Benefits to seismology
In areas where there are only a few or even no seismic sensors at all, citizens and their mobile phones are essential for detecting earthquakes and gathering useful information for emergency response. Bringing citizens into seismology allows the dissemination of information between the earthquake eyewitnesses, the seismologists who are working on the seismic data, and the citizens who didn't feel the earthquake but who are still interested in knowing further details.Benefits to sociology
Sociology is interested in individuals and their perception of, their reaction to, and their relationship with the world surrounding them. Citizen seismology enables a better understanding of the perception that citizens have of earthquakes and the risks associated. Comments and testimonies are a means for citizens to communicate their needs, whether they be emotional, relational or related to the earthquake information.Benefits to risk management
The more a population is informed of natural risks, the more it is resilient and able to face calamities. Through social networks, websites and mobile apps, seismologists can support citizens before, during, and after a seismic event. At the same time, citizens can acquire knowledge on the behaviors to adopt in case of an earthquake. They are then armed to help not only themselves but also the people around them to stay safe during a seismic crisis.
Benefit to society
Knowledge is not a one-way road: scientists contribute to the general level of risk awareness in the population, but citizens can also provide scientists with precious insights that would otherwise have been overlooked. By engaging the populations affected by earthquakes, the EMSC addresses societal and scientific needs and advances the current understanding of seismic phenomena.
