Multi-Disaster Risk Evaluation and Accessibility for Stair Streets: The Case of Istanbul

Abstract

In the study, stair streets in Istanbul were evaluated within the scope of disaster risk and accessibility. The transportation network of the settlements plays an important role during the disaster and emergency in terms of safe evacuation and reaching to the emergency units. Determining existing risks and taking preventive measures for safe use of transportation networks before a disaster therefore become important. Stair streets, shaped by the topography and the use in their surroundings, are an important component of pedestrian transportation. The structure of street with stairs comes with its own set of challenges. Stair streets that are integrated with different materials and environmental texture in different regions need to be evaluated in terms of disaster risks today. In this context, 26 samples selected over 100 steps from different districts of İstanbul with high earthquake risk were examined. The stair streets were evaluated in on-site examination and observation in terms of their relationship with the topography, landscape, building connections, step features, purpose of use and intensity and their disaster risks such as flood, fire and especially earthquake. Non-structural building problems that may lead to outdoor injuries associated with earthquakes were taken into account. The existing drainage system in the stair streets were evaluated in the context of flash flooding. Buildings around the stairs were evaluated in terms of the existing infrastructure considering building materials, type of use and fire risks. In most of the streets studied, preventive measures need to be developed regarding flooding and fire risks. The overall research results show that the stair streets in Istanbul should be studied in detail in terms of emergency and disaster risks.

Keywords

• disaster
• accessibility; istanbul; stair street; transportation.