Today’s Solutions: November 14, 2024

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM

Fifty years after the first mobile phone call, the device in your pocket today plays an important role in a developing global earthquake detection system. On October 25, 2022, a 5.1-magnitude earthquake affected California’s Bay Area. While the quake caused little damage, many residents received phone alerts before the tremors struck, providing a small but critical window that could one day save lives.

Google, in partnership with the United States Geological Survey (USGS) and Californian academic institutions, created an early warning system that delivers valuable seconds of notice before an earthquake strikes. “We’re essentially racing the speed of light against the speed of an earthquake,” explained Marc Stogaitis, a software engineer at Android. This small head start enables people to seek shelter, stop cars, or discontinue important infrastructure activities like operating train lines.

Crowdsourced earthquake detection

Seismometers, which are highly sensitive sensors designed to detect ground tremors, have traditionally been used for earthquake detection. California’s ShakeAlert system receives data from over 700 seismometers. Google has now enlarged this network by connecting to the accelerometers found in most Android smartphones. These tiny sensors, often used to detect phone orientation or count steps, are sensitive enough to detect an earthquake‘s early P-waves. 

When a phone senses these vibrations, it transmits information to the Android Earthquake Alerts System. The technology can immediately detect and locate the site of an earthquake by evaluating inputs from thousands, if not millions, of phones. This information is later used to send alerts to users in locations where shaking is undeniably on the way.

Reaching the unreachable

The scalability and accessibility of this technology are its greatest strengths. With over three billion Android devices in use worldwide, the Earthquake Alerts System has the ability to deliver early warnings in areas without significant seismometer networks. This method has the potential to revolutionize earthquake detection in distant or economically disadvantaged locations with limited traditional infrastructure.

In fact, during the October 2022 earthquake in the Bay Area, the system successfully used data from multiple smartphones to trace the quake’s course. The ensuing alerts, sent via the USGS’s ShakeAlert system, gave households crucial moments to prepare.

The future of earthquake alerts

While the technology shows promise, it is not without restrictions. The system’s efficiency may be weakened in rural places with fewer smartphone users, as well as during offshore earthquakes that can produce tsunamis. Additionally, while these signals can provide a few seconds of notice, the elusive aim of forecasting earthquakes before they strike remains out of reach.

Nonetheless, this novel application of ordinary technology is a huge step forward in earthquake preparedness. Android users can enable earthquake warnings in the Safety and Emergency section of their phone’s settings. 

Solutions News Source Print this article
More of Today's Solutions

Two Black women to serve together in the United States Senate in a historic f...

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM For the first time in American history, two Black women will serve together in the Senate. Angela Alsobrooks, ...

Read More

Resilient community-building: staying safe in times of uncertainty

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY TEAM Recent global and domestic developments have left many feminists and allies feeling uneasy, uncertain about their place in society, ...

Read More

3 lifestyle hacks to help you become a little happier

There is no one path to finding happiness, but there are some lifestyle changes you can make to become more receptive to happiness. Without ...

Read More

For the first time ever, Greece meets energy demands with 100% renewables

The other week, Greece celebrated an exciting milestone! All of the country’s electricity needs were met by renewable energy for the first time, as ...

Read More