The Turkish Society for Infrastructure and Trenchless Technology (TSITT)held its No-Dig Turkey 2012 Conference in Sanliurfa, Turkey, Oct. 2-3, with the support of ISTT. Many local and international participants attended this unique trenchless event of Turkey.
The No-Dig Turkey 2012 Conference started with a welcoming speech from TSITT chairman Yasin Torun. Afterward, ISTT executive director John Hemphill and ISTT chairman Dr. Sam Ariaratnam gave their opening speeches, followed by opening speeches from Sanliurfa deputy mayor Fevzi Yucetepe, deputy general manager of DSI Guven Karacuha, and Southeastern Anatolia Project Regional Development Adminstration president Sadrettin Karahocagil.
Sanliurfa governor Celalettin Guvenc gave the conference’s keynote speech. He said that trenchless technology is a must for Sanliurfa as well as the entire country of Turkey and that he was honored that this year’s conference is held in the City of Sanliurfa — a unique city having a history more than 12,000 years. Additionally, Guvenc said that the government would continuously support TSITT as well as the International No Dig 2015 Conference and Exhibition, which will be held in Istanbul, Turkey.
Following the opening and keynote speeches, Dr. Rustem Keles – General Manager of SASKI (Sakarya Water and Sewerage Administration), made a presentation with the title of “Trenchless Technology and General Applications in Turkish Water Administrations.” Afterward, Prof. Dr. Magdy Abou RAYAN, chairman of the International Water Technology Association (IWTA) made a presentation titled, “International Approaches in Non-Revenue Water Management.’
In the afternoon session, Umit Canturk, managing director of TEKSU, and Arcan Haciraifoglu, managing director of DOGUS VANA, made separate presentations titled “Trenchless Technology and Applications of Non-Revenue Water Management in Turkey.” Onur Kaya, managing director of BORETEC, made a presentation, “Trenchless Technology and Applications of Horizontal Directional Drilling in Turkey.” Dr. Ihsan Engin Bal, of ITU (Istanbul Technical University) made a presentation titled “Trenchless Technology and Applications of Fiber Reinforced Polymers (FRP) in Water Transmission Systems,” followed by Abdullah Sarikaya, deputy general manager of ENERMAK, who discussed “Trenchless Technology and Applications of Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) in Turkey.” Suat Mizrak, manager of SAMPAS presented “Underground Infrastructure Mapping and Information System” and Sener Polat, CIPP Consultant of TSITT, presented “Trenchless Technology and Applications of Cured-In-Place Pipe (CIPP) in Europe.”
Day II kicked off with a presentation by Yasin Torun, “The Situation and Importance of Trenchless Technology in Turkey,” followed by Dr. Sam Ariaratnam’s excellent presentation on “Trenchless Technology in International Dimension – Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow.” Afterward, associate professor Dr. Cemal Balci of ITU (Istanbul Technical University) discussed on “TBM Selection and Rock Cutting Tests.” Later, professor Dr. Hanifi Copur of ITU made a presentation titled “Trenchless Technology and Applications of Microtunneling in Turkey,” and BOHRTEC managing director Dr. Gregor Nieder discussed “Microtunneling for Small Diameters up to DN800 – 30 Years of Experience in Germany.” ITU professor Dr. Nuh Bilgin made the last presentation in the day, “Trenchless Technology and Applications of Tunneling in Turkey.”
In the afternoon session, a technical tour was arranged to the site of the Suruc Tunnel project, the world’s fifth longest water transmission tunnel under construction in Sanliurfa. A TBM with a diameter of 7.83 m. has been working since 2010 for 17 km of the total length of the tunnel. After the conference, TSITT held a two-day short course on Mechanized Tunneling and Microtunneling in Sanliurfa Oct. 4-5.
TSITT is thankful to ISTT, governorship of Sanliurfa, Southeastern Anatolia Project Regional Development Administration, Sanliurfa Municipality, General Directorate of State Hydraulic Works, General Directorate of Highways, Sakarya Water and Sewerage Administration, Istanbul Technical University, Harran University, International Water Technology Association, Turkish Tunneling Society and many other national/international institutions for their valuable support. TSITT also thanked the participants from Turkey, United States, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Egypt and Palestine for their large level of attendance.
TSITT proudly announces that No-Dig Turkey events will take place each year in Turkey. After organizing 2013 and 2014 No Dig Turkey events, International No Dig 2015 Istanbul Conference and Exhibition will take place in Istanbul. TSITT invites all individuals, institutions and companies around the world to take place in No Dig events in Turkey in a unique country located in the intersection point of Europe, Asia and Middle East.
via No-Dig Turkey Is a Success.