This AI Algorithm Could Save Lives in Seismic Zones

earthquakes Powerful hurricanes in urban areas can cause shocking destruction, resulting in loss of life and destruction of buildings. In fact, more than 60,000 people have already died as a result of such events this year alone.

Ever since scientists discovered the causes of these terrible disasters, they have also tried to predict them in an attempt to save lives and reduce damage. But the way tectonic plates behave as pressure increases between them makes the task of predicting earthquakes incredibly difficult.

However, researchers at the University of Texas (UT) recently reported an exciting breakthrough that uses an algorithm created by artificial intelligence to predict the time, location and intensity of an earthquake.

In tests conducted in China over seven months, the algorithm accurately predicted 70% of earthquakes a full week before they occurred.

According to a report on the university’s website, he predicted 14 earthquakes within a 200-mile radius of the supposed epicenter, and also made very accurate predictions of their intensity. He did not warn of a single earthquake and made eight false predictions.

The report explains that the research team trained AI to detect statistical spikes in real-time seismic data, which the research team correlated with previous earthquakes. Once trained, the AI ​​monitored signs of approaching earthquakes.

“Earthquake forecasting is the Holy Grail,” said Sergei Fomel, a professor in the UT Department of Economic Geology and a member of the research team, adding: “What we have achieved tells us that what we thought was an intractable problem is, in principle, solvable.” . “.

By deploying the artificial intelligence system in places with effective seismic monitoring networks, such as California, Italy, Japan, Greece, Turkey and Texas, the researchers said, it could be trained to improve its success rate and potentially improve its accuracy to just tens of miles. .

Alexandros Savvaidis, a senior scientist who runs the Texas Seismological Network program, the state’s seismic network, said, “You don’t see earthquakes coming. It’s a matter of milliseconds, and the only thing you can control is how prepared you are. “Even at 70%, this is an excellent result that can help minimize economic and human losses, and has the potential to significantly improve earthquake preparedness around the world.”