Nov 30 2010
The United States agency undertaking earthquake monitoring across the country is seeking 35 volunteers in Southern California for installing earthquake sensor in their home.
The size of the sensing device is nearly about that of a big shoebox, and is capable of logging intense terrain movements, and transmits the data to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) through the Internet. The information gathered is accessible to guide quick response sensing an earthquake.
The present ground motion sensors network in California is broadly expanded in numerous zones for precisely mapping ground vibrations. For addressing this issue, the USGS has implemented the NetQuakes Project, by which they can acquire condensed earthquake sensing devices and permanently integrate them in various areas allotted by the citizen volunteers across Southern California. Such programs have already been functional in the Pacific Northwest and San Francisco Bay Area.
In order to host a NetQuakes sensor, the volunteers should possess calm, out of the-way zone in a building like a garage. The building should have a concrete slab fixed to the ground, for installing the devise. An electrical outlet should be provided close by, and should have constant access to the Internet.
The initial phase of this Southern California scheme will be using 35 sensors, and much more may be acquired in the coming years on gaining additional financial support. A part of this Netquakes project is financially aided by the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act.
Source: http://www.usgs.gov