Method and device for detecting earthquakes

An earthquake detection method implemented by a device including at least one processor and a memory including software code, the at least one processor causing the device to implement the method when it executes the software code, the method comprising:

• receiving a signal representative of measurements of a three-dimensional acceleration of the device as a function of time, the signal being received from an accelerometer sensor;
• frequency filtering of the signal, the filtering being configured with a low cut-off frequency and a high cut-off frequency to exclude at least frequencies not corresponding to seismic wave frequencies;
• determining, from the filtered signal, data representative of acceleration directions as a function of time;
• an earthquake being detected if
• a) the magnitude of the acceleration is greater than a first threshold and the directions of the acceleration are substantially collinear with one another for a first time interval;
• or
• b) the directions of acceleration are substantially collinear with one another during a second time interval and the directions of acceleration are substantially collinear with one another during a third time interval subsequent to the second time interval, and the directions of acceleration of the second interval and the third interval are substantially orthogonal.