Flying SD cards, aerial repeaters, & homebrew apps: Emergent use of technologies for collaboration in search and rescue

Nicolas LaLone, Jared Van Natta, Michelle V. Cormier, Marlena R. Fraune, Bill Hamilton, Phoebe O. Toups Dugas, Sultan A. Alharthi, Mahlet Zemedie

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference PaperResearchpeer-review

Abstract

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. This research contributes an understanding of the constraints on and implications for future SAR technologies and SAR operators’ creativity in emergent situations.

Publication series

NameProceedings of the International ISCRAM Conference
PublisherInformation Systems for Crisis Response and Management, ISCRAM
Volume2023-text
ISSN (Electronic)2411-3387

Conference

ConferenceInternational Conference on Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management 2023
Abbreviated titleISCRAM 2023
Country/TerritoryUnited States of America
CityOmaha
Period28/05/2331/05/23
Internet address

Keywords

  • Creativity
  • Information Communication Technology
  • Search and Rescue

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