MyShake App

From Business Insider:

"But a new smartphone app is being developed at the University of California that could revolutionise the way people respond to earthquakes and save lives, the Cal Alumni Association reports. 

The MyShake app is the work of Richard Allen, director of the Berkeley Seismological Laboratory, which focuses on sensors and communication devices for train operators, nuclear power plants, and other crucial sectors.

The technology was unveiled at the World Science Forum in 2013. In particular, the team behind the project notes how it could benefit those in countries that can't afford earthquake detection systems as well as those living in risky areas like California who simply want to be better equipped. 

The app works using something called the accelerometer, says SciDev, which is a sensor that measures the speed of smartphone movement, alongside GPS to identify tremors."