MyShake

MyShake Turns Your Smartphone into a Seismic Sensor Network

While commercial seismic monitoring services exist, most rely on expensive, stationary equipment maintained by government agencies or research institutions. MyShake, developed by the UC Berkeley Seismological Laboratory, takes a fundamentally different approach: it leverages the collective power of consumer smartphones to detect and analyze earthquake activity in real time. This crowdsourced model transforms thousands of ordinary devices into a distributed, low-cost seismic network that can cover areas traditional sensors might miss.

How Crowdsourced Seismic Detection Works

The core mechanics are straightforward. MyShake uses your device's built-in accelerometer and gyroscope to continuously measure motion. When the app detects vibrations that exceed a certain threshold, it records the data and timestamps it. The critical innovation lies in the aggregation step: the app doesn't rely on a single phone's reading. Instead, it compares data from all devices within a defined geographic area. Only when a statistically significant number of phones report similar vibration patterns does the system classify the event as a genuine earthquake. This filtering mechanism eliminates false positives from everyday jostling—like dropping your phone or walking.

Dual Utility: Personal Awareness and Scientific Contribution

The app serves two distinct, complementary purposes. On the personal side, it provides you with real-time alerts and historical data on seismic activity in your region. You can monitor recent earthquakes, view magnitude estimates, and check maps of affected areas. On the scientific side, your phone becomes a data collection node. The aggregated measurements help researchers calculate earthquake magnitude along the Richter scale more accurately and rapidly than relying on a sparse network of professional seismometers alone. This dual function means you're not just a passive recipient of alerts—you're an active participant in improving earthquake detection science.

Key Features and Capabilities

• Real-time earthquake detection using your phone's accelerometer and gyroscope for vibration measurement
• Crowdsourced data validation by comparing readings from multiple devices in the same area to confirm seismic events
• No advertisements or premium upsells—the app is fully functional without disruptive monetization
• Public seismic activity map showing recent earthquakes, magnitudes, and affected regions for situational awareness
• Scientific contribution mode that anonymously shares sensor data to improve earthquake magnitude estimation

Download MyShake Mobile App Now

Exclusive access for first users: be among the first to turn your phone into a seismic sensor. Limited offer—install today and help build the world's largest crowdsourced earthquake detection network. This early access window won't last forever.

Heads up: you'll need an active internet connection for data uploads and to receive real-time alerts. Some advanced visualization tools and historical data exports may require additional permissions. The app collects anonymized motion data for research purposes only.