Digital Terrain: Modern Search Planning and Mapping

** The Lost Person Behavior book and/or mobile app are helpful resources for this class. If you already own a copy of the Lost Person Behavior book, please plan to bring your personal book to class.

If you'd like to order your own copy, you can do so here: , or for the mobile app: .

** If you have a laptop or tablet, please bring it. We have a few we can provide. Please let us know if you'd like to borrow one for the class.

Class Overview:

This course is designed to enhance search and rescue operations by integrating modern technology with data-driven strategies, improving the speed and effectiveness of searches.

• Search Urgency and Planning: Understand how to assess the urgency of each search, prioritize resources, and use tools like Missing Person Questionnaires and Lost Person Behavior data to inform search strategies.
• Mastering Digital Mapping with SARTopo: Dive into SARTopo, a powerful digital mapping tool, to visualize search areas, track assignments, and plot statistical data to enhance search efficiency.
• Incorporating Search Theory and Reflex Tasking: Learn foundational search theory and reflex tasking techniques to quickly and logically deploy resources, culminating in practical scenario exercises to reinforce skills in real-time.

Overall, the class aims to improve search outcomes and increase the effectiveness of rescue teams through the use of modern technology and informed planning.

Understanding lost person behavior and how to map statistical data into SARTopo assists in the placement of resources into more likely locations sooner. While this does not guarantee a find, it does increase the subject’s odds of being located sooner. Faster finds result in fewer resources, less cost, and most importantly of all, a better chance of survival for the subject.

Host or Publisher Idaho Mountain Search and Rescue