Vivien He develops $100 earthquake detector for Los Angeles

Vivien He, a 17-year-old student from California, developed a low-cost earthquake detector costing less than $100. The device, which is roughly the size of a Rubik's Cube, was designed, soldered, and programmed by He during a period of lockdown.

The seismograph works by using a geophone to detect ground movement, converting the signal into a digital wave via custom electronics and software. If seismic activity exceeds a set threshold, the device triggers an alarm, sends an SMS, and can be controlled via mobile phone. It is also capable of storing up to four years of data.

Testing showed the device's accuracy, as its readings coincided with those from the United States Geological Survey (USGS) during an earthquake in Los Angeles. Between September 2020 and April 2021, the device successfully detected all earthquakes with a magnitude greater than 3.0 in the Los Angeles area. He presented her invention at a meeting of the Seismological Society of America in 2021.