Development of Low-Cost Seismic Monitoring System for Field Application in Bangladesh (43rd IASPEI Assembly)

Development of Low-Cost Seismic Monitoring System for Field Application in Bangladesh

Tahmeed Malik Al-Hussaini¹, Md Zunaid Baten², Rahat Ibn Nabi¹, Khairul Islam², Promit Ghosh², Tasmin Khan², Anindya Alam², Tanvir Hossain², Saleh Hamza³, A.B.M. Harun-ur Rashid² 

¹Bangladesh University of Engineering & Technology, Civil Engineering Department, Dhaka, Bangladesh
²Bangladesh University of Engineering & Technology, Electrical and Electronic Engineering Department, Dhaka, Bangladesh
³University of Arkansas, Civil Engineering Department, Fayetteville, USA

Abstract

Due to its geographical location close to the plate boundaries of Indian plate colliding with the Eurasian plate to the north and east, Bangladesh is in considerable seismic risk. The seismic zone coefficient (Z) varies from 0.12 to 0.36 as per Bangladesh National Building Code 2020. Under internal research funding at Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), a project is in progress as a joint collaboration between the Civil Engineering Department, and Electrical and Electronic Engineering Department to develop a seismic monitoring system comprising of low-cost accelerometers to be designed and manufactured at BUET using low-cost com-ponents. Key components of the device have been selected from available options of accelerometer sensors and microcontrollers. Next, the device is designed and programmed to work as a self-sufficient unit. Data will be recorded on a local storage, and also uploaded to a cloud system at frequent time intervals so that remote access to the data is possible. The accelerometer is programmed to issue a warning message at a certain threshold value of acceleration. The device will have UPS/Battery to cater for power outages of several hours. The accelerometers will be installed at cities in the north, north-east and south-east of the country, in addition to the capital city of Dhaka which is located in the central region. Hence, the installed accelerometers can be utilized as early warning devices in Dhaka for distant earthquakes. This paper will present key aspects of the prototype low-cost accelerometer devices, in-laboratory device calibration, and recorded seismic data.

Originally published in: Abstract Book of the 4th Joint IAGA–IASPEI Scientific Assembly (2025)