Lateral Range Curves, Search Probabilities, and Grid Searching
Dave Perkins, David Lovelock · 2008
The Lateral Range Curve is a fundamental component of search theory, but its importance is not always appreciated and it is often misunderstood. This paper looks at two lateral range curves in some detail, and highlights the difierence between the probability of the searcher detecting a search object as demonstrated by the lateral range curve, and the probability of the searcher detecting a search object in the generally accepted meaning of the term \probability of detection, POD. It goes on to consider the problem of grid searching, and shows how each of the lateral range curves gives rise to a distinct and difierent graph of POD as a function of Coverage. The paper is of necessity mathematical in nature, but there is su‐cient non-mathematical content to put the principles within the reach of most land SAR searchers, and to provide them with a good basis for understanding the application of search theory to land SAR.