Echotech of Glendale, California has invented an earthquake early warning
system (W0 98/18024 and 18025). The inventors’ theorise that the movement of the
Earth’s crust makes piezoelectric quartz crystals in sub-surface rocks generate
electricity, which flows through any groundwater.
Echotech sensors, buried in the soil over a large area could spot changes in
the electrical field gradient in ground water to a depth of around 1 metre. A
transmitter, powered by a solar panel and rechargeable battery, sends this data
back to a central tracking station. Any pattern of change preceding an
earthquake will be logged and give early warning of other earthquakes.
