Earthquake Early Warning System Crucial for Protecting Industries and Critical Infrastructure
The Earthquake Early Warning System (EEWS) does not only serve to alert the public but also plays a crucial role in protecting industries and critical infrastructure from earthquake impacts.
Mizan Bisri, a researcher at the Asian Disaster Reduction Center (ADRC), explained that Japan has widely utilised EEWS across sectors including transportation, semiconductor industry, shopping centres, and energy companies. The system operates by using the time gap between the initial seismic waves and the stronger main waves.
“Its purpose is not only to save lives but also to protect assets and ensure business continuity,” Mizan said on Monday, 1 June.
According to him, Indonesia’s development of an earthquake early warning system is part of the Indonesia-Japan research collaboration under the SATREPS 2025-2029 programme.
The programme aims to establish an earthquake early warning and integrated response system in West Java as an initial step towards a national system.
Mizan noted that in Japan, there is a cooperation mechanism between government agencies, service providers, and private companies in operating the system.
Earthquake data obtained from the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) is relayed through intermediary companies before being tailored to each user’s requirements.
“Each company has different protection needs, so the system must be customised according to the type of business and assets to be safeguarded,” he said.
One successful application of EEWS is in the Shinkansen high-speed rail service. When sensors detect an earthquake, the system automatically cuts power and activates emergency brakes before strong shaking occurs.
According to Mizan, this mechanism has proven effective in reducing accident and damage risks during major earthquakes. Although train services were temporarily halted for inspections, the system kept trains on track and prevented more severe damage.
Beyond transportation, the semiconductor industry is another major EEWS user. The industry is highly sensitive to vibrations due to its precision-dependent manufacturing processes.
Mizan explained that earthquake vibrations can damage high-value semiconductor products within seconds. Consequently, many Japanese companies integrate earthquake early warning systems with production machinery to automatically halt operations upon detection.
Some companies even combine regional government warning systems with their own local sensors. This approach is deemed to enhance accuracy while reducing false alarm risks.
“Most large Japanese industries use a combination of regional systems and their own local sensors,” he said.
However, Mizan stressed that earthquake early warning systems are not the sole solution for disaster mitigation. The technology must be supported by earthquake-resistant buildings, public preparedness, emergency procedures, and post-earthquake inspections.
“Earthquake early warnings are just one component of overall disaster risk reduction efforts,” he said.
Meanwhile, Adrin Tohari, Head of the Geology Disaster Research Centre at BRIN, said rapid and accurate early warning systems are essential to mitigate earthquake impacts.
According to Adrin, BRIN and BMKG are continuously pushing for the development of earthquake early warning systems that benefit not only the general public but also support Indonesia’s industrial and transport sectors.
“Japan’s experience is expected to provide key lessons in building more prepared and integrated earthquake mitigation systems in the future,” he said.