Usage of urban green and open spaces in case of earthquake: Küçükçekmece–Cennet district case study

Abstract

Urban green and open spaces play a vital role in post-earthquake response as evacuation and shelter areas. Building on lessons from the 1999 Marmara earthquake, this study proposes an analytical method to identify and assess the adequacy of such spaces under earthquake risk. The approach defines criteria to locate potential gathering, evacuation, and shelter sites and evaluate their capacity and suitability. Applied to the Cennet quarter of the Küçükçekmece district (Istanbul), the method maps and analyses existing areas, highlighting deficits and priorities for improvement. The results support preparedness planning and provide recommendations where capacity is insufficient.