Using a geographic decision support system to plan search and rescue operations

In this paper, we present SARPlan, a geographic decision support system based on optimisation models for planning overland search and rescue operations for missing light aircraft. By optimally allocating the available search effort and by reducing the search area, SARPlan increases the chances of finding lost aircraft and survivors, resulting in saved lives. The emphasis in this presentation is on the dialogues and the functions offered by the system. We also include results that demonstrate that SARPlan outperforms the current manual method. In 2001, SARPlan was the winner of three prestigious excellence awards in the Canadian information technology domain.