Service Supports South-of-the-Border Sea Survival
The U.S. Coast Guard is providing its Search and Rescue Optimal Planning System (SAROPS) to the navy of the United Mexican States. The partnership is designed to assist
“We’ve done a lot of work with our neighbor to the south, assisting
“We are working with the country on getting the system in place in their rescue coordination centers, not only in
SAROPS uses an animated grid model to project where floating persons or objects might be located. Thousands of simulated particles that users’ inputs generate are in a wizard-based graphical user interface. The system allows searchers to define the situation, access environmental data such as wind and water current patterns, compute drift models, simulate environmental hazards, predict survival time and develop a comprehensive search plan with available resources.
In addition, it can handle multiple scenarios and search object types; model predistress motion and hazards; and account for the effects of previous searches. By maximizing the probability of success, SAROPS automatically improves search-rescue unit (SRU) allocation. Each unit receives a recommended search pattern based on the relative motion between the SRU and the drifting particles.
“This is an effort of the Coast Guard at large in assisting the Mexican navy and government in developing their search and rescue program and capability. It’s an ongoing process. We’re doing the installation and some continued training. We shared the program with the Mexicans and are helping them get the computers in and get the program up and running. We’ve had students from
The Coast Guard also trains students from