In a symposium that brought global expertise to Near East University, the Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering and the Near East University Technology Transfer Office (NERITA) hosted an in-depth discussion on the challenges and innovations in marine engineering under the theme “Marine Engineering: From Routine to Crisis.”

The event featured distinguished senior engineers from Simpson Gumpertz & Heger (SGH), one of the United States’ leading engineering firms specializing in structural and geotechnical solutions. The sessions were moderated by Prof. Dr. Murat Özgören, President of NERITA, and attracted a diverse academic and professional audience interested in sustainable and resilient engineering strategies.

The symposium opened with a compelling presentation by Allison C. DiGregorio, who addressed the evolving demands on marine structures due to environmental factors such as climate change and seismic activity. Her presentation, titled “Coastal Structure Engineering Evaluations”, explored the technical complexities of designing piers, seawalls, breakwaters, and dry docks. She emphasized the importance of advanced methods like deep soil mixing (DSM), anchoring systems, and pile-supported quay walls to enhance structural performance in earthquake-prone zones. DiGregorio underscored the increasing relevance of designing for long-term resilience, noting that a 75-year service life must now account for rising sea levels and aging coastal infrastructure.

In the second session, Dolunay Öniz shared field observations from southeastern Türkiye, focusing on marine structures impacted by the devastating earthquakes of February 2023. Drawing from on-site evaluations, Öniz reported that while piled structures generally withstood seismic shocks, widespread soil liquefaction, lateral displacements, and settlements significantly compromised reclamation areas. She highlighted the logistical importance of ports during post-disaster recovery, serving as key nodes for humanitarian aid and temporary shelter. Her insights also pointed to the benefits of local construction capabilities in expediting emergency repairs.

Concluding the event, Prof. Dr. Umut Aksoy, Vice Rector of Near East University, presented certificates of appreciation to the guest speakers in recognition of their contributions.

This event reinforced the urgent need for sustainable, earthquake-resilient engineering solutions for coastal infrastructure, aligning with global efforts to safeguard marine environments against both natural disasters and climate change.

About the Speakers

Allison C. DiGregorio is a Project Consultant at Simpson Gumpertz & Heger in the Marine and Heavy Civil group. Allison has over 5 years of experience in the area and her career focuses on the analysis and design of various waterfront structures. She holds an M.S. in Structural Engineering from Stanford University and a B.S. in Civil Engineering from Northeastern University. Allison is also a registared professional engineer in the state of California, has authored several industry publications surrounding her work, and is the current young professionals subcommittee chair for the Ports and Harbors Committee of the American Society of Civil Engineers.

Dolunay Öniz is an Associate Project Consultant with Simpson Gumpertz and Heger Inc. She holds an MS in Structural Engineering from University of Houston and a BS in Civil Engineering from Middle East Technical University. Her work at SGH includes design and evaluation of buildings and marine structures, nonstructural design, repair and rehabilitation, exterior building maintenance and fall protection, and coastal engineering.