Evaluation of Environmental Information Products for Search and Rescue Optimal Planning System (SAROPS) - Version for Public Release
Abstract
Search and Rescue (SAR) planning and response activities are sometimes handicapped by the lack of environmental information. Accurate and comprehensive wind and current are necessary to determine the likely movement of search objects over time. To address this, the U.S. Coast Guard has deployed a new software tool for SAR planning, the Search and Rescue Optimal Planning System (SAROPS). SAROPS can use environmental information products with spatially-varying currents and winds, for the recent past, the present, and a few days into the future. Previously, the USCG had not evaluated the merits of the available environmental products to determine which were best suited for USCG use, and whether they adequately covered USCG areas of responsibility. This report provides a snapshot of environmental information products available at the time of the survey and their characteristics. The study team identified 103 products for further evaluation. The evaluation methodology was based on four areas of product attributes. Recommendations for product use in SAROPS are provided in this report. Summaries describing the nature and quality of each product, and the product coverage for each Coast Guard district, are contained in the appendices.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 01, 2008
- Accession Number
- ADA479430
Entities
People
- A. C. Turner
- D. Mack
- E. Comerma
- E. Howlett
- M. J. Lewandowski
- M. Spaulding
- M. Wholey
- S. Lester
Organizations
- United States Coast Guard Research & Development Center