Japan 7 days
Seismic Sensing Technology (2011x15)
: 01, 2011
Seismic Sensing Technology Aids Bullet Trains
All 27 scheduled bullet trains running in northeastern Japan on March 11th
reduced their speed at the first sign of tremors, before the main impact of
the earthquake arrived. Some had been running as fast as 300 kilometers per
hour, but they all stopped safely.
Seismic wave sensing technology is what prevented derailments. In 2007, the
technology was employed to provide warnings of impending quakes via
television and other media. It now also is used in sending alerts to
individuals' cell phones. Mexico is the only other country with a similar
system.
In Japan, the warning comes only about 30 seconds in advance, but
30 seconds can make a dramatic difference. We'll meet one of the designers
of the system and discuss how those 30 seconds can be used to make
decisions and save lives.