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In 2020, Google introduced the Android Earthquake Alert (AEA) system, a unique and revolutionary technology. It was specially built for the people living in earthquake prone areas. Compared to traditional earthquake warning networks, which are costly and have limited reach, this facility is not only economical, but also highly accurate, according to scientists, as it does not require a dedicated seismic station.

In three years, Google’s system is active in 98 countries and covers more than 2.5 billion people. This system uses the smartphone’s accelerometer sensor, which detects vibrations. This data is sent to Google’s servers, which then decides whether an earthquake has actually occurred or not.

A recent study published in the journal ‘Science’ has found that Google’s Android Earthquake Alert System is as effective as traditional seismic networks. “AEA shows that smartphones around the world are capable of detecting earthquakes and providing large-scale warnings, and the system is comparable to existing national-scale technologies,” the researchers wrote. Smartphone sensors are not as sensitive as traditional seismic instruments, yet they can accurately detect ground vibrations.

• How effective are the warnings?
Between 2021 and 2024, the system recorded 312 earthquakes with an average magnitude of 1.9 to 7.8 in 98 countries.
About 85% of users who received an alert shared it with others.
Of these, 36% users received warnings before the earthquake, 28% during the earthquake and 23% after the earthquake.
An animated video shows how phones detected vibrations and Google servers sent warnings during a magnitude 6.2 earthquake in Turkey.

• How does the system work?
According to Google, as soon as the accelerometer sensor of an Android phone detects any unusual vibration, it sends an alert to Google’s earthquake detection server. The server then takes data from other smartphones in the area and combines it to determine whether an earthquake is actually occurring or not. If confirmed, the system sends rapid alerts, allowing users to receive warnings a few seconds in advance. Google says it has more than 2 billion Android devices that act as mini earthquake detectors, making it the largest earthquake detection network in the world.