Smartphones and other personal electronic devices could, in regions where they are in widespread use, function as early warning systems for large earthquakes. This technology could serve regions of the world that cannot afford higher quality, but more expensive, conventional earthquake early warning systems.

Cellphones can detect ground motion and warn others before strong shaking arrives. Base map originally created by NASA. (Emiliano Rodriguez Nuesch with Pacifico)
The study, led by scientists at the U.S. Geological Survey, found that despite being less accurate than scientific-grade equipment, the GPS receivers in a smartphone can detect the permanent ground movement caused by fault motion in a large earthquake. Using crowd-sourced observations from participating users’ smartphones, earthquakes could be detected and analyzed, and customized earthquake warnings could be transmitted back to users.

If phones from fewer than 5,000 people in a large metropolitan area responded, the earthquake could be detected and analyzed fast enough to issue a warning to areas farther away before the onset of strong shaking.

Source 

Topics:
Data Acquisition Data Acquisition Electronics Electronics & Computers Environmental Monitoring Sensors