University researchers are behind an effort called the Quake-Catcher Network (QCN), a collaborative initiative for developing the world’s largest, low-cost seismic network. The group’s plan is to use sensors in and attached to Internet-connected computers to study earthquakes and their aftershocks.
Specifically, the group hopes volunteers will help them build a large distributed network of seismometers. The network would use the accelerometers that are now routinely available in laptops or USB-based accelerometers connected to desktop computers. Similar to SETI@Home and other distributed scientific research projects, users who want to help can download a small application to their computer. The software then collects information about the device’s motions obtained from the unit’s accelerometer.
If enough volunteers choose to participate, essentially every building and even every floor or part of a building (any place that has a laptop or desktop computer with a USB accelerator) could theoretically have a seismometer. This would give researchers very detailed measurements of quake motions on an unprecedentedly refined and small spatial scale.
Accelerometers in the Field
The QCN leverages the greatly increased availability of accelerometers already deployed in the field. These accelerometers are the ones installed in most of today’s laptops. They are used either as sudden-motion sensors or active protection systems whose purpose is to detect motions so that laptop hard disk drives (and the data on them) can be protected when the laptop experiences a sudden jolt. Seismologists can use these built-in accelerometers to gather details about the impact of earthquakes.
Unfortunately, the same level of convenience does not extend to desktops. Since desktop computers are not subject to the sudden drops and jostling that laptops undergo, most do not need and do not have built-in accelerometers. However, people with desktops who want to help out can use USB accelerometers that plug into their computers.
USB accelerometer for desktop computers. Source: The Quake-Catcher Network
Data Collection Techniques
The QCN effort makes use of these accelerometers in the field, collecting information about the motions they detect. This is accomplished via software that users download to their laptops or desktops and the USB-attached accelerometer.
Data collected from a QCN volunteer’s computer during a March 16, 2010, 4.4-magnitude earthquake in Los Angeles. Source: Quake-Catcher Network
The data collected from the network of volunteers can substantially complement the information gathered by government and academic earthquake monitoring stations. Depending on the distribution and density of volunteer systems in the vicinity of an earthquake, researchers can get much finer-resolution details about the nature of a particular earthquake.
Regional map of Quake-Catcher Network seismometers. Source: Quake-Catcher Network
And since most large earthquakes have numerous aftershocks, QCN researchers can quickly ship USB accelerometers to a region after the fact, knowing that they will be able to get fine-scale details of these tremors. This is accomplished through a QCN effort called the Rapid Aftershock Mobilization Program (RAMP), which aims to rapidly deploy seismic sensors to any metropolitan region in the world hit by a major earthquake to understand how, when and where aftershocks happen.
If you want to volunteer your laptop, click here to learn more about the program and to download the appropriate software needed to collect and share seismic activity information.
Specifically, the group hopes volunteers will help them build a large distributed network of seismometers. The network would use the accelerometers that are now routinely available in laptops or USB-based accelerometers connected to desktop computers. Similar to SETI@Home and other distributed scientific research projects, users who want to help can download a small application to their computer. The software then collects information about the device’s motions obtained from the unit’s accelerometer.
If enough volunteers choose to participate, essentially every building and even every floor or part of a building (any place that has a laptop or desktop computer with a USB accelerator) could theoretically have a seismometer. This would give researchers very detailed measurements of quake motions on an unprecedentedly refined and small spatial scale.
Accelerometers in the Field
The QCN leverages the greatly increased availability of accelerometers already deployed in the field. These accelerometers are the ones installed in most of today’s laptops. They are used either as sudden-motion sensors or active protection systems whose purpose is to detect motions so that laptop hard disk drives (and the data on them) can be protected when the laptop experiences a sudden jolt. Seismologists can use these built-in accelerometers to gather details about the impact of earthquakes.
Unfortunately, the same level of convenience does not extend to desktops. Since desktop computers are not subject to the sudden drops and jostling that laptops undergo, most do not need and do not have built-in accelerometers. However, people with desktops who want to help out can use USB accelerometers that plug into their computers.
USB accelerometer for desktop computers. Source: The Quake-Catcher Network
Data Collection Techniques
The QCN effort makes use of these accelerometers in the field, collecting information about the motions they detect. This is accomplished via software that users download to their laptops or desktops and the USB-attached accelerometer.
Data collected from a QCN volunteer’s computer during a March 16, 2010, 4.4-magnitude earthquake in Los Angeles. Source: Quake-Catcher Network
Naturally, there are some nuances that must be addressed for the data to be useful to the QCN researchers. For instance, they need to know the location of the device. With desktop systems, users typically provide the details once since the computer does not move. With laptops, users can either report their location or the researchers can estimate the location based on the IP address of the server used by the laptop to connect to the Internet. This gives a rough estimate of the laptop’s location. Researchers also hope to add a “Where Were You?” site, in which users would verify the location of the laptop when an earthquake occurred.
Regional map of Quake-Catcher Network seismometers. Source: Quake-Catcher Network
And since most large earthquakes have numerous aftershocks, QCN researchers can quickly ship USB accelerometers to a region after the fact, knowing that they will be able to get fine-scale details of these tremors. This is accomplished through a QCN effort called the Rapid Aftershock Mobilization Program (RAMP), which aims to rapidly deploy seismic sensors to any metropolitan region in the world hit by a major earthquake to understand how, when and where aftershocks happen.
If you want to volunteer your laptop, click here to learn more about the program and to download the appropriate software needed to collect and share seismic activity information.
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