Google is bringing the Android Earthquake notifications System to India, a free service that provides automatic early warning notifications to Android users before shaking begins in their area. In the following week, all Android 5+ users will have access to the alerts in Indian languages supported by Android.
If you wish to receive earthquake alerts, you must ensure that your device has Wi-Fi and/or cellular data connectivity, Android Earthquake Alerts, and location settings enabled. You can also disable Earthquake Alerts through your device’s preferences.
Google partnered with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and the National Seismology Center (NSC) for this launch.
“We hope to supplement the government’s efforts on earthquake alerts and provide people with the advance notice they need to stay safe. In India, we have been working closely with the NDMA to provide users with helpful safety information about natural disasters such as floods and cyclones on Google Search and Maps. We’re proud to further our association with the NDMA, along with the NSC, to bring the Android Earthquake Alerts system to India,” Micah Berman, Product Manager, Android Safety, wrote in a blog post.
How does the Android Earthquake Alert System operate?
The minuscule accelerometers in an Android device can function as miniature seismometers to indicate the possibility of an earthquake. If multiple smartphones detect earthquake-like shaking at the same moment, Google’s server can use this data to estimate that an earthquake may be occurring, as well as its epicentre, magnitude, and other characteristics.
The server then sends a direct earthquake alert to Android users several seconds prior to the onset of severe trembling.
The Android Earthquake Alerts System is already operational in numerous nations around the globe.
