The Journey of Knowledge and
Digital Transformation at İSAM

Ayhan Kaygusuz
The Journey of Knowledge and
Digital Transformation at İSAM

Ayhan Kaygusuz
As a result, knowledge became portable and, for the first time, could spread across vast regions. In the Middle Ages, manuscripts played a crucial role in preserving and disseminating knowledge. These handwritten works, often transformed into artistic masterpieces through intricate calligraphy and ornamentation, were labor-intensive to produce. During this period, access to knowledge was limited and restricted to a select few. The invention of the printing press by Gutenberg in the 1450’s marked a major breakthrough in the dissemination of knowledge. The printing press not only facilitated access to information but also transformed the nature of knowledge itself by fundamentally altering human thought processes. The rapid production and widespread availability of books enabled knowledge to reach much larger audiences. Following the transmission of knowledge through written sources, the invention of new communication tools ushered in an entirely different era.
The Industrial Revolution introduced new technologies not only for mass-producing knowledge but also for transmitting it more rapidly. In the 19th century, the telegraph enabled the instantaneous transmission of words over long distances, laying the foundation for modern communication technologies. Subsequent innovations such as the telephone, radio, and television revolutionized mass communication by incorporating sound and visuals, thereby enhancing comprehension.

The digital transformation of knowledge began in the second half of the 20th century. The computer revolution, which started with vacuum tube computers after World War II, continued with transistor-based, integrated circuit, and microprocessor-based computers. This period also marked a digital revolution in data storage. Although computers were initially designed for military and scientific research, they gradually became available for commercial and personal use. The foundations of the internet were laid in the 1960’s. This innovation, which facilitated the sharing of information and data, became widespread in the 1990’s with the concept of the World Wide Web (WWW). In a short time, the internet, email, search engines, and social media platforms ushered in the era of modern communication and information access.
In the 21st century, advancements in information and communication technologies have accelerated at an unprecedented pace. Smartphones have placed miniature computers in the hands of individuals, while cloud computing has enabled global data accessibility. Artificial intelligence (AI) has automated decision-making processes, and the Internet of Things (IoT) has interconnected billions of devices. Smart home systems, autonomous vehicles, and industrial automation have emerged as a result of these innovations.
As seen in the historical overview above, this is a cumulative process that has been building up like a snowball for over 6,000 years. In other words, AI research is an outcome of humanity’s accumulated knowledge, which began with cave paintings, cuneiform script, and clay tablets. This journey—from clay tablets to technological tablets and ultimately to AI—demonstrates humanity’s persistent need for knowledge and its relentless creativity in fulfilling that need. This evolutionary process has not only shaped technology but also transformed societies, cultures, and economic systems. The rapid advancements in information technologies suggest that, in the near future, developments that once took 6,000 years could now occur within just six years.
It does not take a prophecy to realize this; a glance at the data from the past 15 years is sufficient. In 2010, global data production stood at 2 zettabytes, but by 2024, it surged 74 times to reach 147 zettabytes. By 2025, this figure is projected to rise to 181 zettabytes. As of April 2022, video content accounted for 53.72% of internet traffic, social media 12.69%, and gaming 9.86%. On the same date, 333 billion emails were sent daily, and Google processed 8.5 billion searches per day (Source: Statista).

The Potential of Big Data and Artificial Intelligence
Globally, 2.5 quintillion bytes of data are produced every day (IBM data, 2023). However, since most of this data is unstructured (e.g., texts, images, videos, sensor data), it must be processed before analysis. About 80-90% of unstructured data remains unlabeled, and making it usable requires effort and cost (Source: IBM Big Data Analytics).
Countries invest heavily in storing and backing up this vast amount of data, yet much of it remains underutilized. If AI models could extract valuable insights from this “precious resource,” interlink related datasets, and analyze all human-produced knowledge to generate new information, it would be a groundbreaking advancement for humanity. However, a major risk lies in global powers accumulating and manipulating AI models to centralize control over human knowledge. If managed correctly, AI could serve humanity’s prosperity.
Imagine an AI model evaluating all X-rays, MRIs, CT scans, blood, and urine analyses in a region, country, or the world, correlating them with air, water, and soil analyses, and making personal and environmental assessments. Governments could then make regulations based on these results. Wouldn’t it be easier to identify the causes of diseases, understand environmental impacts, and take preventive measures?
In the near future, it is no longer a fantasy to think that fewer people will hit the roads at dawn, producing carbon emissions, and instead work more efficiently and economically from home. While they work at home or in the office, helper robots could sort laundry and start the washing machine remotely during off-peak hours. The Internet of Things (IoT) is set to standardize the remote management of everything from small appliances to large-scale infrastructure via mobile devices.
In today’s world, a significant portion of the knowledge produced is presented in PDF format. The content offered in PDF format does not differ much from printed texts. This situation brings certain limitations in accessing and utilizing scientific knowledge. While traditional PDF’s serve as a fundamental tool for presenting information to researchers, the fixed and static nature of this format creates constraints that are not compatible with modern research methods.
Today, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) technologies offer significant opportunities for enriching scientific content and presenting it more effectively. These technologies make it possible to render texts more interactive, contextual, and user-oriented. For example, through machine learning algorithms, key terms within a text can be automatically identified, and detailed explanations, links, or visuals related to these terms can be instantly provided to researchers.
Additionally, AI-powered natural language processing (NLP) tools can analyze content in various formats and generate customized summaries of information. Researchers can quickly find the information they need, be directed to other related studies, and visualize past research on the same topic in chronological order. Thus, researchers do not only gain access to data but also become more efficient in interpreting and analyzing it.
Institutions should also invest in technologies such as interactive data visualization, interactive graphics, and simulations to enrich their scientific content. These enhancements make scientific knowledge more accessible and comprehensible. Consequently, merely presenting scientific content in digital format is no longer sufficient. The opportunities offered by AI and ML technologies enable scientific publications to become more dynamic and user-friendly. Institutions should embrace these technologies to enrich their content and offer researchers more innovative ways to access information. This way, the production and dissemination of scientific knowledge will become more effective, comprehensive, and accessible.

Digital Transformation at ISAM
The developments summarized above compel all institutions to reevaluate their positions and adopt new strategies. An organization that wishes to survive cannot remain indifferent to these changes. The Center for Islamic Studies (ISAM) in Turkey, a significant institution in its field, is making intense efforts to respond appropriately to rapid technological changes.
Below is a summary of the structural changes, institutional reforms, and ongoing and planned projects initiated by ISAM in 2023.
Structural Changes and Institutional Regulations
In 2023, with the decision of the İSAM Board of Directors, the Information Technology and Electronic Resources Departments were merged to form the Information Technology and Digitalization Directorate. As a result of this merger, infrastructure, personnel responsibilities, and system organization were completed in 2023, and projects for the next phase were planned.

ISAMveri Ontology (Data Model) Project
ISAM produces a vast amount of data, which is made available to users in both printed and electronic formats. One of ISAM’s most important publications, the TDV Encyclopedia of Islam, contains 16,194 entries, 15,000 images, and 22 million words. In addition to other printed and electronic publications, ISAM plans to produce a large amount of data under the Thematic Encyclopedias project, with the first entries already emerging.
This project aims to process, interconnect, and make available an extensive data pool, including:
- Three major reference sources (TDV Encyclopedia of Islam, Concise Encyclopedia of Islam, and The Great History of Istanbul),
- Nineteen thematic encyclopedias currently in preparation,
- Around 2,000 articles from two academic journals,
- Printed books, critical editions, dictionaries, guides, bibliographic databases, and library resources.
The İSAMveri data model infrastructure will not only store data produced by İSAM but can also integrate data from other institutions collaborating with İSAM.
A comprehensive effort is underway for the preparation of the İSAMveri model. The first phase of this initiative includes:
- Digitalizing all data produced by İSAM and centralizing it in a database,
- Structuring the data into structured formats,
- Establishing interconnections between different datasets,
- Managing all data through a unified management system,
- Making the generated information available through both İSAM’s platforms and external platforms.
The second phase involves:
- Implementing Semantic Web, Linked Open Data, Natural Language Processing (NLP), and Machine Learning standards and techniques,
- Applying a human-supervised approach to verify data tagging accuracy.
Ultimately, this initiative will allow AI applications to process, visualize, and interact with İSAM’s entire dataset, enabling interactive responses to user queries. The developed platform will also support data integration from other institutions, ensuring interoperability and seamless access to a wide range of information.
Web and Software Development
- The İSAM website (isam.org.tr), which could no longer meet user and security needs, was redesigned and launched in Turkish, English, and Arabic at the beginning of 2024.
- The Journal of Ottoman Studies, previously a subpage of the İSAM website, was migrated to an independent website (osmanliarastirmalari.isam.org.tr) based on the Open Journal System (OJS) in January 2024.
- The İSAM Bulletin was revamped using the open-source WordPress content management system and launched as an independent site at bulten.isam.org.tr. Additionally, the archive of 49 printed issues was made available on this platform.
- A Thematic Encyclopedias Management System (TYS) was developed to digitally manage article production processes for thematic encyclopedias. The system was completed in October 2024 and has since been actively used.
Technology and Infrastructure Modernization
- In August 2024, İSAM modernized and upgraded its server, storage, wired, and wireless network infrastructure.
- The library homepage was redesigned and launched at kutuphane.isam.org.tr by the end of 2024. To ensure international compatibility, separate software solutions were implemented for different data types:
- Yordam for the library catalog,
- AtoM (Access to Memory) for archives, adhering to ISAD-G standards,
- Dspace (open-source) for journal databases, with metadata aligned with Dublin Core standards. The conversion of data to Dublin Core standards and its transfer to DSpace is nearing completion.
- The ISAM citation system website was prepared, and the ISAM Citation and Resources Guide, along with examples, was published on this site. Over 10,000 works, prepared in accordance with the ISAM Turkish Transliteration Guide, were made available through this site.
- Ongoing support was provided for license tracking, user requests, device upgrades, and technical assistance.
Plans for 2025
Some key software and hardware projects scheduled for completion in 2025 include:
- Finalizing the İSAMveri, Integrated Management System (OYS), and Portal Project.
- Developing new websites for dictionaries, guides, and bibliographic databases.
- Upgrading the Personnel Attendance Control System (PDKS).
- Enhancing data backup, security, centralized user data storage, and wireless internet coverage for outdoor spaces.
- Improving the TDV Encyclopedia of Islam website based on user needs and requests.
- In 2024, the site had 15.8 million users, 26.7 million sessions, and 71.5 million page views.
- 81% of users accessed content via mobile devices, and 91% arrived via organic search engines.
- The improvements will focus on optimizing the site for mobile-first experiences and search engine accessibility.
Conclusion
In 2024, İSAM worked intensively to facilitate access to information and provide a stronger infrastructure for the academic world. Significant advancements were made in digitalization and technological infrastructure to enhance user experience and improve digital access to academic data.
The steps taken by İSAM aim not only to preserve knowledge but also to contextualize and effectively utilize it, ensuring a long-term contribution to the academic community. In 2025, the focus will be on completing these projects and integrating cutting-edge technologies to further improve research accessibility and efficiency.
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Ayhan Kaygusuz He graduated from the Department of Librarianship at A.Ü. Faculty of Language, History, and Geography. He completed his master’s degree at the A.Ü. Institute of Social Sciences on “Automation of Public Libraries.” He received training in Librarianship and Public Relations in the UK for a year. He worked as the manager of the ISBN-ISSN Agencies and as the IT Director at the General Directorate of Libraries and Publications under the Ministry of Culture. He held positions as a department head and director at state and foundation universities. Between 2000 and 2007, he served as a board member at ANKOS. He participated in working groups of international organizations such as IFLA and LIBER. He served as a project coordinator in various digitization projects. He is currently serving as the Director of IT and Digitalization at ISAM. |