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The most suitable generative production method was selected in this work by applying different treatments to endemic Centaurea olympica seeds. The development performance and adaptation ability of the species in natural and cultural conditions (in the natural population, in pots and in the garden) were determined, with the goal to protect the species under ex situ conservation. The growth performance of the plant was monitored, and its ornamental plant potential was evaluated. The obtained data were compared with the data from the natural population. All morphological and phenological observations showed that the species can easily adapt to cultural conditions. For 2 months in the summer period, it is a lilac-flowered herbaceous plant that can be preferred for gardens with increasing number of shoots and flowers in parallel with its development. Among the different pretreatments applied to the seeds of the species, the highest germination percentage (73.5%) and germination speed (T50=8 days) was found with 600 ppm GA3 treatment for 24 h after cold-wet stratification at 4 °C for 3 months. The appropriate germination temperature was determined as 20 °C.

This study aimed to investigate the ornamental utilization, two-year growth performance in natural habitat and cultural conditions, generative production methods, and morphologic and phenologic plant properties of Campanula grandis, which is an endemic species demonstrating ornamental plant potential and needs ex-situ conservation and cultivation. In addition, the germination and growth performance of seeds collected in the new season was compared with seeds that were kept for one year. Seeds stored dry for 3 months at 4 °C and then treated with 200 ppm GA3 exhibited the highest germination percentage (76%). Furthermore, GA3 treated seeds had best germination speed, shortening the germination time. This study also identified the ideal temperature for germination as 20 °C for the best germination rate. It was revealed that the number of flowers on the plant in natural habitat was 48 while in cultural conditions it was found as 165 flowers in biennial plants. The seedlings were planted in an ex-situ collection garden established for placing the Campanula grandis species under conservation. The Campanula grandis species has the potential for use as an ornamental plant for landscaping applications due to its lengthy flowering period, vigorous second-year stem growth, and numerous, enormous, flamboyant, blue-purple, and bell-shaped flowers.

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.

In this study, the usability of super absorbent polymers (SAP) and its effects on water consumption, irrigation and labor costs and plant growth in ornamental plant cultivation were investigated by using Euonymus japonicus 'Aureomarginatus,' peat, river sand, and Wesoorb branded SAP. For a period of 152 days, the growth of the control groups without SAP and experimental groups with SAP was monitored, and the obtained results were compared. It was determined that SAP balanced the moisture of the medium with a controlled release and decreased the water stress in the plant and differentiated the root structure. The use of SAP in Euonymus japonicus ‘Aureomarginatus’ cultivation reduced water use by 45% on average and labor costs by 48% on average. It was observed that SAP can be used in ornamental plant cultivation and will decrease production costs.

In the study; the assessment of accessibility has been conducted in Istanbul public libraries within the scope of public area. Public libraries commonly serve with its user of more than 20 million in total, spread to the general of Turkey, having more than one thousand branches in the centrums and having more than one million registered members. The building principles and standards covering the subjects such as the selection of place, historical and architectural specification of the region, distance to the centre of population and design in a way that the disabled people could benefit from the library services fully have been determined with regulations in the construction of new libraries. There are works for the existent libraries such as access for the disabled, fire safety precautions etc. within the scope of the related standards. Easy access by everyone is prioritized in the public libraries having a significant role in life-long learning. The purpose of the study is to develop solution suggestions for the accessibility problems in the public libraries. The study based on the eye inspection and assessments carried out within the scope of accessibility in the public libraries subsidiary to Istanbul Culture and Tourism Provincial Directorate Library and Publications Department within the provincial borders of Istanbul. The arrangements such as reading halls, study areas, book shelves etc. have been examined within the frame of accessible building standards. Building entrances, ramps and staircases, horizontal and vertical circulation of building etc. have been taken into consideration within the scope of accessible building standards. The subjects such as the reading and studying areas and book shelf arrangements for the library have been assessed within the scope of specific buildings. There are a total of 34 public libraries subsidiary to Istanbul Culture and Tourism Provincial Directorate on condition that 20 ea. of them are in the European Side.

Many settled areas in Turkey and across the globe suffer economical and social losses resulting from natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods, hurricanes and landslides. In this study, a vulnerability assessment model has been developed for earthquake prone areas in Turkey. The vulnerability assessment model includes ground factors, a building’s physical conditions, building evacuation and social (demographic and socioeconomic) aspects of the settlement. The ground vulnerability factor is calculated using factors such as the earthquake zone, soil classification, land sliding and liquefaction threats. The physical vulnerability factor depends on the structural and non-structural threats of the building; the building evacuation vulnerability factor includes the position and structural system of the staircase, the width and natural illumination of the evacuation route, the size and opening of the building exit doors to the street and the distance of the building to the closest open area. The social vulnerability factor considers the age group, gender, family type, education, ownership, income etc of the building users. This vulnerability assessment model is applied to a case study - that of the Avcılar district of Istanbul. Forty different reinforced concrete residential buildings (349 apartments) of 1225 people are assessed using the develop checklist. In order to evaluate the checklist and to assess the importance (relevance) of vulnerability factors, a questionnaire is forwarded to various related professional groups (architecture, urban planning and civil engineering). The results of the questionnaire are examined using SPSS software with factor analysis. According to the results, most of the samples in the case study area can be classified as high vulnerable.