Cutting-edge mapping technology vital to the disaster response after Hurricane Sandy and the Japanese tsunami could be used in Australia to locate lost hikers and tourists, according to a leading US public safety analyst.
Paul Doherty, from mapping technology giant Esri, is in Australia to demonstrate how Geographic Information System (GIS) technology, employed extensively overseas during manhunts, hurricanes and wildfires, can also help locate people missing in the Australian bush.
The increasing popularity of hiking has seen a worrying rise in search and rescue missions as inexperienced walkers go missing in Australia’s often harsh bushland.
According to police statistics, about 130 bushwalkers go missing each year in NSW alone, with similar numbers in other states.
While the vast majority of searches are successful, they are time intensive and costly particularly for state emergency services volunteers who rush in to help under extreme conditions.
Dr Doherty, a former US law enforcement ranger, said new advancements to GIS technology means volunteers and rescue personnel can now quickly – and easily – gain a comprehensive overview of the key details in a rescue mission.
“One of the challenges emergency responders face is volunteers who actually do the searching typically don’t have access to the software and training the professional agencies co-ordinating the mission usually have,” Mr Doherty said.
“To address that issue, Esri has supported an international team of search and rescue (SAR) volunteers to develop a tool known as MapSAR – which emergency services groups worldwide are using to easily generate maps that depict specific aspects of the operation and show what is happening on the ground over time.
“This means that anyone - regardless of their experience with GIS technology – can now generate, store and print assignment maps layered with specific information vital to an operation, such as vegetation types, tracks, paths, water sources and helicopter landing zones.
“Users can instantly send maps that show where a person was last seen, or GPS tracks showing the movements of search teams to experts anywhere in the world who can assist in analysing how far the hiker may have walked or which direction they are most likely heading.
“Volunteers can also use smart devices to update these maps in real-time with new information that often comes to light during a search – such as which areas have been searched, any signs or tracks of the missing person or any hazards that may have been identified.
“This sort of information sharing and remote planning is vital during a rescue mission where every second counts.”
Mr Doherty’s visit comes on the back of a recent Australian study which found GIS technology is considered critical in Australia’s public sector for planning, response and recovery from disasters.
The 2013 GIS in Local Government Benchmark Study shows more than 75 per cent of councils consider GIS technology vital for their planning and response during emergency situations, while 83 per cent believe mapping crowdsourced information is important to emergency response.
Esri Australia Emergency Services specialist Josh Venman said the importance of GIS technology to emergency responders is only increasing.
“GIS technology is already widely used by our emergency services agencies, and has been crucial in rescue operations during the Brisbane and Bundaberg Floods, North Queensland’s tropical cyclone Yasi, and the numerous bushfire crises that have plagued the southern states,” said Mr Venman.
“Advancements to the technology means it can now be used to provide real-time intelligence, and anyone with a smart device can access and interact with the maps – whether they’re at emergency headquarters or out in the field.
“These new capabilities will be incredibly important for Australia’s emergency response community, as when it comes to rescue operations, instant access to an up-to-date view of a situation is vital.”
If you would like to connect with our public relations team, submit a media enquiry.