Now, You Can Ask Your Builder For An Earthquake Warning System

Being a developing nation, we observe realty development in clusters – where residential, commercial and industrial spaces get their exclusive land parcels for construction. The sector witnessed a lot of private participation that allows the country to meet the much-needed supply of housing, office and retail spaces. The pace at which building structures are evolving makes us concerned about the importance of having a system that can keep us safe and alarmed in case of a natural calamity.

Now, calamities can be classified in two ways – where earthquakes, tsunamis, cyclones arise from natural causes and won't knock at your doors before coming, on the other hand, floods, landslides may or may not be due to natural reasons. Having improper drainage systems and irresponsible ways of construction on hilltops can cause floods and landslides, where nature cannot be regarded as a reason. Tsunamis and cyclones give us some time at least to prepare and evacuate, but, earthquakes do not give us time to even respond.

“In the last two decades, about a million people have died due to earthquakes and the loss to an asset is simply untold. Developers in India, especially in NCR regions are working diligently towards providing earthquake resistance by developing RCC framed structures and even increasing the depth of excavation to provide more strength to the towers. It is true, though, that in case of a mega quake, our cities require a system that allows some time for people to evacuate the buildings before the quake takes full shape”, believes Vikas Bhasin, MD, Saya Group.

Real estate developers are working hard with contemporary technologies towards giving structural stability for the end users. But all the efforts can go in vain, if the construction of a building is right above the seismic zones 4 and 5, where earthquake can hit at magnitudes of over 7 and 8. Indian developers have access to RCC framed structures and ball bearings installed under the base of structures that allow the buildings to become somewhat resistant.

“Modern day construction techniques can allow the structures to become resistant to some extent only. It does not mean that the structure won't shake during an earthquake or there won't be any damage to the property. It simply means that structures will hold the ground but doesn't guarantee safety of life or property. Indian structures located especially under seismic zones 4 and 5 require systems that can alarm the residents in case of an earthquake”, shares Bijender Goel, MD, Terra Techcom Pvt Ltd.

Types of earthquake waves

Earthquake emits two sets of waves, first primary waves (P) which are harmless, followed by damaging waves 'secondary waves (S)' and 'surface waves (R)'. By detecting these primary (P) waves, we can warn the people that 'an earthquake is on its way'.

An issue that needs immediate attention

To support this system and alarm people before the secondary waves, Terra Techcom Pvt. Ltd. in collaboration with a German based company, Secty Electronics GmBH, brings 'On-site early earthquake warning and security system (On site EWS)'. “In India, before On site EWS, we had the regional earthquake warning system (REWS) which had been installed at Uttrakhand and was put under a series of tests. This product had been giving false alarms and thus, lost its credibility and effectiveness. Whereas, the On site EWS has been tested and approved by Chennai-based Structural Engineering Research Centre (CSIR-SERC), a pioneer advanced seismic testing and research laboratory under the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR); that has allowed us to install the On site EWS device at HIPA office in Gurgaon and New Secretariat Building Haryana in Chandigarh”, adds Goel.

How the 'On site EWS' will function

On site EWS – senses the primary waves of an earthquake and its eight threshold values are programmed in such a manner that it calculates the intensity of 5 at the threshold value 01 and triggers alarm at the intensity of 6 (threshold value 02). Threshold values 03, 04, 05, 06 and 07 are programmed in such a manner to shut the running applications, like parking of elevators to nearest floors, shutting off gas/power/water supply, and open/exit gates. Threshold value 08 tells that earthquake is in the building. Thus, it is very useful for residential complexes, multi-story buildings, IT sectors, educational institutions, shopping malls, industries, hotels, cinemas halls, bridges/flyovers, tunnels, metro/railways/airports, nuclear/power stations, oil refineries and almost everywhere.

“This product at present is the ideal precautionary measure against earthquakes, where people can get some time to react to the situation and evacuate the premises. The On-site EWS will allow countless lives to get saved and in some cases, even assets if it is embraced”, claims Rakesh Yadav, Chairman, Antriksh India.

Almost entire NCR and northern parts of India are a part of seismic zones 4 and 5. Every year we witness several earthquakes with varied magnitudes whose epicenters are usually in Nepal or Afghanistan. “In case of a calamity like an earthquake, every second counts. In a country like India where real estate sector is on a boom and developing lakhs of units every year, imagine the number of people who will be living in the coming years. Multiple research and reports suggest that there is a big earthquake due, which will hit India anywhere, and it is like a time bomb ticking. In such a scenario, On-site EWS is the only technology available to mankind today, which can help reduce the loss of life in future”,  explains Goel.

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