OceansMap

SARMAP

SARMAP is a search and rescue (SAR) model system that provides rapid predictions of the drift of objects and persons at sea and in aeronautical incidents—helping define the most probable search areas and improve response efficiency.



SARMAP features

  • Rapid, map-based predictions of trajectories for drifting objects and missing persons in marine and aeronautical environments.
  • Supports deterministic and ensemble (stochastic) forecasts to quantify uncertainty in search areas.
  • Leverages wind and current fields and object-specific leeway characteristics to model drift and dispersion.
  • Backtracking capability to estimate potential origin points for debris or persons in the water.
  • Simple scenario setup for releases at points, along tracks, or across areas; includes time-varying start/stop and persistence controls.
  • Visual and tabular outputs of most-probable search regions, time of arrival to coastlines, and track histories.
SARMAP drift tracks
Search and rescue operations

How SARMAP is used

SARMAP supports operational decision-making during marine SAR incidents, helping responders prioritize search areas and allocate assets efficiently.

Typical applications

  • Persons in the water (PIW) and man-overboard events.
  • Adrift vessels, life rafts, and small craft.
  • Floating cargo and container losses.
  • Aircraft debris drift in combined marine–aeronautical searches.

Planning & training

Run seasonal or site-specific scenarios to assess risk, develop contingency plans, and conduct realistic SAR exercises.

Data-ready for operations

  • Consumes metocean data streams (winds, waves, currents) from operational forecast systems.
  • Supports real-time and historical datasets for hindcasts, nowcasts, and forecasts.
  • Flexible import of gridded fields and time series for rapid scenario setup.
  • Designed for integration with broader emergency response workflows and mapping platforms.

Outputs

  • Most-probable search polygons and time-evolving probability maps.
  • Trajectory lines, ensembles, and spread metrics for uncertainty visualization.
  • Track statistics, travel time estimates, and shoreline interaction flags.
  • Exportable images and tabular summaries for briefings and reports.
Ensemble search areas

Brochures and materials

Product datasheets, model documentation, and training materials are available upon request. Example content may include:

  • Quick-start guide for incident setup and runs.
  • Ensemble modeling and uncertainty interpretation notes.
  • Best practices for SAR planning and exercises.

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