Low-Cost Seismic Instruments: A Review of the Current State and Prospects
V.V. Pupatenko1,2
1Institute of Tectonics and Geophysics, Far Eastern Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Khabarovsk, Russia
2 Pacific National University, Khabarovsk, Russia
Keywords: Low-cost seismic instrument, MEMS accelerometer, low-frequency geophone, passive seismic tomography, earthquake early warning systems, dense seismic networks.
Abstract
This article provides a review of the current state and prospects of low-cost seismic instruments. These devices enable the solution of a wide range of scientific and applied tasks, while their cost is one or two orders of magnitude lower than that of professional counterparts. The principal types of sensors are examined, including low-frequency geophones and MEMS accelerometers, with a focus on their design features, sensitivity range, and intrinsic noise levels. The typical architecture of recording equipment is described. Examples of the most common low-cost seismic instruments, such as the Raspberry Shake series and the P-Alert system, are provided, along with their technical specifications and application domains. Key application areas are analyzed, including earthquake early warning systems, volcano monitoring, passive seismic tomography using ambient noise records, experiments to measure the full wavefield from weak earthquakes, as well as educational and citizen science projects. The strengths and weaknesses of low-cost instruments are identified, encompassing limitations in recording weak signals and advantages related to network density. Promising future directions are outlined, such as improving measurement accuracy and employing machine learning methods for processing large volumes of data. It is concluded that, when intelligently combined with modern processing algorithms and dense network infrastructure, low-cost seismic instruments are capable of making a significant contribution to earthquake seismology, volcanology, and educational programs.
|
