Earthquakes are a global natural disaster, and quick warnings can make all the difference in preparing for safety. The Android Earthquake Alerts System, utilizing sensors in Android smartphones to detect and estimate earthquakes, has been developed to provide just that.
This system, already in use in various countries, offers early warnings to individuals when earthquake tremors start. Today, in collaboration with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and the National Centre for Seismology (NCS) under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, we are pleased to introduce the Android Earthquake Alerts System in India.
With this launch, Android users in India will receive automatic early warning alerts in the event of an earthquake nearby. Each smartphone, equipped with miniature accelerometers functioning as seismometers, can detect the initial stages of earthquake tremors when it’s charging.
If multiple phones detect similar shaking simultaneously, our server can estimate the earthquake’s occurrence, including its epicenter and magnitude. Subsequently, alerts are sent to nearby phones. Thanks to the speed of internet signals, these alerts often reach phones seconds before severe shaking begins. The alerts are designed to be user-friendly and available in Indian languages supported by Android.
The Android Earthquake Alerts System will be rolled out to all Android 5+ users in India over the upcoming week. To receive alerts, users must have Wi-Fi and/or cellular data connectivity and enable both Android Earthquake Alerts and location settings. Users who prefer not to receive these alerts can disable Earthquake Alerts in their device settings.
Additionally, the system provides information via Google Search about local seismic events and safety measures. When users search for information using queries like “Earthquake near me,” they can access this data. Our goal is to complement the government’s earthquake alert efforts and provide advance notice to ensure safety.
In India, we’ve been collaborating with the NDMA to offer users helpful safety information about natural disasters such as floods and cyclones on Google Search and Maps. We’re proud to continue this partnership with the NDMA, alongside the NCS, as we introduce the Android Earthquake Alerts system to India.
