"Using lasers to map the Earth following an earthquake could reveal exactly where the planet’s crust ruptured, augmenting other seismological networks that document the destruction. With detailed maps, experts could potentially judge where the Earth might split — not necessarily predicting earthquakes, but pinpointing their likely locations and preparing for the worst hazards associated with them."
http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2012-02/3-d-laser-maps-show-how-major-quakes-rend-earth
