Google is expanding its Android Earthquake Alerts System from 98 countries to nearly 200 countries and regions after the technology delivered more than one billion earthquake alerts since its launch in 2021.
The system uses Android smartphones to help detect earthquakes and warn people about potential shaking before it reaches their location. By using sensors built into Android devices, the system can identify earthquake activity and distribute alerts to people who may be affected.
Google highlighted how the technology can help protect people during major earthquakes, particularly those living outside an earthquake’s epicenter. When devastating earthquakes struck Venezuela earlier this year, millions of people outside the epicenter received alerts and had an opportunity to take cover before the shaking began.
The expansion will make earthquake alerts available to more Android users worldwide, extending the reach of a system designed to provide early warnings when seconds matter. Such alerts can give people valuable time to move away from windows, take cover under sturdy furniture, or follow other earthquake safety guidance before strong shaking arrives.
The Android Earthquake Alerts System relies on the accelerometers found in smartphones to detect vibrations that could indicate an earthquake. When multiple devices detect similar movement, Google’s system can analyze the signals to identify a possible earthquake and send alerts to nearby users.
However, earthquake alerts are not a guarantee that everyone will receive a warning before shaking begins. The amount of advance notice depends on factors such as the user’s distance from the earthquake, the earthquake’s characteristics, and how quickly the system detects and processes the event.
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With more than one billion alerts delivered since 2021, Google’s expansion aims to bring this technology to a much larger global population and help more people prepare for earthquakes when early warnings are possible.
