Calculating Probability of Detection in Search and Rescue

I wrote a couple of weeks ago about how to calculate a probability density distribution for a missing person search. This was the first element of the optimal search problem. The second element is to be able to calculate the probability of detection. There have been numerous articles and methodologies proposed in the past. Most [...]

February 9, 2010 · Robert Bradley · No Comments
Tags: Area Effectively Swept, GPS Track, Koopman's Exponential Detection Function, Optimal Search Problem, POD, Probability Density, Probability Density Distribution, Probability of Detection, Search Coverage, Sweep Width, Track Length · Posted in: Search Thoughts

The POD of a Search Dog

I wrote a short piece last week entitled “The POD of a Search Dog is 100%” and promised to give my thoughts on the subject at a later date. It is interesting to note that the two commenters – Daryl Toogood and Johnnie Walker – highlighted the two main issues I wanted to cover with [...]

January 28, 2010 · Robert Bradley · No Comments
Tags: Daryl Toogood, Johnnie Walker, POD, Probability of Detection, Search Dog, Search Dog Handler, Search Management, Search Planning, Search Sector · Posted in: Search Thoughts

Searching in the Dark

You may remember a long while back me writing a short news article introducing a Specialist Night / Low Light Search Technician Certification Course from Gary Foo. Several comments were made at the time, with Jennie Webster making the valid point that; Maybe explicit courses such as this would make it more obvious that ALSAR teams can [...]

January 27, 2010 · Robert Bradley · 10 Comments
Tags: ACPO, ALSAR, Bob Koester, Ed Johnson, Gary Foo, Greg Fuller, Jennie Webster, Misper, Missing Person Search, Night Search, Night Searching, POD, POS, Rrobert J Koester, Search Team Leader, Search Technician, UKLSI · Posted in: Search Thoughts

Coverage

Coverage as a word is often used to describe how much of a search area or sector has been searched. This is wrong. Coverage has a specific mathematical definition in search theory. It refers to the Area Effectively Swept divided by the Area of the Search Sector. This figure is then used in Koopman’s Exponential [...]

January 22, 2010 · Robert Bradley · No Comments
Tags: Area Effectively Swept, Coverage, Koopman's Exponential Detection Function, POD, Probability of Detection, Search Sector, Search Theory · Posted in: SAR Dictionary

Elements of the Optimal Search Problem

Lawrence Stone defined the elements of the optimal search problem in his 1986 book, Theory of Optimal Search. This was paraphrased extremely well by Cooper, Frost and Robe in their 2003 report – Compatibility of Land SAR Procedures with Search Theory as quoted below; A probability density distribution on search object location and state (so [...]

January 19, 2010 · Robert Bradley · 2 Comments
Tags: Compatibility of Land SAR Procedures with Search Theory, Consensus, D Cooper, J Frost, Lawrence Stone, Missing Person Behaviour Statistics, Optimisation, POA, POC, POD, POS, Probability Density, Probability Density Distribution, Probability of Area, Probability of Detection, Probability of Success, R Quincy Robe, Search Effort, Search Planning, Search Resource, Search Theory, Theory of Optimal Search · Posted in: Search Research, Search Thoughts, Search Training

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This month's feature is the Missing Rights Campaign being run by Missing People.

If your house is burgled you are automatically offered emotional, practical and legal support. If your child goes missing you may get nothing.

Missing People. are calling on the Government to give families of missing people the same basic rights as victims of crime.

Over 250,000 people go missing in the UK every year. While most of us will have read or heard about a disappearance, little is understood about the emotional, legal and financial burdens it can bring to those closest to the missing person. Families left behind face their homes being seized, jobs being lost, divorce, social stigma and suicidal thoughts.

Here are the detailed aims and objectives of the Missing Rights Campaign. Without your support, though, they will not be able to bring about change for families of missing people.

Aim #1:
Families of missing people should know everything possible is being done to find their missing loved one.

Objectives:
•Every region to have a local missing persons coordinator who will hold local services to account
•Every family to have a named single point of contact in the police force dealing with their missing loved one
•All unidentified bodies to be cross matched with missing person reports

Aim #2:
Families affected by a disappearance should have access to support.

Objectives:
•Every family of a missing person to be signposted to Missing People’s free emotional, practical and legal support services by the police
•A network of specially trained counsellors to be developed to support the unique needs of families of missing people

Aim #3:
Families left behind should be spared the pain of unnecessary financial and legal bureaucracy.

Objectives:
•All banks to introduce standard mortgage arrangements for families of missing people
•All insurance companies to enable families to freeze or take over their missing relative’s policy payments.
•Presumption of Death Act to be introduced in England of Wales

Robert Bradley's Re-Search Website

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Calculating Probability of Detection in Search and Rescue

The POD of a Search Dog

Searching in the Dark

Coverage

Elements of the Optimal Search Problem

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