Academic profile
Curriculum vitae
Last updated: October 2026
Research profile
Urban planner with a PhD in Urban and Regional Planning (2026) and more than 11 years of experience in public-sector planning and heritage conservation. I use satellite observations, GIS and statistical methods to study urban morphology, land-cover change and surface temperature. My doctoral research examined thermal change across stable urban and forest surfaces in Antalya. My current research investigates how redevelopment changes urban form, vegetation and surface temperature.
Pursued academic research alongside public-sector planning responsibilities, working with planners, architects, engineers and other specialists on heritage conservation and urban development.
Education
PhD in Urban and Regional Planning | Akdeniz University | 2020-2026 | GPA 4.00/4.00
Dissertation: Stability-Based Analysis of the Relationship Between Urban Morphology and the Surface Urban Heat Island: The Case of Antalya. Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Ziya Gençel.
MSc in Transportation | Yıldız Technical University | 2010-2018 | GPA 3.28/4.00
Thesis: Planning of Pedestrian Movement in Historical City Centers: Example of Antalya-Kaleiçi. Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Mustafa Gürsoy. Official graduation: January 2018.
Bachelor of Laws | Akdeniz University | 2016-2020
BSc in Urban and Regional Planning | Yıldız Technical University | 2005-2010 | GPA 3.21/4.00
Selected research
Independent Researcher | Canada | 2023-present
Continuing research on urban morphology and the surface urban heat island, focusing on how redevelopment, new development, and physical decline alter building form, vegetation, and land cover. Developing longitudinal comparisons with morphologically similar stable areas to examine the thermal consequences of these changes and their implications for planning.
Pedestrian movement in historic urban environments | Master’s thesis
Examined pedestrian movement in Antalya-Kaleiçi using space syntax, pedestrian counts and density analysis.
Publications and manuscripts
Peer-reviewed article
Çolak, K., Kepenek, E., Gençel, Z., & Ertugay, K. (2022). The use of Geographic Information Systems in preventing illegal excavations for the destruction of cultural heritage. International Journal of Ecosystems and Ecology Science, 12(4), 235-244. https://doi.org/10.31407/ijees12.428 Article DOI
Manuscript under review
Çolak, K., & Gençel, Z. Urban-Forest Land Surface Temperature Change under Stability and Purity Constraints: Antalya, 2017-2025. Urban Climate. First and corresponding author.
Selected conference proceedings
Çolak, K., Çetinkaya, Ş. B., & Gençel, Z. (2023). The effect of urban sprawl typology on the urban heat island: A comparison of two Mediterranean cities. Turkish Network of Urban Morphology, 527-537.
Çetinkaya, Ş. B., Çolak, K., & Gençel, Z. (2023). Examining the temporal development of Antalya city center using the fractal dimension method. Turkish Network of Urban Morphology, 370-379.
Oğuztimur, S., & Çolak, K. (2013). The analysis of Turkey’s freight transport in terms of transport modes. European Regional Science Association.
Planning and professional experience
Urban Planner / Technical Rapporteur | Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Türkiye
Antalya Regional Board Directorate for the Conservation of Cultural Assets | 2015-2021; 2022-2023 Kocaeli Regional Board Directorate for the Conservation of Cultural and Natural Assets | 2011-2015
- Prepared assessments of conservation master plans, amendments, urban-design projects and development proposals for multidisciplinary board decisions.
- In Antalya, evaluated approximately 20 conservation master plans and 40 urban-design or environmental-design projects in relation to heritage protection, legislation, development pressure and public interest.
- Coordinated field inspections, institutional consultation, technical reporting, presentations and decision documentation.
Urban Designer | Beyoğlu Municipality, Istanbul | 2010-2011
Contributed to urban-design development and implementation for Serdar-ı Ekrem Street, the Galata Tower surroundings and streets connected to İstiklal Avenue.
Installation Supervisor / Field Coordinator | Spectrum Window Coverings, BC | 2023-present
Legal qualification
Attorney-at-Law, Türkiye | Completed legal traineeship and obtained the attorney title.
Academic service and invited contributions
- Peer reviewer, ICONARP International Journal of Architecture and Planning (2026).
- Invited seminar speaker, Turkish Network of Urban Morphology; urban heat and morphology research, scheduled for November 2026.
- Invited jury member for planning and design studios, Akdeniz University.
- Invited expert for the Urban Conservation course, Akdeniz University.
Research methods and tools
Google Earth Engine (JavaScript); Landsat and Sentinel-2; ERA5-Land; ArcGIS Pro (advanced); QGIS. Random Forest classification; longitudinal analysis; spatial block bootstrap; sensitivity analysis. AutoCAD; SketchUp; Adobe Illustrator; Excel.
Emerging writing project
Book-length essay concept exploring urban memory, spatial transformation and the right to the city. The proposed work would trace the concept’s historical development and examine examples from different countries, asking how redevelopment reshapes lived places and collective memory.
Music and cultural interests
Active in music since 2004, with an interest in the distinctive instruments and musical traditions of cities in which I have lived.