Development and Testing of a Seismic-Responsive IoT-Based Safety System for Gas Distribution Networks

This paper presents the design and experimental evaluation of a smart safety system intended to mitigate seismic risks in urban gas distribution infrastructure. The proposed solution integrates an ESP32 microcontroller with an MPU6500 inertial sensor to detect ground vibrations associated with seismic activity. Upon exceeding a calibrated threshold, the system autonomously triggers the closure of a solenoid valve, thereby halting gas flow and reducing the risk of leaks or explosions. Sensor data is transmitted wirelessly using MQTT protocols to a cloudbased interface for real-time monitoring and logging. The prototype demonstrates rapid actuation, low latency, and high sensitivity to motion events, confirming its suitability for scalable deployment in residential or municipal gas pipeline networks. The implementation relies on low-cost hardware, open-source software, and edge processing to ensure both affordability and autonomous operation in critical infrastructure applications.