Islamabd( The COW News Digital)In a groundbreaking advancement, researchers have developed a new system that turns ordinary smartphones into early warning tools for earthquakes. This innovative system, the result of a collaboration between tech giant Google and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), could help millions receive timely alerts before major seismic activity strikes.
The system uses data collected from millions of Android devices worldwide to detect the earliest signals of an earthquake. When many smartphones in a given area simultaneously detect ground movement, the system analyzes the data, identifies potential seismic activity, and issues real-time alerts to nearby users.
The research, published in the journal Science, reveals that this crowd-sourced earthquake detection network identified over 300 seismic events within a month of testing. Significantly, 85% of respondents who later felt the earthquake reported receiving advance notifications.
Among those who received alerts, 36% got the warning before the shaking began, 28% during the tremors, and 23% shortly after. These numbers suggest that even a brief early alert can give people crucial seconds to take cover, protect property, or evacuate hazardous locations.
While this system isn’t designed to replace traditional seismic sensors, experts believe it offers a cost-effective and scalable alternative in regions lacking infrastructure. Dr. Elena Rivera, a lead researcher at USGS, noted, “This is a game changer, especially for low-resource or high-risk areas. Millions of phones can act as mini seismometers.”
The Android-based ShakeAlert system is already being piloted in several earthquake-prone regions, including California, Indonesia, and parts of Latin America. Google plans to expand the rollout over the next year, with support from local governments and disaster response teams.
Analysts say the success of this project could open doors to similar smartphone-based public safety systems, such as flood and wildfire alerts. By harnessing everyday devices, authorities could reach people faster and with greater geographic precision.
As climate change intensifies natural disasters worldwide, experts see this development as a timely and necessary step forward. With the power of smartphones, early warning systems are becoming more accessible and potentially life-saving for millions globally.
