1. California Gulf Earthquake as recorded by the Georgia Tech Geophysics Department
Ashton Hott
CGS1061
TRACKING EARTHQUAKES WITH
COMPUTERS

2. Hott 1
One of the most innovative designs of our time involving the computer is the
internet. With it, people all over the world have the ability to both access information on
a global scale and to more easily communicate with anyone at any time or anywhere as
long as internet access is available. Yet as important as the internet has become, there
have been several operations that are limited for internet use, such as the study of
earthquakes. Although computers are used as replacement for old analog devices used
for measuring and tracking earthquakes, the success rate of transferring data for
evacuation methods is still underdeveloped. That being said, many seismologists are
now turning to the internet as a way to help track down earthquakes so as to formulate
a better alert system and it is all thanks to the most common use of the World Wide
Web and internet that we use today, or social media.
Why Social Media?
When it comes to earthquakes, which are unpredictable and can be devastating,
there is still much that is unknown about when one will occur; where the range of an
earthquake ends in a specific area; and for how long they happen for. This is why many
seismologist and their organizations have relied upon sensor to capture and store data
in areas where earthquakes are more prominent; to get an idea of what can be
expected from different magnitudes. The issue is that most sensors can “take [about]
twenty minutes…to relay information back to [geological organizations like the] USGS”
(Koebler). This could mean that many people are either suffering or dying during an
earthquake of extensive magnitude before ever receiving word that one is forming in the
area, let alone help for evacuation and medical purposes.

3. Hott 2
So how can social media help? Back in 2008, a “7.9 [magnitude] earthquake in
Wenchuan, China” was reported by one individual who was tweeting to his followers the
details of the natural disaster an hour before any information of the earthquake was
shared over television news broadcasting (Koebler). Due to the results of one man’s
quick thinking, the USGS in particular began promoting an experimental project that
would allow for the advancement of earthquake alerts by encouraging people to report
shakes and tremors on their social media pages.
This project was the USGS’ way of discovering if an algorithm could be made
from the reaction times of people with social media access if the response time far
outweighed that of their sensors, which they were excited when the results came back
with information on how social media notifications were capable of warning others within
twenty seconds of the start of an earthquake in comparison to the two to twenty minutes
it takes for the USGS to transmit similar information (Koebler). Since then, the USGS
and several professors across the United States have developed more projects that
include the use of social media along with the use of newly modified sensors that are
able to link up to computers and other devices to help collect information that produce a
condensed network that should be able to warn all citizens within that region moments
before an earthquake is about to strike the surface (Bergeron).

4. Hott 3
Digital Equipment used for Earthquakes
The information listed below represents several devices1 used by the United
States Geological Survey organization for the tracking of earthquakes and how that data
is stored:
 Central Site Data Acquisition System
o A tower with hardware that receives and stores data from remote devices
and sensors that relay earthquake information. This tower is also hooked
up to a terminal for administrators to run maintenance checks and to
update the tower system with more recent modifications (Monitoring, 9).
 FBA (Force Balance Accelerometer) 23
o Measures the acceleration of the ground and operates with a feedback
system (Monitoring, 9).
 STS-1
o An electronic seismometer that can accurately record earthquakes, either
large or small and localized or distant.
 Can also record Earth tides and sonic booms from space shuttles
(Monitoring, 9).
1
Each of these devices are linked solely to a local network from the Central Site Data Acquisition. To
receive more information regarding these devices, visit http://earthquake.usgs.gov.

5. Hott 4
New Sensors Compared to Digital Earthquake Devices
When it comes to the digital sensors and computers used to track earthquakes,
the problem is that their information cannot travel fast enough to warn against an
oncoming quake, making this equipment more ideal for surveying methods than for alert
systems. The new sensors2 far outweigh previous equipment as they can provide faster
streams of condensed data that can be managed and then transmitted back out through
the “Quake Catcher” mobile phone app or computer program to warn against a potential
earthquake in a specific area before the earthquake occurs (Bergeron). This is why
social media and the internet must play a major role for the new remote computer
sensors that are emerging. Without human interaction over the internet, these new
sensors are no more accurate than that of the original equipment used for calculating
earthquake information.
Computers help us to understand more about our world, but without the internet
as a means of basic communication, then occurrences like natural disasters can cause
more trouble and harm to a society. In the case of earthquakes, it would seem that the
best course of studying and surveying of quakes should remain with remote sensors,
while alerting programs would be best suited for sensors capable of communicating with
smaller devices and through social media coverage. With a faster success rate than that
of a sensor buried below the Earth’s surface, these newer sensors will help to play a
major role for new technology to come and may even provide information on
earthquakes in an area several hours before one occurs.
2
The new sensors are mentioned in this research assignment and can be found in the last paragraph
under “Why Social Media?”

6. Hott 5
Works Cited
Bergeron, Louis. “‘Citizen Seismologist’ sought to host tiny earthquake sensors on their
computers.” Stanford News. Stanford University, 07 Jul 2011. Web. 06 Jun 2015.
“Earthquake Monitoring.” USGS: science for a changing world. U.S. Geological Survey,
24 Jul 2012. p.g. 9. Web. 06 Jun 2015.
Koebler, Jason. “The USGS is Tracking Earthquakes with Twitter.” Motherboard. Vice
Media LLC, 12 Jul 2013. Web. 06 Jun 2015.