Innovative UMSNH app revolutionizes post-earthquake evaluations

Researchers from the Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo (UMSNH), Hugo Hernández Barrios and José Luis Moreno Torres, have developed an innovative mobile application that promises to revolutionize the way post-earthquake structural evaluations are conducted in Mexico. This software, unique in its kind in the country and possibly in all of Latin America, emerges as a response to the identified need following the September 2022 earthquake in some municipalities of the Sierra Costa de Michoacán. Hugo Hernández Barrios, a researcher affiliated with the Faculty of Civil Engineering at UMSNH, explained that the lack of adequate conditions in rural areas to complete the evaluation forms of the National Center for Disaster Prevention (CONAPRED) motivated the creation of this application. The tool allows for infrastructure assessments to be carried out autonomously and without internet connection, making it an invaluable solution for vulnerable communities in earthquake-prone regions. The project, which took approximately six months of work, represents a significant advancement in the capacity to conduct structural evaluations in remote areas where telephony and connectivity are limited. Hernández Barrios emphasized that this application will not only benefit the general population but will also have a positive impact on the education of Civil Engineering and Architecture students by providing them with a valuable resource for their studies. The Universidad Michoacana fulfills its social responsibility by developing a technological tool that can have a significant socio-economic impact in communities where construction does not always meet the necessary standards to withstand seismic events. In this sense, the availability of the application for free download through the Faculty of Civil Engineering's website is a fundamental step for its dissemination and adoption at a national level. On the other hand, José Luis Moreno Torres, also a researcher at the Faculty of Civil Engineering at UMSNH, detailed that the mobile application allows for safety evaluations of buildings after an earthquake, classifying the structure of the property into safety categories such as green (safe), red (unsafe), or yellow (doubtful). This functionality, combined with the ability to generate reports and statistics autonomously, provides a comprehensive and effective tool for post-disaster assessments. The Certificate of Public Registry of Copyright granted to UMSNH by the National Institute of Copyright (INDAUTOR) validates the work and originality of this software, ensuring its protection and official recognition. Moreno Torres reported that the process to make the application available on virtual stores such as the Apple Store and Google Play is already underway, which will facilitate its access to a wider audience. In conclusion, the creation of this application by researchers from UMSNH represents a milestone in the field of civil engineering and disaster management in Mexico. Its potential impact on the safety and resilience of communities exposed to seismic risks is immeasurable, and its free availability is a significant gesture of social commitment on the part of the Universidad Michoacana. With the support of authorities and adequate dissemination, this tool could become a national and international reference in post-earthquake structural evaluation.