Earthquake Early Warning

Earthquakes are a natural phenomenon caused most frequently by sudden movement along faults within the Earth. When this shaking causes severe damage or loss of life we label it as a disaster. Earthquakes can be dangerous, but at this time there is nothing we can do to prevent them nor to predict the precise time, location or size of an earthquake.

Methodology & Technology

• How do EEW solutions work?

When we utilise state-of-the-art scientific methodologies, as done in GeoSIG’s Earthquake Early Warning (EEW) solution, it is possible to quite accurately assess the location and size as soon as an earthquake emerges by detecting its non-destructive primary waves. Thus, warnings about a coming earthquake can be sent ideally before the shaking actually begins, caused by (shear or secondary) S-waves and surface waves. These are the waves that cause the destruction. How much advance warning is provided depends on a number of factors such as how big the earthquake is, how close the seismic sensor is to the epicentre, the geology of the soil, etc.

The goal of Earthquake Early Warning is to provide warning ahead of an earthquake to enable people to take cover and take actions to prevent injury or damage. Depending on the warning system employed, alerts might come in the form of a public broadcast, public warning sirens, or even community-wide text alerts and messages on smart devices.

Based on fast and reliable communication channels, these warnings can provide the crucial seconds to take measures which may help reduce catastrophic impacts of seismic events.

• How do RR solutions aid emergency management and emergency response?

After an earthquake, GeoSIG’s Rapid Response (RR) solution provides analytic and thematic information on the aftermath of the earthquake in terms of ShakeMaps consisting of observed ground motion parameters as well as estimated damage distribution. This information helps to pinpoint specific locations on a map that are likely to require immediate emergency response or which areas have suffered the most damage. This short time lapse video demonstrates the concept and operation of Earthquake Early Warning systems available through GeoSIG.

 

This short time lapse video demonstrates the concept and operation of Earthquake Early Warning systems available through GeoSIG.
 

 

This short time lapse video demonstrates the concept and operation of earthquake rapid response systems available through GeoSIG.
 

With technological and scientific advances, we are able to better prepare for pending disasters and mitigate their damage. GeoSIG is proud to instrument Earthquake Early Warning Networks and Rapid Response solutions around the world.