search and rescue

[JamesGirvan]

Has anyone out there developed tool code to create search and rescue ring buffers and search grids?

[RichardLaing]

100 views and no answers - it looks like the interest is there!

I assume you have used the multiple ring buffer tool?

Rick

[JamesGirvan]

I have used the ring buffer to define the one and five mile distances but need the grids to push out coordinates for ground and aerial search teams.  I used the fishnet tool to create the grids, 5X5 each 4 square miles.  Now I need to display the vertex values for each cell.  I can show them while editing in sketch but have not figured out how to label them.  I also want the fishnet to be dynamic so my officers can center the search area based upon last point seen.  It would also be great to do this outside of an edit session. One suggestion from the wild side for the labeling was to create a second fishnet whose cell centers would overlap the corners of the first fishnet then label the centerpoints as the tool allows you to do.  There has got to be a better way.  Since I have liitle to no programming experience and no $ to contract or hire, I was hoping that someone supporting SAR would have done this by now.

Thanks for your comments

[PaulClausen]

There was an extension in Arc 3.x for survey and archeology that allowed for the custom creation of a grid with user defined parameters. Then there was an extension that drew the nodes of arc and created a layer of points, then simply add an xy to the table and you have a grid of points with coordinates. Over lay the circles and you can create your S&R map. I don't know if these extensions are in 9.x or 10 formats. I seem to go back to 3.x and do some things, it is easier for me and takes less time. I would assume there are similar tools available now. Hope this helps in some way.

[JenniferStone]

One possibility for labeling the vertices of the grid is too use the Feature Vertices to Points tool in the Data Management Tools>Features toolbox. There's another tool in that same toolbox which allows you to generate centerpoints for polygons. Don't know for sure if this is what you were looking for but it may be worth taking a look at.

[KrisHayne]

You might want to try the ArcGIS 9.3 extension Search93

Its a decision support tool in a Search and Rescue operation to help decision makers determine areas where the lost person may have gone

Size in Megabytes (MB): 421
Software: ArcInfo 9.3
Application/Extension: ArcMap, ArcToolbox, 3D Analyst, Spatial Analyst, Network Analyst
Database: Shapefiles, File Geodatabase, Rasters
Other Software Required:Adobe Reader 7or 8, Map Book sample (included)
Platforms Tested: Windows XP
Special Functionality: Map Book
Audience: Search and rescue personnel, emergency response personnel, law enforcement

[RichardLaing]

You might want to try the ArcGIS 9.3 extension Search93

Its a decision support tool in a Search and Rescue operation to help decision makers determine areas where the lost person may have gone

Size in Megabytes (MB): 421
Software: ArcInfo 9.3
Application/Extension: ArcMap, ArcToolbox, 3D Analyst, Spatial Analyst, Network Analyst
Database: Shapefiles, File Geodatabase, Rasters
Other Software Required:Adobe Reader 7or 8, Map Book sample (included)
Platforms Tested: Windows XP
Special Functionality: Map Book
Audience: Search and rescue personnel, emergency response personnel, law enforcement

Where did you download that from?

[TomPatterson]

Search93 was a demonstration that was developed to explore GIS capabilities for seach management operations. Brett Lord-Castillo has developed a ring buffer tool for SAR.

BLord-Castillo@stlouisco.com

Tom Patterson

[RichardLaing]

Search93 was a demonstration that was developed to explore GIS capabilities for seach management operations. Brett Lord-Castillo has developed a ring buffer tool for SAR.

BLord-Castillo@stlouisco.com

Tom Patterson

Thanks Tom. I have the demo and was hoping that someone had turned it in to a working tool. I've also been using Brett's ring buffer tool.

Rick

[PaulDoherty1]

JimGirvan et al.,

Esri has been hard at work supporting a blossoming SAR-GIS user community over the past three years. Right now there a core group of Users called 'MapSAR' we are supporting as they put together ArcGIS Desktop templates, best practices material, and training sessions to support a variety of SAR-GIS functions. The MapSAR template has the following customized capabilities and will add more features over time:

1. Map production templates (Data driven pages and map templates)

2. Custom GPS data download tools (GPX file importer)

3. An Operational Layer geodatabase (Joined and related tables) with symbology

4. Search area buffer tool (Buffer Analysis)

Of course, since SAR is inherently spatial, there are numerous spatial analyses (cross-country mobility modeling, network analysis, helicopter landing models, probability) thatour Users and Esri are working towards. For more information please see our blog post if you have not already and stay tuned-in to the Esri Public Safety Resource Center in 2012.

Thanks for posting!

Sincerely,
Paul Doherty

Public Safety Technology Specialist
pdoherty@esri.com | USNG 11SMT8196368376