Performance Evaluation of a Dense MEMS-Based Seismic Sensor Array Deployed in the Sichuan-Yunnan Border Region for Earthquake Early Warning

Abstract

With the last decades of development, earthquake early warning (EEW) has proven to be one of the potential means for disaster mitigation. Usually, the density of the EEW network determines the performance of the EEW system. For reducing the cost of sensors and building a dense EEW network, an upgraded low-cost Micro Electro Mechanical System (MEMS)-based sensor named GL-P2B was developed in this research. This device uses a new high-performance CPU board and is built on a custom-tailored Linux 3.6.9 operating system integrating with seismological processing. Approximately 170 GL-P2Bs were installed and tested in the Sichuan-Yunnan border region from January 2017 to December 2018. We evaluated its performance on noise-level, dynamic range (DR), useful resolution (NU), collocated recording comparison, and shake map generation. The results proved that GL-P2B can be classified as a type of Class-B sensor. The records obtained are consistent with the data obtained by the collocated traditional force-balanced accelerometers even for stations with an epicenter distance of more than 150 km, and most of the relative percentage difference of peak ground acceleration (PGA) values is smaller than 10%. In addition, with the current density of the GL-P2B seismic network, near-real-time refined shake maps without using values derived for virtual stations could be directly generated, which will significantly improve the capability for earthquake emergency response. Overall, this MEMS-based sensor can meet the requirements of dense EEW purpose and lower the total investment of the National System for Fast Seismic Intensity Report and Earthquake Early Warning project.

Evaluation of the Grillo sensor, a low-cost accelerometer for IoT-based Real-time seismology

“…The mean RMS values did not change significantly throughout the deployment, demonstrating the performance stability and reliability of the sensor. Following the definitions in Peng et al (2019), we calculate the DR and NU using the mean RMS values and the full-scale seismometer range of ±2 g. For the V and H1 components, the DR averages over 90 dB; for H2, the DR is lower, with the mean value of 87 dB. The DR results in the useful resolution NU of 15 bits for V and H1 and 14.5 bits for H2.…”

“…Their ability to record unsaturated, high-frequency, and especially near-field ground-motions (Evans et al, 2014), make them an economical choice for large-scale or dense seismic networks appropriate for EEW systems. MEMS instruments have been proven to be effective for regional EEW systems (Wu, 2015;Wu et al, 2016;Peng et al, 2019), on-site EEWs (Wu et al, 2013(Wu et al, , 2016, or used to densify existing networks of traditional, force-balance seismometers (Nof et al, 2019). Kong et al (2016) also designed a decentralized EEW based on crowdsourcing acceleration data from smartphone MEMS and demonstrated using MEMS sensors in personal laptops.…”

“…This is a commonly accepted set of standards which classifies strong motion instruments based on their resolution and dynamic range. Other instruments, such as MAMA (Nof et al, 2019), SOSEWIN (Fleming et al, 2009), or GL-5 P2B (Peng et al, 2017(Peng et al, , 2019, have incorporated multiple analog MEMS sensors into a single device. In doing so, these instruments show improved data quality, allowing some of them to be ranked as ANSS Class B; however, the greater complexity of these devices results in increased manufacturing costs.…”

Editorial for the Special Issue of 10th Anniversary of Micromachines

“…A total of 52 papers, including 42 original research articles, 9 review articles, and 1 brief report, are published in this Special Issue. A total of 14 out of the 52 papers in the Special Issue are selected as feature papers [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 ].…”

“…The chip design allowed reagent loading into the array in a single step utilizing capillary filling, eliminating the need for pumps, valves, and liquid handling instruments. Jong Seto developed a cell-free droplet microfluidics-based assay using inert hydrogel beads and applied this method to the detection of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection [ 6 ]. This platform is easily adaptable and simply programmable to fit a variety of biological and chemical sensing applications for ease of delivery and activation in remote environments, even in conditions with very little hydration.…”