Using Smartphones for Earthquake Prediction

The University of California, Berkeley, has designed an application for Android smartphones that can measure ground tremors. According to Reuters, this application, named 'My Shake', can measure seismic activity and send alerts to the phone owner if an earthquake is imminent. Richard Allen, the head of the team that developed this application, states that it does not yet have the capabilities of an advanced system like that of the U.S. Geological Survey and cannot replace it, but it is a good start and can notify people more quickly about the danger of earthquakes, especially in areas located on fault lines. Earthquake-prone countries such as Nepal, Peru, Pakistan, Turkmenistan, and Iran lack advanced seismometer and alert systems, and this application could save millions of lives during an earthquake. The algorithm for this application was developed by a group of programmers from Silicon Valley, home to many internet companies in the U.S., in collaboration with the University of California. This algorithm uses systems similar to those used in video games based on hand tremors or the phone's compass direction. These systems can also measure ground vibrations. Currently, this application can detect earthquakes above five magnitude within a ten-kilometer radius of the epicenter. The application also connects phones in an area like a network, so if an earthquake occurs nearby and you do not feel it, you will still be alerted. The key to the success of such applications is that more people install them on their phones. With over three billion smartphones currently in use worldwide, the developers of this application hope to establish a global network for measuring and recording ground tremors in various locations. In many cases of earthquakes, a mild tremor is felt before the main shock. Strengthening this network and providing alerts about these mild tremors could give people the opportunity to find a safe place. In severe earthquakes, a one-minute warning can save thousands of lives, which is what the developers of this application are aiming for.