Green Climate Talks Held

Ondokuz Mayıs Üniversitesi (OMÜ) Environment Problems Application and Research Center (ÇEVSAM) organized the first "Green Climate Talks" program of the new year, with participation from ÇEVSAM Director Prof. Dr. Yüksel Ardalı and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Metin Mutlu Aydın, faculty member of the Transportation Division of the Civil Engineering Department. Ondokuz Mayıs Üniversitesi ÇEVSAM held the first "Green Climate Talks" program of 2022. ÇEVSAM Director Prof. Dr. Yüksel Ardalı, who participated in the program, made important statements. Ardalı drew attention to global warming and emphasized the need for preventive measures. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Metin Mutlu Aydın also participated in the program as a speaker.

OMÜ Green Climate Talks Focus on Global Warming

The Green Climate Talks were held by Ondokuz Mayıs Üniversitesi Environment Problems Application and Research Center (ÇEVSAM). The talks were attended by ÇEVSAM Director Prof. Dr. Yüksel Ardalı and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Metin Mutlu Aydın, faculty member of the Transportation Division of the Civil Engineering Department. ÇEVSAM Director Yüksel Ardalı, who made statements during the talks, drew attention to the dangerous state of global warming in the world, saying "If no measures are taken, the increase in global warming will exceed the 1.5 degrees Celsius threshold." Prof. Dr. Ardalı, pointing out that global warming, one of the most important causes of climate change in the world, has reached a dangerous level, stated: "For approximately a century, the world has faced rapid climate change and global warming threats. Glaciers are melting, countries' climates are transforming, drought is spreading across the world. Scientists warn that the world can withstand at most half (0.5) a degree more warming, and therefore global warming must be limited to a 1.5 degree increase compared to the pre-industrial period. If greenhouse gas emissions continue at their current rate, global warming will exceed the 1.5 degree Celsius threshold between 2030 and 2052, and in the second half of this century it will rise 3 degrees above pre-industrial levels," he stated.

Fossil Fuel Vehicles Increase Global Warming

Ardalı also drew attention during the talks to fossil fuel-powered vehicles that increase global warming. Ardalı stated: "In climate change, fossil fuel-powered transportation vehicles have a major share. These vehicles account for one-fifth of carbon emissions causing global warming. In line with global developments, the Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Strategy, developed to achieve objectives such as reducing travel times in transportation, efficiently and effectively utilizing existing road capacity, increasing mobility, contributing to the national economy through energy efficiency, and reducing environmental damage, was prepared and implemented by the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure. The Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy announced by the European Union (EU) under the "European Green Deal" is also gaining importance," he said.

"Smart City Traffic Safety" Project Discussed

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Metin Mutlu Aydın, who was a guest at the program, touched upon the concept of intelligent transportation and spoke about the "Smart City Traffic Safety" project, one of Turkey's largest intelligent transportation studies being carried out in Samsun in partnership with Samsun Metropolitan Municipality and ASELSAN. Aydın stated: "Within the scope of the project, nearly 100 signalized intersections throughout the city were converted to intelligent intersection format. Within the project framework, domestically produced "Avenue" brand buses developed in partnership between ASELSAN and Temsa will serve in the city's public transportation system. Besides intelligent intersections and electric buses, models such as 'Red Light Detection Systems', 'Average Speed Corridor', and 'Parking Violation Detection Systems' will be developed and implemented with domestic and national solutions," he said. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Aydın noted that OMÜ is the implementing organization of the "Smart City Traffic Safety" project, with Samsun Metropolitan Municipality and Cardiff University in the United Kingdom as project partners, and that they are running an ongoing British Council-supported international research and development (R&D) and education project titled "Innovative and Green Carrier Development for Intelligent Transportation System Applications." Aydın stated: "Within the scope of this project, we aim for students from our University's Faculty of Engineering, academics working in the transportation field, graduates, and people working in institutions to gain hands-on and practical experience both on-site and in digital environments in this field. Within the scope of our ongoing international project, in addition to work packages on green campus, we are working on environmentally friendly and accessible campus internal transportation planning that includes electric bicycles and scooters for students," he said.   Source