Moderator: Meltem Şenol Balaban

Middle East Technical University (METU), PhD, Associate Professor

Meltem Balaban graduated from METU’s City & Regional Planning Department. She has a MS in Urban Design and two PhDs. Her thesis and work has focused on flood disaster management, targeting the associated risks for society and planning processes. She developed a GIS-based model for spatial distribution of potential urban spaces as evacuation and temporary shelter sites. Her experience is highly relevant when it comes to applying disaster risk prevention concepts in a very practical way at the municipal level. She integrates GIS in planning processes and in risk management and mitigation planning, and has authored many publications, including on climate change adaptation and resilience in urban planning considering flood risk factors. She is the Director of METU Disaster Management Implementation & Research Center.