Network analysis for search areas in WiSAR operations

Abstract

Purpose A search and rescue incident is ultimately all about the location of the missing person; hence, geotechnical tools are critical in providing assistance to search planners. One critical role of Geographic Information Systems (GISs) is to define the boundaries that define the search area. The literature mostly focuses on ring- and area-based methods but lacks a linear/network approach. The purpose of this paper is to present a novel network approach that will benefit search planners by saving time, requires less data layers and provides better results. Design/methodology/approach The paper compares two existing models (Ring Model, Travel Time Cost Surface Model (TTCSM)) against a new network model (Travel Time Network Model) by using a case study from a mountainous area in Austria. Newest data from the International Search and Rescue Incident Database are used for all three models. Advantages and disadvantages of each model are evaluated. Findings Network analyses offer a fruitful alternative to the Ring Model and the TTCSM for estimating search areas, especially for regions with comprehensive trail/road networks. Furthermore, only few basic data are needed for quick calculation. Practical implications The paper supports GIS network analyses for wildland search and rescue operations to raise the survival chances of missing persons due to optimizing search area estimation. Originality/value The paper demonstrates the value of the novel network approach, which requires fewer GIS layers and less time to generate a solution. Furthermore, the paper provides a comparison between all three potential models.

Wilderness Search and Rescue: Adopting a New Approach for Finding Missing People Using GIS Techniques in Saudi Arabia

“…Although the ring model has several bene ts, including speed and simplicity, it is evident that its results cannot go beyond the job of organizing prospective search areas, as other researchers have pointed out (Tambassi, 2019;Doherty et al, 2014). However, as noted, the mobility model can provide helpful information about the missing person's last known location and activity, which is an essential factor in WiSAR missions (Drexel et al, 2018). The advantages and disadvantages of the two models are summarized in (Table 4).…”

“…For instance, GIS methods can aid in increasing POS by utilizing models like ring and mobility to improve the estimation of POD (Drexel et al, 2018) or by decreasing the area of search to increase POA (Doherty et al, 2014). So, this paper's contribution is more than just lowering the POA.…”

“…The International Search and Rescue Incident Database (ISRID) de nes mobility as "the amount of time the subject was moving." This is the time a person spends walking away from the IPP (Drexel et al, 2018), which is an essential factor in WiSAR missions. The mobility model is a method to make POA maps.…”

Using an agent-based model to identify high probability search areas for search and rescue

“…Rachel Whitsed 1 Prue Gonzalez 2 Koester (2018) used network analysis of linear features as well as elevation and statistical data to determine areas of probability for lost person locations. The watershed model was used in Yosemite National Park by Doke (2012) to determine the number of watersheds crossed by a lost person in order to create a probability map of watersheds most likely to contain the lost person.…”