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1. Flying SD Cards, Aerial Repeaters, \& Homebrew Apps: Emergent Use of Technologies for Collaboration in Search and Rescue

   LaLone, Nicolas; Van Natta, Jared; Cormier, Michelle V; Fraune, Marlena R; Hamilton, Bill; Dugas, Phoebe O; Alharthi, Sultan A; Zemedie, Mahlet (May 2023, Proceedings of the International ISCRAM Conference)

   Search and rescue (SAR) teams are the first to respond to emergencies. This could include finding lost hikers, shoring buildings, or aiding people post-disaster. SAR combines orienteering, engineering, field medicine, and communication. Technology use in SAR has been changing with the proliferation of information communication technologies; so, we ask, how are established and emerging technologies used in SAR? Understanding how responders are adopting and adapting these technologies during SAR missions can inform future design and improve outcomes for SAR teams. We interviewed SAR volunteers to contextualize their experiences with technology and triangulated with additional questionnaire data. We discuss how technology use in SAR requires an intersection of expert knowledge and creative problem solving to overcome challenges in the field. 

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2. Flying SD Cards, Aerial Repeaters, & Homebrew Apps: Emergent Use of Technologies for Collaboration in Search and Rescue

   LaLone, N.; Natta, J.V.; Cormier, M.V.; Fraune, M.R.; Hamilton, B.; Dugas, P.O.T.; Alharthi, S.A.; Zemedie, M. (May 2023, International journal of information systems for crisis response and management)

   Search and rescue (SAR) teams are the first to respond to emergencies. This could include finding lost hikers, shoring buildings, or aiding people post-disaster. SAR combines orienteering, engineering, field medicine, and communication. Technology use in SAR has been changing with the proliferation of information communication technologies; so, we ask, how are established and emerging technologies used in SAR? Understanding how responders are adopting and adapting these technologies during SAR missions can inform future design and improve outcomes for SAR teams. We interviewed SAR volunteers to contextualize their experiences with technology and triangulated with additional questionnaire data. We discuss how technology use in SAR requires an intersection of expert knowledge and creative problem solving to overcome challenges in the field. 

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3. A Vision of Augmented Reality for Urban Search and Rescue

   https://doi.org/10.1145/3363384.3363466  

   LaLone, Nicolas; A. Alharthi, Sultan; Toups Dugas, Phoebe O. (November 2019, Proceedings of the Halfway to the Future Symposium 2019)

   Search and rescue (SAR) operations are often nearly computer-technology-free due to the fragility and connectivity needs of current information communication technology (ICT). In this design fiction, we envision a world where SAR uses augmented reality (AR) and the surplus labor of volunteers during crisis response efforts. Unmanned aerial vehicles, crowdsourced mapping platforms, and concepts from video game mapping technologies can all be mixed to keep SAR operations complexity-free while incorporating ICTs. Our scenario describes a near-future SAR operation with currently available technology being assembled and deployed without issue. After our scenario, we discuss socio-technical barriers for technology use like technical fragility and overwhelming complexity. We also discuss how to work around those barriers and how to use video games as a testbed for SAR technology. We hope to inspire more resilient ICT design that is accessible without training. 

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4. Collaborative multi-robot multi-human teams in search and rescue.

   Williams, R. (April 2020, Proceedings of the International ISCRAM Conference)

   Robots such as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) deployed for search and rescue (SAR) can explore areas where human searchers cannot easily go and gather information on scales that can transform SAR strategy. Multi-UAV teams therefore have the potential to transform SAR by augmenting the capabilities of human teams and providing information that would otherwise be inaccessible. Our research aims to develop new theory and technologies for field deploying autonomous UAVs and managing multi-UAV teams working in concert with multi-human teams for SAR. Specifically, in this paper we summarize our work in progress towards these goals, including: (1) a multi-UAV search path planner that adapts to human behavior; (2) an in-field distributed computing prototype that supports multi-UAV computation and communication; (3) behavioral modeling that fields spatially localized predictions of lost person location; and (4) an interface between human searchers and UAVs that facilitates human-UAV interaction over a wide range of autonomy. 

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5. Geospatial Technologies in Higher Education: Interactive Experiential Learning

   Ignatius, A. (January 2019, 2019 American Association of Geographers Annual Meeting)

   null (Ed.)

   Use of geospatial technology in higher education facilitates student engagement, promotes deeper understanding of material, and supports inquiry-based learning. However, technology must be applied strategically to generate optimal results. While use of web-based interactive modules and short video are constructive in curriculum, it is beneficial to combine this with exposure to hands-on, experimental, field-based technologies. Experiential learning with technology in the physical environment allows students to understand both the challenges and achievements of scientific investigation. This creates a more comprehensive understanding of science as an iterative process of experimentation and investigation and enrichens course material. This paper explores the uniquely advantageous opportunity Geography educators have to combine classroom-based technology with field-based educational experiences. Classroom use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Remotely Sensed data is increasingly accessible with abundant free educational resources. In addition, field-based use of technology can promote location awareness and spatial critical thinking with the use of GPS-based activities. GPS-based educational units also highlight the growing field of citizen science and can be designed as service-based learning opportunities. Use of highly affordable micro unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) demonstrates data collection procedures. In addition, exposure to Surveying techniques and the field of Geomatics highlights real-world applications of geographic technology. We discuss the use of geospatial technologies in introductory and advanced higher education courses and examine how technology can encourage access to scientific inquiry throughout the student population. 

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