risk Assessment for Istanbul Metropolitan Area” Boğaziçi University Press, 300 pages.
Erdik, M., E. Durukal, B.Siyahi, Y. Fahjan, K. Şeşetyan, M. Demircioğlu, H. Akman, (2003), Risk Mitigation in Istanbul”, Chapter 7, Earthquake Science and Seismic Risk Reduction, Ed. by F. Mulargia and R.J. Geller.
Erdik,M., Y. Biro, T. Onur, K. Sesetyan and G. Birgoren (1999) “Assessment of earthquake hazard in Turkey and neighboring regions”, Annali Di Geofisica, Vol. 42 N.6, pp. 1125-1138.

Papers published in Conference Proceedings

Erdik, M.; Cagnan, Z.; Zulfikar, C.; Sesetyan, K.; Demircioglu, M. B.; Durukal, E.; Kariptas, C. (2008), Development of Rapid Earthquake Loss Assessment Methodologies for Euro-MED Region. Proc., 14. World Conference on Earthquake Engrg., Paper ID: S04-004
Demircioglu, M.B., K.Sesetyan, E.Durukal and M.Erdik (2007) “Assessment of Earthquake Hazard in Turkey” Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Earthquake Geotechnical Engineering, June 2007, Thessaloniki, Greece
Durukal, E., M. Erdik, K. Şeşetyan and Y. Fahjan (2006) “Building Loss Estimation for Earthquake Insurance Pricing”, Proceedings of the 8th US National Conference in Earthquake Engineering, 16-20 April, 2006, San Francisco, US.
Durukal, E., M. Erdik, K. Şeşetyan (2006) “Expected Earthquake Losses to Buildings in Istanbul and Implications for the Performance of the Turkish Catastrophe Insurance Pool” Proceedings of 2006 ECI Conference on Geohazards, Lillehammer, Norway
A.Ansal, K.Özaydın, M.Erdik, M.Yıldırım, H.Kılıç, Ş.Adatepe, P.T.Özener, M.Tonaroğlu, K.Şeşetyan, M.Demircioğlu (2005) “Seismic Microzonation for Urban Planning And Vulnerability Assessment” Proceedings of the International Symposium of Earthquake Engineering (ISEE2005), Awaji

Recent Conference Presentations

Yenihayat N, Çakti E, Şeşetyan K, “Constraining Source Properties of the 1894 Istanbul Earthquake”, EGU General Assembly 2020, Online, 4–8 May 2020, EGU2020-22071, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu2020-22071, 2020
Basili R, Danciu L, Carafa MMC, Kastelic V, Maesano FE, Tiberti MM, Vallone R, Gracia E, Sesetyan K, Atanackov J, Sket-Motnikar B, Zupančič P, Vanneste K, Vilanova S, “Insights on the European Fault-Source Model (EFSM20) as input to the 2020 update of the European Seismic Hazard Model (ESHM20)”, EGU General Assembly 2020, Online, 4–8 May 2020, EGU2020-7008, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu2020-7008, 2020.
Söylemez Ş, Şeşetyan K, Güler E, Probabilistic seismic hazard map of Iraq, 5. International Conference on Earthquake Engineering and Seismology, 8-11 October 2019, Ankara, Turkey.
Stucchi M, Şeşetyan K, “Exploiting the heritage of N.N. Ambraseys: known and unknown earthquakes around Anatolia.”, 38e Convegno del Gruppo Nazionale Per la Geofisica della Terra Solida, 12-14 November 2019, Rome, Italy.
Sesetyan K, Danciu L, Demircioğlu Tümsa MB, Zare M, Gülen L, Akkar S, Erdik M, Giardini D, “The role of regional model EMME - from data sets to hazard estimates”, invited speaker, NATO Advanced Research Workshop G5566 - 8-10 October 2019, Tbilisi, Georgia.
Şeşetyan K, Danciu L, Giardini D, Demircioğlu MB, Erdik M, “Earthquake Model of the Middle East Region (EMME) project: Overview of the main results”, 30 Years After the Spitak Earthquake: Experience and Perspectives, invited speaker, 3-7 December 2018, Yerevan, Armenia.
Şeşetyan K, Effects of Alternative Source Modelling and Parameterisation Approaches on the Resulting Probabilistic Seismic Hazard Estimates in Turkey, Abstract No: S15-832, 36^th General Assembly of the European Seismological Commission, 2-7 September 2018, Valletta- Malta.
Kouskouna V, Sesetyan K, Stucchi M, “The 1933 Kos Earthquake Revisited”, Abstract No: S37-681, 36^th General Assembly of the European Seismological Commission, 2-7 September 2018, Valletta- Malta.
Hancilar U, Çakti E, Sesetyan K, “Integration of Damage Assessment for Critical Infrastructure to the Istanbul Earthquake Rapid Response System”, Abstract No: S18-988, 36^th General Assembly of the European Seismological Commission, 2-7 September 2018, Valletta- Malta.
Hancilar U, Sesetyan K, Çakti E, “Sensitivity of Annualized Earthquake Loss Estimations to the Computation of Inelastic Displacement Demand”, 16th European Conference on Earthquake Engineering, June 2018, Thessaloniki, Greece.
Sesetyan K, Hancilar U, “Earthquake Impact Assessment Using Global Human Settlement Layer (GHSL) Data” 11^th U.S. National Conference on Earthquake Engineering, June 2018, Los Angeles, CA USA.
Çakti E, Sesetyan K, Hancilar U, Safak E, Kılıç O, Mentese EY, Baş M, “Earthquake Risk Assessment for Istanbul: An Update”, 11^th U.S. National Conference on Earthquake Engineering, June 2018, Los Angeles, CA USA.
Kouskouna V, Sesetyan K, Stucchi M, “The 1933 Kos earthquake: a preliminary study” Il 36° convegno nazionale del GNGTS, 14-16 November 2017, Trieste, İtaly.
Akkar S, Azak T, Çan T, Çeken U, Demircioğlu MB, Duman T, Erdik M, Ergintav S, Kadirioğlu FT, Kalafat D, Kale Ö, Kartal RF, Kekovalı K, Kılıç T, Özalp S, Poyraz Altuncu S, Şeşetyan K, Tekin S, Yakut A, Yılmaz MT, Yücemen MS, Zülfikar Ö, “Updated Probabilistic Seismic Hazard Maps for Turkey” PSHA Workshop, 5-7 September 2017, Lenzburg, Switzerland.
Hancılar U, Şeşetyan K, Çaktı E (2017), Comparative Damage Assessment for High-Code Buildings In Istanbul Under Design Basis Earthquake Level, 6th International Conference on Computational Methods in Structural Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering15-17 June 2017, Rhodes Island, Greece

Teaching

EQE 400 Introduction To Earthquake Engineering

COURSE OBJECTIVES : Earthquake Engineering can be defined as the branch of engineering devoted to mitigating earthquake hazard. In this broad sense, earthquake engineering covers the investigation and solution of the problems created by damaging earthquakes, and consequently the work involved in the practical application of these solutions, i.e. in planning, designing, constructing and managing earthquake-resistant structures and facilities. The objective of the course is to make the student familiar with the concepts and methods in the multidisciplinary field of earthquake engineering.The course will be dedicated to the understanding of earthquake phenomena, the causes of earthquakes, the effects of earthquakes on the nature, on man-made structures, and on the community in general. Basic concepts and principles of earthquake engineering will be taught and a general idea of the various disciplines of earthquake engineering will be given.

COURSE SYLLABUS :

PREREQUISITES :

DURATION & HOURS PER WEEK : 3 hrs per week / 3+0+0

GRADING BASIS :

REFERENCE TEXTBOOKS :

EQE 583 Selected Topics in Earthquake Engineering: Seismic Hazard Assessment

COURSE OBJECTIVES : Assessment of seismic hazard, meaning the computation of the levels of specific ground motion parameters that are likely to occur at a site, is one the key components in all seismic risk mitigation activities. The areas of applicability vary from the assessment of design basis ground motions corresponding to different performance levels for the aseismic design of individual structures to regional scale assessments for seismic design code requirements as well as for all earthquake risk mitigation activities. Although it is known that earthquake occurrences are governed by the physics of the earth, a large amount of uncertainties are involved in the chain of estimations from the occurrence of the event to the level of ground motion that will be experienced at a specific site. In this course, the approaches and methodologies for the assessment of the seismic hazard at a single construction site or at regional scale will be taught. The objective of the course is to give to the engineer the capability of conducting a site specific PSHA/DSHA study and to interpret and use the results.

COURSE SYLLABUS : The first lectures will be devoted to introduction of general concepts, the background physical information on earthquake occurrences and the main approaches used in the assessment of seismic hazard. The core of the lecture will be dedicated to the step-by-step evaluation and modelling of each ingredient in the seismic hazard assessment, which will be combined in the final model. The course will make use of different freely available seismic hazard assessment software defining their areas of applicability together with their advantages and disadvantages. Case studies will be conducted to assess sensitivity of the results to different models and parameters used. Finally an introduction will be made to design basis ground motion concept as well as the accompanying time history selection and scaling procedures.

PREREQUISITES : EQE 400 or EQE 520 are suggested

DURATION & HOURS PER WEEK : 3 hrs per week / 3+0+0

GRADING BASIS : Reports and take home exam

REFERENCE TEXTBOOKS : Articles from scientific journals

Memberships & Awards

Honors and Awards

Scholarship of the French Embassy in Turkey for joint PhD studies between Turkish and French Institutions

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING - BOUN

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Karin Şeşetyan

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