search and rescue transitioning to modern technologies

7/24/2019 Search and Rescue Transitioning to Modern Technologies

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/search-and-rescue-transitioning-to-modern-technologies 1/9

Andy Muma Houston Search and Rescue

Search and Rescue, Adopting New Technologies for

Quicker Search Responses




Introduction:

I have been a volunteer of the Houston search and rescue organization for a couple of years

now and my background and areas of experience are in mapping and GPS technologies. I

currently work for Forest Lands and Natural Resources as a GIS analyst and have been working

on a provincial mobile device research and development team for the past 8 months. This

groups mandate is to research current trends around mobile devices and document

recommendations on modernizing government with mobile device technology.

As such I have gained a tremendous amount of knowledge on current trends and capabilities

with this technology and am excited to introduce it into our SAR team to improve search

responses and critical field data collection.

I am proposing that Houston Search and Rescue move our mapping and field data collection to

a modern more common digital world of smart phones and tablets rather than the old paper map

and GPS techniques of the past.

Based on my experiences with the provincial R & D team I have concluded that the Apple

iPhones and iPad tablets provide the best combination of hardware and software apps for

search and rescue needs and this document outlines the capabilities and uses Houston SAR

volunteers will be using these devices for.




Smart Phone and Tablet Capabilities:

Many smart phones and tablets on the market these days are equipped with impressive

technologies. Most of this technology is intended for gaming and navigating around cities. For

mobile device the four top uses are:

1.

Communication – txting, talking and social media, snapping and sharing pictures

2. Information - Web browsing, information, shopping 3. Navigation - finding restaurants, and driving instructions, etc 4. Gaming

Navigation capabilities fall in the top three uses and as a result most of the phones and higher

end tablets come with good quality GPS receivers. It is important to point out that many phones

and tablets available these days will navigate accurately with or without cell coverage.

First some definitions:

• GPS – US based Global Positioning System

• GLONAS – Russian base global positioning system, Stands for Globalnaya Navigatsionnaya

Sputnikovaya Sistema

• A-GPS – assisted GPS, uses a combination of cell towers and GPS system to acquire a location

• Hybrid Systems – uses a combination of A-GPS as well as standalone GPS and GLONAS

systems for navigation.

Note: Apple 4, 4s, and 5 smart phones as well as the higher end models iPad 4 and iPad mini

use hybrid location systems and can navigate very accurately and independently outside of cell

and WiFI services.




Smart Phone Benefits over Traditional Devices:

One device does it all!

Smart phones and tablets are now very powerful computers that are equipped with many

additional components making them the ideal tool that replace multiple older devices. A single

smart phone or tablet device can replace:

• Laptop or PC• GPS

• Camera – all photos are automatically geo-referenced

• Paper Maps, plotters printers• Expensive GIS software for mapping• Paper forms, manuals and guides• Phone• Email• Satellite communications

This benefits search and rescue volunteers tremendously by allowing us to concentrate on

fewer devices as well as work with devices most people are already familiar with and use

regularly in their personal lives.

Our Search and Rescue volunteers will use smart phones and tablets for the following:

• Initial search information. Subject picture and point last seen location• Planning and organizing a search•

Communicate search plans to searchers and public• Navigating in the field• Collecting spatially referenced data and photos in the field• Compiling, analyzing and documenting searches for future references• Tracking locations of search teams on large or remote searches with satellite

communications.

We will no longer need to teach searchers how to use, read and navigate with traditional paper

maps or even GPS but instead will add simple apps to smart phones and tablets that are

already commonly used in most people’s work and private lives.




Examples of Uses

Here are some examples of how these device can be used and merged seamlessly into our

current field search practices.

They can be easily used in a helicopter for navigation and field data collection

Or used on foot, quad or horseback and in any weather




Planning and initial search information can be communicated to any number of searchers

quickly and efficiently through e-mail and then taken directly into field and used on the search.

This will drastically improve initial search response times:

Google Earth Compatible means easy data compilation and long term documentation!




Detailed data with geo-referenced photos can be collected by every searcher in the field and

merged for search management and analysis after each search day.

No More Paper, printers, ink, or photocopiers to break down!




Search Workflow Comparison Traditional vs New Example

Traditional Process - This process takes several hours!

1. Search Manager receives call from RCMP2. Search Manager meets with RCMP and is given search information and plan search3. Search Manager contacts Searchers4. Search Manager contacts and arranges to meet GIS staff to map out a search plan5. Several paper maps are produced6. Searcher all meet at a base camp and hand out maps7. Each searcher takes map hand-out along with GPS and compass and camera and start

search8. All data from separate devices need to be compiled and manually transferred by search

managers

Many manual processes, requires access to expensive GIS equipment and plotters, requires

searchers to juggle and carry multiple devices, more physical travelling to complete steps.

The Future with Smart Phones and Tablets - This process will drastically reduce response

times!

1. Search Manager receives call from RCMP2. Search Manager meets with RCMP or simply receives an email and is given search

information. The search plan is created directly on the iPad saving time.3. Search Manager contacts searchers and emails out search plan to all searchers4.

Searchers all meet at base camp and begin search with information already on theirdevice

5. Searchers use the mobile device to track where they have been and what they havefound photos included.

6. Search information is easily compiled at the end of each day by e-mailing the data tosearch managers

Faster, one device, and easier learning and training curve for searchers, searchers can travel

directly to base camp without having to meet to get paper maps, photos or search instructions.




Conclusion

As with any tools, whether GPS and compass, or iPhones and iPads it is critical that searchers

familiarity and use is second nature especially under the pressures of a real search. We

encourage our volunteers to use and practice with any and all equipment as much as possible.

Utilizing smart phones and tablets has an added advantage where most volunteers in the

community are already familiar with their general function and the addition of search specific

software apps on these devices can be learned very easily and quickly.

As search and rescue volunteers it is important that we continually investigate and implement

better tools and processes. Introducing a combination of iPads, iPad minis, and iPhones as well

as creating processes to support these devices will significantly improve our response times and

search efficiencies giving SAR team better chances of success.

search and rescue transitioning to modern technologies

Documents