Coordinated Network of Sensors Over 5G for High-Resolution Protection of City Assets During Earthquakes

This paper introduces a novel concept in earthquake early warning for the smart city (EEW-SC) environment based on a finely spaced network of seismic sensors with a wireless backbone 5G network. The sensors are spaced 50–100 m apart to predict the damage from one structure to another depending on the resonances of the structure and the shape of the seismic waves striking the structure a few seconds before an earthquake arrives. The capability of performing predictive real-time performance-based damage assessment (PBDA) is unique and not possible with existing sensor technologies. Depending on the expected severity of the damage, automated actions, such as disconnecting electricity and gas, can be triggered to protect the asset and prevent fires and explosions.