The project for which our university is a co-applicant, titled “Resilient Karatay: A Model for Climate Resilience against Drought and Sinkholes in the Konya Basin”, has been deemed eligible to receive European Union grant funding under the EU–Turkey Climate Change Grant Program (AB-TR CCGP). This project is being implemented within the scope of the “EU Partnership for Local Climate Action in Turkey Project,” funded by Türkiye and the European Union, supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and coordinated by the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change.
The project has a total budget of €554,420.50 and will run for 24 months. Its main goal is to strengthen local-level climate adaptation and mitigation capacity. Karatay Municipality serves as the lead applicant institution, while our university and the Bahri Dağdaş International Agricultural Research Institute (BDIARI) are the co-applicant institutions.
Scientific Coordination Led by Konya Technical University
The scientific component of the project will be coordinated by Prof. Dr. Fetullah Arık from the Department of Geological Engineering—who also serves as Director of the Sinkhole Application and Research Center—and Assoc. Dr. Selim Doğan from the Department of Environmental Engineering at our university. The project team also includes Assoc. Dr. İsmail İnce and Research Assistant Alper Dülger (Geological Engineering), Prof. Dr. Mehmet Emin Argun (Environmental Engineering), Assoc. Dr. Hasan Bilgehan Makineci (Geomatics Engineering), and Assoc. Dr. Sinan Levend (City and Regional Planning).
A Holistic Approach to Drought and Sinkholes
The project focuses on Karatay District, one of the regions most affected by drought in Türkiye, and addresses issues such as declining groundwater levels and sinkhole formation in the Konya Closed Basin with a comprehensive approach. Through this effort, it aims to manage these risks effectively by introducing water-efficient technologies and early warning systems.
Pilot Areas, Data Integration, and Web-Based Platform
Under the project, alternative solutions to unsustainable irrigation and cultivation practices will be tested in five pilot areas using optimized planting models and water-saving irrigation systems suitable for semi-arid conditions. Data collected from these pilot sites—such as groundwater levels, precipitation, and soil moisture—will be integrated with geological risk information to establish a web-based monitoring and analysis platform. The scientific data and analyses for this system will be provided by our university, while the agricultural trials will be conducted by BDIARI.
First Operational Sinkhole Early Warning System in Türkiye
The project will establish Türkiye’s first operational sinkhole early warning system. This system will combine data on groundwater, precipitation, soil moisture, and sinkhole hazards through a web-based platform. It will provide user-friendly dashboards for farmers and municipal staff and support e-zoning and planning decision-making in Karatay by integrating risk-based insights into urban development processes.
Contribution to Sustainable Agriculture and Climate Resilience
The project includes the application of five innovative water-saving agricultural practices and climate-adapted crop models. In addition to enhancing agricultural productivity, these initiatives will contribute to a deeper understanding of the complex interactions between drought, groundwater depletion, and sinkhole formation. Supported by scientific risk mapping, the project also aims to promote the adoption of efficient irrigation and cultivation methods and facilitate the transfer of knowledge and experience to future generations.
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