In the first week of July, I traded fireworks and parades for the Aegean coast, beach breezes, and a history-filled getaway with my friend and colleague Sengul Topuz, an expert in modular cooling design.
To make the most of the trip (and escape some meetings), we declared July 3rd as “International Female Contractors Day” because let’s be honest, every day has a made-up holiday associated with it. July 21 was National Junk Food Day.
Ephesus was hot, both in history and temperature. We spent about 45 minutes walking the ruins, taking in the grandeur, the columns, the cats, and the centuries-old stone. Afterward, we stopped for breakfast in the beautiful hillside village of Şirince, then headed to Pamukkale, checking into our hotel just in time for a late meeting and dinner.
The next morning, we visited the ancient city of Hierapolis, perched above the surreal white terraces of Pamukkale. Sengul noted how much more excavation and discovery has occurred in recent years new ruins, new layers of history, and growing research needs.
And of course, even on vacation, work-related conversations tend to find us, especially when you’re walking through one of the world’s most important archaeological sites.
Leslie: “Sengul, this is amazing. What if there were a modular data center on-site? Could it help archaeologists catalog and match sections faster?”
Sengul: “Absolutely. With a modular AI data center on-site, archaeologists could process scans, images, and sensor data in real time. AI could assist in pattern recognition, dating artifacts, even reconstructing collapsed sections virtually speeding up and refining the excavation process.”
Leslie: “But in this heat could it even operate effectively?”
Sengul: “Yes if the system is designed for high ambient temperatures. We’d use advanced cooling technologies, oversized heat exchangers, and possibly solar integration. With the right thermal design, it would operate smoothly even in Mediterranean climates like this.”
Leslie: “Let’s say there’s no budget limit. How would you design it for Turkey’s archaeological sites?”
Sengul: “I’d design a sustainable, high-performance modular data center powered by solar, equipped with AI tools, environmental monitoring, and strong security. It would support researchers with real-time analytics while blending into the natural environment. Minimal footprint, maximum impact.”
Leslie: “I love that. Okay, now let’s go find the marbley thing and cool off.”
Sengul: “The marbley thing” is called Pamukkale ,the surreal, snow-white terraces made of calcium deposits.
We cooled off, soaked it all in, and went back to enjoying the rest of our vacation (with just a little more work-related talk along the way).
Modular AI infrastructure can protect the past, inform the present, and inspire the future — even in the hottest places on Earth. Contact CDM to learn more.
