Seismic Event Responsive Alert and Utilities Control System and Methodology

Abstract

A system adapted to provide alert signals to individuals or institutions and/or control signals to utilities control units to automatically stop the flow of gas, water, electricity, oil, etc., such signals being delivered in response to the detection of seismic events, the detection occurring via ground-based monitoring systems and/or satellite-based monitoring systems. The alert and/or control signals are distributed through various broadcasting systems or similar channels of communication, such as radio frequency transmitters, Internet service providers, cell phone wireless carriers, satellite phone service providers and/or security monitoring service providers, to individuals and/or facilities through smartphones, landline telephones, tablets, PC's, voice-controlled web communication devices or the like and/or to signal receivers on utilities control units.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A seismic event responsive alert and utilities control system comprising:
 a ground-based physical seismic event monitoring system adapted to detect physical seismic effects produced by a seismic event;   a satellite-based atmospheric seismic event monitoring system adapted to detect atmospheric seismic effects produced by a seismic event;   a data analysis processor system adapted to interpret information received from either or both of said ground-based physical seismic event monitoring system and said satellite-based atmospheric seismic event monitoring system, determine the likelihood of potential surface damage resulting from said seismic event, determine the likely region to be adversely affected by the seismic event, and initiate an immediate alert protocol whereby alert and utilities control signals are distributed to one or more broadcasting systems;   one or more broadcasting systems adapted to deliver said alert and utilities control signals to signal receivers;   signal receivers to receive said alert and utilities control signals, said signal receivers comprising utilities control units adapted to control utilities control mechanisms; and   utilities control mechanisms adapted to stop the flow of utilities;   whereby upon detection of a seismic effect created by a seismic event by at least one of said ground-based physical seismic event monitoring system and said satellite-based atmospheric seismic event monitoring system, alert and utilities control signals are initiated and delivered through said one or more broadcasting systems to said signal receivers such that the flow of utilities is stopped by said utilities control mechanisms.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said physical seismic effects comprise geological, surface and near-surface effects produced by the seismic event. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said atmospheric seismic effects comprise high atmospheric LAI effects which are not detectable by said ground-based physical seismic event monitoring system. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein said LAI effects comprise electromagnetic radiation disrupting or altering electromagnetic fields, ionosphere plasma and high-energy particles. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein said atmospheric seismic effects comprise high atmospheric LAI effects which are not detectable by said ground-based physical seismic event monitoring system. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein said LAI effects comprise electromagnetic radiation disrupting or altering electromagnetic fields, ionosphere plasma and high-energy particles. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said one or more broadcasting systems comprise one or more of the group of broadcasting systems consisting of Internet service providers, cell phone wireless carriers, satellite phone service providers, commercial or residential monitoring service providers, radio frequency transmitters or stations, and public service warning systems. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said signals receivers further comprise one or more of the group of signal receivers consisting of smartphones, tablets, PC's, landline telephones, satellite telephones and voice-controlled web communication devices. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein said signals receivers further comprise one or more of the group of signal receivers consisting of smartphones, tablets, PC's, landline telephones, satellite telephones and voice-controlled web communication devices. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said utilities control mechanisms stop the flow of one or more utilities chosen from the group of utilities consisting of gas, water, electricity and oil. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said utilities control mechanisms or said utilities control units comprise detection systems and transmission systems, said detection systems being adapted to detect dangerous conditions after said seismic event has concluded, and said transmission systems being adapted to transmit a warning signal upon the detection of a dangerous condition. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein said transmission systems transmit said warning signal to one or more of the entities chosen from the group of entities consisting of utility companies, security monitoring service providers, and facilities control. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein said utilities control mechanisms or said utilities control units comprise detection systems and transmission systems, said detection systems being adapted to detect dangerous conditions after said seismic event has concluded, and said transmission systems being adapted to transmit a warning signal upon the detection of a dangerous condition. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein said utilities control mechanisms or said utilities control units comprise detection systems and transmission systems, said detection systems being adapted to detect dangerous conditions after said seismic event has concluded, and said transmission systems being adapted to transmit a warning signal upon the detection of a dangerous condition. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein said utilities control mechanisms or said utilities control units comprise detection systems and transmission systems, said detection systems being adapted to detect dangerous conditions after said seismic event has concluded, and said transmission systems being adapted to transmit a warning signal upon the detection of a dangerous condition. 
     
     
         16 . A seismic event responsive alert and utilities control system comprising:
 a ground-based physical seismic event monitoring system adapted to detect physical seismic effects produced by a seismic event, wherein said physical seismic effects comprise geological, surface and near-surface effects produced by the seismic event;   a satellite-based atmospheric seismic event monitoring system adapted to detect atmospheric seismic effects produced by a seismic event, wherein said atmospheric seismic effects comprise high atmospheric LAI effects which are not detectable by said ground-based physical seismic event monitoring system;   a data analysis processor system adapted to interpret information received from either or both of said ground-based physical seismic event monitoring system and said satellite-based atmospheric seismic event monitoring system, determine the likelihood of potential surface damage resulting from said seismic event, determine the likely region to be adversely affected by the seismic event, and initiate an immediate alert protocol whereby alert and utilities control signals are distributed to one or more broadcasting systems;   one or more broadcasting systems adapted to deliver said alert and utilities control signals to signal receivers, wherein said one or more broadcasting systems comprise one or more of the group of broadcasting systems consisting of Internet service providers, cell phone wireless carriers, satellite phone service providers, commercial or residential monitoring service providers, radio frequency transmitters or stations, and public service warning systems;   signal receivers to receive said alert and utilities control signals, said signal receivers comprising utilities control units adapted to control utilities control mechanisms, wherein said signals receivers further comprise one or more of the group of signal receivers consisting of smartphones, tablets, PC's, landline telephones, satellite telephones and voice-controlled web communication devices; and   utilities control mechanisms adapted to stop the flow of utilities, wherein said utilities control mechanisms stop the flow of one or more utilities chosen from the group of utilities consisting of gas, water, electricity and oil;   whereby upon detection of a seismic effect created by a seismic event by at least one of said ground-based physical seismic event monitoring system and said satellite-based atmospheric seismic event monitoring system, alert and utilities control signals are initiated and delivered through said one or more broadcasting systems to said signal receivers such that the flow of utilities is stopped by said utilities control mechanisms.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein said utilities control mechanisms or said utilities control units comprise detection systems and transmission systems, said detection systems being adapted to detect dangerous conditions after said seismic event has concluded, and said transmission systems being adapted to transmit a warning signal upon the detection of a dangerous condition. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein said transmission systems transmit said warning signal to one or more of the entities chosen from the group of entities consisting of utility companies, security monitoring service providers, and facilities control.