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Links related to the SARBayes project
Links to related projects and resources, with descriptions and
evaluations where appropriate. Major sections listed in
the navbar at the right.
Lost Person Behavior Projects & Stats
- dbS-SAR Research
- Detailed stats and analyses based on Virginia data. Some also include Ken Hill's data (Nova Scotia). Esp. good for Alzheimer' and Despondents
- Centre for Search Research
- See esp. their research papers. But see below for the
final report.
- GSAR Baseline Study
- Excellent GIS-based study of lost-person incidents,
mostly with an eye towards predicting where
they occur, and to what populations. 332
records. Confirms that delay in reporting
reduces the chance of a live find, shows only
2/3 of these cases were truly "lost". Probably
unique in its use of GIS-based reporting.
- More UK Statistics
- The final (2002) report for CSR is so far (Dec.2002) only available from this Mountain Rescue website.
- Ken Hill's Research
- Ken Hill compiles stats for Nova Scotia. This is his academic page. The stats here are April 2001 based on 343 cases, newer than the table available from his SARBC page.
- SARBC stats
- But there are other tables on the SARBC site which use both U.S. and Canadian data. This provides a nice quite summary. Also good links to tables of travel speeds, and tables of reasons lost, paths taken, and find techniques. (Caution: Don't put too much belief on the POD tables based on Wartes' 1974 experiments: J.R. Frost has since pointed out several major shortcomings in that study's design and interpretation. And the cumulative POD formula was not based on those experiments.)
- NZLSAR:
- New Zealand Land SAR: very organized volunteer group integrated with the police. Reports available.
- U.S. Coast Guard Search and Rescue Information
- Coast Guard SAR statistics, for reference.
- Hugh Round's GIS-based probability mapper
- Very cool. An ArcView script that creates probability and travel maps using GIS terrain and vegetation information. Something we can aspire to.
- Ed Cornell
- Ed Cornell and Don Heth are psychologists at U.Alberta, Canada. They study human wayfinding and navigation, including lost person behaviour! Rather than just looking at find statistics, they follow people around. They're also working on GIS-based SAR management software.
Search Theory
- Principles of Search Theory [ PDF ] [ HTML ]
- J.R. Frost's four-part article introducing real search theory to land-SAR folk. Highly recommended. Also available for nominal cost from the NASAR bookstore.
- Alan Washburn's Home Page
- His publications links list his many very technical papers on search theory and algorithms, among other things.
- SARINFO 'Planning' Library Page
- Lots of documents of varying worth related to search planning and probabilities.
- Sweep Widths for Land SAR! [
PDF |
PDF |
PowerPoint®
]
- Frost & Robe's 2003 report, A Method for
Determining Effective Sweep Widths for Land Searches:
Procedures for Conducting Detection Experiments. Two
alternate links to the same PDF file, and one to a
companion PowerPoint® presentation. ``A report on the
first phase of a project to develop practical yet
scientific procedures for estimating the effective sweep
widths ("detectability indices (indexes)") for search
objects under operational conditions.''
An excellent document. I highly recommend
reading the FAQ at the end even if you don't read the
rest. The PDF links provide two sites for the same document.
Other Software for SAR
- eGroups : csar
- Discussion group for Computers in Search And
Rescue.
Traditional Land SAR Programs
- CASIE III
- Home page of the classic SAR package. DOS only but a
good menuing system. Performs brute force
search to "optimize" allocations.
- Scenario Analyzer
- Short BASIC program (and executable) to combine POA
estimates for several alternate scenarios. Along
with an article explaining why this is necessary
for good planning.
Newer Land SAR Programs
- Search Planning
Interface (SPI)
- Nice-looking GUI replacement to CASIE, in beta
testing July 2003. Draw search boundaries on maps,
it computes areas, does scenario and Mattson
consensus, and tracks probabilities. Includes lots
of recent lost-person statistic and profiles. Also
talks to Garmin GPS and handles many task forms
and logs. Doesn't do any search theory, but
otherwise probably the most capable land-SAR
software out there now. Unfortunately, on 4 Dec 2003 SPI
announced they were discontinuing the project. I don't
yet know what will become of the code.
- Search Manager
- Lots of management and networking. Tracks
probabilities. New version in April 2003 to
include probability maps. Future releases may
incorporate SORAL, but probably that will be a
separate product.
- BRMRG Software
- In consultation with Bob Koester, two members of BRMRG
are developing a nice system that uses digital maps and
lets you draw search areas and automatically fills in
forms etc. The link above is to a web version of a
PowerPoint® presentation. It seems to work best in
Internet Explorer (Go figure). It concentrates mostly on
the search tactics including smooth forms integration. It
does not yet (Aug. 2003) do planning.
- First Response
- GIS-based decision support for SAR,
esp. initial response to urban SAR. Another fine
Canadian SAR effort. Full description in
this 2006
paper by Ed
Cornell and Don
Heth and Grzegorz Dostatni at U.Alberta. In Beta testing since
mid-2003, but in 2006 Heth & Cornell expected it out of Beta
within a month or two. (Though they admit they've thought that
before.) GIS, drawn
areas, prob. rings, dispersion arcs, ongoing case
data. Map-centric approach designed for minimal
intrusiveness. Doesn't seem to track
probabilities.
Mapping and Probabilities
- Ozi Explorer
- Ozi Explorer is a widely-used interactive scanned
map/GPS package which has a search probability
add-on written by Rob Thomas (see next
item). It also now has a real programmer's
API!!!
- PLS program
for Ozi Explorer
- Draws various stat rings for different behavior types
on top of an Ozi calibrated map. (Look for the
link to the PLS program.)
- Xastir
- Xastir is primarily for automatic tracking of GPS via
amateur radio via APRS (Automatic Position Reporting System).
However, the development version in late 2003 added basic
probability rings and began to look at SORAL. It handles
a bewildering array of map formats and runs on many
platforms.
High-End: GUI, Maps, Probabilistic Search Theory
- SARPlan
- High-tech high-powered product of Defence R&D
Canada - Valcartier. Incorporates probability
maps, advanced search theory and powerful
management, but focusses on downed
aircraft. Publication forthcoming.
- CANSARP
- Canadian Search & Rescue Planning Program. Unix-style
GUI which appears to use Monte Carlo simulation
to provide area probabilities (as opposed to the
Minimax method, which I believe is done in the
manual solution). Generates search plans that
can be transmitted to the Search and Rescue Unit
(SRU). Includes many variables including
fatigue. Candian Coast Guard College.
- SARMaster
- EMS Technologies, Inc. integrated software for Rescue
Coordination Centers. (Follow the links for glossy PDFs
with details.) Maps, probabilities, planning,
COSPAS/SARSAT integration, reports, management, search
theory. Emphasizes maritime and downed aircraft, but they
are working on a "thin version" for field applications including
missing persons. It will link back to the dispatch
center. Trials to start with release scheduled for March
2005. Pricing depends on level of service and is not
advertized.
- SARMAP
- Applied Sciences Associates' Windows software generating probability maps from
weather conditions, the USCG craft datum (vessel
profile) and detailed drift simulations. Mostly
maritime. GIS, raster, or vector-based maps,
scenarios, search theory. They have similar software for
coordinating oil spill responses etc. Last I
checked, about US$15,000, so not for your
local SAR team. (Also: don't confuse with the
Swiss product of the same name for mapping
Synthetic Aperture Radar data.)
- C2PC
- U.S. Coast Guard Command and Control package. A
windows-based application which does vector and raster
maps, handles overlay for "thousands of geographic
attributes like: High Sites, Group offices, EEZ
boundaries, and hospital locations" and automates search
planning including search patterns, Joint Automated
Worksheets (JAWS) and interfaces for SARSAT, CASP and
SLDMBs. (Summary taken largely from the web page, which
itself seems to be just a description.)
- CASP / SAROPS
- No web site available. The USCG is starting a
project to develop a new search planning tool that will
replace both the present CASP and C2PC/SARTools software
suites. This new tool will be called the Search and
Rescue Optimal Planning System (SAROPS). Like CASP,
SAROPS will be based on a Monte Carlo simulation
technique. It will also take advantage of the latest
advances in search theory, simulation technology,
environmental data products, leeway models and detection
models. Although not specifically intended for land use,
care will be taken to not preclude such use as a future
capability.
Exposure
- Search System
- Rik Head's program for computing estimates of mobility and survival given subject data. He was planning to rewrite this. Link?
- Cold Exposure Survival Model (CESM)
- EMS Technologies. Model survivability in cold air or
water. Windows.
- PREDICTOL
®
- Comprehensive Windows program "used to determine the
thermophysiological duration limited exposures (DLE) in humans,
nude or clothed, submitted to various climatic conditions (hot
and cold climates) at rest or during a physical exercise."
Educational and scenario modes. Details in the medical paper
linked above. CD ROM version available for sale "not before
January - February 2005", price to be determined. Current
version is in French, though apparently still very useable to
non-French speakers. An English version is planned.
Other
- Washburn's download page
- Mostly military but at least one Excel spreadsheet related
to his introductory book on search theory.
Games
- Search and Rescue 3
- It turned up in another Google search. Why not?
Other lists of SAR software (mostly duplicate &
outdated)
- Search & Rescue Programs
- SARINFO 'Computers' Library Page
- SARBC list
- A Project Proposal
- As near as I can tell, this was just a class assignment to write a proposal. I have no info on actual software development. Still, an interesting proposal.
General SAR Info and Links
- NATSAR (Australia)
- Australia's National Search And Rescue Council. Has the entire National SAR Manual, which closely parallels the international standard IAMSAR manual. Also the Land Ops manual, reports of annual meetings, and such.
- NASAR
- National Association for Search And Rescue: probably the largest and most well-respected international body for search and rescue
- SARNews.com
- Now the official SAR news source for NASAR.
- SARBC
- Search and Rescue Society of British Columbia. Good resources for lots of SAR including theory and lost-person behavior.
- Canadian National SAR Secretariat
- The R&D links are very interesting, though geared more for maritime. Also see the Ground SAR page.
- USCG SAR Manuals page
- The U.S. Coast Guard SAR Manuals page. Especially read the Coast Guard Addendum for an overview of SAR planning. Available as Word files or (soon) PDF. Also links to parts of the IAMSAR manual and the U.S. National SAR Plan.
- USCG SAR Partners
- U.S. Coast Guard page of links to SAR partners: other national or international SAR agencies and organizations, environmental info, etc.
- National Search And Rescue Committee
- A U.S. ``federal-level committee formed to coordinate
civil search and rescue (SAR) matters of interagency interest
within the United States.'' Has the national SAR plan,
prospective documents, sweep width experiments, links to
agencies.
Bayesian Networks and things Bayesian 
- Kevin Murphy's page
- Kevin maintains the best-known list of Bayesian Network software, writes the MATLAB Bayes Net library, and writes stellar intro and technical papers.
- Bayesian AI
- Kevin Korb's Bayesian AI page. Not kept current, but good lecture notes.
- Norsys
- Norsys Inc. makes the Netica Bayesian Network software
- Josh Tenenbaum
- Bayesian models of causal reasoning
- Bayesian Intro
- Bayesian Statistics: An Introduction - Peter M. Lee
- Judea Pearl
- The foremost Bayesian Network researcher
- HyperStat
- An Online Introduction to Statistics
MML
- Lloyd Allison's Intro
- Lots here, including interactive Java applets, links
to papers, MML poetry, etc. Recommended starting place. You might
also visit Wikipedia, etc., but Lloyd's page is the most complete.
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