Performance evaluation of short message service as an alternative approach of seismic data transmission in earthquake early warning System

Abstract

Earthquake effects can be mitigated using an Earthquake Early Warning System (EEWS). In Tanzania EEWS uses QCN network whereby, the ground vibrations recorded by seismic sensors in Tanzania are transmitted through the Internet to the QCN server located at Stanford, California for analysis. This approach introduces significant delays in the warnings due to long separation between the field stations and the server. Further, the Internet in Tanzania is still small resulting in low speed and high cost associated with installation and use of the Internet. This research focused on re-routing seismic data recorded by Tanzania seismic stations to a local central server in Tanzania using SMS platform which is popular and affordable but also reliable. The accelerometers which are low-cost sensors attached to a volunteer computer were used to capture the seismic data: one at UDSM-iLab and the other at Arusha-Kijenge. The performance of the SMS were evaluated based on two performance parameters which are message delivery failure and delay under two conditions which are during busy and less busy hours using three main mobile operators in Tanzania which are Vodacom, Airtel and Tigo. High delivery failures were observed during busy hour times in both transmissions. Consequently, a delay of up to 160 seconds was observed from 06:00 PM - 09:00 PM by almost all the operators. Therefore, SMS can be used to transmit data in EEWS if the operators are to prioritize the SMSs carrying the seismic data in their networks to reduce SMS failure and delay.