The seminar was attended by faculty members, scientists, students, engineers, and specialists from relevant agencies of the country's leading higher and secondary professional educational institutions. During the online seminar, reports were presented by representatives of the Yagshygeldi Kakayev International Oil and Gas University, S. A. Niyazov Turkmen Agricultural University, Institute of Engineering, Technical and Transport Communications of Turkmenistan, Turkmen Agricultural Institute, as well as the Ashgabat Construction Secondary Professional School of the Ministry of Construction and Architecture of Turkmenistan. The event participants shared experience and discussed current issues. A series of substantial presentations were delivered over the course of the workshop.

Head of the “Department of Highway Construction” at the Turkmen State Architecture and Construction Institute, Candidate of Technical Sciences Yolly Myradov, senior teacher of the same department Atageldi Garajaev, as well as leading specialists in the respective fields — Salyh Baymyradov, chief specialist at the Scientific Research Institute for Earthquake-Resistant Construction of the Ministry of Construction and Architecture of Turkmenistan, and Rahymberdi Charyyev, the I category engineer at the Institute of Seismology and Atmospheric Physics of the Academy of Sciences of Turkmenistan — delivered detailed presentations in which they outlined the main directions of modern seismology.

The speakers paid special attention to the nature of earthquakes, the mechanical impact of seismic waves on building structures, the processes of dissipation (absorption) of seismic energy, as well as methods used to enhance the strength and stability of architectural and engineering structures, and engineering solutions that have been tested in international practice.

Since Turkmenistan is located in a seismically active zone, at all stages of construction — from design to commissioning — particular emphasis is placed on a rigorous scientific approach, precise calculations and analytical studies consistent with international testing procedures and standards.

The participants of the workshop stressed that the Construction Norms of Turkmenistan (CNT) and the State Standards of Turkmenistan (SST) are being consistently modernized, taking into account the country’s natural, geological, climatic and seismological characteristics.

International experience, including:

• Eurocode;

• IBC (International Building Code);

• AASHTO;

• ASTM, - as some of the world’s leading sets of building regulations, is being scientifically adapted to the applicable norms of Turkmenistan. This significantly increases the strength, stability and operational safety of the buildings and structures erected in the country.

A special role in this area is played by State Programmes, plans and strategies implemented at the initiative of the President of Turkmenistan. In particular:

• The Action Plan for the Implementation of the Programme on Reducing Seismic Risk in Seismically Hazardous Zones of Turkmenistan, approved by Decree of the President No. 1061, 23 January 2019;

• the Action Plan for the Implementation of the State Programme for the Comprehensive Development of Seismology in Turkmenistan for 2022–2028, approved by Decree of President No. 245, 9 September 2022, - further strengthen the foundations of the national system of seismic safety. These policy documents stipulate the mandatory use of scientific analysis, specialized testing and compliance with international standards in forming robust foundations and structural systems of construction projects.

Major engineering facilities such as highways, bridges, runways and tunnels integrate several complex systems and therefore require a comprehensive engineering approach. This clearly demonstrates that the transport and road infrastructure of Turkmenistan is being steadily upgraded in line with modern innovative international requirements.

In road construction, the following are subjected to thorough laboratory testing and analysis:

• the composition of asphalt and asphalt-concrete mixtures;

• the strength of cement-concrete pavements;

• the geomechanical properties of the road structure (subgrade and pavement);

• the strength and stability of sand bases;

• the geodynamic properties of soil layers.

This creates the necessary conditions for each road, each bridge and each facility built in the country to operate reliably over many years.

All participants of the workshop — lecturers, scientists and engineers — highly praised the large-scale initiatives implemented in Turkmenistan to ensure seismic safety and to improve the construction sector.

ORIENT