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Android Earthquake Alerts: A global system for early warning
July 17, 2025 Marc Stogaitis, Principal Software Engineer, Android Using aggregated measurements from a global network of Android smartphones, we developed a system that detects earthquakes, delivers early warnings to users, and builds user trust with each successful alert. Earthquakes are a constant threat to communities around the globe.
The accelerometer in an Android phone, the same sensor that flips the screen when it’s turned sideways, can also detect the ground shaking from an earthquake. Getting this right is crucial — underestimate, and you might not warn people in danger; overestimate, and you risk sending out false alarms that erode public trust. In the future, this system could not only provide warnings but also deliver rapid post-earthquake information to emergency responders, helping them to quickly assess the areas most in need.
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