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Sweep Width Testing Methodology Development

International SAR researcher, Robert Koester, was in NZ during July and August 2009 being funded to develop the testing methodology and procedures for the conducting of Sweep Width experiments for sound search and light search. Development of these sweep width tables will support future search operations of missing/lost person's by more accurately determining how well a search resource has searched an area or segment.

This data will enable field teams to more accurately report their teams POD when utilising these techniques and enhance the planning efforts by determining the optimal allocation (or reallocation) of available search assets as well as providing a scientific base for areas that should be re-searched. This will maximise the probability of successfully locating the search subject and minimises the time required to find them.

Project Details

Click here to view the PDF calendar of Bob Koester's time in NZ - 18th June to 2nd August 2009

	Situation Reports
	Click here to download Situation Report 18th June to 3rd July 2009 Click here to download Situation Report 4th July to 20 July 2009 Click here to download Situation Report 21st July to 1 August 2009

Project Trial

A trial of the testing methodology and development of preliminary data was conducted in the Howard Valley, St Arnauld area over the weekend on 18 July 2009.

Thanks go to Sherp Tucker (Tasman Search and Rescue Co-ordinator) for sourcing the trial location and participants for the trial. A very special thanks to all of the members of Tasman Search and Rescue (and the one from Canterbury) that participated and supported the trial. Without your support in furthering SAR research the valuable testing of the methodology and the preliminary data could not have occurred.

It was a long day with the subjects getting into the field around 10:30am and the first teams away at 11:30am after completing a searcher profile and having various baseline tests conducted.

A break for a BBQ dinner was had at 6pm and testing of the night methodology went well into the early hours of Sunday morning with the last teams reporting into base a little after 2am.

Bob checks the layout, Sherp waypoints the location	Tony, Fitzy, Sherp and Bob with the printers idea of a good joke
Fitzy marking the 7.4 km course - one every 100 metres, so many to go...	Tony downloading the waypoints into the computer
Bob outlines the plan for the day...	...and the participants listen attentively
The first lot of "lost subjects" prepare to go into the field	Search and Rescue research is a serious matter
Bob directs traffic in the field...	...and Fitzy supervises Bob's debriefing