On-demand detection of electromagnetic disturbances using mobile devices

A computer usable program product comprising one or more computer-readable storage devices, and program instructions stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices, the stored program instructions comprising:

• program instructions to obtain, from a remote sensor, an advance information indicative of an electromagnetic disturbance (EMD) event or a precursor of an EMD event;
• program instructions to compute, from the advance information, a local area where an effect of the EMD event is likely to occur;
• program instructions to select, from a set of mobile devices located in the local area, a subset of mobile devices, each mobile device of the subset satisfying at least one condition for reliable magnetic measurement in the local area;
• program instructions to receive, from a mobile device in the subset of mobile devices, a magnetic measurement value obtained by performing a magnetic measurement, wherein the magnetic measurement value comprises a change in a magnetic property of an immediate surrounding ambient environment of the mobile device;
• program instructions to determine whether the magnetic measurement corresponds to a deviation in a network condition in a portion of a network, the portion being located in the local area;
• program instructions to conclude, responsive to the deviation corresponding with the magnetic measurement, that the deviation is caused by the EMD, wherein an effect of the EMD causes the magnetic measurement value;
• and
• program instructions to generate a notification, the notification comprising an indication of the EMD, and an identification of the local area.

A computer system comprising one or more processors, one or more computer-readable memories, and one or more computer-readable storage devices, and program instructions stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories, the stored program instructions comprising:

• program instructions to obtain, from a remote sensor, an advance information indicative of an electromagnetic disturbance (EMD) event or a precursor of an EMD event;
• program instructions to compute, from the advance information, a local area where an effect of the EMD event is likely to occur;
• program instructions to select, from a set of mobile devices located in the local area, a subset of mobile devices, each mobile device of the subset satisfying at least one condition for reliable magnetic measurement in the local area;
• program instructions to receive, from a mobile device in the subset of mobile devices, a magnetic measurement value obtained by performing a magnetic measurement, wherein the magnetic measurement value comprises a change in a magnetic property of an immediate surrounding ambient environment of the mobile device;
• program instructions to determine whether the magnetic measurement corresponds to a deviation in a network condition in a portion of a network, the portion being located in the local area;
• program instructions to conclude, responsive to the deviation corresponding with the magnetic measurement, that the deviation is caused by the EMD, wherein an effect of the EMD causes the magnetic measurement value;
• and
• program instructions to generate a notification, the notification comprising an indication of the EMD, and an identification of the local area.