Technical Partner Resources

Pilot Partners execute a license agreement with the USGS to research, develop, and internally test innovative ways to use ShakeAlert Messages to deliver alerts that prompt people and systems to take protective action.

License to Operate (LtO) Partners have met USGS-mandated standards for speed, reliability, and technical performance, including providing appropriate education and training for their end-users. LtO Partners are approved to provide or sell their developed product to end-users.

Evaluation Partners are “observe-only” partners who have access to the ShakeAlert system data feed, but cannot take action or develop ShakeAlert-powered products or services. An Evaluation Partnership provides an opportunity to learn more about how the ShakeAlert system works and the products it produces, so entities can evaluate if they want to become a Pilot Partner or an end-user.

Communication, Education, and Outreach (CEO) Partners are not pursuing a technical implementation of ShakeAlert; rather, they partner with the USGS on the development of education and/or training resources for ShakeAlert.

End-users receive ShakeAlert-powered alerts from LtO Partners. End-users include people who receive these alerts directly (e.g., to their cell phones), as well as organizations that work with an LtO Partner to implement automated “machine-to-machine” actions.

This section of the website contains resources for ShakeAlert Technical Partners. A ShakeAlert Technical Partner is any entity that enters into a license agreement with the USGS to use USGS-issued ShakeAlert Messages for alerting applications, such as warning people to take a protective action or triggering an automated action to protect critical systems.

Technical Partners span multiple industries and sectors, and include private for-profit companies, public entities, and nonprofits that can demonstrate a benefit from becoming part of the ShakeAlert System.