The Charter of the Technology Team is the practical application of technology in Search and Rescue

Overview

The Charter of the DART Technology Team is the practical application of advanced technology to Search and Rescue requirements. The information provided by the            use of technology is viewed as a important supplement to the disciplines utilized in the ICS structure, and is not seen superseding any role or function.

Introduction:
One of the greatest challenges faced in orchestrating a rural search is to track the various teams deployed in the search:

• Where are they now? Are they really where you think (and they think) they are?
• What ground have they covered?
• Where do you want them to go next?
• How far away are they from their next search area?
• Where was evidence found?

The teams deployed are the eyes and ears to the command center which is essentially blind. Recently, the low cost technology offer the promise of great improvements in deploying, tracking and managing search resources. Global Positioning Systems (GPS), Computer Mapping and Radio Digital Packet Reporting can now be integrated to provide insight and information previously not available to the command center. These technologies, integrated appropriately, can providing accurate and compelling answers the questions posed above. This technology has been used effectively for years in a system called Automatic Position Reporting System or APRS. Click this link to learn more about APRS wes.johnston.net/aprs/ .

Description of Technologies
There are basically three pieces of technology that are needed to automate the tracking and deployment of SAR resources in the field. In simplest terms, GPS units tell you where you are in latitude/longitude, Computer Mapping programs display maps and can describe a points on them with latitude/longitude, and the "glue" that provides the link from the remote GPS information to the Computer Mapping software involves radios, radio modems (TNCs) and Packet communications protocols.

GPS

Global Positioning System units are based on receiving timed radio signals from 24 satellites the US military has put into orbit around the globe. Now that Selective Access has been turned off, civilians can enjoy extremely accurate position information. The accuracy is usually within 10 meters, and often between 5 and 7 meters depending on the number of satellites in view.

The most common receivers are made by Garmin, Eagle/Lowrance and Magellan. Most have the ability to output (via RS-232 serial port) latitude/longitude and other information based on a standard protocol termed NMEA 183. Modern units have the capability to display position based on the military grid system UTM or MGRS units. This allows for quickly pinpointing your location on a topographic map. 

Modern GPS units usually have 12 parallel receivers and have significantly better performance in tree canopy  than older 8 channel models.  One such 12 channel model is the Garmin Etrex which sells for about $120. Some of the mid to upper range models allow you to upload local maps to the GPS using  1 to 24 meg internal memory, or memory cards. One of the more interesting maps is Garmin's Mapsource Topo, a topographic map comparable to the USGS 1:100,000 scale paper maps. Still, nothing quite compares to a ful size 1:24,000 scale USGS paper map.