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GMU C4I Center Seminar

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Application of Geospatial Analysis for
Modeling Lost Person Behavior and Optimization of
Resource Allocation in Wilderness Search and Rescue

Dr. Don Ferguson
US Department of Energy

Friday, April 12, 2013 at 1:30 PM

Nguyen Engineering building, Room 4705

ABSTRACT

ABSTRACT As a fundamentally geospatial problem, the search for missing subject in a wilderness environment can greatly benefit from the application of spatial analysis. These analyses can be divided into two broad categories: hypothesizing on where to search and management of the search effort. Typical wilderness search and rescue (WiSAR) operations cover a large geographical area and often have a limited number of available resources (searchers). The development of hypotheses through geospatial analysis on the most probable locations of the missing subject provides a mechanism for prioritizing the search area. Management of WiSAR operations dictates the need to maximize the Probability of Detection, likelihood of locating the missing subject, as well as the Probable Success Rate (PSR). Given differences in resource (human searchers, canine searchers, aircraft, etc) capability and availability this is often times challenging. Operations Research (OR) provides a quantitative decision-making framework that when coupled with spatial analysis and the influence of the environment on both searcher and subject can significantly benefit extended search operations.

BIO

DR. DON FERGUSON has over 13 years of experience in search and rescue, SAR management, teaching and course development for SAR. Over the past seven years, Don has worked to help pioneer the use of Geographic Information System software for search and rescue. He is currently the Technology Officer for the Appalachian Search and Rescue Conference and the Mountaineer Area Rescue Group, and is the one of the lead developers on the Integrated Tools for Search and Rescue and MapSAR projects. Dr. Ferguson is certified as a Search Manager with the Appalachian Search and Rescue Conference and NASAR SARTECH I. When not participating in SAR activities, Dr.Ferguson works as a combustion scientist focused on innovative energy concepts for the US Department of Energy at the National Energy Technology Laboratory in Morgantown, WV.