Milne's contributions to seismology were significant:
* He designed and built more sensitive and reliable seismographs that were able to record earthquakes with greater accuracy.
* He established the first global network of seismological stations, which allowed for the systematic study of earthquakes and their distribution.
* He developed the first standardized system for classifying earthquake intensity, which is still used today.
Therefore, while John Milne was a pioneer in seismology, the invention of the seismograph itself goes back to ancient China.