Collecting and Analyzing Missing Person Data for Alzheimer Patients in British Columbia

As part of my project for my GIS Certificate at the University of the Fraser Valley, I was required to complete a project of my choosing. As a SAR Manager for Ridge it only seemed natural to work on something that hopefully would be of some use and interest to the SAR community.

With Robert Koester’s book Lost Person Behavior and the ISRID database as a starting point, I looked at the information available from the local SAR teams in my area (southwestern British Columbia).

One team in particular, Surrey Search and Rescue, performs a large number of searches for missing Dementia subjects. Between Surrey SAR, Coquitlam SAR, and Ridge Meadows SAR I was able to gather the results of 51 searches spanning the years 2001 to 2012.

Using ESRI’s ArcMap 10.1 (see www.mapsar.net for more info), I plotted the PLS and Found locations of these subjects and from that, calculated their mean distance travelled as well as the over-all mean direction of travel. This data is based on searches that occur in the urban setting of a Westcoast Canadian city. Given more time and resources, a study of several diverse Canadian cities may yield results that differ from or are similar to the outcome of this project.

These types of searches are perhaps the most frustrating for a SAR team. With more studies like this and a well-populated database such as the ISRID database, SAR Managers may have one more tool to assist them in bringing about a successful conclusion to a difficult task.

I would like to acknowledge the guidance from my professor, Dr. Scott Shupe for making most of this course understandable and enjoyable.

- Rick Laing
rmsarmanager@gmail.com

Stay tuned for a similar study from Yosemite National Park!

The applications of GISystems to wilderness search and rescue, anoverview within a GIScience context and examples from Yosemite NationalPark.

Here is the Conclusion from my dissertation. I will post a link to the document as soon as it becomes available from the University. I am also writing a follow-up paper for the Annals of AAG. Thank you everyone for your support!

Conclusion

The components of WiSAR operations are entirely spatial. Additionally, the prevention of WiSAR incidents requires close study of where and when incidents occur.  I propose that the use of geographic information systems (GISystems) and spatial analyses could greatly enhance documentation and understanding of previous WiSAR incidents, as well as provide useful tools for saving lives in the future. This unique, but robust testing environment of WiSAR will allow for new discoveries within the spatial science disciplines. Based on case-studies in Yosemite alone, high-impacts topics such as Georeferencing from Text, Spatial Statistics, Time Geography, Search Theory, Location Science, Expert Modeling, and Machine Learning Algorithms were covered and presented to the GIScience and Geography communities.

If Geographic Information Science (GIScience) is the theory behind the development, use, and application of geographic information systems (GISystems), then WiSAR is an ideal topic for GIScientists to study. I have examined the spatial components of WiSAR, reviewed pertinent literature, used cutting edge GIScience techniques to solve WiSAR problems, and provided a framework for future research in WiSAR GISystems with broad implications for GIScience. This dissertation contains an Introduction to the central topic, and chapters that highlight in-depth research investigation in GIScience.

This dissertation presents preliminary, but compelling evidence that there is a universal need for GIScientists to address search and rescue problem solving and for WiSAR managers to adopt GISystems for apparent uses. Furthermore, I state that the future uses of GISystems in WiSAR are seemingly limitless. However, due to the nature of WiSAR as an emergency operation, technological efforts should be prioritized based on the potential for solving fundamental spatial questions that can be validated. For this reason I conclude that significant research efforts be directed towards the planning and operations related to searching for missing persons. The applications for time-geography, remote sensing, location science, and probabilistic modeling are very apparent in missing person search operations - and the process would greatly benefit researchers in these disciplines. Furthermore, I have found that GIS research related to preventing severe incidents through PSAR should be investigated further in collaboration with experts in spatial epidemiology. Finally, this dissertation is an evidence-based call to action for exploration of WiSAR in a GIScience context and for geographers of all specialties to get involved with their local search and rescue community.

Paul Doherty Dissertation Defense: Search and Rescue in Yosemite

The applications of GISystems to wilderness search and rescue, an overview within a GIScience context and examples from Yosemite National Park. Click on this link for flyer with more information

When: Wednesday, May 8th 1030h PST [new time]

Where: University of California Merced, 5200 Lake Rd Merced, California 95340, Science and Engineering Room 200 - click below for an interactive map. Please send me an email at pjdohert@gmail.com if you have not already confirmed your attendance.

Webcast: My YouTube Channel



I will also be giving a public presentation at the Yosemite Open Forum next week on Tuesday, May 14th at Noon. Click here for more details.

For more information on my research see my research page.

NAPSG Wildland MapSAR Training in Bellevue, Washington

NAPSG Wildland MapSAR Training in Bellevue, Washington
Registration is now open to participate in a free training session.

Saturday April 6, 2013 -to- Sunday April 7, 2013 

Participants will learn how to use the free MapSAR tool with Esri’s ArcGIS Desktop product. The product and training session are designed for individuals with limited or no GIS experience.
GIS has proven to be beneficial when mapping emergency incidents. This class will teach you how to create search segments (probability areas), draw search assignments and print maps for field crews and the incident command post. You will also learn how to track incident activities like clues, field team status, debriefing information and GPS track logs.
This is a hands-on training class: computers, textbooks, reference manuals and software will be provided for up to 50 students.
NAPSG and Esri will be sponsoring the event.
NAPSG is the National Alliance for Public Safety GIS. This is their mission, "To support the public safety and homeland security communities in the advancement of data interoperability and information sharing, through geospatial technology, in support of local and national emergency preparedness".

UTM / USNG Locator Map

I corrected the links and made some updates to the map!

UTM / USNG Locator Map

So what if you just want to know what UTM / US National Grid Zone you are currently in or will be deploying to? Here is a simple and easy to use tool for you. Click on the image or here.

This web mapping application was created using an ArcGIS Online Web Map and a hosted Web Mapping Application template.

GISCorps volunteers assist in a Search & Rescue pilot project in California

GISCorps volunteers assist in a Search & Rescue pilot project in California.

Check out the link. This is excellent news from the GISCorps!

What is happening?

In late 2012, GISCorps received a request for volunteers from a consortium of GIS and Search and Rescue (SAR) professionals from Sierra Madre Search and Rescue Team, Esri, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park, Yosemite National Park, Grand Canyon National Park, and Mountaineer Rescue Group who have developed a Search and Rescue application called MapSAR. The consortium requested assistance to fill three GIS Specialist positions to support a pilot project in California using MapSAR. Those three positions were: GIS Trainers, GIS Practitioners and GIS Developers. The detailed job description for each position and other additional information is included in this document.

Who is GISCorps? From their website:

GISCorps started life in October 2003 in Atlanta, Georgia, when the URISA Board unanimously approved it as an initiative of URISA. This happened after an intensive summer of brainstorming, conceptualizing and a lot of hard work required to translate an idea into a well designed proposal. GISCorps is now a URISA program and operates entirely on a volunteer basis. The core committee members, most of whom are themselves GISCorps volunteers, run the program with administrative help from the staff at URISA. They reside in different states accross the United States and Canada and use a wiki site to work collaboratively, mostly at nights and on weekends. The links that follow describe in detail the mission and the operations of the GISCorps.

GISCorps volunteers' services will help to improve the quality of life by:

• Supporting humanitarian relief.


• Enhancing environmental analysis.


• Encouraging/fostering economic development.


• Supporting community planning and development.


• Strengthening local capacity by adopting and using information technology.


• Supporting health and education related activities.

GISCorps has accepted the challenge and the California Emergency Management Agency SAR Operations and the National Park Service are anticipating the integration of GIS Specialists into their ranks for supporting Search Operations with GIS. This is a great opportunity to bring in GIS professionals and their expertise to support an inherently spatial problem: searching for missing persons. Once we have learned from this experience it can be taken to a national / international level.