Ridgecrest Quake and USGS Shake Alert
SCM ALERT🚨, Sat Jul 06 2019, 09:21PM
I have been testing the USGS Shake Alert system for several months now (in Big Bear City). Its a great application that runs on any PC. Some limitations I ran into were: 1) I couldn't get the PC speakers loud enough to make sure I heard the alert. 2) You have to be home in order to get the alert, no mobile notifications. 3) Would be nice to trigger other devices such as lights, sirens, etc to help you during and after any earthquake.
I decided to see what I could do to overcome these limitations so I started writing my own software that extends the functionality of the USGS Shake Alert System. After several hours of coding I was able to integrate Shake Alert into 1) Text Messaging for mobile devices, 2) The Alexa and Google Assistants, 3) SmartThings Controlled Devices. The end result is now when an alert is triggered, I get notified in many ways (text message, phone call, siren, digital assistants) and important lights in the house automatically turn on using SmartThings.
The Ridgecrest Earthquake that took place Friday, July 5th was the first time I have been able to really test this system. It worked very well. I got the text message about 20 seconds before the quake hit Big Bear City and would have gotten even a longer warning if I had been home.
Here is a video of how the system worked from my home in Big Bear City during the Ridgecrest Earthquake (via Security Camera footage).
Thanks and be safe!
-Craig
Re: Ridgecrest Quake and USGS Shake Alert
©ammy, Sat Jul 06 2019, 09:52PM
Craig - You're a rockstar of software coding!
Re: Ridgecrest Quake and USGS Shake Alert
Deb Doodah, Sat Jul 06 2019, 10:14PM
Wow! Very impressive!
Re: Ridgecrest Quake and USGS Shake Alert
TonkaTruk, Sun Jul 07 2019, 02:26PM
Awesome Craig!
Re: Ridgecrest Quake and USGS Shake Alert
Airport Razz, Sun Jul 07 2019, 04:05PM
Used to call this place home. One of the kids I grew up with sent this to me.
Re: Ridgecrest Quake and USGS Shake Alert
BusterBrown, Mon Jul 08 2019, 09:11AM
Super impressive Craig!!
Re: Ridgecrest Quake and USGS Shake Alert
Airport Razz, Mon Jul 08 2019, 11:16AM
Way ahead of where we were with this tech 10 years ago. If you were paying attention and didn't 'panic' wondering what it was you were hearing, that would have been enough time to get yourself into a secure place to ride it out. Pretty Awesome.
Re: Ridgecrest Quake and USGS Shake Alert
Craig ⭐, Wed Jul 10 2019, 09:18PM
Thanks Guys. I wasn't in Big Bear during the quakes so I am glad I had the ability to playback from a security cam. In reality this is the first "real" test of the system so I was happy it worked (but sad for all of those impacted by these events).
SCM ALERT🚨, Sat Jul 06 2019, 09:21PM
I have been testing the USGS Shake Alert system for several months now (in Big Bear City). Its a great application that runs on any PC. Some limitations I ran into were: 1) I couldn't get the PC speakers loud enough to make sure I heard the alert. 2) You have to be home in order to get the alert, no mobile notifications. 3) Would be nice to trigger other devices such as lights, sirens, etc to help you during and after any earthquake.
I decided to see what I could do to overcome these limitations so I started writing my own software that extends the functionality of the USGS Shake Alert System. After several hours of coding I was able to integrate Shake Alert into 1) Text Messaging for mobile devices, 2) The Alexa and Google Assistants, 3) SmartThings Controlled Devices. The end result is now when an alert is triggered, I get notified in many ways (text message, phone call, siren, digital assistants) and important lights in the house automatically turn on using SmartThings.
The Ridgecrest Earthquake that took place Friday, July 5th was the first time I have been able to really test this system. It worked very well. I got the text message about 20 seconds before the quake hit Big Bear City and would have gotten even a longer warning if I had been home.
Here is a video of how the system worked from my home in Big Bear City during the Ridgecrest Earthquake (via Security Camera footage).
Thanks and be safe!
-Craig
Re: Ridgecrest Quake and USGS Shake Alert
©ammy, Sat Jul 06 2019, 09:52PM
Craig - You're a rockstar of software coding!
Re: Ridgecrest Quake and USGS Shake Alert
Deb Doodah, Sat Jul 06 2019, 10:14PM
Wow! Very impressive!
Re: Ridgecrest Quake and USGS Shake Alert
TonkaTruk, Sun Jul 07 2019, 02:26PM
Awesome Craig!
Re: Ridgecrest Quake and USGS Shake Alert
Airport Razz, Sun Jul 07 2019, 04:05PM
Used to call this place home. One of the kids I grew up with sent this to me.
Re: Ridgecrest Quake and USGS Shake Alert
BusterBrown, Mon Jul 08 2019, 09:11AM
Super impressive Craig!!
Re: Ridgecrest Quake and USGS Shake Alert
Airport Razz, Mon Jul 08 2019, 11:16AM
Way ahead of where we were with this tech 10 years ago. If you were paying attention and didn't 'panic' wondering what it was you were hearing, that would have been enough time to get yourself into a secure place to ride it out. Pretty Awesome.
Re: Ridgecrest Quake and USGS Shake Alert
Craig ⭐, Wed Jul 10 2019, 09:18PM
Thanks Guys. I wasn't in Big Bear during the quakes so I am glad I had the ability to playback from a security cam. In reality this is the first "real" test of the system so I was happy it worked (but sad for all of those impacted by these events).
