Google wants use the popularity of its search engine in the benefit of humanity, and thus announced that it will introduce regional earthquake stats and recommendations.
Seismologists have already used social media to track earthquakes, and Google makes the partnership official by announcing the collaboration with the US Geological Survey.
Following the new partnership, Google will introduce in its search results detailed information on earthquakes. The idea is to help people prepare in the case of a real earthquake. A simple search will provide the latest information on the Earth tremors occurring in the user’s proximity.
The earthquake stats will include the size and the areas that were affected. Google will provide additional tips on how to travel through the zones that were impacted by the disaster. The search will also display a map with the various intensities of the earthquake.
Transforming its search engine into a live encyclopedia, Google will provide information on other earthquakes that occurred in the last months or years, in order for people to make a comparison between an eventual earthquake and the seismologic history of the area.
Searching for “earthquake,” “earthquakes near me” or similar queries after a seismic event will bring up the relevant Knowledge Graph entry. A bright red card shows the magnitude, distance from a major city, and the exact time it occurred.
The new search feature will be a way through which the US Geological Survey will provide valuable public information concerning the movements of the Earth’s tectonic plates, as well as details on how to protect themselves and how to help the ones in need.
Google will also display safety recommendations for earthquakes and aftermaths. Even if there is no way to predict an earthquake, the information could help in case of an aftershock.
The new approach will hopefully help people to be more prepared when faced with earthquakes. Having easy access to detailed information on the seismic activity in the user’s location, together with practical advice on how to act in the event of an earthquake, will probably help people to avoid the panic and act more rational.
