Predicting earthquakes is difficult, really difficult. Geologists in America have been working on ways to collect data from a wide area to enable predictions and possibly warnings to be made. Small seismometers plugged into internet routers have been used, with some success. The latest developments are to use smart phones to record and report data as they have positional data (from their built-in GPS) and shaking data (from their accelerometer). There are some problems with the system, such as telling the difference between someone bumping into a table and an earthquake and with the sensitiy of the accelerometer. These may create too many problems with false alarms in the US but there is huge potential for trying to make predictions in the developing world where they may lack infrastructure, but the use of mobile phones is very common.
Can you suggest any other ways that you think a smart phone could be used to help to manage the effects of hazards?
BBC News story
Red Cross Earthquake App
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