{"id":850,"date":"2025-10-28T15:26:19","date_gmt":"2025-10-28T14:26:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/project.revolware.com\/case-studies\/?p=850"},"modified":"2026-01-30T17:15:56","modified_gmt":"2026-01-30T16:15:56","slug":"quake-resq","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/project.revolware.com\/case-studies\/quake-resq\/","title":{"rendered":"Quake resQ &#8211; Low-Cost Earthquake Detection for Everyone"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"999\" height=\"999\" src=\"https:\/\/project.revolware.com\/case-studies\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/10\/image.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-851\" style=\"width:315px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/project.revolware.com\/case-studies\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/10\/image-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/project.revolware.com\/case-studies\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/10\/image-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/project.revolware.com\/case-studies\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/10\/image-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/project.revolware.com\/case-studies\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/10\/image-660x660.png 660w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 999px) 100vw, 999px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Challenge<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Earthquakes can strike without warning &#8211; and while advanced countries like Japan have sophisticated seismic detection systems, their cost and infrastructure make them unattainable for many regions worldwide. Our goal was to create a <strong>low-cost, real-time earthquake detection and prediction system<\/strong> that could help protect communities in countries with weaker internet connectivity and limited resources. Beyond the technical challenge, this was also a <strong>social-entrepreneurship initiative<\/strong> &#8211; a project aimed not at profit, but at developing an accessible technology that could <em>save lives<\/em> and reduce the devastating impact of natural disasters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The project began as a small student startup, combining our strongest skills &#8211; software and embedded systems development, which gradually grew into a complete platform. <strong>Quake resQ was our first-ever project<\/strong>, born as a <strong>small student startup<\/strong> combining our strongest skills &#8211; software and embedded systems development &#8211; which gradually grew into a complete platform. <strong>The core challenge<\/strong>: how to calculate an earthquake\u2019s epicenter using GPS triangulation from both smartphones and fixed sensors, while filtering out noise from everyday movement and vibrations?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Solution<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>We developed <strong>Quake resQ<\/strong>, an intelligent platform that connects smartphones and microcontroller sensor boxes into a distributed seismic monitoring network. Each smartphone and sensor continuously measures ground vibrations through its accelerometer, sending anonymized data to a central server. The system then performs real-time triangulation using GPS coordinates to locate the earthquake\u2019s epicenter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Below is the original competition video we created during the early stages of the project. Although it\u2019s a simple, student-made recording, it represents the very first public presentation of Quake resQ and captures how the idea started taking shape.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"SIA Slovakia 2015 Finalist: Quake resQ\" width=\"750\" height=\"422\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/YEEbECiHFh8?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Noise reduction and firmware design<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>One of the key engineering challenges was teaching devices to distinguish between genuine seismic activity and common background noise &#8211; such as walking, vehicle traffic, or subway vibrations. To address this, we implemented a multi-layer filtering approach: The firmware on microcontrollers used rolling-average smoothing and adaptive thresholding to eliminate high-frequency motion typical for human or environmental noise. Each sensor continuously learned its local vibration baseline, automatically recalibrating to ignore repeated non-seismic patterns (like nearby construction or traffic).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On the server side, incoming signals from multiple nodes were compared in time windows &#8211; only correlated anomalies across several sensors were classified as potential seismic events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Optimization for weak connectivity<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>A second challenge was ensuring reliable real-time data transfer in areas with unstable or low-bandwidth internet. To achieve this, we designed the communication protocol to use compressed data packets and local buffering: Each device temporarily stored readings offline and sent them in batches once a connection was available. Data transmission used lightweight JSON structures with delta encoding to minimize packet size. The backend supported fault-tolerant synchronization, so even intermittent connections wouldn\u2019t break the network chain. This approach allowed the system to remain operational even in remote regions with 2G-level connectivity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Collaboration and recognition<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>We presented the project at the Slovak Academy of Sciences, where it gained attention for its innovative, accessible use of distributed sensors. During development, we also established a partnership with Google, which was independently experimenting with the same detection principle &#8211; proving the global relevance and validity of our approach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Beyond the technical milestones, Quake resQ was also recognized for its <strong>social and entrepreneurial impact<\/strong>. The project became a <strong>finalist and later winner of the Social Impact Award Slovakia 2015<\/strong>, was featured on the <strong>map of European social innovators<\/strong>, and received the <strong>LEAF Award<\/strong> for social innovation. These awards reflected the core mission behind Quake resQ &#8211; to apply innovation not for profit, but for the benefit of society, proving that technology can be a powerful tool for saving lives and empowering communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As part of the Social Impact Award, the project was also officially featured on their platform. You can view the original project listing <a href=\"https:\/\/slovakia.socialimpactaward.net\/project\/quake-resq\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/slovakia.socialimpactaward.net\/project\/quake-resq\/\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/project.revolware.com\/case-studies\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/10\/image-3-1024x1024.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-854\" style=\"width:436px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/project.revolware.com\/case-studies\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/10\/image-3-1024x1024.png 1024w, https:\/\/project.revolware.com\/case-studies\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/10\/image-3-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/project.revolware.com\/case-studies\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/10\/image-3-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/project.revolware.com\/case-studies\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/10\/image-3-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/project.revolware.com\/case-studies\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/10\/image-3-660x660.png 660w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Outcome<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>After more than a year of development, we built a fully working prototype capable of detecting, triangulating, and visualizing seismic activity in real time. Quake resQ showcased how accessible hardware combined with thoughtfully designed software logic can form a resilient early-warning ecosystem. Its architecture demonstrated how distributed intelligence, efficient firmware, and adaptive data analysis can transform ordinary devices into cooperative safety sensors &#8211; bringing earthquake detection within reach of any region, regardless of its resources.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"604\" height=\"977\" src=\"https:\/\/project.revolware.com\/case-studies\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/10\/Q-screen-new.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-891\" style=\"width:394px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/project.revolware.com\/case-studies\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/10\/Q-screen-new-185x300.png 185w, https:\/\/project.revolware.com\/case-studies\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/10\/Q-screen-new-408x660.png 408w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 604px) 100vw, 604px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><em>The interface provides users with real-time earthquake alerts.<br>The upper section displays the estimated magnitude and countdown until the shockwave arrives, while the lower section offers clear safety instructions based on the user\u2019s environment.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Technologies<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Quake resQ was built using a combination of <strong>web<\/strong>, <strong>server<\/strong>, and <strong>embedded technologies<\/strong>. The core platform relied on <strong>HTML<\/strong>, <strong>CSS<\/strong>, <strong>PHP<\/strong>, and <strong>MySQL<\/strong> for data management, visualization, and user interaction, while <strong>JavaScript<\/strong> and <strong>jQuery<\/strong> ensured responsive and dynamic front-end behavior.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The embedded part was developed in <strong>C++<\/strong>, focusing on <strong>microcontroller programming<\/strong> for data collection and pre-processing directly from accelerometers. Integration with the <strong>PayPal API<\/strong> supported online contributions, while methods like <strong>accelerometer data filtering<\/strong>, <strong>GPS triangulation<\/strong>, <strong>signal smoothing<\/strong>, and <strong>low-bandwidth optimization<\/strong> formed the backbone of the system\u2019s analytical logic. Together, these technologies enabled a reliable, efficient, and interconnected earthquake detection network.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\"><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/project.revolware.com\/case-studies\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/10\/loga-1024x683.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-874\" style=\"width:558px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/project.revolware.com\/case-studies\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/10\/loga-1024x683.png 1024w, https:\/\/project.revolware.com\/case-studies\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/10\/loga-300x200.png 300w, https:\/\/project.revolware.com\/case-studies\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/10\/loga-768x512.png 768w, https:\/\/project.revolware.com\/case-studies\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/10\/loga-990x660.png 990w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>From our first project to a full-fledged software house.<\/strong><br>Quake resQ was where it all started &#8211; a small student project proving that even simple ideas can make a real impact.<br>Today, we continue to build purposeful digital solutions with the same focus on innovation, reliability, and quality.<br><a href=\"https:\/\/revolware.com\/#contact\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/revolware.com\/#contact\">Get in touch \u2192<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Challenge Earthquakes can strike without warning &#8211; and while advanced countries like Japan have sophisticated seismic detection systems, their cost and infrastructure make them unattainable for many regions worldwide. Our goal was to create a low-cost, real-time earthquake detection and prediction system that could help protect communities in countries with weaker internet connectivity and limited [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[20,21,22,16],"class_list":["post-850","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-app-development","tag-online-identity","tag-ui-ux","tag-web-development"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/project.revolware.com\/case-studies\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/850","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/project.revolware.com\/case-studies\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/project.revolware.com\/case-studies\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/project.revolware.com\/case-studies\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/project.revolware.com\/case-studies\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=850"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/project.revolware.com\/case-studies\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/850\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":878,"href":"https:\/\/project.revolware.com\/case-studies\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/850\/revisions\/878"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/project.revolware.com\/case-studies\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=850"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/project.revolware.com\/case-studies\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=850"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/project.revolware.com\/case-studies\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=850"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}