In the past, the most common way to increase the earthquake resistance of buildings was to use rein- forced concrete infill walls. This is a costly process which also requires the evacuation of the entire
building for many weeks. In this SfP study, strengthening with carbon fibre reinforced polymers was proposed as an alternative. This technique can be applied with minimal disturbance to the occupants of a building, is quick and cheap to implement but strong enough to withstand significant earthquake forces. The assessment and rehabilitation methodologies developed by the scientists are being imple- mented in Istanbul's Earthquake Master Plan, which has been prepared to minimise damage and lessen losses in the event of an earthquake. The results are also used to develop engineer training programmes and to increase public awareness.