Optimization of search operations in maritime search and rescue

In response to an emergency involving a maritime incident, the first task of a Search and Rescue (SAR) mission coordinator is to develop plausible scenarios to help identify the area likely to contain the missing vessel and/or person(s) in water. Once the area likely to contain the search object has been determined, the SAR mission coordinator deals with the logistics of the search operations by allocating the available and limited resources to search the area of interest. The Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) has identified the need to develop and to integrate a planning module in existing operational SAR planning systems in order to improve the probability of success. The goal of this project is to develop and adapt optimization algorithms based on search theory to help SAR mission coordinators in the task of planning search operations. One of the anticipated benefits is the potential to save lives by helping in locating survivors quickly.

Faculty Supervisor:

Irène Abi-Zeid

Student:

Partner:

Neosoft Technologies Inc

Discipline:

Computer science

Sector:

Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

Université Laval

Program: