LOW-COST EARTHQUAKE DETECTOR

The project was designed and developed by Manasvi Raj, Anshul, Aditya Kargeti, Sachin Kumar Sankhla, and Akshaj Halder, students of Electronics and Communication Engineering with Internet of Things at Netaji Subhas University of Technology, New Delhi.

This report presents an earthquake detection system using ultrasonic sensors to measure ethanol level changes in a container.[1] Based on the principle that ethanol surface oscillations can indicate seismic activity, our system detects earthquakes by monitoring ethanol level fluctuations. Experimental results demonstrate high detection accuracy, consistent with the findings of G. N. Kopylova and S. V. Boldina on the interaction between seismic waves and water reservoirs, showcasing the potential of this approach for early earthquake warning systems.[2]

Earthquakes pose a significant threat to communities worldwide and on time detection is crucial for minimising damage and loss of life.[3] The sudden and unpredictable nature of earthquakes makes on time detection and warning crucial for minimising their impact. Traditional detection methods rely on seismic waves. It was pointed out that an earthquake is a process of accumulation of stress on seismogenic faults.[4] Building on this understanding, researchers have explored alternative approaches including water-based detection methods.[2] Manpreet Kaur demonstrated the use of ultrasonic sensors for distance measurement which inspired our approach to use these sensors for water level measurement (ISSN: 2321-0613) [5]. Nai-Chi Hsiao, Yih-Min Wu, Li Zhao, Tzay-Chyn Shin and Ta-Liang Teng developed an earthquake early warning system in Taiwan that utilised real-time data from seismic stations to detect the onset of seismic activity and provide warning before the arrival of strong shaking.[4] Similarly, our system utilises a container filled with ethanol, ultrasonic sensors to measure ethanol level changes and a data acquisition system to analyse the data. By detecting changes in ethanol level, our system can provide early warning of earthquakes, potentially saving lives and reducing damage to infrastructure. By leveraging the interaction between seismic waves and ethanol reservoirs, we aim to develop a reliable and cost-effective detection system that can save lives and reduce damage to infrastructure. Also, we might use a vibration sensor instead of an ultrasonic sensor but that vibration sensor only detects high vibration and maybe sometimes smaller earthquakes will be ignored by device and hence causing serious threat to life. This on time detection for earthquakes is necessary as if we get delayed information from sources like news etc then maybe the destruction is already huge. Hence early and on time both detection is necessary.

Downloads

Earthquake working.mp4

Supplies

COMPONENTS

Arduino Uno and its cable: It is a microcontroller board based on the ATmega328P.
Ultrasonic sensor HC SR-04: It detects objects and liquids with the aid of ultrasonic waves and calculates the distance to the object according to the principle of travel time measurement.
Buzzer
Jumper Wires
Container and ethanol

REFERENCES

[1] M. K. Saini, N. Garg, A. K. Singh, A. K. Tyagi, U. K. Niyogi, and R. K. Khandal, “Ethanol Blended Fuel in India: An Overview,” Journal of Biofuels, vol. 1, no. 2, p. 209, 2010, doi: 10.5958/j.0976-3015.1.2.026.

[2] G. N. Kopylova and S. V. Boldina, “Effects of Seismic Waves in Water Level Changes in a Well: Empirical Data and Models,” Izvestiya, Physics of the Solid Earth, vol. 56, no. 4, pp. 530–549, Jul. 2020, doi: 10.1134/S1069351320030039.

[3] R. Bilham, “Earthquakes in India and the Himalaya: tectonics, geodesy and history,” Annals of Geophysics, vol. 47, no. 2–3, Dec. 2009, doi: 10.4401/ag-3338.

[4] N. Hsiao, Y. Wu, T. Shin, L. Zhao, and T. Teng, “Development of earthquake early warning system in Taiwan,” Geophys Res Lett, vol. 36, no. 5, Mar. 2009, doi: 10.1029/2008GL036596.

[5] L. Louis, “Working Principle of Arduino and Using it as a Tool for Study and Research,” International Journal of Control, Automation, Communication and Systems, vol. 1, no. 2, pp. 21–29, Apr. 2016, doi: 10.5121/ijcacs.2016.1203.

Collect all the components together and do the connections as stated below:

Connect ultrasonic sensor to Arduino: Echo pin to digital pin 3. Trigger pin to digital pin 2.
Connect buzzer to digital pin 10.

Write the following code in Arduino IDE software select the board as Arduino UNO and port according to your computer/Laptop/Device. Connect your Arduino Board with your device and then verify code and upload it.

The code is given below you can copy this additionally an INO file is also attached with same code.

#define echoPin 3 // attach pin D3 Arduino to pin Echo of HC-SR04

#define trigPin 2 // attach pin D2 Arduino to pin Trig of HC-SR04

long duration; // Variable to store time taken to the pulse to reach receiver

int distance; // Variable to store distance calculated using formula

void setup()

{

pinMode(trigPin,OUTPUT); // Sets the trigPin as an OUTPUT

pinMode(echoPin, INPUT);// Sets the echoPin as an INPUT

pinMode(10,OUTPUT);

// Serial Communication is starting with 9600 of

// baud rate speed

Serial.begin(9600);

// The text to be printed in serial monitor

Serial.println("Distance measurement using Arduino Uno.");

delay(500);

}

void loop()

{

int arr1[25]={0};

int arr2[25]={0};

for(int i=0;i<25;i++){

digitalWrite(trigPin, LOW);

delayMicroseconds(500); // wait for 2 ms to avoid collision in serial monitor

digitalWrite(trigPin,HIGH); // turn on the Trigger to generate pulse

delayMicroseconds(500); // keep the trigger "ON" for 10 ms to generate pulse for 10 ms.

digitalWrite(trigPin,LOW); // Turn off the pulse trigger to stop pulse generation

// If pulse reached the receiver echoPin become high Then pulseIn() returns the time taken by the pulse to reach the receiver

duration = pulseIn(echoPin, HIGH);

distance = duration * 0.0344 / 0.002; // Expression to calculate distance using time

Serial.print("Distance: ");

Serial.print(distance); // Print the output in serial monitor

Serial.println("micro metre");

delay(400);

arr1[i]=distance;

if(i==0){

continue;

}

arr2[i]=arr1[i]-arr1[i-1];

Serial.println("earthquake lvl ");

Serial.println(abs(arr2[i]));

if(abs(arr2[i])<=103){

// error=false;

Serial.println("No Earthquake");

}

else {

Serial.println("Earthquake");

digitalWrite(11,HIGH);

delay(500);

digitalWrite(11,LOW);

}

}}

Downloads

EARTHQUAKE.ino

Do the setup with a small container filled with water/alcohol for demonstration/ testing purpose and you are done with this project. Link for the complete explanation for the project is attached: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtpPPf-LPWY

The details are given below for a better understanding of project working.

WORKING MECHANISM

Detection of earthquakes depends on the measurement of changes in the ethanol level which is produced due to the seismic waves generated by an earthquake.

Here we have used the ultrasonic sensor which can provide an accurate, reliable and cost-effective way to measure the distance between two objects. The mechanism at which this sensor will work is ultrasonic waves which will convert the reflective sound into electrical signals.

We have used ethanol as the medium because it is more responsive to seismic waves than water and we can prevent the contamination of ethanol as well in comparison to water. By using insulated glass, we can protect it from evaporation. To get more precise results here we have used the 99.99% pure ethanol.

Insulated glass is a special type of glass which is made by attaching two glass plates in parallel and the space between them is filled with inert gases. These gases will prevent the exchange of heat between the system and surroundings which will prevent the contamination of ethanol and prevent any impurity getting inside the container.

After connecting all the components of the circuit, we can start measuring the distance between two objects. Here we have taken ethanol in the container and at top of it we have placed the sensor. The distance between the sensor and ethanol level will be measured using the formula

Distance = 0.0344 / 2

To make the reading more precise we have replaced the 2 with 0.002. Now the formula will become

Distance = 0.0344 / 0.002

After taking 5 or more reading at 1ms delay the system will check the three conditions.

1. No Earthquake – when the distance between the ethanol level and sensor is constant throughout the entire time then the system will determine there is no earthquake and the buzzer connected to the circuit will not beep.

2. Earthquake – during the sudden change in the ethanol level the system will start taking the reading of the distance between the ethanol level and the sensor after taking 5 or more readings at a delay of 1ms. If the distance between the objects is less than 1030 micrometre then the system will determine that the earthquake is low and the buzzer will beep in a continuous manner.

ADVANTAGES:

1. This setup can be used anywhere and can be calibrated according to its use in different areas.

2. This setup has low power consumption. (5V DC)

3. This product is extremely useful in earthquake prone areas.

LIMITATIONS:

1. Ethanol used is volatile and inflammable in nature and hence care should be taken while using it. This can be resolved by the special container using insulated glass.

2. Other liquids such as water may cause harm to the electronic system. Hence, by using ethanol such damage can be prevented.