Incorporating Heuristically Generated Search Patterns in Search and Rescue
Helen Wollan · 2004
Search and Rescue operations rely heavily on generic search patterns when using air-craft in a search effort. These search patterns need to be manually modified to acco-modate the area to be searched. This dissertation proposes to use heuristic methods to generate search patterns to fit the area instead of modifying a generic pattern. With this aim in mind, this dissertation describes an implementation of one such heuristic method in a Search Management tool. This Search Management tool incorporates the ability to view and maintain the status of a search effort along with the search pattern generation. These functionalities provide a tool to use throughout a search effort to define the search area, generate the search patterns as necessary, and view the current status of the search effort. Additionally this Search Management tool includes the ca-pability for XML messaging, allowing users in the field to send updated information to the search manager through the Search Management tool. i Acknowledgements