Turkish students turn earthquake fears into life-saving AI technology
Turkish students turn earthquake fears into life-saving AI technology
Publish Date: 2026-02-16 18:07:00
Source Domain: www.turkiyetoday.com
Two Turkish students studying at Imperial College London have developed an artificial intelligence-powered device designed to help rescue teams locate people trapped under rubble after earthquakes, aiming to speed up search operations and save more lives.
Idil Igde and Arda Kancal, both 20 and originally from Istanbul, created a device called ResCube that detects signs of life by analyzing vibrations and sound signals beneath collapsed structures.
The system uses sensors known as geophones and artificial intelligence to identify and locate survivors more quickly than traditional search methods.
The project reflects the pair’s personal experience growing up under the constant threat of a major earthquake in Türkiye’s largest city.
“The ground starts to shake,” Igde told The Times. “At first, you don’t understand what is happening. But then you look at the people around you and there is a silent agreement and you run out into the street. The big one is always in our minds.”
Idil Igde prepares equipment while testing the D-View earthquake survivor detection system, United Kingdom, October 23, 2025. (Photo via Instagram / @imperialcollegescience)
How ResCube earthquake rescue tech works
The ResCube device collects vibrations and audio signals from four geophone sensors placed around debris.
An AI system then processes the data and triangulates the location of trapped survivors.
Researchers say early testing suggests the device could reach about 90% detection accuracy, compared with roughly 80% for current methods that rely on rescuers listening for sounds through headphones.
The improvement could help emergency teams operate more effectively during what specialists describe as the “golden window,” the first 72 hours after a disaster when chances of survival remain highest. Studies…
