An earthquake measuring device is priced at about $20,000 but startup Grillo has developed a $50 alternative. The dream is to allow even developing nations affordable early warning devices that can warn against the destructive power of earthquakes.
Although it can affect vast areas of land, there is no effective way to predict an earthquake hours earlier. Japan, the only country in the world with a nationwide advanced early warning system, can only send alerts mere seconds before an earthquake can happen. But this crucial warning has proven itself a lifesaver.
In March 2011, when the most powerful earthquake Japan has ever seen rocked the nation, early warning systems halted trains and is believed to have significantly minimized damage to both infrastructure and the number of casualties.
However, Japan’s system technology requires 200 seismographs, 600 seismic intensity meters and an additional 3,600 seismic meters in local government and disaster prevention institutes. It requires new infrastructures and budgets other nations might not be able to afford.
Grillo’s solution comes in a simple cube and a bypass of traditional information relay systems. Their flagship product has features familiar to the ubiquitous smartphone. The Grillo Active contains an accelerometer, Wi-Fi and GPS.
But how will it work? The efficacy of a system relies on sensor placement. In wide areas, the more sensors installed, generally, the better. Expert seismologists will place the sensors for better chances of coming across the early stages of an earthquake. When activity is detected, algorithms that take into account nearby faults and other factors to broadcast a warning of affected areas, estimated intensities and apparent epicenter. All of which are processed on the cloud and relayed back and forth through the Internet, removing the need for a separate infrastructure.
The Grillo dashboard neatly puts together sensor data on a map and recorded activity is easily accessible.
Read more: At $50, Earthquake Early Warning Device Could Ease Lives of Billions
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