ELAZIG GUNISIGI NEWSPAPER - May 2010
WHAT WE HAVE and WHAT WE EXPECT
With the advancement of technology, the pool of technical knowledge is constantly expanding. Everyone, regardless of their profession, should take their share from this knowledge pool. Those who take their share will continue their professional lives on highways, while those who do not will continue on dirt roads. The same applies to civil engineers as well. In this regard, the Elazığ Branch of the Chamber of Civil Engineers is working diligently. Through seminars, they aim to update their colleagues' knowledge in various fields. To this end, a seminar was held on May 25, 2010, Tuesday, from 13:00 to 17:00.
The seminar on "Concrete" was held at the Elazığ Chamber of Commerce and Industry Conference Hall. The speakers at the seminar included Prof. Dr. Hulusi ÖZKUL, Faculty Member of the Department of Civil Engineering, ITU (Istanbul Technical University), Ferruh KARAKULE, Secretary General of the Turkish Ready Mixed Concrete Association (THBB), and Dr. Tümer AKAKIN, Assistant Secretary General of THBB. The experts shared important insights and provided valuable advice on concrete and its components.
It would be beneficial to summarize the valuable presentations and evaluations of the speakers for those who could not attend the seminar and for the public in Elazığ. I believe presenting this in bullet points would be appropriate:
a. Ready-mixed concrete is undoubtedly more reliable and economical than on-site mixed concrete (manual or mixer-based pouring). The use of ready-mixed concrete is inevitable for creating earthquake-resistant structures.
b. Ready-mixed concrete must meet standards, which is only possible through proper inspection. The Turkish Ready Mixed Concrete Association is one of the most important NGOs in the sector, meticulously carrying out training and inspection work to ensure higher quality concrete production in Turkey.
c. One of the most significant deficiencies in the Turkish construction sector is building inspection. The building inspection applied in 19 pilot provinces should be expanded and implemented across all provinces. If this is not done, the increase in the number of buildings with poor earthquake resistance will continue.
d. To produce high-quality concrete, it is not enough to prepare the right mix and use quality materials. The pouring, placement, and maintenance of concrete have a significant impact on its strength and durability. Concrete must be compacted during placement, and it should be cured (hydrated) for at least 7 days after setting. Prof. Dr. Hulusi ÖZKUL particularly emphasized the curing (hydration) process during the seminar, stressing its critical importance. (In my column on May 12, I tried to express the importance of concrete maintenance. After the seminar, when I was asked whether concrete is being cured in Elazığ, I regrettably stated that, unfortunately, there is little attention given to this issue. Unfortunately, I was told that this is a common problem across the country, particularly in earthquake-prone areas.)
e. Significant information was shared regarding what ready-mixed concrete plants, concrete orderers, and civil engineers need to pay attention to in the application of concrete.
The seminar concluded with the satisfaction of the participants, and important information was exchanged afterward. Meanwhile, the rightful dissatisfaction of the Elazığ Branch President of the Chamber of Civil Engineers, Hıdır KAYA, was noticeable. Although participation in the seminar was at a good level, when considering the number of civil engineers in Elazığ, it was clear that the participation was not at the desired level. It is our shared wish that our colleagues become more sensitive about participating in seminars.
Before and after the seminar, many of my colleagues cited a lack of time due to heavy workloads as their main reason for not attending. However, I believe it is a professional responsibility to make time for these long-period seminars. Furthermore, I would like to share a common wish of many of my colleagues. The civil engineers in Elazığ are asking for the Elazığ Branch to be upgraded to a full branch. This rightful request is not without basis. Since 1967, Elazığ has trained over 3,000 civil engineers, thanks to the university. There are more than 1,000 civil engineers from Elazığ, and over 500 of them work in Elazığ. Several regional directorates with a heavy concentration of civil engineers are located in Elazığ. There are many valid reasons to claim that Elazığ deserves to have a full branch. I would like to state that the Fırat University Department of Civil Engineering and the Fırat Civil Engineers Association (FİMDER) will fully support this request. I hope that our chamber's branch will soon initiate the necessary work and provide the public with the relevant information.
Through this seminar, I have once again expressed what we have and what we expect for the construction sector. I would like to thank everyone involved in the preparation and delivery of the seminar, as well as all institutions and participants, on behalf of myself, my association, and my department.