USTDA Advances Disaster Preparedness and Digital Infrastructure in Türkiye

Arlington, VA - U.S. Trade and Development Agency Director Enoh T. Ebong has signed a grant agreement with Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) to advance enhanced disaster preparedness and accelerate Istanbul's digital transformation by piloting innovative U.S. "digital twin" technology.

"U.S. industry has a wide array of cutting-edge smart city innovations that can advance IMM's work to strengthen Istanbul's disaster response capacity and transform its critical infrastructure," said Enoh T. Ebong, USTDA's Director. "By funding pilot projects like this, USTDA assistance can assemble multiple U.S. technologies into a comprehensive solution that meets our partners' needs while enhancing U.S. competitiveness."

The pilot will deploy technology solutions from U.S. companies including Bentley Systems, Inc. (Exton, PA), Invicara Inc. (Southfield, MI), Nanodems Corporation (Burlington, MA), Planet Labs PBC (San Francisco, CA), and SafeMobile LLC (Rolling Meadows, IL). TD Synnex Corporation (Greenville, SC) and the University of Hawaii-Pacific Disaster Center will also provide their technical expertise to carry out the project. IMM selected U.S. information technology and consulting services firm Ereteam Analytics USA (Summit, NJ) to serve as prime contractor coordinating the pilot project.

The pilot project will use digital twin technology to improve earthquake disaster management in Istanbul. Digital twin systems combine cutting-edge digital technologies to conduct real-time assessments and inform decisions that can improve relief efforts. USTDA's assistance will also fund a development plan for scaling the technology across Istanbul's 39 municipal districts for additional use cases, including infrastructure planning, traffic management, public health, and energy efficiency.

Erol Özgüner, Technology Group President of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality said: "This is our fourth time partnering with USTDA, and this grant will build on IMM's five years of work integrating technology across platforms. Our aim for piloting U.S. technology for this the digital twin platform is to use end-to-end technological services to manage the city's most critical issues at every stage of earthquake preparedness and response - from the preparedness phase through rapid response, search-and-rescue operations and rehabilitation. With this service, we aim to reach as many citizens as possible during an emergency, providing faster and more accurate information to save lives. After disaster management, this project will expand into modules for mobility, waste management, call centers, and citizen satisfaction, becoming an integral part of our lives."

The pilot will also advance the goals of the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment and the U.S.-Turkey Next Generations Cities Initiative, which supports smart city solutions for municipalities across Türkiye.

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The U.S. Trade and Development Agency helps companies create U.S. jobs through the export of U.S. goods and services for priority infrastructure projects in emerging economies. USTDA links U.S. businesses to export opportunities by funding project preparation and partnership building activities that develop sustainable infrastructure and foster economic growth in partner countries.

MEDIA INQUIRIES: Paul Marin | [email protected]