Earthquake Warning Tools
As per reports in August 2020, Google is adding earthquake warning tools to users of the Android smartphone mobile operating system, including the Samsung Galaxy series. This alert will help people find safety for themselves and their loved ones in a few seconds. Google calls this the Android Earthquake Alerting System.
Google will partner with the United States Geological Survey (USGS) and the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) to send earthquake alerts directly to Android devices in the state. Alerts would be powered by Shake Alert, a system that analyses seismic data from over 700 seismometers installed in California. It calculates preliminary magnitudes and estimates areas in the state that would feel the tremors. Californians have access to an app called ‘MyShake’ which uses Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) to disseminate alerts powered by ShakeAlert. Google’s new system will use the same data feed to receive and distribute alerts.
Google’s new system does not require the installation of a dedicated app. Opting the new program will turn your Android phone into a mini seismometer as part of the Android Earthquake Alerts System. With millions of Android phones the world over, Google could, in fact, form the largest earthquake detection network on earth. Most smartphones come with tiny accelerometers. By making use of these accelerometers, Android devices could send a signal to an earthquake-detection server when it senses an earthquake might be happening.
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Accelerometers are sensors that measure direction and force of motion. These are mainly used to determine whether a user is holding a phone in landscape or portrait mode.
Android devices are sensitive enough to detect both P (primary) wave and S (secondary) wave, the two types of waves associated with earthquakes. The P wave, which is the first and fastest wave from the epicenter, is not normally felt, whereas, the S wave, which is slower but usually larger, causes more devastation. Android devices could detect a P wave and then warn people to prepare for the S wave.
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Although Google’s system can detect the occurrence, location, and strength of an earthquake using Android phones, it cannot alert users closest to the epicentre beforehand so as to escape.
In locations devoid of a sophisticated network of seismometers, Google will use its network of phones to show localised results in Google searches for earthquakes. When you search ‘earthquake’ or ‘earthquake near me’, for instance, Google will give appropriate information for your area as well as guide you on what actions to take after an earthquake. Once Google is satisfied with the accuracy of its system, it will send out earthquake warnings directly to Android phones.
This feature will be integrated into Google Play Services. Thus, it will be available on the vast majority of Android devices, regardless if it is an Android OS version or not. However, this feature will not be available on devices without Google Mobile Services, like devices sold in China and new devices from smartphone brands Huawei or Honor.
If the phone detects tremors or some early signs of an earthquake, it would send a signal to Google’s earthquake detection server, along with the location of where the shaking occurred. The server would then combine information from many phones to decipher whether an earthquake is happening.
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